I am a Registered Psychologist and I have over ten years experience working with teens and adults in public, non-profit and community mental health services. I understand seeking help is not always easy and I would like to commend you for taking this courageous step to explore therapy for your wellness journey. While life presents us with various challenges, sometimes we can feel overwhelmed or stuck in patterns that hinder our growth and happiness, I am here to support you every step of the way with compassion, respect and a safe space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences without fear of judgement using a culturally-informed approach.
My areas of expertise include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Internal Family Systems, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Narrative therapy.
I support clients with depression, anxiety, trauma and other behavioral issues.
I believe in the power of empathy and connection in the therapeutic process. By working collaboratively, we can explore your concerns, identify your strengths, and develop effective strategies to help you navigate life’s ups and downs.
I am looking forward to support you in your journey towards positive change and emotional well-being.

With over 50 years of combined experience in Psychology, my team and I pride ourselves in helping you feel and function your best no matter where you’re starting from. We build on what you’re already doing well to help you deal with what’s currently troubling you. We believe that even if you have issues (like we all do) there’s nothing “wrong” with you.

Talking to us feels like a relaxed conversation with someone you know. We’re trained to help you feel safe and at ease while asking engaging questions to help draw out the deeper aspects of what’s challenging you. We also help uncover strengths and competencies you may not know you have.

Our practical, down-to-earth, no nonsense approach helps you quickly cut through the noise so you can feel better AND do better.

Even if you’re not sure if anyone can help you, feel free to reach out. Our knowledgeable, warm, and friendly “Intake Specialist” will be happy to answer your questions and help you connect with the right person. We’ll take care of you. We got you!

I grew up in a community of midwives, storytellers, healers, and entrepreneurs. My pillars were strong black women who went out every day to face challenges and barriers and would come home to show me that they were unbroken. My community was built on resiliency and strength. When it came to mental health issues and finding a therapist, that was a luxury we could not afford or invest in. Mental health was dealt with at the pastor’s office with encouragement to pray and seek support within your community. My community lived up to the societal and generational constructs of “work harder”, “just pray about it” and “keep your head down and be grateful” because that is how we survived. A black psychologist was unheard of.

In college, I decided that I wanted to do psychology. With trepidation, I told my family and to my surprise, they were supportive of my choice. I completed my bachelor’s degree at Southern Adventist University, in Collegedale, Tennessee, and my graduate degree with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy at Loma Linda University Canadian Campus in Lacombe, Alberta. The biggest lesson I learned along the way, was that “just talking” wasn’t helpful and that the most valuable component of therapy is holding space for a client.

I’m eclectic in my therapy modalities and tend to prefer using somatic techniques such as somatic experiencing and Hakomi as well as Emotion Focus Therapy.

At Scarlett Psychological, my job is to provide a safe space for healing and transformation. My clients’ stories are important, their words, thoughts, and feelings deserve to be validated and explored for them to have a transformative experience.

Michelle is a registered psychologist, dramatherapist, certified Canadian counsellor, and educator in Alberta and Ontario with over 26 years’ experience providing mental health services for youth, adults, and families. In addition to teaching and training diverse populations, Michelle has provided assessment and intervention services for institutions, school boards, community mental health agencies, and in private practice.

Working with individuals, groups, families, and couples, Michelle finds that people are spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual, and physical beings, each on a journey to find balance in all areas. Michelle primarily uses embodied methods rooted in psychotherapeutic practices to treat a variety of issues including self-esteem, bullying, trauma and abuse, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, family conflict, co-parenting, and grief and loss.

Michelle also uses the expressive arts therapies to encourage clients of all ages to identify their values, goals, and skills, meanwhile tapping into their creative gifts for healing. Michelle further shares her passion for hearing people’s stories by using theatre to inspire conflict transformation, community building, environmental awareness, and creative solutions to social justice issues.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys singing, going to the theatre, reading a good suspense novel, and dancing in the rain. But most of all, she loves helping people on their journey to transform their lives and heal their minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. She is a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend. Michelle was born in England, raised in Canada, and is of Jamaican heritage.

Licensing Body: College of Psychologists of Alberta; College of Ontario Psychologists

Education: Master of Counselling (Gonzaga University, 2001); Doctorate of Education (The University of Alberta, expected 2024)

Professional Associations:

Psychologists’ Association of Alberta
The Canadian Register of Health Service Psychologists

Mercy has worked extensively with people from diverse age groups, backgrounds, and mental health issues. She has also worked within the area of child and adolescent services in the Edmonton School System through Alberta Health Services. Mercy’s rich education in family and couples’systems allows her to provide effective guidance to those struggling with relationship issues. Through her private work, Mercy is proficient in helping clients deal with work related stress/workplace challenges, and job losses.

Mercy has extensive training and experience working with people struggling with a variety of disorders including: Trauma, Adjustment Disorders, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety, Cognitive Disorders, Depression, Addiction problems, and more. Mercy counsels with a variety of therapeutic approaches including EMDR, Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Family Systems therapies.

Mercy has a personal faith background that enables her to provide faith-based counselling to clients who want to incorporate their faith/spirituality into treatment. She is a dedicated therapist who effectively works with clients to guide them through a variety of situations. Mercy’s counsel equips clients to use their strengths to accomplish the goals they set.