Danielle Gagnon, PhD (Nursing), R.Psych, R.N.
Most people come to therapy when something feels too heavy to carry alone. In my experience, what helps most is the relationship: being with someone who is steady, curious, and interested in you as a whole person, not just the problem that brought you in.
My training began in psychology. I then trained and worked as a registered nurse in hospital, public health, and mobile crisis settings, before completing my supervised hours and registering as a psychologist. I've been weaving the two together ever since. Nursing taught me to pay attention to the whole person, body included. Psychology gave me ways to understand how what happened before shapes how we relate to ourselves and others now. In the room, I don't separate them.
How I work
Therapy with me is a partnership. We go at a pace that feels manageable, and we pay attention to what happens between us as well as what you bring in. The way we connect in the room often reflects how you connect elsewhere, and that is where change can happen. My approach to trauma is phase-based: safety and stability first, then working with what's held in the body and in relationships. I draw on EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, and somatic, attachment-focused, and psychodynamic approaches.
Who I work with
I work with adults on trauma, addiction, grief, stress, anxiety, and depression. For nearly ten years, much of my practice has been with first responders, including EPS and RCMP members. I understand the culture, the shift work, and what it takes to keep doing the job.
Assessment
I provide psychological assessments, including pre-employment suitability, fitness for duty, and occupational injury assessments.
Claims and coverage
I work regularly with WCB Alberta, Veterans Affairs Canada, and Canada Life, and can help you understand what's involved in using your coverage.
Sessions are available in person in Leduc, or by video or phone.