​As a Registered Psychologist, I have over 9 years of experience in mental health. I am honoured and privileged to build and develop a therapeutic relationship with you, based on trust, safety, and connection. I believe this is essential for supporting you in your journey of healing, as you navigate the complexities of this world. I use a brain-based and relational approach to therapy.

 I realize that our brain patterns are shaped by our relationships, and they can cause us to experience tribulation and shame. I want to help you individually, or you and your partner relationally, to develop secure and satisfying connections by strengthening emotional accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement.
 I believe that this can help relationships heal and grow together. By fostering a positive and empathic relationship, as well as an understanding of how your brain works, I  have confidence that this can help you heal and grow, individually and relationally.  I am passionate about meeting you where you are at and joining you as you work towards growth, healing, and change.

​​I feel deeply honoured to do this work collaboratively with you. I have an authentic and empathic nature, I focus on trust, curiosity, and acceptance, to ensure you feel safe, secure, and seen throughout our time together. I believe by cultivating self compassion, healing and growth can occur with the combination of a positive, emotionally attuned relationship and an understanding of what is happening in the brain, body and mind. When we are able to allow our vulnerabilities to surface and create opportunities for sustainable change, healing and reconnection to yourself and others can take place.  

​I use various modalities to support you, including Attachment Theory, Trauma-Informed Practice, EMDR, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Interpersonal neurobiology, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-based practices, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). I tailor my approach to suit your unique needs and preferences.

​My areas of specialization include children, adolescents, couples, and families with a range of presenting concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief/loss, chronic illnesses, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and trauma. 
I value working with both individuals, as well as relationally with parents, partners and friends when working with trauma and eating disorders. As 2SLGBTQIA+ Ally, I work with individuals, couples, and their families as they begin to show up in the work in an authentic, empowered, and neurodivergent affirming way . 

​When I’m not practicing psychology, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and traveling the world. ​
"It's okay to not be okay."

Top Specialties

Trauma and PTSD
Relationship Issues
​ADHD

Works With

​Adults
Youth
Couples
Family
​Groups
Mental Health Assessment

Availability

​​Evenings
​Weekends

Learn more about Marlena Pedersen, RPsych:

Additional Areas of Expertise
  • Adoption
  • Anger
  • Anxiety Disorders
    • Separation Anxiety
    • Phobias
    • Social Anxiety
    • Panic
    • Agoraphobia
    • Generalized Anxiety
    • Selective Mutism
  • Betrayal
  • Bipolar Disorders & Cyclothymic Disorder
  • Blending Families
  • ​Boundaries
  • Bullying & Cyberbullying
  • Creativity
  • Codependency
  • Communication
  • Compassion Fatigue, Burnout
  • Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
  • Depression
    • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
    • Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
    • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control & Conduct Disorders
    • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
    • Intermittent Explosive Disorder
    • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
  • Divorce, Separation
  • Eating Disorders
    • ​Pica
    • Rumination Disorder
    • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
    • Anorexia Nervosa
    • Binge Eating Disorder
    • Bulimia Nervosa
  • Ecological Grief (eco-grief)​​
  • ​Enuresis & Encopresis
  • Fertility Issues, Infant/Child Loss
  • Forgiveness
  • Gender Dysphoria
  • Gender based issues
  • Grief and Loss
  • Identity & Sense of Self
  • Imposter Syndrome
  • Intimacy, Vulnerability
  • Life transitions
  • Meaning, Identity, Sense of Self
  • Neurodevelopmental 
    • Intellectual Disabilities
    • Communication Disorders
    • Autism 
    • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
    • Specific Learning Disorder
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    • ​Body Dysmorphic Disorder
    • Hoarding Disorder
    • Trichotillomania
    • Excoriation
  • Personality Disorders
    • ​Paranoid Personality Disorder
    • Schizoid Personality Disorder
    • Schizotypal Personality Disorder
    • Antisocial Personality Disorder
    • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
    • Histrionic Personality Disorder
    • Narcissistic Personality Disorder
    • Avoidant Personality Disorder
    • Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
  • ​Parenting & Co-Parenting Support
  • Perfectionism, Self-Criticism
  • Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum
  • Perpetrator of Abuse, Antisocial Behaviour
  • Self Esteem, Self Worth​
  • Self Compassion
  • Sex Counselling, Compulsive Sexual Behaviours
  • Shame
  • Spirituality
  • Stress
  • ​Trauma
    • Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
    • Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder
    • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    • Complex/Developmental Trauma (C-PTSD)
    • Occupational Trauma
    • Acute Stress Disorder
    • Adjustment Disorder
    • Prolonged Grief
    • Religious Trauma
    • ​Intergenerational Trauma
    • Childhood physical, sexual, psychological abuse & neglect
    • Intimate Partner Violence
    • Victims of Crime, Terrorism, or Torture
    • Exposure to Disaster, War
    • Social Exclusion, Rejection, Adverse Discrimination
  • Self Harm
  • Sexual Dysfunction
    • ​Delayed Ejaculation
    • Erectile Dysfunction
    • Female Orgasmic Disorder
    • Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder
    • Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
    • Premature (Early) Ejaculation
  • Sleep-Wake Disorders
    • Insomnia
    • Breathing-Related Sleep Disorders
  • ​Somatic Symptom Related Disorders
    • Somatic Symptom Disorder
    • Illness Anxiety Disorder
    • Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)
  • Suicidality
Therapy Approaches
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
  • Attachment Based Therapy
  • Client Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
    • Trauma Focused CBT
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
  • Compassion Focused Therapy
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
    • Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
    • Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
  • Existential Therapy
  • Expressive Arts Therapy
  • Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Gestalt Therapy
  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy
  • Harm Reduction Therapy
  • Health At Every Size (HAES)
  • Humanistic Therapy
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Interpersonal Therapy
  • Jungian Therapy
  • Mindfulness Based Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
  • Person Centered Therapy
  • Play Therapy
  • Positive Psychology
  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy
  • Psychoanalytic Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)
  • Reality Therapy
  • Relational Therapy
  • Schema Therapy
  • Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
  • Somatic Experiencing (SE)
  • Strength Based Approaches
  • Structural Family Therapy
  • Transpersonal Therapy
Communities
Languages
  • English
  • Polish
Rates
  • $235-250 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.)
  • Sunlife
  • Indigenous Services Canada (e.g. NIHB)
  • Alberta & Medavie Blue Cross (including VAC, RCMP, CAF, IFHP)
  • WSIB Ontario
Education
  • Master of Arts, Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University (2011)
  • Bachelor of Child and Youth Care, Grant MacEwan University Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Honours (with Distinction), University of Victoria (2010)​
Fun FActs
My hobbies include yoga, hiking and travelling. 

Marlena offers Direct-Billing to most major insurance companies including:

A little about me.

I’m someone who believes that healing happens through connection, honesty, and curiosity. My approach to therapy is deeply influenced by my own experiences with neurodivergence, loss, and navigating complex family dynamics. These experiences have shaped the way I see people — as layered, resilient, and deserving of understanding. 

I bring a humanistic, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming lens to my work, grounded in compassion and realism. I value creating spaces where people can slow down, feel seen, and make sense of their emotions without judgment.

​My work with first responders, Veterans, and Indigenous clients has deepened my respect for courage, community, and the many forms that strength can take.
​Outside of work, I value time in nature, movement, and moments of quiet reflection — the same practices I often encourage in therapy. I believe that change grows out of safety, small steps, and self-trust, and I aim to meet every person where they are, with warmth and authenticity.