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 A Greeting from Nicole Lightning-Strongman, MACP, CCC
Certified Canadian Counsellor 

I am a proud LGBTQIA2S+ Cree, married to my wife of 10 years. We raised four children and a Kokom (Grandmother), to one granddaughter.

I am deeply committed to holistic wellness and community care. By combining academic knowledge with hands-on experience, I aim to offer compassionate support and effective interventions, fostering healing and resilience in each unique individual.

I am a dedicated 500-hour certified trauma-informed yoga psychology practitioner, alumni of Canmore Counselling Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School. I own a wellness business where I lead transformative workshops, weaving together the wisdom of the Medicine Wheel teachings and the philosophy of yoga to create healing spaces that honor Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Through my workshops and practice, I invite individuals to explore inner balance, spiritual connection, and community resilience, offering tools for self-care and empowerment rooted in both tradition and mindfulness.
 
I would be honored to be a part of your healing journey. This process is deeply significant, and I appreciate the opportunity to connect with you during this time. I look forward to discussing how we can work together to navigate this path, offering support and insights that may aid in your healing process. Thank you for allowing me to accompany you on this profound journey.

Respectfully,

Nicole

*Please note, I am a registered Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association; your insurance provider may cover some or all of the session fee. Please check with them prior to booking.

Canmore Location:

109-705 10th Street Canmore, AB T1W2A3
We're next to Communitea & Vermelho, 
​on the corner of 10th St. and 6th Ave.

Established in 2014.
​Copyright © 2026 by
Dr. Melissa Jay is an Indigenous, nehiyaw-Métis member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. The primary location of Canmore Counselling and Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School is located in Chuwapchipchiyan Kudi Bi (translated from Îyârhe Nakoda as “shooting at the willows”), colonially known as Canmore. We are grateful to be located on Treaty 7 territory and the current and ancestral lands of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda), which includes of the Bearspaw First Nation, Chiniki First Nation, and Goodstoney First Nation, as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika First Nation, Piikani First Nation, and Kainai First Nation. This is also the home to the Rocky View Métis District 4 within the Battle River Territory. We recognize all Nations who continue to nurture these lands, and we are dedicated to uplifting Truth, language, and culture as essential to right relations. 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 trauma-informed care requires commitment to community, social justice, decolonization, anti-oppression, and anti-racism. Thank you for being here :)​