What is Lateral Love Psychology?
Lateral Love Psychology emerged from the vicarious nature of love and wellness. It is a gentle reminder that we are not alone in life and that our love and wellness is not only felt individually but also by those we are connected to. We are not static people, we grow with and influence our environment and social circle.
At Lateral Love Psychology, we focus on all the relations throughout your life and help bridge the connection between your mind, body, emotions, and spirit.
Let's take a breath, hold space for our experiences, and share our stories, knowledge, and love. We offer generalist counselling for a wide range of presenting concerns.
Hello/Tansi!
I’m Ryan, the face behind Lateral Love Psychology. I am a Queer Métis Registered Provisional Psychologist and I love being a therapist. Reaching out and asking for help can be difficult, complex, and scary. However, I genuinely believe that everyone has the tools and abilities to overcome and transform their lives.
Therapy is your space! At the core of my practice, I love to provide a space for you to share your experiences, knowledge, and stories. I understand that not every day will be perfect. Somedays life feels heavy, and that sucks. But you are never alone in these hard, heavy, and “it's fine” days. Regardless of what kind of day you are having, I genuinely believe that everyone has the tools and abilities to overcome and transform their lives
For me, wellness and healing is all about support and community. I love to build relationships and collaborate in the therapeutic space to support people in attaining their personal goals, exploring new coping strategies, strengthening inter- and intra-personal connections, and developing new relationships with their traumas.
I look forward to connecting with you and I am honoured you’ve taken the time to consider reaching out to me.
Practice
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You may be asking yourself, “what is a Registered Provisional Psychologist?” A Registered Provisional Psychologist, sometimes referred to as an RPP for short, is a therapist who is training to become a registered psychologist.
Within Alberta, Registered Provisional Psychologists are certified by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), and are licensed to practice psychology under the supervision of a registered psychologist. Thus, they receive regular and ongoing support from a Registered Psychologist(s) who supervises and supports the Registered Provisional Psychologist to best help their clients.
Within Alberta, a Registered Provisional Psychologist must have completed a master's degree in psychology or a related field, have completed a practicum placement of 200–600 hours of counselling, have proof of liability insurance, passed a police records check and obtain clearance to work with vulnerable people, and have or are in the process of completing a Knowledge and Ethics and Standards of Practice Exam (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Law and Ethics for Alberta Psychologists (LEAP)). Once registered, Registered Provisional Psychologist may use their designation to demonstrate their professional competence and commitment to ethical practice to help others.
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Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy (IFOT) (2024)
IFOT brings a collective lens to therapy, following from the understanding that trauma in an Indigenous context is intergenerational and shaped by colonization. IFOT moves beyond the individual, to meet trauma from “all my relations,” an expression that encompasses the web of relationships in which an Indigenous person is embedded. From this perspective, everything is animate and interconnected across time, space, and through the generations, and so can be drawn upon for healing (Turcotte & Schiffer, 2014)
IFOT is particularly effective with experiences of complex trauma impacted by colonization, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse or neglect. IFOT has been especially well received in Indigenous communities because of its trauma-informed Indigenous, person-centred approach to healing, which reflects the core values of respect and reconciliation.
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I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2021 from the University of Alberta, and my Master of Science in Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary in 2024.
Outside of my career, I am an extroverted introvert who loves connecting with friends and family while also ensuring to take time for myself. I often spend the majority of my free time going to the mountains, listening to a new podcast, exploring new coffee shops to sip over-priced coffee, watching reality TV, travelling, and going on runs in my spare time.
Throughout my work, I am privileged to connect and work with anyone who sit with me. The focus of my practice includes but is not limited to: Grief & Loss, Anxiety, personal and intergenerational Trauma (including Trauma-related conditions), Interpersonal Conflicts, stages of change, and navigating life transitions (e.g. illness diagnosis, new marriage, divorce, career changes, retirement, gender, sex, and sexuality).
Book a Consultation
We offer free 45-minute intake consultations to see if we are a good fit.
Land acknowledgement
I acknowledge that we are gathered today at the traditional meeting place and home for many Indigenous people, including the Cree, Anishinaabe, Blackfoot, Nakoda Sioux, Tsuu'tina, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, as identified in Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and Métis Nation Battle River Territory, Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District 6. I live and work in Moh’kinstsis, the Blackfoot name for Calgary.
I acknowledge and appreciate the many generations who have cared for these lands. I respect their traditions and cultures on these lands. The many traditions and cultures are deeply embedded into the landscape and roots in which we all inhabit. I extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to work and live in this territory.