Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Psychotherapist and Therapist
Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Psychotherapist and Therapist
At the heart of my practice is a deep commitment to meeting people where they are and walking alongside them through life’s most complex challenges. Over the course of my 19-year career in mental health, I have learned that genuine healing begins with safety, trust, and empathy. Whether supporting a young person navigating trauma, guiding a family through difficult behavioral dynamics, or helping an adult work through burnout and anxiety, my approach is grounded in the belief that everyone possesses the capacity for growth and resilience when given the right support.
My journey as a therapist spans public health, community settings, and private practice, where I’ve had the privilege of supporting diverse individuals, couples, and families. I bring an integrative, compassionate lens to therapy—blending evidence-based tools with a relational, human-centered approach that honors each person’s unique story. Beyond my clinical work, I am passionate about creating spaces where people feel truly heard, valued, and empowered to build meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Professional Summary
Name & Credentials: Nancy Friesen, MA, CCC, BA, BEd
Registration & Certification: Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).
Certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Facilitator.
Public Health & Youth Specialization
Child & Youth Counseling: Provided 15 years of mental health, addictions, and crisis intervention services for youth aged 6 to 18, applying trauma-focused care alongside structured intake, triage, and suicide risk assessments.
Special Needs & Behavioral Support: Supported children with special needs using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles and coordinated school-based Behavior Intervention Programs.
Group Facilitation & Parenting Programs: Designed and facilitated Social Skills Training workshops, emotional regulation programs, and structured parenting intervention courses.
Private Practice Experience
Cross-Demographic Therapy: Maintained high-volume clinical caseloads providing mental health and addictions counseling to individuals, couples, families, and youth across private agency settings. Culturally Sensitive Care: Established rapid therapeutic rapport to facilitate collaborative healing pathways for diverse client populations, including Indigenous communities.
Evidence-Based Interventions:
Integrated behavioral and cognitive approaches to address emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, substance use, and complex family dynamics.
Interprofessional Collaboration: Partnered with community professionals and support networks to optimize holistic client care and case management.
Core Modalities & Therapeutic Toolkit
Trauma-Focused Frameworks: Trauma-Informed Care, Trauma-Focused Approaches, and familiarity with Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model.
Cognitive & Behavioral Frameworks: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Identity & Goal-Oriented Therapies: Narrative Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT). Relationships & Systems: Gottman Method Couples Therapy principles, Family Systems, and structured parenting interventions.
Addictions & Crisis Management: Motivational Interviewing (MI), Relapse Prevention, Harm Reduction, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), and Suicide Risk Assessment.
- Briercrest Seminary. MA in 2020
- University of Saskatchewan, BED in 1999
- University of Saskatchewan, BA in 1993
- Independent Contractor - Evolve Counselling and Wellness (2025 - 2026)
- Independent Contractor - Crossroads Therapeutic Solutions (2025 - 2025)
- Counselor - Penney Murphy and Associates (2022 - 2025)
- Mental Health Therapist/Addictions Counsellor - Saskatchewan Health Authority (2007 - 2022)
- Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCP certificate since 2020
- Certified Mental Health First Aid Facilitator certificate since 2024
