Michelle Smith, M. Ed.
Registered Psychologist,
Registered Play Therapist ™
Michelle is a Registered Psychologist, Registered Play Therapist, and Director of Harmony Psychology. Michelle’s background experience includes over 30 years of working in the school system as an elementary school teacher, school counsellor, and school psychologist/consultant in elementary and secondary school settings. Michelle has previous experience teaching adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and teaching preschool children. Throughout her career, Michelle developed effective skills in working with children and youth, and in collaborating with school teams, parents and community agencies to assist in the development of positive mental health outcomes, academic success and healthy participation in school. Michelle specializes in working with children and adolescents, and provides effective intervention, consultation and recommendations designed to improve their overall well-being, and to help them be successful and thrive at home and school.
Therapeutic Approaches
Michelle completed a Masters degree in Educational Psychology in 2011 from the University of Alberta, with a specialization in School Counselling before completing the requirements necessary to be Registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. As a school psychologist, Michelle uses empirically based approaches to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviourally, and emotionally. Her theoretical orientation is based on the teachings of solution-focused, hope-centered, and cognitive-behavioural approaches. Michelle is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor ™in good standing with the Association of Play Therapy and with the Canadian Play Therapy Association. Michelle uses an Integrative model of play therapy, which focuses on building a plan that addresses the specific and unique needs of individuals. Michelle is a Registered Circle of Security ® Facilitator. Michelle has counselled children and teens with a variety of difficulties, including loss and grief, friendship difficulties, problem-solving, self-harm, bullying, stress, anxiety, depression, and learning difficulties.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression and anxiety disorders. Michelle uses a cognitive behavioural approach with older children (usually age 12 and up) and youth to identify their feelings, thoughts, and to develop problem solving skills to cope with difficult situations, or to develop a greater sense of confidence in one’s own abilities. This approach can also involve efforts to change behavioural patterns, such as facing one’s fears instead of avoiding them, using role playing to prepare for problematic interactions with others, or learning strategies to calm the mind or relax the body. With this approach, the child/adolescent plays a role in working collaboratively to develop an understanding of the problem and a treatment strategy that will work for them. Often an action plan is developed which may include a behavioural assignment, if appropriate. Some typical assignments may include practicing a relaxation technique, scheduling a healthy self-care activity, reading, problem solving, or developing a coping card. The purpose of the action plan is to help make small changes in thinking and behaviour every day, which can lead to positive mental health and a greater sense of self-esteem.
Solution-focused
Therapy
Solution focused therapy is a short-term, goal focused, evidence-based therapeutic approach which helps clients change by constructing solutions instead of dwelling on problems.This approach is a hope friendly, future-oriented approach that often elicits positive emotions. Often the goal is to search through past experiences to find times when the client has solved problems, or to identify skills they already have that could be used to help with a current problem. Michelle uses this approach when working with children and adolescents to build a sense of optimism and hope.
Play
Therapy
Michelle has advanced training in Play therapy from the Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute in Calgary and is a Registered Play Therapist in good standing with the Association of Play Therapy. Michelle uses various play modalities in sessions including puppets, games, sandtray, and expressive arts, such as drawing, sculpting and painting, to establish rapport and to help children and youth express and process their emotions in an age-appropriate way. Michelle uses an integrative and developmental approach, which recognizes and tailors interventions to meet each child's stage of cognitive and social-emotional growth, and aims to foster emotional expression, social skills, and cognitive development.
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Play is a child's natural medium for self-expression.
-Virginia Axline