Meet Sonali Shivaji
M.A.C.P., B.SC., CANADIAN CERTIFIED COUNSELLOR
Hello, I am Sonali Shivaji, a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with CCPA at Solace Psychology & Wellness. I completed my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and I also have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
I work with both teens and adults, offering a supportive and compassionate space to navigate life’s challenges. My goal is to help clients build resilience, develop practical tools, and feel empowered in their journey toward growth and well-being. I bring curiosity and creativity into sessions, tailoring my approach so therapy feels meaningful and relevant to each client’s unique story. I also have experience working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and value creating an inclusive, respectful space for all.
Clinical Overview
Therapy for Teens & Adults
My clinical areas of focus are in navigating developmental and transitional changes of identity, relationship, academics, profession, trauma, burnout prevention and management, crisis prevention and intervention. I enjoy helping teens and adults effectively manage anxiety (social, obsessive compulsive, general), depression, trauma symptoms, emotion regulation, panic attacks, lack of motivation, executive dysfunction, and crisis intervention.
When working with clients, I develop integrative and individualized counselling treatment plans and interventions from an anti-oppressive, harm-reduction, trauma informed, and client-centered perspective. My modalities of strength are Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT).
Areas of Focus
- Academic Challenges/ Learning Disorders
- Addiction & Substance Use
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Body Image Concerns
- Boundaries & Communication
- Burnout
- Career Changes
- Cultural Restoration
- Depression
- Disordered Eating
- Emotional Regulation
- Gender Identity
- Grief & Loss
- Life Transitions
- LGBTQ+
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Self-Esteem & Confidence
- Sleep Concerns
- Sports Performance
- Stress Management
- Teen Counselling
- Trauma, Abuse & PTSD
- Work / School / Life Balance
Therapeutic Modalities
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)
- Narrative Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Art Therapy
- Compassion-Focused Therapy
- Meditation
- Motivational Interviewing
- Person-Centered Therapy
Professional Trainings
- Mental Health Documentation & Medical Necessity: Simple, Clear Guidelines that Maintain Quality of Care and Protect Your Practice, Beth Rontal, MSW, LICSW
- Comprehensive DSM-5-TR Updates: New Diagnoses, Coding Changes & Cultural Considerations, George Haarman, PsyD, LMFT
- Differential Diagnosis Challenges: Clients with Trauma, Self-Injury, Impulsivity and Other Complex Behaviors, Margaret Bloom, PhD
- Mastering Differential Diagnosis with the DSM-5-TR: A System-Based Approach, Margaret Bloom, PhD
- Suicide Prevention, Risk Assessment & Management (SPRAM), AHS
- Access and Privacy Fundamentals for Alberta Public Bodies (FOIP)
- HIPAA Compliance Training
Academic Credentials & Professional Memberships
- Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University
- Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Lethbridge
- Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
A Bit About Me
I was born in Saudi Arabia and raised in India until the end of elementary school. I started my life in Canada in rural Alberta; and began my education and career in the field of psychology in the City of Lethbridge. My life experiences around the world and passion for travel makes international mental health care and cultivation of accessible multicultural counselling interventions a priority to me. I speak English and Malayalam, and accept clients who speak either or both languages.
My hobbies and interests include makeup and fashion, digital art, photography and video editing, social media content creation, snowboarding, yoga, travel, reading, and spirituality.
