Marla Pender
REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST (QUALIFYING)
You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out, therapy can simply be a place to start.
My approach is warm, inclusive, and collaborative, designed to help you feel understood, regain clarity, and navigate life’s challenges more confidently.
Areas of Support
Individual Psychotherapy
Disability
Chronic Illness & Pain
Managing Stress
Neurodivergence
Burn Out
Grief & Loss
Working Together
Are you looking for a place where you can share openly without judgment or pressure? Whether you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed; navigating loss or life transitions; or struggling with relationships or family dynamics, you don’t have to face it alone. I provide a space for people who have been managing challenges on their own and are seeking clarity, balance, and direction. Together, we’ll work on making sense of your experiences and discovering approaches that help you feel more supported, connected, and empowered.
Living with disability, neurodivergence, or exceptionality
Living with disability, neurodivergence, or exceptionality can shape how you experience the world in ways others may not always see or appreciate. Navigating an ableist world can create emotional, physical, and practical challenges that drain your time, energy, and resources. With more than 15 years supporting people with a wide range of physical, developmental, and learning disabilities, I provide a space where your experiences are respected, your strengths are acknowledged, and all parts of your identity are welcome. Together, we’ll explore how to build a life that feels authentic, fulfilling, and aligned with your values on your own terms, in ways that work for you.
Work stress and pressure
Are you feeling stuck, disillusioned, or burned out at work? I work with thoughtful, capable, and conscientious professionals who find themselves discouraged or questioning themselves in workplaces where their boundaries, perspectives, or values are not respected. Over time, constant pressure, difficult dynamics, or unrealistic expectations can lead to exhaustion and the sense that no matter how hard you try, it’s never quite enough. With decades of experience navigating bureaucracies and supporting others within them, I understand how complex workplace cultures can be. Together, we can make sense of your experiences, strengthen your sense of agency and boundaries, and reconnect with what matters to you. The aim is to help you move forward with greater clarity, whether that means navigating your current workplace differently or considering new paths that better support your wellbeing and values.
Living with pain, injury, or illness
When pain, injury, or illness lingers, it can start to feel like your body has become unpredictable or even like it’s working against you. Recovery can become complicated by stress, fear of uncertainty, life changes, or the emotional toll of living with ongoing symptoms. Therapy offers a space to understand how your mind and body are responding to these challenges. Together, we can work on calming the nervous system, reducing fear and avoidance, processing difficult experiences, and addressing the barriers that make it hard to stay connected to your goals or what matters most to you. The aim is to help you regain confidence, direction, and momentum so you can move forward even while navigating pain or physical limitations.
My Approach
I take an integrative, client-centred approach that’s responsive to your unique needs and goals. I draw from a range of therapeutic modalities, including:
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Solution-Focused Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Humour, creativity, and curiosity are woven throughout my work. I strive to create a space where all parts of you are welcomed, including the ones that may have been masked or hidden to survive.
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Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology – Yorkville University
Master of Arts in Community Psychology – Wilfrid Laurier University
Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology – University of Saskatchewan
Psychotherapy Matters Virtual Care Provider
Non-Certified Professional Member, Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association
Acceptance &Commitment Therapy for Beginners – Russ Harris
Trauma-Informed Acceptance & Commitment Therapy – Russ Harris
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) – Canadian Mental Health Association
Changing the ADHD Brain: Moving Beyond Medication – David Nowell
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Training – Katelyn Baxter-Musser
Indigenous Canada course – University of Alberta
Anti-Racism training – Diversity and Resiliency Institute of El Paso
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Free initial consultation.
$160 - 50 minutes
$240- 80 minutes
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Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Solution-Focused Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
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Supportive: offering empathetic understanding & validation
Exploratory: helping clients discover their own insights
Collaborative: working together to develop solutions
Skills-Focused: teaching specific tools & techniques
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