About Me

I've always been fascinated by stories. I'm captivated as I follow the hero's quest, sit with a heavy heart at their lowest points, root for them as they face their demons, and eagerly celebrate their triumphs.

Counselling allows me to blend my love of stories with helping others in a creative and meaningful way. We are a product of the stories that we tell ourselves about our own abilities and the world around us. I am honoured to work with people as they start to reclaim and change their stories.

I have the training and expertise to offer evidence-based strategies, and I have the compassion and warmth to connect with you and co-create a safe, collaborative environment. I'm an introvert and this lends calmness, gentleness, and reflection to my work. When you are in my virtual office, you have my full attention as I respect your experience and work with you to creatively address the challenges that have been woven into your life story.

Professional Affiliations

  • Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists

  • Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

  • Executive Member of Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association Post-Secondary Counsellors Chapter

  • Professional Member of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science

“That's what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again.” ~Walt Disney

Education and Training

  • Master of Education, Counselling Psychology, University of Lethbridge

  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta

  • Certificate in Community Mental Health: Theory and Practice, Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta

  • University of Oslo: International Summer School, Intensive Intermediate Norwegian (Level III)

  • University of Montreal: Explore French Program, Intermediate French (Level IV)

Selected Additional Training:

  • The Grief Summit: Grief Counselling and Treatment in a Pandemic of Loss 2-day Training, PESI, 2021

  • Online Group Therapy: Delivery, Research, Ethics and Design, Online Therapy Institute, 2021

  • Unravelling the Acronym: Understanding LGBTQIA2+ Experiences and Subcultures, The Refuge, 2021

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Part 1 and 2, Trauma Recovery Network, 2020

  • Slaying the Dragon: The Fairy Tale Model of Trauma Treatment, 2020

  • Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals 2-day Distance Therapy Training, PESI, 2020

  • A Beginner's Guide to Trans 101: A Foundational Course in Transgender/Gender Studies, Reaca Pearl, 2020

  • Ethics in Telemental Health Course, Ethics Rock, 2020

  • Advanced Training for Trauma Treatment of Complex PTSD, Eric Gentry, 2020

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Trauma, Russ Harris, 2020

  • Counselling Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence Training, Alberta Association of Sexual Assault Services, 2019

  • Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist - Individual Course, Eric Gentry, 2019

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy, Medical University of South Carolina, 2016

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Medical University of South Carolina, 2016

Publications & Presentations

External Blog Posts and Articles - for more writing, check out the Blog page on this site!


Peer-Reviewed Publications

Note: Nee Welde

  • Abella, K., Bernes, K., Lyseng, A., & Roque, J. (2016). Follow your dream: Integrating career education into English Language Arts 20-1. Canadian School Counselling Review, 1(1), 29-39.

  • Lyseng, A., Bernes, K., Gunn, T., & Ross, S. (2016). A research review of career education and engagement with K-12 students. Canadian School Counselling Review, 1(1), 4-10.

  • Montoya, C., Bernes, B., Roque, J., Lyseng, A., & Draper-Caldwell, L. (2016). Beyond self-awareness: Career goal formation in integrated career education. Canadian School Counselling Review, 1(1), 40-48.

  • Purc-Stephenson, R., & Lyseng, A. (2016). How are the kids holding up? A systematic review and meta-analysis on the psychosocial impact of maternal breast cancer on children. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 49, 45-56.

  • Welde, A., Bernes, K., Gunn, T., & Ross, S. (2015). Integrating career education in junior high: Strengths, challenges, and recommendations. Canadian Journal of Career Development, 14(2), 26-44.

  • Welde, A., Bernes, K., Gunn, T., & Ross, S. (2015). Integrated career education in senior high: Intern teacher and student recommendations. Australian Journal of Career Development, 24 (2), 81-92. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1038416215575163

  • Welde, A., Bernes, K., Gunn, T., & Ross, S. (2016). Career education at the elementary school level: Student and intern teacher perspectives. Journal of Career Development. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845316633524


Conference Presentations

  • Lyseng, A., Hill, S., Robertson, J., Dayal, H., & Davies, J. (2021). The listeners’ voices: Preliminary results from an exploration of experiences of Canadian post-secondary counsellors. Virtual poster presentation at the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta 2021 Virtual Research Conference, September 2021, Edmonton, AB.

