Our Therapeutic Approach
Evidence-based therapies adapted through a culturally responsive, decolonizing, and anti-oppressive lens.
At ReiDefine Wellness, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. We draw from a wide range of evidence-based, trauma-focused modalities, and we adapt every one of them to honour your cultural background, social identities, and lived experience. Our approach recognizes that mental health does not exist in a vacuum. It is shaped by systems, history, relationships, and identity. We meet you there.
Our Decolonial and Anti-Oppressive Framework
Every modality we use is filtered through a decolonizing and anti-oppressive lens. This means we don't just apply techniques; we critically examine where those techniques come from, whose experiences they were designed for, and how they need to be adapted to serve you.
What this looks like in practice:
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Cultural humility and responsiveness in every session: your culture is not a footnote, it's the foundation
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Recognition of systemic and structural factors impacting your mental health: racism, colonialism, poverty, displacement, intergenerational trauma
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Integration of traditional and cultural healing practices when appropriate and desired
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Emphasis on personal and collective empowerment: therapy as a tool for reclaiming agency, not reinforcing dependency
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Naming harm: we don't ask you to "cope" with systems that were designed to harm you; we validate your experience and support your self-advocacy
Our Locations
Edmonton (In-Person and Virtual)
11041 9 Ave NW, Unit 102
Edmonton, AB
T6J 5R9
Regina (In-Person and Virtual)
In-Person Address Provided as needed
Toronto (Virtual Office)
Office 353
145 1/2 Church Street, Unit 5
Toronto, ON
M5B 1Y4
ReiDefine Wellness is based in Edmonton, Alberta and serves clients across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario through in-person and secure virtual sessions. We are actively expanding our reach to serve more communities across Canada with culturally responsive, trauma-informed psychological services, assessments, and consultation.
Therapeutic Modalities We Use
Our clinical team is trained in the following evidence-based and trauma-focused approaches. We match the modality, or combination of modalities, to your needs, goals, comfort level, and the nature of what you're working through.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a structured therapy that helps people heal from the symptoms and emotional distress resulting from traumatic life experiences. Rather than requiring you to retell your trauma in detail, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge. Our practitioners adapt EMDR protocols to honour cultural and individual differences in trauma processing.
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Benefits:
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Process traumatic memories without extensive verbal retelling
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Reduce intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares
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Decrease emotional reactivity to trauma triggers
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Develop more adaptive beliefs about yourself and your experiences
Often used for: Trauma and PTSD, motor vehicle accident trauma, combat-related trauma, single-incident trauma, complex trauma from childhood, first responder trauma, narcissistic abuse recovery
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns that influence emotions and behaviours. Our approach to CBT integrates culturally responsive adaptations that honour diverse worldviews and experiences. We don't just challenge "distorted" thinking; we help you distinguish between thoughts that don't serve you and thoughts that are accurate responses to real systemic harm.
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Benefits:
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Develop skills to challenge unhelpful thought patterns
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Learn practical coping strategies for daily challenges
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Create lasting behavioural changes through consistent practice
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Improve problem-solving and emotional regulation
Often used for: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias, motor vehicle accident trauma, workplace stress, adjustment difficulties
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is a specific type of cognitive therapy designed to help people recover from PTSD and related conditions. It focuses on how you think about and make meaning of the traumatic event: the "stuck points" that keep you trapped in cycles of self-blame, guilt, shame, or fear. We adapt CPT to account for the ways systemic oppression and cultural context shape those stuck points.
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Benefits:
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Identify and challenge stuck points related to trauma
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Reduce feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame
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Develop a more balanced understanding of what happened and why
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Decrease PTSD symptoms including avoidance and hypervigilance
Often used for: PTSD, sexual assault trauma, military and combat trauma, motor vehicle accident trauma, childhood abuse, intimate partner violence
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
Prolonged Exposure helps people gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations they have been avoiding. Through repeated, controlled exposure: both imaginal (revisiting the memory) and in vivo (facing avoided situations), the emotional intensity of the trauma decreases over time. Our clinicians pace this work carefully and adapt it to each client's cultural context and readiness.
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Benefits:
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Reduce avoidance behaviours that limit your life
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Decrease the intensity of trauma-related fear and distress
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Regain confidence in situations you've been avoiding
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Process trauma in a safe, controlled, and paced environment
Often used for: PTSD, combat trauma, sexual assault, motor vehicle accidents, phobias, anxiety disorders with significant avoidance
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy recognizes the connection between mind and body, focusing on how trauma and stress are stored physically. Our approach incorporates traditional and cultural healing practices that honor body wisdom.
