Dr. Maggie Brennan

My areas of expertise include binge eating, bulimia, emotional eating, trauma, emotion and nervous system regulation, anxiety and embodiment.

###Treatment Modalities

EMDR

Internal Family Systems

Sensorimotor Psychoherapy

Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches

Intuitive Eating Counselling

Compassion Focused Therapy

Trauma Sensitive Yoga

###Areas of Focus

Trauma

Eating disorders and eating related-concerns

Weight and body Image concerns

Anxiety

Nervous system and emotion regulation

Embodiment

Improving your relationship with yourself (e.g., self-criticism, self-doubt, self-worth)

###Education

Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta

Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta

###Training

####Specific Training for Eating Disorders and Eating-Related Concerns:

I have completed extensive training in working with individuals struggling with their relationship with food and their bodies. I am trained in many approaches specifically designed to help with eating disorders and eating challenges including:

Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CB-E)

Family-Based Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FB-AN)

Mindfulness-Based Eating Awaness Training (MB-EAT)

Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor

Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)

Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Somatic and self-compassion-based approaches

####Specific Training for Trauma:

EMDR

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Internal Family Systems

Trauma Sensitive Yoga

####Yoga Training:

RYT-500

Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator

Trained in the Kripalu Yoga tradition

###Working with Me

If you choose to work with me, I will work collaboratively with you to establish goals and determine the direction of therapy. I am respectful of the fact that discussing personal matters with a stranger may be difficult and I will strive to create a a warm, supportive, non-judgmental, caring environment and anti-oppressive environment.

Depending on your aims, our work together may involve: a) increasing your insight and understanding about your own experiences, responses and tendencies; b) learning new information that is relevant to your concerns; c) developing new skills and capacities, allowing you to make changes that are meaningful and significant to you; d) shifting the ways you interact with and treat yourself; or e) processing past experiences so that you can integrate them and move forward in your life.

In order to be able to help my clients most effectively, I am trained in many different types of therapy. The specific approaches I use with you will depend on your needs, presenting concerns, and preferences. In my experience, working in an experiential and embodied way leads to the most transformative and lasting changes for my clients. Failing to incorporate the body in therapy may also limit the progress that is possible.

Incorporating the body in therapy may involve helping you increase your capacity to go inside and be with your body and internal experiences; increasing your awareness of your lived experience (i.e., not just your thoughts, but also your physical sensations, impulses, emotions and nervous system states); learning to listen to your body and what it is telling you; moving your body in ways that help you to experience feelings of calm and safety, energy, or empowerment; or embodying your strengths and resources at the physical level.