Meet Our Associates
Clinical Team
Graham Ross Ph.D.
Registered Psychologist & Co-Director
Graham Ross is a co-founder and director of ECSS. He is a Registered Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychological assessment. He provides therapy services to adults and adolescents in a number of areas, including return to work. He is also active in the DBT program at ECSS. He provides a variety of assessment services to individuals as well as to third parties.
Graham received his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. He has been a Registered Psychologist since 1981. He has also received additional training in Family Systems Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma, Forensics, and DBT. He has extensive experience working with adolescents and adults within community and institutional settings, as well as with individuals who require mental health support as part of their return-to-work process. Graham conducts assessments related to cognitive functioning, parenting capacity, forensics, and mental health.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with adolescents and adults
- Therapy for relationship issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, and DBT
- Supports clients in Return-to-work
- Psychological assessments related to cognitive and behaviour disorders, parenting capacity, mental health, and forensics
Patricia Schuster M.Ed.
Registered Psychologist & Co-Director
Patricia Schuster is a co-founder and director of ECSS. She is a Registered Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychological assessments. She provides individual counselling to adults and adolescents. She specializes in working with individuals who struggle with relationship problems, grief and loss, family of origin issues, addictions, healthy boundaries, trauma, and a variety of other mental health concerns. Patricia also provides direct supervision and training regarding assessment and counselling to the provisional registered psychologists on staff.
Patricia received her Master of Education Degree in Assessment and Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta. She has also received additional training in Family Systems Therapy, Marital Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma. She has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults within community and institutional settings, as well as with individuals who require mental health support as part of their return-to-work process. Patricia conducts assessments related to cognitive and executive functioning (ADHD), and mental health, as well as learning and behavioural disorders.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with children, adolescents, and adults
- Therapy in the areas of addiction, grief and loss, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, boundary setting, trauma, and others
- Supports clients in Return-to-work
- Psychological assessments related to cognitive and executive functioning, learning and behaviour disorders, and mental health
Aaryn Viczko M.A.
Registered Psychologist
(Currently not accepting new clients)
Aaryn Viczko is a Registered Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychological assessments. She provides individual counselling to adults and adolescents and specializes in working with individuals who struggle with a variety of mental health disorders including personality, mood, and substance use disorders.
Aaryn received her Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has also received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a therapy intervention for individuals with trauma. She has experience working with adults and adolescents both within community and institutional settings, as well as with individuals who require mental health support as part of their return-to-work process.
Aaryn also provides counselling to individuals involved in our Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program.
Aaryn conducts assessments in the areas of parenting capacity with a focus on risk, mental health, secure service orders, and risk assessment for adult and youth populations.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with adults and adolescents
- Therapy in the areas of addiction, personality disorders, trauma, emotion dysregulation, cognitive disability and others
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
- Supports clients in Return-to-work
- Psychological assessments related to parenting capacity, mental health, offender risk assessment
Barb Gladdish M.C.
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Barb Gladdish is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who provides individual counselling for adults and adolescents. She works from a strengths-based perspective and specializes in supporting individuals with a history of trauma, relationship violence, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and individuals who are navigating life transitions.
Barb received her Master of Counselling Psychology from the Athabasca University. She has received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Trauma Informed Practices. She also supports individuals who require mental health support as part of their return-to-work process. In addition, Barb provides counselling to individuals involved in our Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program. She is also engaged in training to develop her skills in psychological assessment.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with adults and adolescents
- Therapy in the areas of anxiety, depression, boundary setting, trauma, and others
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
- Supports clients in Return-to-work
Dina Gerwing M.Ed.
Registered Psychologist
Dina Gerwing is a Registered Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychoeducational assessments. She provides individual counselling to children, incorporating play therapy activities to increase their emotional identification and regulation, and to help them process difficult situations. She also uses Theraplay activities to strengthen relationships between children and their caregivers.
