Dr. Kimberley Makela, R.Psych.

Dr. Kimberley Makela is a Registered Psychologist who specializes in adult assessment and psychotherapy. She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression, adjustment to stressful life events and chronic illness, relationship problems, self-esteem, perfectionism, body-image concerns, addictions, and childhood trauma. Kimberley received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan. She then completed a CPA-accredited pre-doctoral residency with the Saskatoon Health Region. She has a strong background in generalist adult mental health, working in both community and hospital settings with clients diverse in terms of age, gender, sociocultural background and mental health needs. Kimberley has also received specialized training in clinical health psychology, assessing and treating the complex concerns of adult clients with co-existing mental health and medical problems.

Kimberley’s approach to therapy is integrative, collaborative, and client-centred. She regards therapy as a supportive space for you to gain understanding of yourself and your situation, hone your strengths, and develop new strategies for dealing with life’s uncertainties and challenges. The client-therapist relationship is considered to be the foundation and most important ingredient to successful therapy outcomes. Accordingly, Kimberley seeks to provide a compassionate space for her clients to share, feel heard, experience their emotions, and collaboratively work toward personal goals. Kimberley seeks to flexibly combine strategies from complementary therapy approaches to best meet her client needs. Her clinical work is grounded in evidence-based practices of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (STDP), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).