Dr. Laura Friesen
Warrior's Way Psychological Services Inc.
587-599-5649
I was born and raised in a small, remote farming community in Alberta’s Peace region. I have seen firsthand the stress farming can have on individuals and families, and the unique benefits that come with the lifestyle. Growing up around hardworking farmers shaped who I am today and the values I live by. I believe that being tough and self-sufficient can serve us by helping to push through challenges and find creative solutions when our options seem limited.
At the same time, those values can make it hard to reach out beyond our immediate circle for help. Not knowing who to turn to, or how to ask for help, can lead to feelings of isolation and helplessness. A common response is to just pull up your boots and keep working, but when stress keeps building, it can exact a heavy toll on our physical and mental health. A part of being human means going through hard times, but we don’t have to do it alone. I know we can harness our farm values to help us live a healthy, connected and meaningful life.
I am a Registered Psychologist with over a decade of training, specializing in rural issues. I started researching these topics in 2013 to explore the challenges rural communities face; such as: access to healthcare and mental health support for the unique pressures of rural life. I have been deeply engaged in rural advocacy and the importance of culturally competent therapists who truly understand the realities of farming and rural culture.
I primarily work with individual farmers focusing on challenges like: depopulation, trauma, suicide and northern farmings’ unique stressors. I specialize in a wide range of rural and community issues, and have developed expertise helping first responders, veterans, and those suffering from trauma and PTSD. This means I can help farmers who volunteer as firefighters and first responders.
As a doctoral specialist, I can only take on AgKnow free session funding based on sliding scale spot availability due to as the coverage doesn’t cover my full fee; however, I can support clients who have other insurance or the ability to pay out of pocket. I have several openings for those clients and the sliding scale spots are currently filled.
*Serving Alberta Virtually
Specializations:
Trauma
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety
Suicide
Rural and Northern Living
Depopulation
First Responders
Veterans
Age Groups:
Adults 18+
Client Focus:
Individuals
Adults
Groups
Family
Cost: For details on session costs, please contact service provider directly.
