Life can be overwhelming, especially when we internalize blame and judgments, feel disconnected from ourselves and others, or feel lost in the noise of external expectations. ​My intention is to help you sift through those external voices, reconnect with yourself and your roots, and welcome the person you are at your core.
I am a registered psychologist in Alberta and work with adult individuals navigating anxiety (social and general), depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, and the complexities of daily life, as well as folks who are seeking personal growth and reflection. I hold expertise in supporting 2SLGBTQ+ folks and addressing women’s issues. Whether you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed, I’m here to walk with you as you navigate these challenges.

​​I use a person-centered, strength-based, and feminist approach to therapy, emphasizing
collaboration and your innate resilience. Drawing from self-compassion, feminism and relational approaches, as well as solution-focused therapy (SFT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), I tailor our work to your unique needs and goals. Together, we will create a space that is transparent, flexible, and empowering.
Inherent to my practice are non-judgment, warmth, and patience. You are not the problem; your feelings and reactions are natural responses to difficult situations and experiences. We will work together to process these difficult experiences and support you in living a life that is congruent with your values and who you are.
"If someone tells you who they are, believe them"

​- Maya Angelou

Top Specialties

Trauma & PTSD
Depression
​Anxiety

Works With

Adults
Youth
Couples
Families
​Mental Health Assessments

Availability

Weekdays​​​​​

Learn more about Dr. Danielle Lefebvre, RPsych:

Additional Areas of Expertise
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Anxiety
    • Separation Anxiety
    • Phobia
    • Social Anxiety
    • Panic
    • Agoraphobia
    • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
    • Selective Mutism
    • Anxiety Due to Medical Condition
  • ​Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Betrayal
  • Boundaries
  • Burnout, Compassion Fatigue
  • Chronic Pain or Illness
  • Codependency
  • Communication Issues
  • Depersonalization/Derealization
  • Depression 
    • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
    • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
    • Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
    • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
  • Eating Disorders
    • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
    • Binge Eating Disorder
    • Bulimia Nervosa
  • Gender Dysphoria
  • Divorce, Separation
  • Identity, Sense of Self
  • Insomnia
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    • Trichotillomania
    • Excoriation Disorder
  • Trauma
    • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    • Acute Stress Disorder
    • Adjustment Disorder
    • Childhood Sexual, Physical, or Psychological Abuse, or Neglect
    • ​​Intergenerational Trauma
    • Intimate Partner Violence
    • Racial Trauma
    • Sexual, Physical, or Psychological Abuse, or Neglect
    • Victim of Crime
  • Parenting Support, Co-Parenting
  • Personality Disorders
  • Pre-Marital
  • Post-Partum/Peri-Partum 
  • Religious or Spiritual Conflicts
  • Sexual Issues
    • Erectile Dysfunction
    • Female Orgasmic Disorder
    • Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
    • Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder
  • ​Social Exclusion or Rejection
  • Somatic Symptom Disorder
    • Illness Anxiety Disorder
    • Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)
  • ​Substance Related & Addictive Issues
    • ​Alcohol, Cannabis, Gambling
    • Pornography, Sex Addiction/Compulsive Sexual Behaviours
Therapy Approaches
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Anti-Oppressive Therapy
  • Attachment Based Therapy
  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
    • Trauma Informed CBT
  • Compassion Focused Therapy
  • Culturally Sensitive Therapy
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
    • Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
  • Existential Therapy
  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
  • Gottman Method
  • Harm Reduction Therapy
  • Health At Every Size (HAES)
  • Humanistic Therapy
  • Interpersonal Therapy
  • Intersectional Feminism
  • Mindfulness Based Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Person Centered Therapy
  • Relational Therapy
  • Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SBFT)
    • ​Solution Focused Narrative Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy
  • Strength Based Therapy
  • Systems Therapy
Communities
Languages
  • English​
Rates
  • $235 per 50 minute hour
  • Sliding-scale (reduced) rates are available on a case by case basis. Schedule a consultation for more information.
  • Rates may vary depending on fee schedules set by third-party direct-billing agencies (e.g. NIHB)
Direct-Billing
  • All participating insurance companies with Telus Health eClaims (e.g. Canada Life, Equitable Life, Manulife etc.)
  • Indigenous Services Canada (e.g. NIHB)
  • Alberta & Medavie Blue Cross (including VAC, RCMP, CAF, & Victims of Crime)
  • ​Green Shield
  • NexGen
  • SSQ
Education
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Counselling Psychology, University of Calgary (2025)
  • Master of Science, Educational Psychology, with specialization in Counselling Psychology, University of Calgary (2020)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Psychology, University of Calgary (2016)
Fun facts
I love to travel! I am always looking for hidden gems and peaceful nature spots.
My hobbies include reading, hiking/walking, and trying new restaurants and cafes.

