Kimberley Kiefuik

kiefuik@ualberta.ca

Personal Summary
An empathetic and client-centred counsellor, with a range of experience counselling
children, youth and adults. Has professional training in body-centred therapies, and also
utilizes Cognitive Behavioural, Solution-Focused, and Strength-Based approaches. Has
worked effectively with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, addictions, identity
concerns, relationship problems, boundary issues, family concerns and with extensive
trauma histories. Utilizes a holistic, biopsychosocial-spiritual approach, and allows
attachment, systems, and social theories to form a foundation for counselling.

!
Education
!

University of Calgary - Master of Counselling

Calgary, Alberta

!
Specialization in Counselling Psychology
!
University of Alberta - Bachelor of Arts
Edmonton, Alberta

Anticipated June 2015

2012

Major in Psychology, Minor in Christian Theology

Graduated with Distinction
First Class Standing, 2010-2011

Lethbridge College - Child and Youth Care Diploma

Lethbridge, Alberta

!
!
!

2003

Kiefuik

!2

Awards

University of Alberta Undergraduate Scholarship, 2011

MacEachran Humanities Scholarship in Psychology, 2011
Jason Lang Scholarship, 2010, 2011, 2003

!
Professional Experience
!

Walk In Counselling Society of Edmonton - Counselling Intern

Edmonton, AB
September 2014 - April 2015

Provided counselling sessions to individuals, couples, and family members. Worked

with a wide range of ages, and scope of concerns such as relationship concerns, anxiety,
addictions, and depression.
Skillfully utilized Solution-Focused and Strength-Based approaches to counselling,
while employing a Single Session model.
Participated in daily case consultations and observing of counselling session through a
team approach to counselling. Learned from a rich variety of professionals including
Registered Psychologists, Provisional Psychologists, Canadian Certified Counsellors,
and Clinical Social Workers.
Responsible for accurate and professional written summaries of all sessions. Adhered to
ethical guidelines at all times.
Co-facilitated two unique group counselling sessions. A 10 week closed women's
counselling group titled Boundaries, Burnout, and the Art of Saying No, and an 8
week support and education drop in group titled Healthy Living with Bipolar.
Responsibilities include facilitating discussions and psychoeducations, providing
support, empathy, and individual catch-up sessions, maintaining necessary paperwork
and records.

Cloverdale Counselling: Healing with Art and Counselling - Counselling Intern

Edmonton, AB
September 2014 - April 2015

Participate in longer-term counselling with individuals with complex trauma histories.

Employ strategies and interventions deriving from Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy,
Solution Focused Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, Hakomi Therapy and
Psychodynamic Approach.

Kiefuik

!3

Gained experience in semi-structured interviewing assessments, and assessments

regarding self-esteem, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dissociation.

Support Services Coordinator - Youth Empowerment & Support Services

Edmonton, AB
June 2013 - Present

Main responsibilities include connecting high-risk youth age 15-24 to appropriate

mental health and/or addiction resources. This involves having succinct knowledge of
applicable community or private resources, and how to access these resources.
Provide youth with individual counselling, focusing on empowerment, working
alliance, empathy, and genuiness. Effectively developed therapeutic relationships and
work in collaboration with youth on addictions, depression, anxiety, and gender identity
related concerns. When appropriate, facilitate family sessions. Develop and facilitate
group psychoeducational and experiential sessions on topics including mindfulness and
relaxation, expressing emotions, and drug awareness.
Establish, coordinate, and manage a variety of in-house services for clients and staff.
This includes staff trainings on trauma, concurrent disorders, and self-harm; Animal
Assisted Therapy for clients and staff; Boyle Street Youth Services Youth2Youth drug
awareness program; an Alberta Health Services Mobile Addictions Counsellor; Birth
Control Center Outreach Clinic; and a weekly clinic with a Medical Doctor and Social
Worker from the Primary Care Network.
Case consult and conceptualize with agency staff as necessary

Youth Counsellor - Youth Empowerment & Support Services

Edmonton, AB
October 2009 - June 2013

Utilized and developed skills conducive to working with adolescents and emerging
adults from high risk backgrounds. Effectively developed working alliance with clients.
Developed and facilitated group programming on topics such as healthy relationships,
body image, self-care while living on the streets, and nutrition.
Handled high risk or crisis situations effectively and efficiently, ensuring the safety of
all clients and staff.
Displayed team work in collaborating with co-workers and supervisors in problem
solving

Team Supervisor - Alberta Adaptabilities Association

Edmonton, AB

May 2009 - March 2010

Began as a volunteer with the Hearts in Action Summer Camps

Progressed into team supervisor in August, 2009

Kiefuik

!4

Provided effective leadership to Relief Care Specialists. This included supervising

upwards of 5 staff on shift.
Connected with special needs children and young adults, ages 3-19. Built relationships
with clients, provided appropriate sensory stimulation according to client needs,
developed programming, and facilitated group outings.
Developed skills conducive to working with families through continual communication
with clients families.