Dina received her 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 completed additional training in Theraplay. Dina has experience working with children with special needs in various settings, such as schools and daycares. Dina conducts psychoeducational assessments to identify cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses, as well as neurodiverse conditions such as Specific Learning Disorders and Attention/Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with children and their caregivers in the areas of emotional regulation, social skills development, anxiety, and reunification
- Therapy in the areas of emotional regulation, social skills development, grief/loss, anxiety, and depression, among others
- Play therapy activities including metaphorical play and bibliotherapy
- Psychoeducational assessments related to cognitive and academic abilities, behavioural and emotional functioning, executive functioning, and adaptive functioning
- Familiarity with students involved in home education/homeschooling
Gabe Mandel M.Ed.
Registered Psychologist
Gabe Mandel is a Registered Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychological assessment. He offers individual counselling with adults and adolescents, specializing in working with individuals who struggle with trauma, stress, school-related problems, and mental health issues.
Gabe holds a Master of Education Degree from the School/Applied Child Psychology program at the University of Calgary. He has also received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. He has experience working with youth and adults in a variety of settings, including communities, schools, and institutions. He supports individuals in their return-to-work process and accepts third-party referrals (e.g., insurance, Children Services, etc.). Gabe is highly involved in our adult DBT and DBT-Adolescent programs and has an interest in helping individuals reprocess their trauma from an EMDR approach. In the area of assessment, Gabe conducts assessments related to psychoeducational and cognitive issues as well as ADHD, comprehensive mental health, and program-eligibility (e.g., AISH or PDD).
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with adults and adolescents
- Supports clients in Return-to-work and accepts third-party referrals
- Therapy in the areas of trauma, anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, and more
- Highly involved in the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program
- Psychological assessments related to school difficulties (e.g., learning disorders), cognitive and executive functioning (e.g., ADHD), comprehensive mental health, program-eligibility (e.g., AISH)
Jennifer Kees M.Ed.
Registered Psychologist
Jennifer Kees is a Registered Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychological assessments. She provides individual counselling to adults and adolescents and specializes in working with individuals who struggle with addictions, healthy boundaries, trauma, and a variety of other mental health issues.
Jennifer received her Master of Education Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta. She has also received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and EMDR (Basic training), a therapy intervention for individuals with trauma. She has experience working with adults and adolescents both within community and institutional settings, as well as with individuals who require mental health support as part of their return-to-work process. In addition, Jennifer provides counselling to individuals involved in our Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program. Jennifer conducts assessments in the areas of parenting capacity, mental health, secure service orders, and risk assessments for offender populations.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with adults and adolescents
- Therapy in the areas of addiction, anxiety, depression, boundary setting, trauma, and others
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
- Supports clients in Return-to-work
- Psychological assessments related to parenting capacity, mental health, offender risk assessment
Justin Witzke M.Sc.
Registered Psychologist
Justin Witzke is a Registered Psychologist who works primarily in the area of school assessments. He provides assessments in the areas of mental health, parenting capacity, psycho-educational, and functional capacity. He also maintains a small counselling caseload.
Justin received his Master of Science Degree in School and Applied Child Psychology from the University of Calgary. He has also received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and various assessment tools. In addition to school assessments, Justin also does parenting capacity and risk assessments. He has experience working with populations in various areas including schools, communities, federal institutions, and private settings. Justin’s primary areas of specialty are in assessment for Specific Learning Disorders and ADHD. He also works with children with a wide variety of social and emotional struggles.
Areas of focus:
- Functional capacity assessments focused on eligibility for AISH and PDD
- Parenting capacity assessments
- Psycho-educational assessments with a strengths-based approach
- Providing therapy and implementing recommendations with children and adolescents
Leigh Yang M.A.
Registered Psychologist
Leigh Yang is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who provides counselling and assessment services. She provides individual counselling to children, adolescents, and adults.
