Mackenzie is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a member of the Psychologists Association of Alberta. Mackenzie completed her Bachelor of Arts, Psychology degree in Winnipeg, Manitoba before moving to Calgary to complete her Master of Science in Counselling Psychology. Throughout her career, Mackenzie has found passion in supporting parents of young children, as well as the family system, with a strong emphasis on the well-known proverb ‘it takes a village.’ Her support can look like meeting with parents, children, or families to make space to acknowledge challenges, for parents to learn more about their child, explore new ways of communicating, discuss healthy development, invite new perspectives, and ultimately work towards a desired goal.
Working within a foundation of family-centered care allows Mackenzie to meet families and children where they are at, adopting the role of a guide alongside families who remain the experts in their situation. Mackenzie welcomes families of children who are navigating various challenges, including emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, distress related to developmental delays or diagnoses, or parent-child relationship challenges. Her experience includes supporting those with neurodevelopmental disorders {Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), various genetic conditions related to development, anxiety disorders or persistent feelings of anxiety, attachment-based or relationship-based challenges, as well as those who have experienced trauma.
Mackenzie has worked with families of children aged 2-years-old to 17-years-old in various settings, including crisis stabilization, support for children with disabilities programming (FSCD), parental support groups or educational groups, often meeting in homes or clinical settings. Mackenzie integrates strengths-based, trauma-informed, and attachment theory lenses in her work with families. She utilizes play therapy, narrative therapy, and solution-focused therapies, while situating these therapies within the parent-child relationship. Mackenzie recognizes that parental support is paramount throughout treatment and uses the airplane oxygen mask as an analogy in her work with families – When with children, secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting others. Mackenzie believes parental support and involvement in treatment is integral to maximizing support for children and as such, will ask parents to have some level of involvement within therapy.
