Hi! I’m Shay Swan (they/he), a neurodivergent and trans identified therapist. I am a Registered Psychologist, 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 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.
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 draw on elements of somatic and cognitive based therapies to support people in reconnecting with their bodies, processing difficult emotions and experiences, and ultimately to build a life that they can thrive in. I have specialized training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Level One), Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
I am a firm believer that therapy is inherently political, and that it is not possible to separate our individual struggles from the systemic factors we live within. I am on my own journey of decolonization, and I actively strive to incorporate this into my work with clients. To do this, 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.
