Chelsea Hanson

About Me as a Human…

When I am not in therapy-land, you can find me:

Either doing laps or diving at the pool or trying to get some work done at a coffee shop or library. In the summer, I’m almost always outdoors, either out on a walk, a run, longboarding, or on a patio with an iced strawberry matcha.

For Self-Care:

Self-care, for me, is all about finding balance and creating sustainable systems and routines in my life. I try to budget my spare time between keeping active and taking care of my body, spending time in nature, spending time with the people I love, journaling, and getting plenty of rest.

For Fun:

I’m big on exploring and trying new things - like checking out restaurants and coffee shops (I'm always looking for recommendations if you know a good spot 👀), wandering unfamiliar trails in the river valley, or picking up a new skill. I recently found out that you can take surfing lessons at West Edmonton Mall, so that's next on my list.

For Growth:

Lately I have been studying up for my Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). I also have been researching insomnia treatment and behavioural sleep medicine, which has been a special interest of mine over the past year. I also love to read when I can find time! I have lots of tentative plans for courses and training I would like to take in the future, too! I’m extremely grateful to be in such a massive, broad and fascinating field, there will always be more to learn - so much so that it can be hard to prioritize what to learn about next.

Something unique about me is:

I often like to add a little pop of colour to my eye makeup, just for the whimsy. I don't think happiness is a choice (it's definitely not that simple), but I do believe that we can create the conditions that allow joy to happen - and this is one way I create the conditions.

What are your academic credentials?

I hold a Master of Counselling with Specialization in Counselling Psychology from Athabasca University. Before that, I attended the University of Alberta, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Specialization in Psychology. I'm a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists.

Before I Was in the Mental Health Field…

I was working in:

I have been working as a lifeguard and swim instructor on and off for about 10 years.

Also, during my undergrad, I worked and volunteered in a number of roles at the Peer Support Centre at the University of Alberta.

The most impactful thing about my experience here was:

In aquatics, I found it extremely impactful to watch people progress as swimmers and overcome the mental blocks that were holding them back (whether it be kids learning to put their head underwater or divers learning a new dive). It's always especially rewarding when I can help support them through it.

At the Peer Support Centre, I was particularly inspired by my co-volunteers, and their compassion and drive to support the clients we saw - we were a great little community of wonderful people. Seeing just how much a one hour conversation could help some of the clients we saw was also incredibly impactful.

Three Things I’m Currently Obsessed With and Why:

1. Diving - I started taking diving lessons earlier this year and I’m absolutely hooked! Apart from being a massive adrenaline rush and an exciting way to stay active, it’s a great embodied way to practice overcoming limiting beliefs.
2. The tropical pyramid at Muttart –I absolutely adore the beauty and diversity of the different plant species, the amazing smell (orchids, moss, and mist), and the feeling of the warm humidity.
3. Men I Trust –their music just speaks to me on a different level. It's ethereal sounding dream-pop balanced out with really strong, moving basslines. A lot of their songs somehow evoke a strong sense of déjà vu and nostalgia for me - like dream pop that's actually based on my dreams. They've been my top artist on spotify for three years in a row now.

Books & Podcasts

The Most Helpful Book I’ve Read Is:

Letters to a Young Therapist - This was a (very good!) recommendation from my supervisor from my Masters’ practicum. by Mary Pipher
Biggest Takeaway: It’s so hard to pin just one thing down - Pipher covers a lot of ground in her book, and I reference back to it regularly. My favourite chapter, though, is one where she discusses the primordial therapeutic benefits of swimming. I've spent a lot of my life as a swimmer and working in aquatics, so it really resonated with the pool rat in me. There are few things that are quite as calming and healing as a good swim.

The Most Interesting Book I’ve Read Is:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Why: It's a beautiful and deeply moving reflection on the reciprocal relationships between people and the natural world, which weaves together Kimmerer's perspectives and as Indigenous woman and an academic botanist. It's the kind of book that gives you the itch to go visit your nearest natural body of water or start growing a garden. I especially loved her essay on the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address.

Specialty & Specific Interest Areas

Client Populations:

Youth (12+) and younger adults (18-40). These are phases of life with a lot of transitions and unique challenges - and tons of opportunities for wins and personal growth.

Clinical Concerns:

Depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-harm, and chronic insomnia

Non-Clinical Concerns:

Perfectionism, impulsivity, procrastination, burnout, low self-esteem, and maladaptive habits

Expertise & Additional Areas of Study

I have the following additional courses, workshops, and training:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Fundamentals
• Various suicide intervention workshops and trainings, such as CALM: Counselling on Access to Lethal Means

I have expertise and experience working with:

• Depression and mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Crisis intervention (e.g., for suicidality or domestic violence)

Some of the Clinical Orientations, Methods, and Theories I Integrate with ShiftGrit’s Core Method:

1. Cognitive behavioural therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). These therapies can change the way we experience negative thought patterns and help us to engage in actions that align with our values.
2. Solution-Focused Therapy, which is an approach that focuses on one’s strengths and resources, and emphasizes moving towards an ideal outcome instead of overanalyzing and dissecting the problem.
3. Behavioural Activation (BA) Therapy, a simple, yet effective technique that helps target low motivation, low mood, and avoidance behaviour, particularly for those with depression.

People Like Working with Me Because…

I have lot of faith in the approach and tools I use in therapy, but ultimately I believe that the most important thing in therapy is connection - and I foster that with curiosity, empathy and genuine care for my clients. Transparency and informed consent are super important to me, meaning I always work hard to make sure that my clients and I are on the same page, especially when it comes to why we are doing what we're doing.

Free form

People are wired for connection; we're not supposed to handle all of life's problems on our own. I hope you find a therapist that can be a safe connection for you. If you feel like we could be a good fit, I welcome you to reach out.