Leigh received her Master of Arts Degree in School Psychology from the University of British Colombia. She has also received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Motivational Interviewing. She has experience working with individuals with diverse needs in community and school settings, as well as with individuals who require mental health support as part of their return-to-work process. She is involved in our Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program as a group facilitator, skills trainer, and therapist. Leigh conducts assessments in the areas of psychoeducation and mental health and is building skills in parenting capacity assessments.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with adults, adolescents, and children
- Therapy in the areas of emotional regulation, social skills development, grief/loss, anxiety, depression, and others
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
- Supports clients in Return-to-work
- Psychological assessments related to psychoeducation, program eligibility, mental health
Nicole Kostiuk Ph.D.
Registered Psychologist
Nicole Kostiuk is a Registered Psychologist who works mainly in the area of psychological assessment, but also provides group therapy.
Nicole received her Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta and a Post-Doctoral Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology from Fielding Graduate University. She provides neuropsychological assessments to adult and geriatric populations, specializing in determining changes in functioning as a result of age or disease process, impact of mental health diagnoses, and/or traumatic brain injury. Nicole has also received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). She has experience working with adults in in-patient psychiatric settings and the community. In addition to providing assessment services, Nicole also facilitates group therapy programs for individuals struggling with emotion dysregulation.
Areas of focus:
- Neuropsychological assessment with adults and geriatric populations focusing on changes in functioning
- Group therapy for individuals with emotion regulation difficulties
Annie Coykendall M.A.
Registered Psychologist
Annie Coykendall is a Registered Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychoeducational assessments. She does individual counselling with adults, adolescents, and children, and primarily works with individuals who struggle with emotional dysregulation, depression, anxiety, and a variety of other mental health issues.
Annie received her Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She has also received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, and Theraplay (Level 1). She has experience working with children, adolescents and adults within community , institutional, and school settings. She also works with individuals who require mental health support as part of their return-to-work process. In addition, Annie provides therapy to individuals involved in our adult and adolescent Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Programs. Annie resides in Vancouver and is available for virtual therapy services.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with adults, adolescents, and children
- Therapy in the areas of emotion dysregulation, anxiety, depression, and others
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (adult and adolescent)
- Psychoeducational assessments
Shandra Klausing M.C.
Registered Provisional Psychologist
(currently not accepting new clients)
Shandra Klausing is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychoeducational assessments. She provides individual counselling to adults, adolescents and children and specializes in working with individuals who struggle with emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and a variety of other mental health issues.
Shandra received her Master of Counselling Psychology from Athabasca University. She has experience working with adults, adolescents and children within the community and school system. In addition, Shandra provides counselling to individuals involved in our Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with adults, adolescents, and children.
- Therapy in the areas of emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, trauma, and others
- Facilitation of DBT Group Therapy
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
- Supports clients in Return-to-work
Rachel King Ph.D.
Registered Psychologist
Rachel King is a Registered Psychologist who works in counselling. She does individual counselling with adults and adolescents and specializes in working with individuals who struggle with emotion dysregulation, trauma, depression, and anxiety. She also conducts group therapy with individuals struggling with emotion dysregulation as part of our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) program.
Rachel received her Doctorate of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2019. She has also received additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and EMDR (Basic training), a therapy intervention for individuals with trauma. She has experience working with adults and adolescents both within community and hospital settings. In addition, Rachel provides counselling to individuals involved in our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Program.
Primary Areas of Work:
- Individual therapy with adults and adolescents
- Therapy in the areas of emotion dysregulation, anxiety, depression, and trauma
- Provides therapy to clients in our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program
Harpreet Sarao M.Sc.
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Harpreet Sarao is a Registered Provisional Psychologist and has a primary interest in providing counselling services to children, including using play therapy approaches. She also provides counselling to adolescents and adults, and is involved in our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program.
