Are you an adult, adolescent, or family struggling to connect the dots and make sense of ruptured self, lack of inner peace? It could be challenging trying to heal trauma or mend broken relationships as a family. When left unresolved, trauma can become part of us. Taking a fresh lens of Healing Centred Approach, my goal is to support you in developing insight into holistic restoration of your wellbeing. I believe individuals are multidimensional beings therefore my goal is to help you unfold and unpack your concerns in order to alleviate suffering and foster healing.
My speciality entails supporting clients of diverse backgrounds. I draw from diverse therapeutic toolboxes such as Cultural Betrayal Trauma Theory, Solution Focused, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Family Systems , Person Centred, Multicultural, Solution Focused Brief , Rational Emotive Behaviour therapy.
Incorporating cultural traditions, seeing the individual as the expert in their own life, whatever complementary therapeutic approach I integrate in therapy, I respect that individuals present with complex issues that offers some understanding of their struggles or illnesses. The aim is to identify coping strategies as we unmask shame and promote healing.
Hello,
My name is Ifeoma Ezekeke. I am a mental health therapist with a Master’s Degree in Social Work with Clinical Specialization. I have extensive experience with individual, family, couple, and group therapy, and I have practiced in community and hospital settings.
My primary goal is to provide a warm, compassionate, non-judgmental, and safe space where you feel respected, supported, and understood. I believe in my client’s inner resources and strengths, and that change is possible through collaboration. If you feel scared, overwhelmed, or discouraged by the thought of attending therapy, or if you simply look forward to the idea of therapy, I am ready to provide the support that you need to begin your journey towards a positive change.
My approach in therapy incorporates the integration of various evidence-based modalities. I am Master ART Certified (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) for treatment of Trauma, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, and OCD. I am also a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) for treatment of anxiety disorders such as OCD, Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Specific Phobias. Other approaches that I use in treatment are Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Collaborative Problem Solving.
As an anti- oppressive practitioner, I highly value diversity and I am able to provide equal respect and skilled professional attention to every client that walks into the therapy room.
I therefore Invite you to The Change Talk Space, let’s begin your healing journey!
Dayirai is a Registered Clinical Social Worker and approved Clinical Supervisor (RCSW-S) who is passionate about mental health care and envisions a world where families practice skills and regulate their emotions together. She has provided mental wellness, coaching, and consulting services to individuals, families, couples, and communities for over 17 years and is living her purpose. She is registered to practice in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Nova Scotia. Dayirai obtained her MSW from Toronto Metropolitan University and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Alberta School of Public Health.
Dayirai has experience conducting comprehensive mental status screenings and provisional diagnoses using the DSM-5 and has facilitated DBT skills groups for adolescents and adults. As a Registered Clinical Social Worker in the province of Alberta, Dayirai can only provide clinical diagnosis to clients located in Alberta as per the ACSW guidelines.
She says that she ‘became Black when she came to Canada.’ Based on intersectional theory, her identity is also gendered, beginning as a girl child living in Zimbabwe who immigrated to Canada as a woman. Dayirai’s passion is partnering and working with clients to help them navigate the conflict that arises from the daily navigation of societal narratives and expectations versus their biographical narratives and how they identify themselves. She provides a compassionate and creative presence in attending to whatever clients bring to their work together. Her approach is respectful, authentic, ‘straightforward,’ strengths-based, recovery-oriented, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, solution-focused, empowering, anti-oppressive, collaborative, and non-judgmental.
Dayirai is fearless in talking about complicated or awkward stuff and is open to letting clients know when they are standing in their way. In terms of her style, Dayirai brings herself into her work genuinely and authentically, and when appropriate, she uses self-disclosure to help facilitate the therapeutic process with clients. Dayirai is active in the therapy process and balances listening to clients with providing reflection and direction. Dayirai’s goal is to meet clients where they are and to be helpful in a way that is specific to their circumstances.
Dayirai birthed Journeys of Life Counselling Services Inc. through many ups and downs. Losing her mom and witnessing her death at the tender age of 16 forever changed her life. As she has journeyed through this gift called life, Dayirai figured that there are lessons to be gotten, and she vowed to take what she is learning along the way and help others transform their lives on their terms. According to Dayirai, we each have a story worth telling, and as a result, she seeks to honour people’s stories as we journey together toward insight, transformational healing, and change. Dayirai is of the Christian faith. She enjoys music, dancing, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Planted in Zimbabwe, rooted in Africa and grounded in Abya-Yala, Turtle Island, Canada for the past 19 years, Shayla is a mother first before all the academic and professional accolades. When she is not adulting, mothering or coparenting with her partner, she can be often found holding space for healing journeys and bearing witness to the sacred and multistories of youth, adults and families of diverse cultures and identities. She is also an Africentric Cultural Safety Consultant who invests her time providing psychoeducation on racial trauma and cultural responsiveness.
Shayla is an Alberta board approved social work clinical supervisor and CRPO recognized clinical supervisor who coaches and supervises and supports other therapists across Canada. Shayla is interprovincially licensed and has been practicing as a social worker since 2009; she is passionate about anti oppressive practice, UBUNTU, cultural humilty and decolonizing mental health.
In addition to the multiple roles that Shayla wears, she is a sessional social worker instructor with University of Calgary and an equity responsive, certified workplace psychological health and safety consultant and advisor.
As a mixed raced cis-gendered woman, with a background in gender studies and social work, I understand how oppression and the intersectionality of one’s life may impact emotional wellbeing.
My gentle nature and in depth, comprehensive training enables me to work with those whom have experienced traumatic events – including onetime happenings or experiences that have happened over a long time. I am able to connect to many different types of people; those who are eager about counselling and those who hold fear about it.
My skills and approaches work best with clients who are ready to engage in deep healing; who are ready to create transformation in their lives by truly integrating their pain into their life history not have it negatively impact their present.
The integrated healing approaches I use combine cognitive, emotional and somatic knowledge to gain a comprehensive perspective and experience of ourselves and our world. I believe in full wellness – supporting clients to explore, outside of therapy, what may bring joy and contentment; focusing upon enhancing client strengths.
There are many reasons why people seek counselling – the desire to feel better is a common thread that connects them. With me, you will find a safe, private space to explore the issues that you struggle with. You will learn strategies to increase your wellbeing & minimize emotional pain and discomfort.