Merin Johns

What is your name?

Hello there! My name is Merin Johns. I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist with vast experience in dealing with adults, youth and children in the therapeutic setting. I bring an open mind to my therapy practice, along with training in the latest approaches in mental health care.

Throughout my career along with my experience with AHS, I have worked with a broad range of clients coming from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds which provided me with an additional understanding with regards to the awareness and sensitivity involved when working with a diverse population. My utmost priority in my sessions is to provide my clients with a safe and secure environment that fosters their mental well-being. I know and can help with developing different plans and strategies to deal with mental health concerns at times of distress. I help the client reach their objective of achieving their mental well-being by concentrating on where they are in the process. My extensive education and years of clinical practice in various modalities enables me to find the treatment approach that is best for every client.

What do you do at Shift?

At Shift, my primary role is to facilitate the client's insight and growth to help them in achieving their optimized life by building a strong therapeutic relationship, ensuring engagement in sessions and goal-setting.

I help the client to talk about the challenges that the client is experiencing, help them to process the problem and interpret it alternately, help them to recognize and modify unhelpful thinking and behavioural patterns and support them in learning new coping skills and compensatory and prevention strategies. I can help people to move from a place of confusion and hurt, to the one where they feel safe to share both positives and negatives in their life and eventually achieve a state of inner peace.

What are your academic credentials?

I have a Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Clinical Psychology. I have been a Registered Member of the College of Alberta Psychologists since 2020. I have continued to expand my boundaries of competence to better help my clients. As a result, I offer a variety of current, research-based and research-proven effective treatments. I continue to further my ongoing learning in various therapeutic modalities.

Why did you decide to become a therapist?

I believe in the saying that a human that conquers its mind is greater than a human that conquers a thousand other humans in a battle. And I wondered how I could help others in helping them understand to conquer their mind. Thus started my journey in pursuit of understanding the human mind.

Learning psychology has given me an idea about the power and potential that a sound mind has and also it has showed me ways to cultivate a growth mindset. Adopting a growth mindset has profound implications for personal development and success.

What do you bring to your therapy sessions, and what are some goals?

I create a supportive environment in which my clients can explore their thoughts, limiting beliefs and feelings and work towards their goals. I work with clients to set specific, achievable goals and develop a plan to reach the goals with patience, empathy and compassion. I strive to empower my clients to take control of their lives and make positive changes that benefit them in the long run. I will take the uncertainty, if any, out of the process and make the therapeutic journey easier by outlining the strategies that will be employed in the sessions.

Who do you work with?

I enjoy working with adults aged 25 and above, who are committed to engaging in therapy sessions with concerns of depression, anxiety, attachment concerns, self-esteem issues, stress, life transitions, boundary issues, insomnia, relationship issues, women's issues, emotional disturbances and many more.

Why are you passionate about what you do?

I experience a great sense of joy upon seeing positive changes in someone's life that enables them to be an incredible individual that becomes free and be a blessing to themselves and to others.

I am passionate about how therapy promotes self-discovery which has often been identified as the "aha" moment. This is a moment when obvious gives way to the oblivious. Knowing oneself keeps them one step ahead of others by acquiring internal awareness and more insights everyday. More insights equates to solving complex problems faster.

What do you do in your spare time?

I enjoy spending time with loved ones, hiking, biking, exploring different cuisines, working out and watching movies. I really enjoy travelling as well, as it helps me with personal growth and appreciation. Seeing different people and cultures and encountering them directly as individuals, opens up to becoming more tolerant and flexible about unfamiliar ways of life.

The last place I travelled out of Canada was Germany and it was a splendid experience. The history, the architecture, the nature - was so wonderful. I am hoping to go and explore the whole Europe, Thailand and Japan in the forthcoming years.

What is a skill that you are currently working on?

I give huge importance for my personal and professional development. I am currently working on to my finish my EPPP exam which would help me to be a Registered Psychologist in the province of Alberta.

In the near future I would like to take further training in (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reconditioning) EMDR Therapy, Gottman method and Hypnotherapy.

What motivates or inspires you?

It is inherently human to fail; everyone will experience spectacular failure at least once in their lifetime, regardless of background, skill set, or life narrative. Witnessing people rise from the ashes and acquire resilience inspires me. Seeing people resolve to change and achieve their objectives and aspirations fills me with a deep sense of fulfillment.

I am constantly in awe of the way that individuals who cultivate resilience manage to pivot, process their emotions, and keep going toward their objective instead of letting hardships, terrible experiences, or failure overpower them and sap their willpower. It allows people to use their own cognitive resources, which makes it possible for them to analyze problems calmly and think through other behavioural routes that might be more beneficial.

What are your additional areas of clinical interest?

I am interested in learning (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reconditioning) EMDR Therapy, Gottman method and Hypnotherapy.

Additional Qualifications

I have my Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Clinical Psychology. I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist and I am in pursuit of being a Registered Psychologist in the province Alberta.

What's one podcast that you like and why?

I enjoy listening to Science of People as it offers unique approach to learning social skills.

What's one book that you like and why?

The one book I really like is Ikigai as it explores the Japanese concept of finding ones purpose in life by analyzing the habits and beliefs of the worlds longest-living people.

What's one quote that you like and why?

What is to give light, must endure burning - Victor Frankl.

It implies that as humans, we endure various challenges and difficulties in our life that teaches and shows the path of resolutions in order to radiate wisdom/love.

Available for:

Anxiety-related symptoms (GAD, Phobia, Panic, Social, etc.) | BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) | Depression | Exposure Therapy | Inter-generational trauma | Grief and Loss | Building boundaries | Attachment concerns | PTSD | Self Esteem | Stress and Burnout | Boundary Adherence | Life Changes | Grief | Stress & Burnout | and much more...