Elizabeth Agbator

Intern Therapist

Elizabeth is an intern therapist currently completing her Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. She is passionate about supporting individuals as they navigate complex emotional experiences, life transitions, and the journey of healing. Elizabeth is committed to helping clients better understand themselves, recognize their inner strengths, and develop practical strategies to manage difficult thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. She believes deeply in the capacity for growth and healing, even in the midst of struggle, and aims to provide a safe, affirming space where clients can explore what healing looks like for them.

Before entering her graduate program, Elizabeth worked in several front-line roles, at several social services organizations and Alberta Health Services. Through these experiences, she has developed a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and strengths-based lens that informs her therapeutic approach. She has supported people facing life challenges, including depression, anxiety, intergenerational trauma, and systemic barriers.

Elizabeth’s counselling approach is integrative and client-centred. She draws from a range of therapeutic modalities including Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. She also incorporates mindfulness and self-compassion practices into her work. Elizabeth believes that clients are the experts of their own lives and, with the right tools and support, can move toward meaningful and sustainable change.

Elizabeth has a particular interest in working with individuals experiencing:

Stress, anxiety, and depression Relational challenges Self-worth, motivation, and empowerment Outside of her clinical work, Elizabeth enjoys travelling, spending quality time with family and friends and exploring different cultural cuisines. She values authenticity, connection, and continued learning and brings these values into every therapeutic relationship she builds.

Elizabeth Agbator Intern Therapist Elizabeth is an intern therapist currently completing her Ma... Read More

Nessa Hill B.A. (They/She/He)

Intern Therapist

Nessa is an intern therapist at Jewish Family Services who is currently completing their Masters of Counselling at City University.

Nessa completed their B.A. in psychology (minoring in philosophy) at the University of Alberta in 2021. During their undergraduate studies, they volunteered for the Kids Help Phone crisis text line, providing empathetic listening and crisis management for young people.

Nessa believes that the therapy space should be one of emotional safety and mutual collaboration with clients towards their goals. They approach therapy with the perspective that the client is the expert in their own life. They draw from a variety of modalities including narrative therapy, DBT, existential, and ACT.

Nessa is especially passionate about working with the LGBTQ2S+ community. They specialize in working with anxiety, depression, LGBTQ2S+ issues, self-criticism, and trauma. Nessa takes an anti-oppressive lens, and welcomes neurodiverse clients to come as they are.

In their free time, Nessa loves spending time outdoors whether it be birdwatching on Edmonton’s many river valley trails, or camping on the weekends.

Nessa Hill B.A. (They/She/He) Intern Therapist Nessa is an intern therapist at Jewish Family Se... Read More

Anna Jongeleen MPS AT CCC

Canadian Certified Counsellor, Registered Psychotherapist and Art Therapist

Anna started at JFSE in 2018. Anna’s approach as a therapist is not only informed by her extensive education, training and professional experience; it is first rooted in her own life experiences and a deep love and care for human beings.

Anna has a Masters in Psychotherapy, Spirituality and Art Therapy, and is certified in Counseling and Children Counseling. Anna is also trained in Complex Trauma Therapy, Trauma-Informed Art Therapy, Somatic and Focussing Psychotherapy, Grief Counseling Play, and Sandtray Therapy. She facilitates Art Therapy for adults, children, and families, to explore and heal deeper levels and to find expression for experiences that are difficult to verbalize.

She has over 20 years of experience as a multicultural therapist in Europe, Israel, and Canada and works with adults, families, couples, youth, and children and is a strong advocate for marginalized populations and people. Her thesis specialized in Eating Issues, and she developed a new treatment model based on attachment theory, somatic experiencing theory and art psychotherapy models.

Her areas of focus are 2SLGBTQ+ clients, clients experiencing social justice issues, family, child and couple therapy, grief and loss (health, career, job, community, faith), bereavement, trauma, sexual abuse, childhood trauma, spiritual dilemmas, attachment wounding, and emotional regulation issues (e.g. anxiety/depression/mood disorders, dissociation, borderline personality, alexithymia, eating issues and disorders, etc.).