Harpreet received her Master of Science Degree in Counselling Psychology from Chatham University, Pittsburgh, USA. She has experience working with clients in the areas of attachment, school refusal/avoidance, bullying, self-image, anxiety, depression grief and loss, trauma, anger, life transitions/acculturation, emotional dysregulation, and a variety of psycho-social, emotional, and behavioral issues. She often incorporates play therapy approaches into her work with children to assist them in processing their experiences. She has worked with individuals across multicultural settings, both community and school based. She also works within our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program providing skills training and group facilitation. She has experience working with clients through the return-to-work process.
Areas of focus:
- Individual therapy with children, including play therapy
- Individual therapy with adolescents and adults
- Therapy in the areas of emotion dysregulation, life transitions/acculturation, anxiety, depression, self-image, and others
- Works within our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program
- Supports clients in the return-to-work process
Liam McFarlane M.Sc.
School Counsellor
Liam is a School Counsellor who provides counselling supports to students within the education system. He is working toward obtaining his registration as a provisional psychologist and looks forward to expanding his services in the near future.
Jennifer McMinis M.A.
Registered Psychologist
Jennifer McMinis is a Registered Psychologist who works exclusively in the area of school assessments. She provides psycho-educational assessments of adults, adolescents, and children, with specific focus and expertise in the assessment of Specific Learning Disorders, ADHD, and a wide variety of social and emotional struggles.
Jennifer received her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. She completed additional training in Conducting Effective Psychoeducational Assessments Across Educational Settings through Queen’s University, as well as training in a variety of assessment tools. She has experience working with populations in various areas including schools, communities, and private practice, with both counselling and assessment. She has also worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families within a small, rural community, as well as within the school division.
Areas of focus:
- Psychoeducational assessments
Maia Mazanishvili, M.Sc.
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Maia Mazanishvili is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who works in the areas of counselling and psychological assessments. She provides therapy services to adults, adolescents and children. Maia specializes in working with individuals who struggle with personality disorders, trauma and stressor related disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, suicidal behaviour/ideation and non-suicidal self-injury and other mental health issues.
Maia holds her Master of Science degree in Psychological Diagnostics and Psychological Counselling from Tbilisi State University. She has also received additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Theraplay, Narrative Therapy, Play Therapy, Sand-Tray therapy, Object Relations therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Applied Behavioural Analysis and Motivational Interviewing. She has experience working with adults, adolescents and children both within community and institutional settings. In addition, Maia is involved in our Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program as a group facilitator, skills trainer, and therapist.
Primary Areas of Work:
- Individual therapy with adults, adolescents and children
- Therapy in the areas of addiction, anxiety, complex trauma, grief/loss, emotional regulation, Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, suicidal ideation and others
- Provides therapy to clients in our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy program
- Supports clients in the return-to-work process
Kyneeshaw Brightley, M.C.
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Kyneeshaw Brightley [she/they] is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who works in counselling. They do individual counselling with children, adolescents, and adults and specialize in working with ADHD, anxiety, depression, racial trauma, and sexuality. They also work with a variety of other mental health issues.
Kyneeshaw received their Master of Counselling Psychology from the City University of Seattle in Canada. They also received additional training in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), Internal Family Systems for treating complex trauma (Level One – Basic training), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Kyneeshaw is currently in the process of completing Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) training. Kyneeshaw has experience working with children and youth in the school system, as well as working with children, adolescents and adults in community-based settings. Additionally, they have worked as a parent coach supporting parents with various concerns regarding their children aged one and up.
Primary Areas of Work:
- Individual therapy with adolescents and adults.
Therapy in areas of ADHD, anxiety, boundary settings, depression, racial trauma, sexuality, and others.
Administrative Team
Deborah Fladager
Deborah, CPA-CMA is the accountant for ECSS and she works in the background with the other office personnel to help ECSS run a well-oiled machine. She has been with the company for over 17 years and enjoys the atmosphere of the office and the positivity of the staff.
Jordana Spak
Jordana is part of the administrative team and provides consistent and high-quality clerical support. She is an enthusiastic team member with a willingness to make a positive mark.