meet OUR TEAM
VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON
psychological and counselling services
SERVING CALGARY, OKOTOKS, AND SURROUNDING AREAS
meet Elizabeth
Elizabeth Specializes In:
ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
TRAUMA
GRIEF & LOSS
SUBSTANCE USE
PARENT SUPPORT
PERINATAL & POSTPARTUM
SLEEP DISTURBANCE
SELF-ESTEEM
MSW RSW | Founder of Illumination Therapeutic Services
Elizabeth is a Master’s level Social Worker with 20 years of experience in mental health and addictions. She specializes in supporting individuals, couples, and families, using an integrative approach that blends traditional therapy with alternative healing. Passionate about guiding parents in understanding child development, she also helps clients navigate grief, loss, and life transitions with compassion. Elizabeth understands that trust is earned and can take time to build. She believes in showing up as her authentic self and bringing the lessons she has learned throughout her life, not simply as a Social Worker, to sessions with her clients. She believes in dismantling the power dynamic between therapist and client, and that this allows for growth and holistic healing. Elizabeth sees the relationship between herself and her clients as the starting ground for sustainable change outside of the therapy room.
Originally from the Yukon, Elizabeth finds solace in nature and enjoys exploring the mountains with her dog and family. As a published author of Soaring With Burnt Wings, she shares insights on healing and resilience. She fosters a non-judgmental space where clients feel truly seen, heard, and empowered.
meet JESSICA
CCC
Jessica is a Canadian Certified Counsellor who is registered to support clients across Canada. Jessica works with clients ages 12 and up, with a particular interest being in supporting those struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation as well as navigating life transitions.
Jessica is allied with the 2SLGBTQ+ community, disabled community, and non-monogamous community and has extensive experience working with members of these communities. She uses an integrative approach with a focus on Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Polyvagal Theory, which supports clients to better understand their nervous systems, how to create individualized coping strategies based on what their nervous system needs, as well as heal the parts of them that are stuck reliving past trauma big or small. Jessica has been in the mental health field for the past 7 years.
Jessica Specializes In:
ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
TRAUMA
SELF-ESTEEM
SELF-HARM
SUICIDAL IDEATION
LIFE TRANSITIONS
meet Carlie
Carlie Specializes In:
ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
STRESS MANAGEMENT
SEPERATION SUPPORT
LIFE TRANSITIONS
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Carlie was born and raised near High River, Alberta, and holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She specializes in supporting adults and youth as they navigate life’s many challenges. Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, family transitions, separation, social skills development, life changes, school performance, self-esteem, and stress management. Carlie’s approach is grounded in compassion and connection—she meets clients where they are and helps them build self-awareness, explore their values, and deepen their understanding of their thoughts and emotions. Her goal is to help clients strengthen coping strategies that foster greater confidence, resilience, and fulfillment. She considers it a true honour to walk alongside each individual on their journey to well-being. Outside of her work, Carlie values balance and joy in her own life. She enjoys golfing, hiking in nature, fostering dogs, and travelling with friends and family.
meet VAL
MSW RSW
Val is a Registered Social Worker with over 35 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families. She discovered her passion for therapy early in her career while completing her Social Work degrees at the University of Calgary and has since worked in child welfare, community mental health, and crisis support. These experiences shaped her belief that everyone carries resilience and strength, even in the face of life’s challenges. In her practice, Val has a special focus on couples’ work and has completed training in Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma (DCTCT), as well as additional approaches such as Solution Focused Therapy, CBT, DBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). She is deeply committed to lifelong learning and to practicing from an anti-racist, compassionate lens.
Clients appreciate her ability to create a safe, healing space where they are empowered to recognize their own expertise and capacity for growth. Outside of her professional role, Val cherishes her relationships as a mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, wife and friend. She finds joy in her connection with animals and the natural world.
VAL Specializes In:
COUPLES THERAPY TRAUMA
COMMUNICATION
SELF ESTEEM
EMOTIONAL REGULATION INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
No matter who you choose to work with at Illumination, you will be invited to:
Release what no longer serves you
Heal the parts of you that have been shamed and silenced
Enlighten and explore your purpose and desires
Soar into a life filled with love, laughter, connection and joy
READ ELIZABETH’S HEARTFELT MEMOIR ON LOVE, LOSS AND RESILIENCE
Soaring With Burnt Wings – Lessons in love, life, laughter & surviving unimaginable loss
When Elizabeth Leanne lost her husband, Cam, before the age of 30, she didn’t believe survival was possible—nor did she want it to be. Soaring With Burnt Wings is a deeply personal memoir that offers an intimate look into their love story, their courageous approach to his cancer diagnosis, and the raw devastation of his passing. More than a tribute, this book is a beacon of hope for anyone navigating grief, offering powerful lessons on healing, resilience, and rediscovering oneself in the aftermath of loss. Written from the depths of sorrow, it serves as both a roadmap and an inspiration for those learning to fly again, even in life’s darkest moments.
SHOP LOCAL:
Yooneek Books | Okotoks, AB
Spisherbocker Books | Diamond Valley, AB
ready to GET STARTED?
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