Dr. Danielle Lefebvre, RPsych offers Direct-Billing to most major insurance companies, including:

“What is the duty of humans? If gifts and responsibilities are one, then asking 'What is our responsibility?' is the same as asking 'What is our gift?'. It is said that only humans have the capacity for gratitude. This is among our gifts.”

​- Robin Wall Kimmerer

A little about me.

I approach life and my work with empathy, compassion, and humility, valuing and recognizing the innate personal and communal knowledge people carry.

​Learning and growth are core to who I am, whether through books, experiences, or the people I meet. I believe in creating space for the infinite ways of being and embracing the richness of diverse perspectives.

​Above all, I love learning from and working with people, fostering connection and understanding along the way.

In the Media

How to Discuss Issues of Politics, Gender, and Sexuality

Lefebvre, D., Clifton, R., Frederick, R., & the GSA Subcommittee (2020) | Blog, University of Calgary
This article will provide a critical perspective on how to approach (de)constructive conversations about difficult topics such as politics, gender, and sexuality. First, we must discern whether there can be any productive conversation to begin with. If not, you should feel no obligation to interact with the person(s). Your safety, rights, and dignity, along with the safety, rights and dignity of others are of paramount importance and non-negotiable.  Read more...​

Workplace Experiences of Transgender Individuals

Lefebvre, D. & Hutchison, B. (2020) | Podcast, Episode 1, Asia Pacific Career Development Association
What issues do transgender individuals experience in the workplace in the Asia Pacific region and how can counselors help them to with these issues?  In this episode, Author Danielle Lefebvre explains what she learned through her research into this fascinating topic. Listen here...​

Research Publications

Exploring Experiences of Gender Euphoria for Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals

Lefebvre, D. (2025) | Doctoral Thesis, University of Calgary
Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals have experiences that are varied and complex, including that of gender euphoria. Gender euphoria refers to the joy, peace, or comfort of living as one’s gender and can involve internal and social factors. To date, there is little research exploring gender euphoria, particularly the in-depth accounts of the experience. A narrative inquiry, an approach which centres the lived experience and knowledge people hold, was employed to explore gender euphoria for three TGD people of colour. Their narrative accounts are presented, as well as narrative threads that resonated: cultural (inter)connections, representation and role models, community and support, and the use of metaphors to articulate and represent one’s experience of gender euphoria. To conclude, an exploration of recommendations and ways forward for counsellors, research, community, and policy will be provided. Read more...​

The Enigma of Weight: Figures, Flux, and Fitting in

Wong, K., Myre, M., Moules, N., Lefebvre, D., Morhun, J. M., Saunders, J., Estefan, A., & Russell-Mayhew, S. (2022) | Frontiers in Psychology, Educational Psychology
In Western society, the measurement of weight is prioritized over a person’s bodily experience. Hermeneutic philosopher Gadamer warned against the emphasis on measurement, rather than experience, in the medical sciences. An examination of the complexity of the experience of weight provides the opportunity to shift focus from quantifying the connection between health and weight to the experience of the person being weighed. Read more...​

