Hannah Brunsdon

Hannah Brunsdon (she/her) holds a Master of Social Work graduate degree from the University of Calgary. Hannah’s undergraduate degree focused on gender studies. Since 2013, Hannah has been passionate about working with youth, which is reflective in her employment history. Her employment history includes working in both Ontario and Alberta, with youth and their families, in non-profit community agencies and school systems. Her career has focused on building leadership skills in youth, by bringing awareness and skill development, to empower youth in navigating their mental and emotional struggles.

Hannah works primarily with youth ages 10-20 years old and their families, experiencing distress. When working with youth to establish a therapeutic journey, Hannah will focus on building a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship that is authentic. This is essential when moving through the therapeutic journey from exploration to awareness, and later transformation of healthy emotional and behavioral wellness.

Her psychoeducational approach is helpful in using a lens to increase youths' understand of their brains and the way it impacts their experiences. Her therapeutic skills are aligned with strategies supportive of cognitive behavioral therapy (thought patterns, feelings, behaviors, and core beliefs) and dialectical behavioral therapy (emotional regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal skills, and distress tolerance). She has extensive experience in working with youth related issues of mood (anxiety/depression/anger), trauma, behavioral concerns, body image, self-esteem/self-worth, relationship struggles, self-harm, and substance abuse.

CBT focuses on identifying, challenging and replacing our destructive thought patterns that have a negative influence on both our emotions and behaviors.

Dialectical behavior therapy teach us ways to mindfully manage distressing emotions and prevent us from engaging in reckless and self-destructive behaviors, while remaining in the present.