My Story
I’m Kristin
I’m 43 years old, born and raised in and around Saskatoon. I’m a single momma to a 18 year old son who is my entire world. Yes, there are some challenging days raising a teen but I bask in the joy that one day he will have a teen and I can sit back with a grin knowing in fact “I did know what I was talking about” despite him thinking he knows more than me at times! haha
I didn’t have an opportunity to have a pre-trauma identity. I was born into a home with domestic violence and addictions by teenage parents.
I grew up often feeling unsafe, unloved and neglected and my suicidal ideation started at a very young age. The exposure to my traumatic experiences growing up left me unsure of where I belonged and led me to make choices that didn’t serve me well.
Because of the Adverse Childhood Experiences I had, I ended up in relationships where there was Intimate Partner Violence. The worst by far was with my son’s father, where I believed for years he would kill me should I ever leave him. Coercive control is something not taken seriously enough when it comes to Intimate Partner Violence in our systems. I often felt like a prisoner in my own home, while others most likely never had any idea. The day I left him was filled with fear and empowerment all at the same time.
Since then, my life has been a reflection of my personal work and professional growth. My passion is advocating for change, primarily with Family Law within our court systems, specifically focused on Intimate Partner Violence situations where there are children involved. For about 10 years I was directly involved in the court systems fighting against my abuser for custody of my son. And let’s be honest, abusive partners are rarely (or at all) kind, gentle, compassionate, understanding, self aware parents to their children, yet somehow me being a victim and survivor of Intimate Partner Violence I was quickly labelled an “alienating parent” by the court systems which is something that was devastating and so far from the truth. It is my personal commitment to share my story and create change in any way that I can because healing from Intimate Partner Violence and surviving the court systems was some of the most difficult parts of my healing journey.
My Practice
Finding your way towards true compassion for yourself.
Creating my counselling practice was greatly influenced by my own life experiences that translated into my own trauma.
I will never tell you that I know what you are experiencing but I can most likely relate to the felt senses of loneliness, hopelessness, defeat, emotional pain that aches so deep to the core, feeling or being unsafe, and feeling like there is no way out other than taking your own life. I've been there.
I know firsthand the importance of emotional safety and connection in a healing journey and I am here to honour that with you.
I’m here when you are ready to take the next step forward.
~ Kristin Smith
What to Expect
1) Schedule your in-office, virtual or phone appointment.
2) You will receive an email confirmation where you can also change or cancel appointment within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment.
3) Appointment Day:
In-Office: At your scheduled appointment time, we’ll meet at Unit 208 220 3rd Avenue South (Avenue Building) Door code will be in your email confirmation.
Phone: I will call you at our appointment time
Virtual: We’ll meet online through Telehealth Conferencing - the link will be included in your confirmation email.
4) For Telehealth (online) sessions, please make sure you have a stable internet connection and if possible for any virtual session, quiet space so you can get the most out of your counselling sessions.
5) If you are a parent attending a session by phone or online and your kiddos need you during the session, by all means, put me on hold and tend to your greatest accomplishments, it's my pleasure to wait.
6) If you don’t find an appointment that works for your schedule, I invite you to send me an email and I will do my best to accommodate.
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS & CONTINUING EDUCATION
Applied Psychology & Counselling Diploma - Kelowna College of Professional Counselling - 2019
Registered with Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA) - Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) - Member 4240 and in good standing.
Training with North American Center for Threat Risk and Trauma Response (NACTATR) **Now known as the Center for Trauma Informed Practices (CTIP)*
Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) trained Level 1 - 2020
Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) trained Level 2 - 2021
Trauma Event Systems (TES) - 2021
Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) through an Indigenous Perspective - 2022
Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) re-trained updated level 2 - 2024
Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training (ASIST) - 2021
Indigenous Awareness Training -Certificate - 2021
Crucial Conversations Training - Certificate - 2021
Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA)- National Director for Saskatchewan - March 2023 - Feb 2024