Dr. Graham Ross is a co-owner and director of ECSS who has been a registered psychologist in practice for over 30 years. He has a broad range of experience in both assessment and therapy. He has worked in the areas of individual, couples, and family therapy, and provides assessment services to a diverse clientele. He works from a systemic perspective incorporating solution-focused and cognitive-behavioral approaches.
Graham@ecss.org
Patricia Schuster is a co-owner and director of ECSS who has been a registered psychologist in practice for over 25 years. Historically, she worked with children, adults and families with respect to relationship issues, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, grief and loss, trauma, substance abuse and family conflict. She uses a systemic perspective incorporating solution-focused, narrative and cognitive-behavioral approaches. Currently the majority of her time is spent consulting and supervising with staff. She carries a small case load.
Patricia@ecss.org
Aaryn Viczko is a registered psychologist who has a Master of Arts Degree in Forensic Psychology, from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and has experience working with juvenile and adult offenders. She conducts risk assessments and specializes in counselling and assessing offenders with mental health issues. In addition, Aaryn conducts parenting and secure service order assessments. Aaryn also provides individual counselling to adolescents as well as adults to address a variety of mental health issues including personality, mood, and substance use disorders. She is trained in a cognitive behavioural-based trauma protocol. Aaryn also provides counselling to individuals involved in our Dialectical Behavioural Therapy program. Finally, Aaryn also works with individuals engaged in the return to work process and has worked with a variety of insurance companies.
Aaryn@ecss.org
Jennifer Kees is a registered psychologist with a Master of Education Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta. She has experience working with adults and adolescents in the areas of substance abuse, healthy boundaries, and a variety of mental health issues. She has completed her Basic Training in EMDR, a trauma based intervention. In addition, she works with clients to address mental health issues as part of the return to work process. Jennifer provides counselling to individuals involved in our Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program. Jennifer also conducts psychological assessments in the areas of parenting capacity, adolescent mental health, secure service orders, and risk assessments for offender populations.
Jennifer@ecss.org
Dina Gerwing is a registered psychologist with a Master of Education Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta and a Graduate Certificate in Assessment from Concordia University of Edmonton. She has experience working with children with special needs in various settings, such as schools and daycares. Dina specializes in psychoeducational assessments. She also enjoys incorporating play therapy activities in her counselling work with children and adolescents to help them process difficult situations and increase their emotional identification and regulation. In addition, she uses Theraplay activities to strengthen relationships between children and their caregivers.
Dina@ecss.org
Gabe Mandel is a registered psychologist who received his Master of Education Degree in School and Applied Child Psychology from the University of Calgary. He has experience working with children and specializes in psychoeducational assessment within schools and secure settings. He also conducts a variety of other assessments including comprehensive mental health, behavioural-emotional, and cognitive assessments; parenting-capacity assessments; and, program-eligibility assessments, such as for AISH or PDD. Gabe also offers counselling services for adults and adolescents within the community; to help clients process their emotions and build resiliency and coping skills in the areas of anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief, and emotional regulation. Gabe is involved in our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program. He has completed his Basic Training in EMDR, a trauma based intervention.
Gabe@ecss.org
Devany Benis is a registered psychologist who has a Master of Education Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Lethbridge. She provides individual counselling to adolescents and adults, working from a holistic and client-centered approach. Much of her counselling experience has been in the areas of addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, healthy boundaries, and transitional and adjustment concerns. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma treatment.
Devany@ecss.org
Annie Coykendall is a registered psychologist with a Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology. She has experience working with children, parents, families, and a wide range of individuals in community and educational settings. Annie uses a range of modalities in her therapy, including Narrative, Dialectical Behaviour, Theraplay, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Annie works in an egalitarian, collaborative manner with clients to determine how they can overcome problems.
