Our team / Desiree Gagnon
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Desiree Gagnon
Individual & first responder counselling in Sherwood Park
SEES
Individual and First Responders/Military/Canadian armed forces
SESSIONS
In person in Sherwood Park - Virtual across Alberta
HOURS
Weekday morning, afternoons & evenings
ABOUT DESIREE
A space to be
yourself
If you got a dream, chase it.
Desiree works with adults, first responders, veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces navigating trauma, PTSD, occupational stress injuries, moral injury, burnout and grief. She holds a Certificate in First Responder Psychology and has frontline experience with the Edmonton Police Service, the RCMP and Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, so she understands the realities of the job.
​
Desiree’s approach is trauma-informed and paced to you, with a focus on safety and autonomy. Rather than asking what’s wrong with you, she helps you understand how your system has adapted to survive. She draws on EMDR, an Emotionally Focused lens and body-based calming tools to help clients feel safer within themselves and more connected to the people they love.
​
Desiree grew up on an acreage in southern Manitoba and offers sessions in both English and French. Outside the office, you’ll find her horseback riding, getting puppuccinos with her dogs Hudson and Dawson, catching up on Below Deck or dreaming about her next trip to Costa Rica.
GET TO KNOW DESIREE
A few quick facts
HAPPY PLACE
Animal sanctuaries
ALWAYS ORDERING
Coffee
OFF THE CLOCK
Trust yourself
COMFORT SHOW
Schitt's Creek
ABOUT DESIREE
How Desiree can help
Anxiety
Burnout
Depression
Loss & Grief
Moral Injuries
Emotional Regulation
Relationships difficulties
Occupational Stress Injury
PTSD
Relational/Attachment Injuries
Trauma
Childhood Trauma
Operational and cumulative stress
APPROACH
How Desiree works
"My practice is grounded in trauma-informed care—meaning every step of our work
prioritizes your safety, autonomy, and pacing.
​
Together, we will recognize how past experiences can shape how we feel, think, and
connect with others today, often in ways we don’t even realize. We’ll create a safe,
trusting space to explore what you’ve been through with curiosity and compassion rather
than judgment. I see reactions like shutting down, feeling on edge, or disconnecting, not
as flaws, but as ways your system has tried to keep you safe. In our work, we’ll connect
with what the body is trying to tell us, learn gentle ways to calm your body, and
understand your emotions."
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
Registered Psychologist
M.A. Counselling Psychology
Additional Training
College of Alberta Psychologists
University of Alberta
• Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)
• Certificate in First Responder Psychology
