EVENING AVAILABILITY

Areas of Expertise:

Work/Life Balance Struggles
Life Transitions
Family Relationships
Attachment Issues
Parenting
Adoption and Fostering
Developmental Trauma
Grief and Loss
Suicide Bereavement
Anxiety
Depression
Family Members in a Caring Role
Men's Mental Health

Psychological Services Offered:

Adult Therapy
Adolescent Therapy
Child Therapy
Couple's Counselling
Family Counselling
ADHD Assessments (Adult)

Therapeutic Modalities:

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for Children and Adolescents (including sandtray)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Client-Centered Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Gottman Couples Method

I try to bring a steady presence to therapy to help anchor wherever you need to go. I specialize in helping with work/life balance struggles, life transitions, parenting, attachment, adoption and fostering (I am an adoptive parent), ADHD, and grief and loss. I see human struggles mostly from an attachment/early-life and developmental process perspective, but I utilize a variety of therapeutic tools and techniques. I enjoy creating a collaborative environment and sharing the path to wellness for individuals and parents and families

I am a Registered Psychologist in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor in good standing with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. I hold a Master of Counselling from City University of Seattle in Canada and a postgraduate diploma in Journalism from Edinburgh Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

I have experience in supporting individuals through grief and loss, suicide bereavement, couple relationships, family therapy, parenting support, adoption and fostering, anxiety, and depression. I have held positions at Canadian Mental Health Association, St. Mary's University, Amaris Adoption and Family Support Services (where I also served as a board member), and Norum Psychological Services. I have also given workshop presentations at Woods Homes, Amaris Adoption and Family Support Services, Adoption Options, and The Mustard Seed Calgary.

I am trained in EMDR, EMDR with children, and relationship support. I have extensive experience in facilitating both psychoeducational and counselling support groups.

When not at Solasta (or sometimes when I am!), I enjoy hanging out with my children, searching for the best Chinese food in Calgary, and getting up in the dark early on Saturday mornings to watch Scottish football.

Scott is an approved partner provider for Minds Over Matter Barrier Free Counselling. Minds Over Matter provides qualifying applicants between 18 and 35 with fully covered counselling. Visit here to apply and asked to be matched with Scott.

Publications:

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.