Karen Nielson

Valerian Consulting is a psychological consulting firm located in Strathearn, a peaceful residential area near downtown Edmonton and the Bonnie Doon Shopping Mall. The Wallace/Robert Building, our new home since 2022, offers free parking and is easily accessible by public transportation. Our consulting services are available online, and our in-office assessments are conducted in a comfortable, secure, and confidential setting.

At Valerian Consulting, we respectfully acknowledge our location on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional home of First Nations and Metis peoples. We are committed to cultivating a nurturing and accepting environment for all individuals seeking our services.

About Us

Valerian Consulting was founded in 2010 by Ann Marie Dewhurst, PhD, R.Psych, and Karen Nielsen, PhD, RCSW. After many years of successful collaboration, Karen has retired from her clinical practice, while Ann Marie now offers consulting, clinical supervision services, and maintains her role as a faculty member at Athabasca University's Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology.

We take great pride in our team of carefully selected, experienced, and compassionate psychologists and Clinical Social Workers. Our dedicated professionals offer their expertise in various areas of assessment and intervention for both adults and youth. We are committed to providing high-quality services through continuous learning, professional development, and collaboration.

Services Offered

Valerian Consulting specializes in offering a wide range of professional assessment services for adults and youth, including:

• Psychological assessments
• Parenting assessments
• Psychoeducational assessments
• Neuropsychological assessments
• Functional capacity assessments
• Forensic assessments
• Safety/risk assessments

We believe in a collaborative approach between our professionals and clients, focusing on individual strengths and promoting personal growth. Our therapy services cover various issues and concerns for adults and youth:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma/PTSD
• Grief and loss
• Parenting
• Relationship issues
• Self-esteem and self-worth
• Life transitions
• Career-related concerns

Counselling sessions can be conducted either in our office or via secure teletherapy. Our assessments are undertaken in-office or through secure teletherapy, and we do not provide in-home assessments. We maintain a strict commitment to upholding the length and thoroughness of our assessment services, with each assessment typically taking between 15-20 hours.

Our Team

Valerian Consulting's experienced professionals include:

• Sophi Yohani, PhD, R. Psych
• Amanda Santarossa, MC, R. Psych
• Elizabeth Carlson, MA, R. Prov. Psych
• Coranne Johnson, PhD, R. Psych
• Karen Dushinski, PhD, R. Psych
• Heather MacKay, MSW, RCSW
• Jacqueline Pei, PhD, R. Psych
• Roger Ogden, R. Psych
• Liam Ennis, PhD, R. Psych

Each clinician maintains their independent practice and should be contacted directly regarding their availability for referrals. Once a specific professional has agreed to accept a referral, please send the necessary R&E forms to Valerian Consulting for our records.