Benefits
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Reconnect with body sensations as guides to healing
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Release physical tension stored from traumatic experiences
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Develop grounding techniques for emotional regulation
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Improve mind-body connection
Ideal For
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Trauma with significant physical symptoms
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Anxiety with somatic manifestations
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Individuals who struggle with traditional talk therapy
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Recovery from physical injuries with emotional components
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS views the mind as naturally multiple, containing many sub-personalities or 'parts.' This approach helps identify and heal wounded parts while strengthening the core Self. Our practice incorporates cultural adaptations that honor collective identities and historical contexts.
Benefits
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Develop self-compassion and internal harmony
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Heal wounded aspects of self without overwhelm
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Improve internal communication and reduce inner conflict
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Enhance emotional regulation through parts work
Ideal For
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Complex trauma and dissociative experiences
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Identity exploration across cultures
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Relationship patterns that repeat across generations
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Those seeking depth work with spiritual dimensions
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy recognizes the connection between mind and body, focusing on how trauma and stress are stored physically. Our approach incorporates traditional and cultural healing practices that honor body wisdom.
Benefits
-
Reconnect with body sensations as guides to healing
-
Release physical tension stored from traumatic experiences
-
Develop grounding techniques for emotional regulation
-
Improve mind-body connection
Ideal For
-
Trauma with significant physical symptoms
-
Anxiety with somatic manifestations
-
Individuals who struggle with traditional talk therapy
-
Recovery from physical injuries with emotional components
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS views the mind as naturally multiple, containing many sub-personalities or 'parts.' This approach helps identify and heal wounded parts while strengthening the core Self. Our practice incorporates cultural adaptations that honor collective identities and historical contexts.
Benefits
-
Develop self-compassion and internal harmony
-
Heal wounded aspects of self without overwhelm
-
Improve internal communication and reduce inner conflict
-
Enhance emotional regulation through parts work
Ideal For
-
Complex trauma and dissociative experiences
-
Identity exploration across cultures
-
Relationship patterns that repeat across generations
-
Those seeking depth work with spiritual dimensions
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy recognizes the connection between mind and body, focusing on how trauma and stress are stored physically. Our approach incorporates traditional and cultural healing practices that honor body wisdom.
Benefits
-
Reconnect with body sensations as guides to healing
-
Release physical tension stored from traumatic experiences
-
Develop grounding techniques for emotional regulation
-
Improve mind-body connection
Ideal For
-
Trauma with significant physical symptoms
-
Anxiety with somatic manifestations
-
Individuals who struggle with traditional talk therapy
-
Recovery from physical injuries with emotional components
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS views the mind as naturally multiple, containing many sub-personalities or 'parts.' This approach helps identify and heal wounded parts while strengthening the core Self. Our practice incorporates cultural adaptations that honor collective identities and historical contexts.
Benefits
-
Develop self-compassion and internal harmony
-
Heal wounded aspects of self without overwhelm
-
Improve internal communication and reduce inner conflict
-
Enhance emotional regulation through parts work
Ideal For
-
Complex trauma and dissociative experiences
-
Identity exploration across cultures
-
Relationship patterns that repeat across generations
-
Those seeking depth work with spiritual dimensions
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy recognizes the connection between mind and body, focusing on how trauma and stress are stored physically. Our approach incorporates traditional and cultural healing practices that honor body wisdom.
Benefits
-
Reconnect with body sensations as guides to healing
-
Release physical tension stored from traumatic experiences
-
Develop grounding techniques for emotional regulation
-
Improve mind-body connection
Ideal For
-
Trauma with significant physical symptoms
-
Anxiety with somatic manifestations
-
Individuals who struggle with traditional talk therapy
-
Recovery from physical injuries with emotional components
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS views the mind as naturally multiple, containing many sub-personalities or 'parts.' This approach helps identify and heal wounded parts while strengthening the core Self. Our practice incorporates cultural adaptations that honor collective identities and historical contexts.
Benefits
-
Develop self-compassion and internal harmony
-
Heal wounded aspects of self without overwhelm
-
Improve internal communication and reduce inner conflict
-
Enhance emotional regulation through parts work
Ideal For
-
Complex trauma and dissociative experiences
-
Identity exploration across cultures
-
Relationship patterns that repeat across generations
-
Those seeking depth work with spiritual dimensions
