Mary-Jean Malyszka
My Philosophy
My passion and life’s work has been to help people develop strategies and resilience towards living their best and most authentic life, while thriving during challenging times and life transitions.
I value and practice acceptance and non-judgment of all. I am committed to providing a safe, compassionate, and welcoming therapeutic environment, being open and affirming to people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, religions, and ethnicities.
My Areas of Specialization
As a relationship counsellor, I help individuals, couples and families build healthy, conscious relationships within themselves and with those around them. For that reason I work systemically, recognizing that no one is an island, and that our greatest challenges, strengths, and joys come from our conscious connection within ourselves, with others, and the world around us.
My therapeutic style is client-centered, grounded in wellness, not sickness, blending solution-focused, contemplative, body-centered and transpersonalapproaches. That being said, rather than following a prescribed approach to counselling, I tailor my work to each unique set of strengths, challenges, and concerns of the individual, couple, or family.
With a specialization in clinical sex therapy and sex addiction, I assist individuals, couples, and groups with issues around sexual intimacy, sexual desire and dysfunction, sexual/love addiction and compulsion, gender identity discovery and transition, healthy communication and conflict, and domestic partnership/pre-marital preparation.
I also assist people with working through challenging life transitions, spiritual emergence (awakening), grief and loss, and substance abuse.
My Background
I am a Registered Psychologist #4894 with the College of Alberta Psychologists, and a Diplomate and Certified Clinical Sex Therapist (DAACS #2917) with the American Board of Sexology. Additionally, I am registered as a Level 4 Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) with the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals, a recognized leader in the field of sex addiction therapy, and as a Clinical Hypnotherapist with the Canadian Federation of Clinical Hypnosis.
For over 25 years I have worked in the areas of mental health and community outreach services with individuals and families. My clients have come from all walks of life, ages, abilities, sexual orientations, and cultural backgrounds.
I have a BA in Sociology from the University of Western Ontario and MA in Transpersonal Counselling Psychology from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Additional post graduate certification is in Clinical Sex Therapy from the Colorado School for Family Therapy, and Marriage and Family Therapy, from Denver Family Institute, along with a significant background in substance abuse/addictions counselling, and mediation/conflict resolution.