Keith Balisky, M.C., R.C.C.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Canadian Certified Counsellor. I hold a Masters of Counselling from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Alberta. My previous work before counselling includes clinical research in chronic pain. I consider myself a lifelong learner. I aim to grow both inside the counselling chair and as a person. Within the counselling world I grow by consulting, learning from other professionals, and continued training and education.

Outside of the clinical space, cooking and food, in general, are some of my biggest passions. If I am not in the kitchen you may find me outside running, hiking or enjoying the sun. Beyond that, I am a nerdy person with interests in board games, video games, and movies. If it’s nerdy, there is a good chance it’s for me!

I take an integrative approach to individual counselling. I use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy, Strength Based approaches, and Solution Focused approaches. I pay particular attention to the patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. I find it important to tailor the experience to the unique individual. My first step is to meet a client where they are at and to make a human to human connection. I strive to create a space where a client is safe and agency is held. I also strive to create a safe space for inclusivity of all people and all communities.

I believe that counselling is a journey of growth and understanding. I am lucky to be able to walk that path with people. I aim to create a space where people can let go of the weight they carry and explore it without judgement. I want to empower people to be the best version of themselves.

I also have Gottman level one training for couples counselling. It is a researched and evidenced based approach that focuses on communication, what is currently working, what needs to improve, and what is getting in the way of growth. I connect with this type of couples counselling because it takes an evidence based approach and focuses on ensuring that both members of the couple feel heard, valued, and loved by the other member for the majority of the time but allows space for people to be human as well. It also backed by research that indicates it provides similarly effective results across races, and heterosexual and homosexual couples.

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Life Stressors
• Trauma
• Intimate Relationships
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Communication
• Emotion Work
• Assertiveness Training
• Strength Building
• Life Transitions
• LGBTQ2+ inclusivity
• BIPOC inclusivity