Nicole Krick-Ralston

What is your name?

My name is Nicole Krick-Ralston. I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist.

What do you do at Shift?

I offer Individual therapy sessions for adults, children & adolescents. I provide assessments services for individuals that are looking to gain insight with their mental health concerns that they may have.Whether it’s managing stress, overcoming anxiety and depression, improving relationships, or addressing other life issues, I approach each person with empathy, respect, and a non-judgemental attitude. During the time in therapy, my goal is to help the client to look for those negative thought patterns & behaviors and built their tool box to be able to help deal with those thought patterns & behaviors, as well as being able to manage the symptoms that can come with mental health. As well as creating a safe and supporting environment where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings and set goals to help lead them to the fulfilling life that they want to have.

What are your academic credentials?

I have recently graduated Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology with honors at Yorkville University. In 2020 I graduated with my Bachelors of Arts in Psychology at Red Deer Polytechnic and University of Calgary Collaboration.

Why did you decide to become a therapist?

I always had a knack for wanting to help people and for solving problems. I as well love to learn about how we as people work and understand the world around us. These traits where installed into me from my parents but also my grandparents, which had a huge influence on my life. It really took off when I took a high school psychology class and I realized that I could uses these traits into a career. On top of that, I have had school counsellors, professors and teachers that inspired me and build the traits and skills that I have today.

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

I enjoy listening and really hearing what the client has to say, making sure that I honor the client with what they are saying and the space. People and Students at the practicum site I worked at have told me that I'm a kind, non-threating, caring easy to talk to person. As well been described as a therapist that allows them to come to me when they need help and feel that coming out that they have the confidence to make the changes that they want to see in their life. Some goals that I have in therapy are the following:

• Being more flexible &/ or emotionally regulated
• Setting healthier boundaries
• Asserting/standing up for yourself
• Knowing and holding your own worth
• Healthy communication & conflict resolution
• Body Image
• Managing school stress

Who do you work with? (adults, children over x)

I work with Adults, Children and Adolescents. I do not offer family therapy or couples therapy.

Why are you passionate about what you do?

Being able to build a theraputic relationship with the client and being able to see them succeed with the goals that they have and to realize that they have the power to see the change that they want to see in their own life. As well being on that roller coaster ride; supporting them during the "low" times and to cheer them on during their "high" times. It really is an honor to be able to be given the opportunity to be on such a journey that is individualized from each person. As well, being on that ride with the person gives me a sense of accomplishment knowing that I was able to help them on that journey.

What do you do in your spare time?

Everyone that knows me within my life, knows that I love to spend time hanging out with my husband and the puppy, Kinley, who is now 3 months old and loves to explore/get into everything. I enjoy being in nature as it brings so much beauty/serenity to me. As of last year, I have been trying my hand at knitting and crocheting, which has been going great! I also love to learn different things which leads to me watching different documentaries. I do have my moments where I love to binge watch a good movie, tv series or playing video games.

What is a skill that you are currently working on?

I would love to be able to do training within Play therapy and Art therapy. As being able to have different mediums for people to express their emotions/feelings, experiences, thoughts and ideas can help them to be able to process different things that they may have not noticed at first, to develop mindfulness, increase creativity and to extend the depth and dialogue within the therapy itself.

What motivates or inspires you?

Something that motivates me as a person is being able to learn something new to add to my knowledge. My grandpa always use to tell me that you will always learn something new everyday, which I have been able to do within this amazing field that has a depth of knowledge that is always expanding. As human behavior is one that is full of complexities, which can be seen in psychology but also extends within other areas such as history. Where you can see these complexities in action and reaction that comes from it.