McKinney Psychology

05/28/2026

Kasohkowew Child Wellness Society is seeking Group Care Support Workers to empower and assist young individuals in achieving their personal, emotional, spiritual, mental, physical, and educational goals while promoting their cultural identity and overall well-being.

The Group Care Support Worker role provides culturally sensitive support and guidance to Indigenous youth residing in a group home setting while helping create safe and supportive environments for our youth rooted in culture and community.

To learn more about this opportunity and how to apply, please visit kasohkowew.com/careers

05/25/2026

Sometimes it’s not “just” a speech concern.
We see kids who struggle to get their words out, avoid speaking, or shut down in social situations and it’s easy to assume it’s purely about speech. But sometimes, there’s more going on underneath.
Anxiety. Trauma. Big feelings that don’t yet have words.
When the nervous system is overwhelmed, communication can take a hit. And if we only focus on the speech piece, we can miss what the child actually needs. This is why we do Speech Therapy and Trauma Counselling in the same space!

We just shared a blog that walks through how speech challenges and emotional experiences can be connected. Also, what to look for if something doesn’t feel quite right.
If you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator, this one’s worth a read.
Read more here: https://mckinneypsych.com/when-speech-concerns-are-connected-to-anxiety-or-trauma/

05/19/2026

Stress isn’t going anywhere, but how you respond to it can change absolutely everything.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) helps you slow down, get out of autopilot, and actually notice what’s happening in your body and mind. Not to “fix” it necessarily, but to handle it differently.

Less reactivity.
More control.
More grounded days. Even when life is messy.

You don’t need hours of meditation. Just the right tools, practiced consistently. Learn more about MBSR on the website, or come in and practice with us! https://mckinneypsych.com/what-is-mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-mbsr/

05/16/2026

Please note that McKinney Psychology will be closed on Monday, May 18th for the Victoria Day holiday. ☀️

Our team will be back in the office and available as scheduled on Tuesday, May 19th from 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM.

We hope everyone has a safe and restful long weekend and gets a chance to enjoy a little sunshine, fresh air, and downtime. 🌿

05/11/2026

Starting counselling can feel intimidating, especially when you are not sure what to expect from the first phone call.

At McKinney Psychology, our free intake calls are designed to help make that first step feel a little easier. This is a chance to ask questions, talk about what you are looking for in support, learn about direct billing or NIHB coverage, and explore which therapist may be the best fit for you.

You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. You do not need to know exactly what to say. The intake process is there to help guide you.

In our newest blog post, we walk through:
• what happens during an intake call
• common questions people ask
• how therapist matching works
• what you can expect moving forward

Whether you are considering therapy for the first time or returning after a difficult experience, we hope this helps reduce some of the uncertainty around getting started.

Read the full blog post https://mckinneypsych.com/what-to-expect-in-your-free-intake-call-at-mckinney-psychology/

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at McKinney Psychology 🌷

Today we are thinking about the many different ways motherhood shows up : through love, sacrifice, strength, worry, patience, protection, healing, and showing up even on the hard days.

We know Mother’s Day can hold many emotions. For some, it is joyful. For others, it may bring grief, loss, complicated relationships, fertility struggles, exhaustion, or reminders of people deeply missed. Wherever this day finds you, we hope you are gentle with yourself.

We also want to give a special shout out to the moms within our clinic team. We are incredibly fortunate to work alongside women who care deeply for both their families and their clients every day. We have a two fresh new moms (Emma and Kelly) within our staff, one of whom is celebrating her very first mother's day!

And yes, we even have two mother-daughter relationships within our staff at McKinney Psychology, which feels especially meaningful to celebrate today. 💛

To all the moms, stepmoms, grandmothers, kokums, omas, nonnas, nanas, bubbas, aunties, caregivers, foster moms, and matriarchs who hold our communities together; thank you for the care you give to the people around you.

Wishing you moments of rest, connection, and care this Mother’s Day.

05/06/2026

Indigenous Social Work Diploma Program 2026 Fall Start
Apply Now.

05/05/2026

We are so grateful to the Ermineskin Women’s Shelter for having us out to their MMIW event today. It was a lovely day to see everyone.

We honoured those who have been lost and prayed for those who remain missing. We are here to care for those family members who continue to hurt.

05/03/2026

May is Mental Health Month.
Lets treat it as more than just a calendar thing. It’s a reminder that mental health isn’t something we “deal with” once a year. It shows up in the quiet moments, the hard conversations, the days you are just barely holding it together… and the days you’re not.
Struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing.
Needing support doesn’t make you weak.
And taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your physical health and anything else in your life.

This month, consider:
Checking in with yourself (for real, not the autopilot version).
Reaching out instead of pushing through alone
Giving yourself permission to slow down, rest, or ask for help
Y
ou don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable to take your mental health seriously. If you’ve been thinking about talking to someone, this is your nudge.

01/11/2026

✨ 2025 Year in Review ✨
As we have taken some time to reflect on 2025, we recognize it has been a big one. This year challenged us, stretched us and reminded us why this work matters. We are proud of what we have created, and so grateful for the PEOPLE who made it possible.

Here’s what 2025 looked like at McKinney Psychology:

🌱 371 brand new clients supported (more than 1/day)
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 5 new team members welcomed
🧭 4 new services launched
🤍 Perinatal mental health
👥 Couples therapy
🗣 Speech-language services
🧠 Formal Psychological assessments
🏠 1 Momentous move into new space with everyone under one roof.
📬 Streamlined business structure and communication to better support our clients and clinicians.

Every number represents real people, real growth, and a whole lot of care behind the scenes.

To our clients: thank you for trusting us in your most difficult moments.

To our team: thank you for showing up with professionalism, integrity, skill and heart every damn day.

To our community: thank you for your continued support and referrals.

We’re heading into the new year grounded, grateful, and ready to keep doing this work—together. 💚

Our current team:
Naomi Tirrell, MACP, Registered Provisional Psychologist.
Emma Luce, MACP, Certified Canadian Counsellor
Hannah Barrett, MSW - Registered Social Worker
Caleb Reardon, MACP - Registered Provisional Psychologist
Sanne van Oostrom, MSc. - Registered Provisional Psychologist
Naomi McKinney, M.Ed. (Psych) - Registered Psychologist
Erika Cissell, MSW - Registered Social Worker
Maureen Gates, MSc. -Registered Speech Language Pathologist
Mayrane Galante, BA. Doctoral Clinical Psychology Intern.
Rob Tate, BA. Doctoral Clinical Psychology Intern.
Nicole Philpot, BA Counselling Psychology Intern.
Kelly Zandt - Assistant - Finance
Kyrie Hemingson, BA, Intake Coordinator
Selena McConnell, BA, Assistant.

With our Deepest Gratitude
McKinney Psychology

If you are feeling overwhelmed, we are here to help with Confidential, Clinical Counselling for all Albertans. In Person and Online Services are available.