Hi! I’m Shay Swan (they/he), a neurodivergent and trans identified therapist. I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist, a researcher, a consultant, an avid fandom nerd, a prolific crocheter and a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I have over 10 years of experience working in the mental health sector, including work with the disabled community, foster children and foster families, adolescent mental health, gender diverse folks, and attachment work with families. I also have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honours) from Mount Royal University, and a Masters of Education (MEd) in Counselling Psychology from the University of Lethbridge. My final MEd project focused on self-injury and how caregivers can best care for a youth who may be engaging in it.
I believe that we are all doing our best, and that we all have the inner capacity towards growth. To support growth in my clients, I often use elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and techniques based off of somatic approaches. However, we are all different, and for that reason I tailor my counselling approach based on each individual that I have the honour of working with. There are some constants within my practice, though. I consistently practice from the following lenses: trauma-informed, gender affirming, anti-racist, feminist, disability justice, sex-positive, and attachment. I honour the intersectionality that exists within all of us, and strive to recognize my own privileges and dismantle the colonial beliefs that still exist within myself.