Anna speaks English, Hebrew, Dutch and some conversational French.

Anna Jongeleen MPS AT CCC Canadian Certified Counsellor, Registered Psychotherapist and Art Ther... Read More

Sarah Karesa

M.Ed., R.Psych

Program Manager

Sarah, in addition to being the program manager for the Edmonton Healing Centre, is a Registered Psychologist specializing in grief and loss (for all kinds of losses), palliative and life-limiting illness, dementia, and caregiving. She has spent her career building a deep understanding of these issues and is dedicated to supporting children, teens, and adults (individually and in group settings) as they navigate their unique journeys through grief. In doing so, Sarah aims to help all of her clients to discover how they can regain control in situations that are out of their control, how they can find healing in situations where healing is hard to find, and how they can develop the tools they need to face the difficult challenges that they may come across on their healing journeys.

Sarah earned her Master of Education (Counselling Psychology) Degree from the University of Lethbridge in 2015 and has completed specialized training/professional development in the areas of grief, loss, and trauma. She has over 10 years of experience working in diverse counselling settings including universities and hospice-palliative care settings as well as over 5 years of experience working as an Associate Professor at City University of Seattle’s Edmonton Campus. She has published and presented original research on the role of psychologists in Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).

Sarah’s approach to therapy is integrative and client-centered, drawing from diverse modalities such as Person-Centered/Humanistic Therapy, Existentialism, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Therapies. Sarah believes that therapy is a shared journey where clients are empowered to explore their emotions, build resilience, and navigate challenges in a way that feels best to them. Her clients can expect a supportive, affirming environment, particularly for diverse individuals who may have experienced systemic barriers to care.

Sarah specializes in working with people experiencing:

• Grief and bereavement

• Palliative and life-limiting conditions (including end of life)

• Aging-related transitions

• Caregiver stress and burnout

• Heightened anxiety and fear

• Social isolation and rebuilding meaningful connections

Outside of her professional work, Sarah enjoys going for walks, playing with her dog, and listening to improv comedy podcasts. She values lifelong learning, believing deeply in the human capacity for adaptation, healing, and hope — no matter their circumstances or stage of life.

Sarah Karesa M.Ed., R.Psych Program Manager Sarah, in addition to being the program manager fo... Read More

Kayla McLachlan

Registered Provisional Psychologist

Kayla is a Registered Provisional Psychologist. Since 2013 Kayla has worked and volunteered in several non-profits that focus on supporting people impacted by trauma and ending gender-based violence.

Kayla believes that counselling is a collaborative process and that people are the experts in their own lives and experiences. Kayla aims to create a warm, safe, and gentle space to explore the challenges that have brought people into counselling. Her work is informed by social justice and anti-oppressive principles. Kayla has additional training in narrative therapy, trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, somatic approaches, and hypnotherapy.

Kayla enjoys spending time in nature, playing cards, cross-stitching, and live theatre.

Kayla McLachlan Registered Provisional Psychologist Kayla is a Registered Provisional Psycholog... Read More

**Heather Ruhl **

Registered Provisional Psychologist

Heather is currently completing her Master of Counselling, reconnecting with her passion for mental health after over a decade of working in financial services. Before joining JFS, Heather completed her internship at Pilgrims Hospice Society, working with individuals experiencing loss and grief and facilitating group program delivery. Her hope is to help clients find ways to heal and discover their own strengths along their journeys and believes her role as a therapist is to shine a light into the darkness so you can choose your path forward. Heather is an advocate for mental health awareness and inclusion, and she works to raise awareness and understanding of mental health and inclusivity in a variety of settings. Heather is a Certified Trauma Professional and uses trauma-informed and narrative therapy approaches in her work.

Heather values spending time with her friends and family, reading, playing with her cat Sam, sewing, crochet, knitting, kayaking, and baking, and appreciates a good cup of coffee.

**Heather Ruhl ** Registered Provisional Psychologist Heather is currently completing her Maste... Read More