About Me
Meet Brenda Braaten.
Hi! my name is Brenda Braaten. I am a registered therapeutic counsellor, educator, and coach who specializes in working with women of all ages who are ready to create lasting change in their lives. My passion is helping women rise up so that you can flourish in your shadow and light and feel the glorious freedom of being your authentic self. You are crazy busy and juggling demands on your time and energy that are too often draining you and robbing you of the joy you deserve. You may need some adjusting, or you may feel like a major hot mess– either way, we can look at what is holding you back and create empowering plans for you to thrive and live a more mindful life. I am a modern counsellor; my connection with you will be taken very seriously yet will be friendly, encouraging, inviting, and casual.
I approach counselling in a modern way. I create a “come as you are” space where you are the focus and where we keep it real. Don your heels if that is your thing, or put on your sweats or jammies, grab a coffee, get comfy and join me virtually, by phone, walk-and-talk, or in my office. I honor your messiness and believe that you are the expert in your own life, not me. The last thing you need is to create an image for your therapist. I invite you to be you, where no topic is off the table and where you can ditch perfection and whoever you think you should be. I want to know who you really are. I want to UNSTUFFY counselling for you! I believe in the power of humor, finding solutions, reframing thoughts and experiences, and giving you a nudge when needed. I am warm and approachable, I will not be writing notes while you talk nor analyzing you over my “therapist glasses”. I love to work with women of the world and believe that women need women!
Reclaim Your Essence.
Maybe the world views you as having it all together, but inside you are lacking confidence, peace, self-esteem, and fulfillment. Or Maybe you are barely holding on and getting out of bed is difficult. Let’s chat. I can help you worry less, minimize stress, ditch the perfection trap, nurture, honour, and better understand yourself and your story, and be more authentically YOU! Maybe you have experienced trauma in your life; trauma is timeless and continues unless we change the narrative.
I can help you to integrate your trauma, honour your response to it, and transform it from trauma to resiliency. I use a revolutionary global approach to trauma called Tribal Theory that celebrates your trauma responses rather than labels them. Maybe life is feeling pretty damn good and you have no “issue” to bring to therapy. Evidence-based therapy offers you an opportunity for greater self-awareness and self-discovery; we can live more meaningful and connected lives with greater understanding of ourselves and our relationships. Together let’s unravel your story, I will listen and I will believe you!
Taking care of Yourself doesn’t mean me first; it means me too! – L.R. Knost
Women tend to take care of everyone else but leave themselves thrashing in the chaos of life and hoping for change that never seems to come. That is simply not good enough anymore. Let’s look at the things that are holding you back and build plans to overcome them and thrive.
Change, self-discovery, and emotional wellness can come through therapy.
Training & Education
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and Member of the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT) (Registration Number: 3045)
Over 20 years of combined experience as an educator and counsellor
Bachelor of Education – Great Distinction – Educational Psychology- University of Saskatchewan
Diploma of Counselling Skills – Orca Institute- Vancouver B.C.
Bates Award recipient for Outstanding Performance and Leadership- University of Saskatchewan
Certified Instructor for Positive Parenting
Certified facilitator for Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Program
Training in CBT, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Based Therapy, and Compassion-Based Therapy and Trauma-Informed Therapy
Training through Crisis Response and Trauma Resource Institute in Anxiety and Depression
Training in cultural responsiveness and sensitivity
Approved therapist for Victim Services with the Government of Saskatchewan
Approved Therapist for LyfeMd
There are many therapeutic techniques used in the practice of therapy and counselling which can become overwhelming. However, I have years of experience working with these techniques and have found the ones I deem to be truly valuable. In my practice, I draw from a variety of techniques to create a personalized plan, just for you! The following therapeutic techniques are combined to create a comprehensive approach that best suits you: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Solution- Focused Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Trauma- Informed Therapy , Culturally -Responsive Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Tribal Theory, Play and Art Therapy
If you are a parent the quest for perfection can be monumentally increased. The burden on moms is great. As a mom myself, I understand the desire and the pursuit to be the perfect mom, raising the perfect children. However, I am happy to tell you that simply nothing of the sort exists! In my space all parents are supported, no matter your regrets and perceived mistakes, and you will become better equipped to be an effective, but maybe an imperfect parent. And that is perfectly okay! I offer a gentle, safe space where we can be real about parenting. We are all just trying to do the best we can, and sometimes we need a little bit of help along the way. I also specialize in helping you co-parent in separation and divorce.
I serve women and for that reason, I also work with the men in their lives. Our relationships have huge influence in our lives. They can support, nurture and help us be our best version… or they can rob us of joy, energy, authenticity, and being our best version. Often the men in our lives do not fully understand the burden on women to be all things to all people. Women need the men in their lives to see them, hear them, and nourish them. To all the women who need more from their relationship…. I can help the man in your life give you what you need to be fully you and walk in the world with more peace, fulfillment and joy- and with way more energy! Ultimately this benefits both of you! I provide men’s therapy through the feminine lens; an approach that I believe is critical in our modern world. Encourage your guy to connect with me! I will work with him to help you thrive!
Modern Therapy for the Modern Woman and those She Loves.
Let’s Chat! Say yes to yourself! Today is the day!
Let’s Chat! Say yes to yourself! Today is the day!
My Family
I invite your children to work with me. With over 20 years of experience as an educator and counsellor, working with tweens, teenagers, and young adults, I would love to work with your young folks– they too sometimes need extra help. I bask in their energy, spirit, resiliency, and yes even their attitude! It is hard to be a young person today and stress is impacting our kids like never before. As a mom, your daily life is impacted deeply by your children and how they are managing life, and how you are connecting with them. If your relationship with your kids could be improved or if they are struggling with the hurdles of life, then therapy can help. I am really darn good at building relationships with young people; I can help them to cope better with the increasing demands of school, friends, anxiety, depression, social media, peer pressure, and bullying. I can help you and your tweens (10+), teenagers, and young adults connect in a more meaningful way and minimize the conflict and power struggles.