SChaefer Counselling Services
Professional Summary Dedicated and empathic Canadian Certified Counsellor with 19 years experience in various settings, committed to provide a welcoming and calm space for clients who are mentally wounded and affected by trauma. Proficient in utilizing various evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address a variety of emotional and psychological issues. Committed to contributing to clients’ mental well-being through a holistic lens, aiming to promote deeper self-insight, enhancing their sense of purpose, and diminishing symptoms to facilitate growth, healthier functioning, and recovery.Professional ExperienceCanadian Certified Counsellor (10.2024 – present)Self-Employed at Schaefer Counselling Services, St. Albert, ABManaging a growing caseload of 20+ existing clients and offering psychoeducation, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive counselling to diverse clients; assessing mental health through formal and informal techniques; establishing trusting and strong therapeutic relationships; developing and implementing client-centered and strength-focused treatment plans in close collaboration with the client; providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention; collaboration with colleagues, other health care professionals, and Child- and Family Services.Canadian Certified Counsellor (12.2023 – 10-2024) Mental Health Counsellor (02.2021 – 12.2023) Fresh Hope Counselling Ltd., Edmonton, AB Managing a caseload of 30+ clients, providing trauma-informed, culturally sensitive counselling, and psychoeducation. Conducting mental health assessments, building strong therapeutic relationships, and developing collaborative, strength-based treatment plans. Offering crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and working with colleagues, healthcare professionals, and Child and Family Services for holistic care.Marketing and Communications Coordinator (06.2020 – 12.2020)Evan Dean Consulting, St. Albert, ABProvided support for internal and external communications, including digital and print communications, social media, and advertisement; market research, client care.Certified Mental Health Counsellor (05.2017 – 12.2018)Self-employed in Private Practice, Holzminden, GermanyProvided psychological services to approximately 60 clients within the first year of opening my practice; assessed mental conditions, diagnosed, and offered trauma-informed care to individuals, couples, and families; developed and implemented client-focused and resource-oriented treatment plans; collaborated closely with clients, health care professionals, Social Services, and Child- and Family Services.Certified Mental Health Counsellor Counselling Centre, Einbeck, Germany (02.2017 – 04.2019)Counselling Centre Kirchröder Turm, Hannover, Germany (10.2015 -12.2016)Offered approximately 10 individual weekly counselling sessions; developed individual treatment plans for diverse clients with life crises, social challenges, and mental illness; worked in an inter-disciplinary team and collaborated closely with other mental health care providers; established and cultivated trusting and effective working relationships with clientsChristian Counsellor and Pastoral Care Giver (08.2005 – 12.2016)Diakoniewerk Kirchröder Turm, Hannover, GermanyResponsible for the spiritual and psychological care of and provision of counselling to approximately 250 integrated care centre residents, their families, and employees; worked with the terminally ill and their families towards the acceptance of dying and death; provided bereavement counselling.SkillsProven ability to work within a collaborative and multidisciplinary team settingOutstanding interpersonal and communication skills with the strong ability to effectively engage with clients to build a strong and trusting therapeutic allianceHoned skills and expertise in treating clients exposed to trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSDFluent in GermanProfessional Certifications2023 – Canadian Certified Counsellor Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association2015 – Certified Mental Health Counsellor Federal Certification Body (issued by Region Hannover, Germany)Education2023 – Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology – With Distinction Yorkville University, Fredericton, NB2014 – Counselling and Psychotherapy Certification ProgramParacelsus Heilpraktikerschulen, Hannover, Germany 1998 – Bachelor of Christian Studies North American Baptist College, Edmonton, AB Excerpt of Most Recent Professional Development OpportunitiesIn Progress – Internal Family Systems Trauma Treatment Program Frank Anderson, MDIn Progress – Certified Shame-Informed Treatment Specialist (CSTS) Janina Fisher, PhD12.2024 – Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate Abi Blakeslee, PhD, SEP, CMT, MFT11.2024 – Neuroaffective Self-Therapy (N.E.S.T.) Advanced EMDR TrainingSandra Paulsen, PhD08.2024 – Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II) Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT; Kathleen M. Chard, PhD; Frank Anderson, MD; Kathy Steele, MN, CS; Evergreen Certifications04.2024 – Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT02.2024 – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Basic TrainingEMDR Consulting11.2023 – Accelerated Resolution Therapy TrainingRosenzweig Center for Rapid RecoveryProfessional Organizations09.2024 – present – Canadian Psychological Association07.2024 – present – International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 11.2023 – present – International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapy 08.2023 – present – The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta 03.2019 – present – Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) 06.2013 – present – Association of Free Psychotherapists, Non-Regulated Practitioners, Psychotherapy and Psychological Counsellors (VFP), Germany
8-64 Riel Drive , St. Albert, Alberta, , T8N 4A4
Phone: 780 9940464
Email: annika@schaefercounsellingservices.ca
Population Served:
Adult
Languages:
English, German
How EMDR is Offered:
Both online and in-person
Areas of Expertise:
Anxiety
Attachment Focussed
C-PTSD
Depression
Dissociation
Grief & Bereavement
PTSD