Gillian is a Registered Psychologist in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists, a Canadian Certified Counsellor in good standing with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and a Certified EMDR Therapist. She holds a Doctor of Psychology from California Southern University, a Master’s of Counselling from City University of Seattle in Canada and a Master’s of Science in Social Policy from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.  Gillian is also an Associate Faculty at City University in Canada and an Assistant Professor at Providence University College & Theological Seminary.   

Gillian is a compassionate and skilled therapist in the area of child, family, and individual therapy, with a focus on attachment, trauma and treating PTSD in children and adults. Gillian has specialized EMDR training to work with children, adolescents and adults.  She also uses the EMDR Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol (IATP) to strengthen attachment and resolve trauma within families. Gillian is also trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Parts/Ego State Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) for fostered and adopted children (with Dr. Daniel Hughes), and Theraplay and the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM).

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Publications:

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• McKirdy, G. C. (2022). The Lived Experiences of Adoptive Parents Experiencing Blocked Care. California Southern University.  

• McKirdy, G. C., Roughley, R. A., & McKirdy, S. A. (2019). From Proving Perfection to Seeking Support: The Lived Experiences of Adoptive Parents in Alberta. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 53(3), 276-295. 

• McKirdy, G. C., & Roughley, R. (2018, October). The Experience of Adoptive Parents Accessing Support Services in Alberta: Implications for Counselling. Poster session presented at the Canadian Counselling Psychology Conference, Calgary, Alberta.