Annie@ecss.org
Leigh Yang is a registered provisional psychologist with a Master of Arts in School Psychology from the University of British Columbia. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with diverse needs in K-12 schools and post-secondary settings. She offers counseling services for children and adults seeking growth in areas of self-regulation, anxiety management, social skills, resilience, and general coping skills. She provides assessments in a variety of areas including behavior, socioemotional, psychoeducation, parenting capacity, and program eligibility.
Leigh@ecss.org
Barb is a registered provisional psychologist who completed her Master of Counselling Psychology degree through Athabasca University. Barb has experience working with youth and adults who have a history of trauma, relationship violence, anxiety, depression, grief, and loss, as well with individuals who are navigating life transitions. Barb endeavors to create a collaborative practice that provides the opportunity for individuals to develop goals and build skills needed to navigate the challenges that are identified through the therapeutic process. Through collaborative work, Barb supports an individual by ensuring that interventions and skills offered through therapy are in alignment with the client’s values and beliefs. Barb also supports individuals who are involved with the Dialectical Behavioural Program at ECSS.
Barb@ecss.org
Shandra is a registered provisional psychologist with her master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Applied Child Studies from Mount Royal University. Shandra has experience in helping adults and youth with a history of substance abuse, depression, anxiety, trauma, and interpersonal functioning concerns. Shandra utilizes Narrative Therapy and Brief Solution Focused Therapy in counselling work with her clients. Shandra helps to facilitate the DBT program as well as conduct school, parenting and risk assessments.
Shandra@ecss.org
Lyvia Hughes is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with her Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She has experience working with trauma, depression, anxiety and anger. She has completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and has been trained in Sex Therapy through the University of Guelph. She is currently working on becoming an AASECT certified Sex Therapist. She currently works with clients that present with anxiety, depression, personality disorders. She focuses on couples, marriage, and relationships, including individuals who identify as consensual non-monogamous, as well as the LGBTQIA population. She uses strength-based, CBT, Solution-focused, ACT and DBT in her counselling.
Lyvia@ecss.org
Dr. Nicole Kostiuk is a registered psychologist with a doctorate in counselling psychology from the University of Alberta with over ten years of experience working with a wide variety of populations, focusing on inpatient psychiatry for the past eight years. Nicole has obtained post-doctorate level training in neuropsychological assessment. She provides neuropsychological assessment to adults. Assessments are conducted for issues related to diagnostic clarification, determining changes in functioning as a result of age or disease process, impact of mental health diagnoses on neuropsychological functioning, and traumatic brain injury.
Tianna Tenney is a Métis student intern who is currently completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University; she also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from MacEwan University. Tianna is presently completing her counseling practicum under the supervision of registered psychologist, Patricia Schuster. Her previous work experience includes working with families, adults, and vulnerable populations such as inner-city adults experiencing homelessness, as well as adults living in Alberta Hospital. In these roles, Tianna has worked with adults who have experienced trauma including family and domestic violence, developmental and intellectual disabilities, poverty, and substance use disorders. Tianna enjoys using her advocacy skills and gravitates towards a more humanistic and solution-focused theoretical lens as she believes in meeting individuals where they are at and focusing on resilience. Tianna is able to see clients at ECSS for a negotiated reduced fee.
Tianna@ecss.org
Justin Witzke is a registered psychologist with a Master of Science Degree in School and Applied Child Psychology from the University of Calgary. His background is in assessing executive functioning, ADHD, and working with children with Specific Learning Disabilities. His work is primarily in the area of assessment; which includes parenting capacity, psychoeducational, social and emotional, executive functioning, and program-eligibility, such as for AISH and PDD. As well, he works with children with a wide variety of social and emotional struggles.
Justin@ecss.org
Deborah Fladager, CPA-CMA is the accountant for ECSS and she has over 22 years’ experience in the accounting field. Deb is known as the office ninja and keeps it running like a well-oiled machine.
Jordana Spak is a key person in our administrative team at ECSS. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Honours with a Creative Writing focus. She has worked in various positions with diverse clientele.