Registered Psychologist · RCC-ACS
Alana Cotterall
Adults · Counselling & Assessments
Children & Youth · Assessments
In person in Invermere · Online across BC & Alberta
Alana Cotterall Psychological Services
alana@acpsychology.ca
www.acpsychology.ca
Who I work with
Many of the people I see have felt for a long time like they don’t quite fit. Maybe they feel like too much, or keeping some distance from others just feels safer. On the outside, they’re holding it together: social, good at their jobs, the one friends call when things fall apart. Inside, they can’t sleep, they’re short with the people they love, or their chest gets tight and they don’t know why. Emotions can feel confusing or out of reach, and for some, everything feels a bit flat and far away. Often there’s old hurt underneath, and talking about it hasn’t convinced their body that it’s over. My work blends talk therapy with a lot of regulation work, so the body can catch up and people can make sense of how they got here.
Areas of focus
Main focus: Trauma · Complex & developmental trauma · Dissociation · Attachment & relational patterns
Trauma rarely shows up as just one thing. It often looks like anxiety, depression, numbness, trouble regulating emotions, or grief that won’t settle, and I work with all of these through a trauma lens.
Also work with: Life transitions · Self-esteem · ADHD & neurodivergence · Performance & confidence
Assessments: ADHD (youth & adult) · Psychoeducational (school & work) · Psychological (diagnostic)
How I work
I’m a Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant, with advanced training in complex trauma, dissociation and attachment. I also provide consultation to other EMDR therapists and facilitate practicum for EMDR Basic Training.
In my therapy, I work from an attachment-focused lens, because I believe so much of what we carry was shaped in our earliest relationships, and our nervous systems learned to cope in those same relationships. I also follow a phased approach to treatment because trauma work goes better when your body feels steady first. So first we focus on helping your nervous system feel steadier, using resourcing and stabilization skills alongside talk therapy. For some people, LENS neurofeedback can be a helpful addition. When there’s enough stability, we work through what happened using EMDR or Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), a gentle, body-based approach that works with the brain’s earliest responses to shock. Then we look at what you want your life to feel like now.
Early sessions are mostly about getting to know each other and building a relationship where you feel safe enough to go at your own pace. Nothing gets rushed, and I’ll explain what we’re doing and why as we go.
Therapy style
- Warm, calm and gentle
- Emotionally deep and insightful
- Humorous and relaxed
Services & Approaches
Services: Individual counselling · EMDR intensives · ADHD, psychoeducational & psychological assessments · LENS neurofeedback
Approaches: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) · Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) · Parts work · Clinical Hypnosis · Attachment-focused therapy · Resourcing & stabilization · Interpersonal therapy · Mindfulness
For clinicians: Clinical consultation and supervision · EMDR consultation · Practicum facilitator, EMDR Basic Training (Trauma Therapist Institute)
A bit about me
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me outdoors, being active with my family. I love nature and philosophy, especially how people once paused long enough to notice patterns and the small details around them. I think that kind of noticing matters in therapy too, and that being truly seen can be healing in itself.
Getting started
If you’d like to see whether we’re a good fit, you can book a session or reach out with any questions first. Assessments and neurofeedback are booked separately from counselling.
Learn more: EMDR | EMDR Intensives | Deep Brain Reorienting | LENS Neurofeedback | Assessments
Whenever you’re ready
Take the first small step
Have a look through the counsellors at Hearthstone, or book a free 20-minute consult with someone who stands out.