Youth Worker, Intensive Treatment Program - Bosco Homes Society for Children
and Adolescents
Edmonton, AB
January 2004 - April 2008

Primarily responsible for the development of individual and group programming, and
facilitation group sessions.
Utilized and enhanced behaviour management skills while maintaining rapport with
clients. Used communication and counselling skills.
Worked effectively with a variety of youth aged 5 - 18 with developmental, legal,
familial, and mental health concerns.

!
Professional Development
!
!

Uncovering Our Most Powerful Beliefs - Hakomi Workshop

February 2, 2015

Understand the basic phases of Hakomi therapy.

Experientially develop skills to guide client into mindfulness, and help them to stay in a
mindful state.
Use mindfulness to study the clients bodys story, to deepen into the body, emotions,
and memories.

Supporting the Defences: Working with Resistance - Hakomi Workshop

November 10, 2014

Learned the core principles of Hakomi, and developed skills around integrating these
into practice.

Kiefuik

!5

Deepen participants awareness of how an individuals identity may become wounded

when needs are not met throughout early life.
Create an understanding of resistance, and its origin in the wounded part of a clients
identity.
Experientially developed skills in creating a safe place, and trusting relationships with
clients conducive to effective mindfulness experiences.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

September 21 & 22, 2014

Intensive, interactive, and practice-dominated training to develop skills in preventing

the immediate risk of suicide.
Developed active listening, empathy, and client-centered skills. Learned through
practicing how to directly discuss suicide, identify, risk, and create a safe plan by
connecting the client to their reasons to live.

Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Training

July 14-17, 2014

TBRI is a holistic, attachment-centered therapeutic model for caregivers or

professionals working with children or youth who have complex trauma histories.
Focus on early attachment styles, and how this affects later relationships and
behaviours.
Participated in Adult Attachment Style Interview giving insight into own relationship
patterns, deepening self-awareness.
Learned how to implement the TBRI principles of connecting, empowering, and
correcting, and IDEAL (immediate, direct, efficient, active, levelled at behaviour)
Response to behaviour. These help develop skills that assist in recognizing the youths
physiological needs, enhance self-regulation, strengthens secure attachments, and
strengthen resilience.

High Risk Youth Conference

May 12 & 13, 2014

Learned skills in fostering resilience in high-risk youth, working with survivors of

childhood sexual abuse, information about drug use and gang participation in youth,
and growing caring human connections from key note speakers Michael Unger, Jacqui
Linder, The Odd Squad, and Joanne Minaker.

!
!

Kiefuik

!6

Mental Health First Aid: Adults who Interact with Youth

January 13 & 14, 2014

Psychoeducation regarding the following mental disorders; Substance use disorders,

mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and deliberate
self-injury.
Developed crisis first aid skills for substance overdose, suicidal behaviour, panic
attacks, acute stress reaction, and psychotic episodes.

Deactivating the Buttons: An Introduction to Radical Exposure Tapping

March 26 & 27, 2014

Hands on clinical training and experiential practice for integrating Radical Exposure
Tapping into counselling. This encompasses creating a trauma history with the client,
creating imaginal exposure to trauma memories, ad using RET to reduce arousal and
transform the traumatic memory into an ordinary memory.
Learning surrounding the neurobiology of memories, how traumatic memories are
stored, and how traumatic experiences contribute to emotional reactivity in
relationships.

!
Alberta Health Services Addictions and Mental Health Prevention Series
!

Alcohol: A Dialogue
Marijuana: Do We Know Enough?
Introduction to Concurrent Disorders
Self Injurious Behaviour in Youth and Intervention

September 11, 2013

September 25, 2013
September 30, 2013
November 28, 2013

The Cultural Context of Trauma

October 16-18, 2013

Gained an understanding of the counselling and recovery process when working with
individuals with historical and cultural traumas. Learned how to practice from a
Trauma Informed Approach
Experientially learned mindfulness techniques for working with individuals with
trauma. Emphasis on the relationship between trauma, emotions, neurobiology, and
recovery.