  • Lyseng, A., Hill, S., Robertson, J, & Davies, J. (2021). A brief exploration of issues faced by post-secondary counsellors. Virtual poster presentation at the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta 2021 Virtual Research Conference, September 2021, Edmonton AB.

  • Lyseng, A., & Nemutambwe, T. (2021). Get out of your head and into the music: Music and mental health. Virtual conference presentation; invited. Inclusion Alberta Youth and Family Conference.

  • Purc-Stephenson, R., Qaqish, T., Welde, A., & Yung, C. (2013). Can we Lean healthcare? Developing and evaluating a Lean assessment tool for healthcare settings. Poster presentation at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 2013, Boston, MA.

  • Welde, A. (2013). The psychosocial impact of maternal breast cancer on children: A meta-ethnography. Presented at the Augustana Faculty Student Academic Conference, April 2013, Camrose, AB.

  • Welde, A. (2014). Teaching for the future: Evaluating intern teachers’ career education projects. Presented at the University of Lethbridge Graduate Students’ Association Meeting of the Minds Annual Multidisciplinary Research Conference, March 2014, Lethbridge, AB.

  • Welde, A. (2015). Career education interventions by grade level. Presented at Cannexus National Career Development Conference, January 2015, Ottawa, ON.

  • Welde, A. (2015). Career education and student engagement. Poster presentation at Cannexus National Career Development Conference, January 2015, Ottawa, ON.

  • Welde, A. & Purc-Stephenson, R. (2013). The psychosocial impact of maternal breast cancer on children: A meta-ethnography. Presented at the Alberta Cancer Foundation Cancer Research Conference, October 2013, Banff, AB.

  • Welde, A., & Purc-Stephenson, R. (2013). The psychosocial impact of maternal breast cancer: A meta-analytic review. Poster presentation at the National Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference, March 2013, Las Vegas, NV.


Workshops, Classes, and Groups

  • Taming the Inner Critic: Self Compassion Workshop - MacEwan University, Edmonton AB

  • Reel Resilience: Movies and Mental Health - MacEwan University, Edmonton AB

  • ACT to Adapt to Covid - MacEwan University, Edmonton AB

  • Tackling Test Anxiety Workshop - MacEwan University, Edmonton AB

  • Maintaining Healthy Boundaries - MacEwan University, Edmonton AB

  • Conflict Resolution - MacEwan University, Edmonton AB

  • Communication Skills - MacEwan University, Edmonton AB

  • Coping with Emotions Life Skills Class - Brain Care Centre, Edmonton AB

  • Healing Through Art Life Skills Class - Brain Care Centre, Edmonton AB

  • Women's Support Group - Brain Care Centre, Edmonton AB

  • Caregivers' Support Group - Brain Care Centre, Edmonton AB

Selected Awards

  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council in Canada (SSHRC) Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s grant

  • Alberta Scholarships Program Graduate Student Scholarship

  • Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling Graduate Student Engagement Program Award

  • University of Lethbridge Graduate Scholarship for academic excellence

  • Augustana Faculty Medal in Social Sciences, awarded to the graduating student with the highest GPA in the Social Sciences

  • Augustana Onesimus Service Award, granted to recognize long-term dedication and involvement in the Augustana community

  • Augustana Faculty Outstanding Independent Work Award, Fall 2012

  • Louise McKinney Post-Secondary Scholarship for academic excellence (2010, 2011, 2012)

  • The Battle River Credit Union Ltd Academic Excellence Award

  • Torskeklubben/Sons of Norway Solglyt Lodge Edmonton Award for academic excellence and dedication in Scandinavian Studies (2011, 2012)

  • A Roger S. Smith Award for Undergraduate Research, competitively awarded as a summer research grant to students based on the quality of their grant proposals

  • Richard Peter Walley Memorial Scholarship for academic excellence in English

  • University of Alberta Education Abroad Summer Language Program Award

  • Canadian Institute for Nordic Studies Bursary

  • Alberta Blue Cross 50th Anniversary Bursary for a Student Specializing in Psychology

  • Explore Program Bursary

  • Verda and J.D. McNeill Scholarship for academic excellence

  • University of Alberta Academic Excellence Scholarship


The pleasure of reading a story and wondering what will come next for the hero is a pleasure that has lasted for centuries and, I think, will always be with us.

― Stan Lee