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Dr. Sheila O’Byrne, Counseling Services
Dr. O'Byrne received her education from McGill University, the University of Alberta,
The Sorbonne in France and the International Academy of Meditation in Italy.
The focus of her Ph.D. dissertation was on the process of recovery from Bulimia Nervosa. She has also recovered from eating issues, in
addition to other challenges and difficulties. With her education and her own personal experience with change and growth, Dr. O'Byrne has
a broad base from which to counsel.
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"I have been practicing healthy self-management tools since 1987. These include meditating, practicing awareness and kindness to self (acceptance),
managing mind-talk, feeling feelings, listening for inner guidance, eating balanced meals, exercising moderately and practicing gratitude. I have found
in my healing and growth that doing something positive every day is an integral part of my healthy life. Also by doing something healthy every day change
begins to happen. In time small changes become big changes. Time is a funny thing, for when we look back it seems like it has gone by so fast. Just imagine
you have taken five minutes everyday to sit with yourself and meditate, reflect, or do relaxation. Suddenly three years has passed and so quickly. Healing
would also be occurring during this time. This would mean that you might be:
- Happier, more loving
- more confident
- better able to concentrate and focus
- sleeping better
- calmer, less stressed
- more patient, not in such a hurry
- better organized
- more positive thinking
These changes happened for me over time from doing the healthy practices I mentioned above in italics. Also I healed from participating in counseling,
for example I spent 7 months at a meditation school in Italy, which involved meditating every day and doing lots of therapy. This sped up my recovery.
Perhaps there is someone that you feel safe opening up to. This may speed up your healing.
There are many more wonderful things about recovery such as feeling good mentally, emotionally and physically. Being able to handle negative mind-talk,
and difficult feelings that emerge sometimes, are other benefits. Being smarter than ever is really fun too. I don't mean book smart, I mean intuition smart.
You see when we practice healthy tools every day and get some help in counseling, we are more in touch with the inner knowing. That is fun! Here is a joke
about "smart":
A little boy, a priest, a company president and a pilot were on a plane. The plane's engines stopped. The pilot said that there were three parachutes and he
was going to use one. He proceeded to jump out of the plane. The company president said that he was the smartest person in the world and he needed to use a
parachute. He jumped. The priest looked at the little boy and said that since he was getting old, he would give the last parachute to him. The little boy
looked up at the priest and said 'Father, we will be okay. The smartest man in the world just took my knapsack.'"
Below is my resume.
Formal Education
1990 ~ Ph.D. Educational
Psychology, University of Alberta
1983 ~ M.Ed. Educational
Psychology, University of Alberta
1979 ~ B.A. Psychology,
McGill University
1976 ~ 2 months Completed
Summer French Program at La Sorbonne – Paris
Continuing Education
1990 ~ to present Attending
conferences for professional development
2007 ~ 2 weeks The Osho
International Meditation Resort in India
1997 ~ 7 months International
Academy of Meditation in Italy
Professional Affiliations
College of Alberta Psychologists
College of Psychologists of B.C.
Voluntary Affiliations
British Columbia Psychologists
Association
Employment History
2011 to present - Private Practice in
Victoria, B.C.
1992 to 2011 - Private Practice in
Calgary, Alberta
1990 to 1992 - Associate Member of the
Gouldie Ruddy Psychology Group in Calgary.
1988 to 1989 - Private Practice in
Edmonton, Alberta
1985 to 1987 - Private Practice
affiliated with the Personal Development Center in Edmonton.
1981 to 1983 - Supervisor for the
Amicus Curiae, Edmonton, Alberta
Areas of Competence in Counseling
Eating Disorders
Spiritual Matters
PTSD (ie/ Car Accidents) Women’s
Issues
Depression Burnout;
Trauma
Anxiety; Stress Marriage
Counseling
Addiction
Terminal Illness
Grief; Loss
Pain Management
Sleep Difficulties
Divorce; Separation
Writing Career
Completed four manuscripts on
self-management strategies from 1998 to 2005.
- Uncover Your Light - A Recovery Program for Eating Disorders
- The Power of Yes - Learning to Access Your Inner Wisdom
- Coming Out of the Woods - A Woman's Journey
- When the Time is Right - A Spiritual Journey
Writing opinion letters for clients.
Volunteer Work
2007 to 2011 - Served at the Center for
Spiritual Living
1998 to 2008 - Served meals at ‘Feed
the Hungry’, St. Mary’s parish.
April
1991 to September 1993 - Served as an investigator for the
PAA.
March 1984 to January 1985 - Served on
the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association, U of A.
September 1982 to April 1983 - Served
on the Graduate Students’ Association, U of A.
January 1978 to April 1978 - Assisted
psychologists at the Royal Victoria Hospital’s Chronic Pain
Clinic in Montreal, Quebec.
Other Activities
December 1995 to Present - Parenting as
a single mother from 1995 to 2011.
April
1999 to 2001 - Participated as a member of Toastmaster’s
International.
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