Elena Volk, MEd., Registered Provisional Psychologist | St. Albert

Populations – Individuals, Couples, Adults, Adolescents and Children (5+)

Specialties: Relationships, Attachment Concerns, Sex Therapy, Sexuality

Standard: Emotional Regulation, Women's Issues, Compassion or Empathy Fatigue, Sensory Processing Sensitivity (e.g., HSP), Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions, Stress, Separation Anxiety, Self-Esteem/Self-Worth, Communication, ADHD, and 2SLGBTQIA+ Concerns

Therapeutic Models – Emotion-Focused Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Sex Therapy, Gottman, Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Art Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, and soon offering Animal-Assisted Interventions

Location : St. Albert and Virtual

Availability: Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings in St.Albert

Notes: Elena is not currently taking new clients

A Note From Elena

A common challenge clients often face is taking the risk in therapy to be vulnerable and opening up about more personal or difficult thoughts, emotions, and struggles. This reluctance to be vulnerable can stem from fears, shame, or learning from past experiences.

In sessions, I create a safe and non-judgmental space where clients can gradually build trust and feel comfortable exploring and expressing themselves and their emotions. Through empathetic listening, evidence-based therapeutic techniques, mutual authenticity, and a feedback-informed approach, we work together to explore these sensitive areas at a pace that feels right for each client.

Clients often discover that embracing vulnerability is a transformative step on their journey to healing and personal growth. Although sometimes incredibly difficult, being present, honest, and vulnerable is often what leads to profound breakthroughs and lasting positive change. As clients become more open and authentic in therapy, they gain deeper self-understanding, increased emotional resilience, and improved relationships with themselves and others outside of therapy.

Experience:

I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. I hold a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor's degree in Honours Psychology from Grant MacEwan University. I have also completed speciality training in Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Sex Therapy, the Gottman Method, and in working with children. My therapeutic approach is grounded in EFT and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). In essence, this means connecting to ourselves and our emotions with kindness and compassion to understand and work through our inner struggles. That said, while I draw inspiration from these approaches, I integrate interventions from a variety of therapeutic modalities and take care to personalize our therapy sessions to meet your specific needs, goals, and preferences. In our time together, you can expect a warm, empathetic, and compassionate environment where you are free to express yourself without judgment. My goals are to create a space where all backgrounds, stories, and identities are welcomed, an open and honest dialogue is maintained, and where you feel heard, valued, and supported. 

Favourite Quote:

“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage.” - Brene Brown

Outside Work:

I absolutely adore animals. Growing up, I often had six or more pets at home and volunteered at an animal shelter for many years. Currently, I have one dog and one cat! Aside from hanging out with them and my spouse, I love to sit in the sunshine and read, play Dungeons and Dragons, video games, and engage in various art-based activities like drawing or painting. I am also currently learning German!