Hayley Hellum, MC

Registered Psychologist

(She/They)

Hi, I’m Hayley, a settler on the lands represented by Treaties 6 and 7, a Child Psychologist, a lifelong advocate for the importance of play, and the founder of Red Deer Play Therapy.

Hayley has been providing therapy for children and adolescents as a Registered Psychologist since 2019, and has worked in various settings with diverse populations of young people for over 20 years. Hayley completed their Psychology degree from the University of Lethbridge, and their Master of Counselling degree from Athabasca University. Hayley has a strong passion for supporting young people who are exploring their own identities, processing difficult memories, learning new skills, and navigating social systems.

Hayley’s client-centered approach to therapy is rooted in attachment and play-based supports, which can be particularly effective in supporting young people manage a number of challenges in areas including ADHD, anxiety, anger, self-harm and suicidal ideation, depression, grief, loss and identity development. Hayley is trained in Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Talk Therapy, Crisis Intervention, Suicide Intervention, and EMDR Therapy, and is practicing play therapy under the supervision of a Certified Play Therapy Supervisor.

When not working, Hayley enjoys camping, kayaking, reading, writing, playing games, listening to music, and making art. Hayley lives in Red Deer with their family and dog.

Hayley is an approved provider for Indigenous individuals covered under the Non-Insured Health Benefit Plan (NIHB).

Book a session with Hayley using our online booking site.

Hayley is committed to ongoing training and professional development. Some courses include:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology- University of Lethbridge
Master of Counselling- Athabasca University
Foundational Play Therapy Training
EMDR Foundational Training
ASIST Suicide Intervention
SafeTalk Suicide Intervention
Small Talk Suicide Intervention
Non-Suicidal Self Injury Intervention
Cultural Safety and Humility
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
Theraplay I
Sand Tray Therapy Levels I,II & III

Hayley is practicing play therapy under the supervision of a Certified Play Therapist Supervisor (CPT-S) and working towards full certification.

*Canadian Association for Play Therapy

Hayley is an approved provider for Indigenous individuals covered under the Non-Insured Health Benefit Plan (NIHB).

Kimberly Van Patten BA, MSW

(She/Her)

Registered Provisional Social Worker

Kimberly Van Patten (She/Her) is Cree, Métis, and of mixed European ancestry from Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta. As a visitor to Central and Southern Alberta since 2008, she is grateful to have made her home in Red Deer, which is located within Treaty 6 and 7 territories.

Kimberly is a Provisional Registered Social Worker (RSW) with 15 years of experience supporting Indigenous youth and families. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and Linguistics, as well as a Masters of Social Work (MSW), specializing in Clinical Practice. She is currently receiving training to become a Certified Play Therapist (CPT) through the Canadian Association for Play Therapy.

Kimberly lends her extensive background working in youth programming and community-led initiatives to the therapeutic space ensuring that every child and family feels honored, seen, and supported. With a passion for creating culturally safe spaces, Kimberly hopes to integrate a holistic approach grounded in Indigenous methodologies, trauma-informed care, expressive arts and sensory-somatic modalities into her work with children and families.

Outside of work, she enjoys all things crafty (painting, journaling, sewing- to name a few!), reading, and spending time with family.

Terrific question!

Both Registered Psychologists and Registered Social Workers are regulated mental health professionals who provide counselling, therapy, and emotional support. Both are qualified to work with children, youth, and families, and can help individuals navigate challenges related to emotions, behaviour, relationships, stress, trauma, and mental health.

Both professionals:

Are regulated and accountable to a professional regulatory body in Alberta.
Are required to follow professional standards, ethical guidelines, and ongoing professional development requirements.
Provide therapy and mental health support.
Work collaboratively with individuals and families to identify strengths, navigate challenges, and support emotional well-being.
May have additional specialized training in areas such as child development, trauma, attachment, anxiety, and play therapy.

Registered Psychologists typically have graduate-level education (a master's or doctoral degree) in psychology or counselling. Their training focuses on understanding human thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and psychological functioning.

Registered Clinical Social Workers have completed a graduate-level degree (master's level). Their training focuses on understanding individuals within the context of their relationships, families, communities, and environments.

To practice social work in Alberta, you must be registered and obtain an active practice permit. Social work is a regulated profession with mandatory registration that begins with a provisional practice permit and entry to practice requirements.

New applicants are approved for provisional registration and must meet specific practice requirements within the first year of registration.

A provisional registrant is authorized to use the title of RSW and has all the rights and responsibilities of an RSW. RSWs have ongoing, annual registration requirements.

Which therapist should I choose?

This is an incredibly important question, and it really should be a personal choice. When finding a therapist for your child, it's important that both you and your child feel safe enough with the person you choose. When choosing, consider the therapist's individual experience, training, and ability to develop a safe therapeutic relationship. Other contributing factors may include session rates and extended health benefits coverage.

Both Registered Psychologists and Registered Social Workers can provide meaningful, effective therapeutic support. The professional designation alone does not determine whether someone will be the right fit for your family. Individual training, experience, therapeutic approach, and the relationship developed between the therapist and client are all important considerations.

At Red Deer Play Therapy, both professionals provide compassionate, relationship-based therapy and mental health support. We work collaboratively with children, youth, and families to find an approach that best supports their individual needs.

We offer a free 15-minute, no-obligation consultation to help you decide if we're the right fit. If neither of our team members are the right therapist for your family, we would be happy to make referrals to other professionals in the area.

Marshall

Puppet

What can we say about Marshall?! He's incredibly flexible, and adaptable to any situation.

Marshall makes a great companion to the play therapist, and to our valued young visitors. Marshall makes a great listener, storyteller, companion, and playmate. Marshall loves helping others to find and use their voice.