The Optics of Weight: Expert Perspectives from the Panopticon and Synopticon

Russell-Mayhew, S., Moules, N., Estefan, A., Lefebvre, D., Morhun, J. M., Saunders, J., Wong, K., & Myre, M. (2022) | Psychology and Health
That we all weigh something is a fact of life, yet the material reality of weight is refracted through multiple layers of surveillance revealing contradictions in experience and understanding, depending on one’s vantage point. We explored the complexities of weight with the specific aim of furthering understanding of this multifaceted surveillance. ... Using the metaphor of optics, we demonstrate how the interplay of the panopticon (the few watching the many) and synopticon (the many watching the few) help us gain a deeper understanding of weight through “fitting in,” being “captured by numbers,” “dieting: the tyrannic tower,” and “the male gaze.” Read more...​

Transgender Women and the Male Gaze: Gender, the Body and the Pressure to Conform

Lefebvre, D. (2020) | Master's Thesis, University of Calgary
Transgender women may feel pressured to achieve certain societal standards for women that are largely created and reinforced by a society that prioritizes male perspectives. The male gaze, as it is termed, has been found to be associated with appearance anxiety, body shame, and insecurity for cisgender women. To date, the experience of the male gaze has not been examined exclusively with transgender women. It is a particularly important topic to explore as transgender women often face additional discrimination and pressure for being transgender. The current study aimed to answer the following research question: How does the male gaze influence the experiences of transgender women with their body? Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze interviews with eleven transgender women. Four themes emerged from the data: (a) male gaze as potentially harmful and dehumanizing, (b) internalization of the male gaze, (c) male gaze as affirming, and (d) absence or rejection of the male gaze. Subthemes were also identified and explored. This research is significant for several reasons. Understanding the experiences of transgender women and the male gaze allows for more targeted interventions and guidance for mental health practice. On a larger scale, this study informs on advocacy, and challenges cultural expectations and stereotypes for transgender women, while emphasizing self-expression, authenticity, and acceptance. Read more...​

Workplace Experiences of Transgender Individuals: A Scoping Review

Lefebvre, D. & Domene, J. (2020) | Asia Pacific Career Development Journal Vol 3:No 1
This scoping review sought to explore the literature regarding the experiences of transgender people in the workplace. Through an examination of previously published quantitative and qualitative research studies, the experiences of transgender people in the workplace were considered in terms of the implications of the existing knowledge base for career development practice in the Asia Pacific region. Several key themes and patterns were identified: support, gender-related concerns, structural and institutional concerns, and resilience of transgender individuals. Subthemes for each are also explored. The review was guided by a strength-based perspective, highlighting the adaptability, flexibility, and resiliency of transgender individuals. The discussion includes recommendations for safe and non-discriminatory career development practice, workplaces, and policies.  Read more...​

Weight Bias in Educational Settings: A Systematic Review

Nutter, S., Ireland, A., Alberga, A., Brun, I., Lefebvre, D., Hayden, K., & Russell-Mayhew, S. (2019) | Current Obesity Reports, Vol 1:No 1
Purpose: To conduct a systematic literature review of empirical peer-reviewed published studies on the prevalence of weight bias among students, pre-service, and in-service teachers and its impact on the educational experiences and health of students from kindergarten to postsecondary settings. Read more...​

A Pilot Study of Hippocampal N-acetyl-aspartate in Youth with Treatment Resistant Major Depression.

Lefebvre, D., Langevin, L. M., Jaworska, N., Harris, A. D., Lebel, R. M., Jasaui, Y., Kirton, A., Wilkes, T. C., Sembo, M., Swansburg, R., & MacMaster, F. P. (2016) | Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol 207
Smaller hippocampal volumes, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) indexed alterations in brain metabolites have been identified in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). Our group has found similar effects in MDD youth. However, this has not been studied in youth with treatment resistant MDD (TRD), nor has the interaction between regional N-acetyl-aspartate and volume deficits. N-acetyl-aspartate is an amino acid in the synthesis pathway of glutamate, and serves a marker of neuronal viability/number. Read more...​