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Insight Recovery Therapists - Dan Rietveld

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Dan Rietveld, Registered Provisional Psychologist, BAR, MTS, MC

Life can be beautiful, and it can also be deeply painful and confusing. None of us gets through it without being shaped by loss, disappointment, fear, or experiences that leave a lasting mark. I believe that healing doesn’t come from becoming a different person—it comes from understanding yourself with greater honesty and compassion, finding new ways to carry what has happened, and discovering that life can feel meaningful again.

When people feel truly seen and accepted, change becomes possible. My hope is to offer a space where you don’t have to pretend you’re okay or have all the answers. Together, we’ll work toward helping you feel more connected to yourself, your relationships, and the life you want to live.

  • Sherwood Park 

  • Edmonton North

  • Online Counselling

More About Dan Rietveld

I believe that every person has a story that deserves to be understood. Life can be complicated, and many of the ways we cope with pain once served an important purpose, even if they no longer help us today. Therapy is about creating space to better understand ourselves, make sense of our experiences, and discover new ways to move forward.

I completed my Master of Counselling from City University of Seattle’s Edmonton campus and hold a Master’s of Theological Studies from McMaster University. My current research interests are focused on helping men in distress.

Over the past three decades, I have worked in education, mental health, child welfare, advocacy, and community leadership.

 

Throughout my career, I have supported children, youth, adults, and families facing a wide range of challenges, including complex trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, self-esteem, emotional regulation, self-harm, bullying, family conflict, and involvement with the justice and child welfare systems. Much of my work has involved walking alongside people during some of the most difficult periods of their lives, helping them navigate complex systems while maintaining hope and dignity. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that meaningful change happens through genuine human connection.

My approach to counselling is collaborative, practical, and tailored to each individual. While I draw heavily from person-centred and cognitive behavioural approaches, I also integrate ideas and strategies from a variety of evidence-based therapies depending on what best fits each person’s goals, personality, and life experiences. There is no single approach that works for everyone, and I believe therapy should reflect the individual’s uniqueness rather than asking them to fit a particular model.

The relationship between therapist and client is one of the strongest predictors of successful therapy. I work to create a space where people feel genuinely heard, respected, and accepted, recognizing that trust develops over time. I see clients as the experts on their own lives, and my role is not to provide all the answers, but to bring curiosity, perspective, knowledge, and practical tools while we work together toward meaningful change.

I value therapy that is grounded in evidence while remaining deeply human. I believe lasting growth comes from developing insight, learning practical skills, and discovering strengths that may have been hidden by life’s challenges. I also believe that humour, perspective, and moments of lightness have an important place in the healing process. Even in life’s most difficult seasons, people are capable of resilience, growth, and creating lives that feel more authentic, connected, and hopeful.

I specialize in:

  • Alcohol Dependence

  • Drug or Substance Use

  • Substance Use Risk Assessment

Qualifications

  • Master of Counselling (University of Calgary)

  • Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology (University of Alberta)

  • Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health (University of Alberta - in progress)

Certifications

  • Internal Family Systems Core Skills

  • Polyvagal Theory and the Neuroscience of Connection

  • Trauma Treatment Certification: EMDR, CBT and Somatic-Based Interventions

  • EMDR Core Skills Complex Trauma: Integrating Internal Family Systems Parts Work

  • Somatic Psychology and EMDR

Affiliations

  • College of Alberta Psychologists

  • Psychologist Association of Alberta

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