A Greeting from Dr. Melissa | she/her
Registered Psychologist. Associate Professor.
Owner/Director: Canmore Counselling & the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School
Hello, I am Melissa!
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As a registered psychologist, associate professor, yoga teacher & lifelong learner, I love empowering people to live fully.
My Mission: To empower compassionate souls to love themselves unconditionally. I have earned my Ph.D., Master of Counselling, & Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. With a keen interest in ancient wisdom traditions, community care, authenticity, well-being & relationships, I believe that in order to care for others, we must also care for ourselves. Drawing on an integrative & client-centred approach to counselling, I offer individual, family & couples counselling and am the creator of the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School, and offer Community-Based offerings. In 2014, Michael and I opened Canmore Counselling & we are so grateful that over the years Dr. Amélie, Carolyn, Alex, Anissa, Nicki, Chey, Simmi, Oana, Kelsey, Michelle, and Dr. Jessica have joined our counselling & wellness team because they are amazing people who we have known for years. As a team we are dedicated to destigmatizing mental health & offering trauma-informed community care. In 2019, we opened the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School which is dedicated to supporting deep personal growth and education to support budding and well-established yoga teachers and their communities. This passion project has offered me an opportunity to work alongside some of my favourite people, who have joined us as faculty, and connect with some of my new favourite people, our students. #grateful My mantra for many years has been: Be who you needed when you were younger, and it through my yoga psychology studentship that I deepen my connection to myself and lead from my heart. As an Indigenous woman, I believe we can all advocate for equity and justice by cultivating relationships and learning from others. I am deeply dedicated to my own personal development as a way to support myself and those I walk alongside. I have my own counsellor, am continuing my yoga studentship & am grateful to have support from Elders/Knowledge Keepers and mentors. Looking forward to connecting with you! With goodness, Melissa | she/her |
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Models & Theories I Integrate:
Attachment-Based Therapy Mindfulness-Based Theories Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Solution-Focused Therapy Body Awareness Yoga Philosophy Trauma Center's Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) |
I am grateful to support:
Individuals Families Yoga Students Supervisees Indigenous Communities BIPOC & 2SLGBTQ+ Communities School Staff & Students Buisnesses & Associations |
Dr. Melissa Jay is an Indigenous, Nehiyaw-Métis member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Canmore Counselling is located Châ Ûpchîchîyen Kudebi (translated from Îyârhe Nakoda as “shooting at the willows”), colonially known as Canmore. The physical location of Canmore Counselling & the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology is in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which is considered Treaty 7 land and home of Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III, and the traditional territory of the Îyârhe Nakoda, including the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Wesley First Nations, as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations. As an act of reconciliation and commitment to decolonization, we are committed to the TRC's Calls to Action.
At Canmore Counselling, we are also privileged to be yoga students, practitioners, and guides. Our offerings centre on the root of yoga as Indigenous to South Asia, and we are grateful to learn from and amplify the South Asian practitioners and teachers whenever possible. We are grateful for the eight limbs of yoga, as taught by Patanjali. It is a joy to walk alongside our incredible alumni of the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School as they create opportunities for care, connection & curiosity within their communities.
We believe wholeheartedly that community, social justice, decolonization, anti-oppression, and anti-racism are inherent to trauma-informed care. Thank you for being here.
At Canmore Counselling, we are also privileged to be yoga students, practitioners, and guides. Our offerings centre on the root of yoga as Indigenous to South Asia, and we are grateful to learn from and amplify the South Asian practitioners and teachers whenever possible. We are grateful for the eight limbs of yoga, as taught by Patanjali. It is a joy to walk alongside our incredible alumni of the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School as they create opportunities for care, connection & curiosity within their communities.
We believe wholeheartedly that community, social justice, decolonization, anti-oppression, and anti-racism are inherent to trauma-informed care. Thank you for being here.