Dr. Jennie Psychology Group - Red Deer

Danielle Broad MACP, Registered Psychologist

Danielle’s fascination with psychology began in high school with an interest in people and the motivations behind their behavior. After her undergraduate degree, while trying to decide which area of psychology to pursue graduate studies in, Danielle began working for Children’s Services in frontline child protection. This work was very difficult but also very rewarding. It was through this work that Danielle realized how passionate she is about working with children and youth. Witnessing the resilience of children and youth who could endure life’s most difficult experiences and still persevere sparked Danielle’s desire to do more to directly help these children and youth heal.

Danielle then completed her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree through Yorkville University. Through practicum placements in a specialized school program and private practice clinic, Danielle found her theoretical bearing in attachment and emotion-focused work with children, youth, and their parents.  It was here that Danielle learned how to teach parents to understand their children’s behaviour and start to see their functioning, or lack thereof, in a different way.  Empowering parents to be what their children needed offered visible change that both the parents and children were desiring and thankful for.  Finding an approach that was able to treat the root of the problem, not just the symptoms, has provided Danielle with the sturdy theoretical and clinical foundation that she was looking for.

Completing formal psychological assessments on an inpatient psychiatric unit solidified her calling to help parents to understand and be better equipped to support their children and to help youth understand themselves.  Acknowledging their perspectives and validating their experience through the assessment process led many youths to express their gratitude. Parents often responded with appreciation for new information and with relief that they were now more informed about what their children required moving forward.  Prompting and witnessing people make connections about themselves and others, then guiding them toward having this insight spark change, is one of the best parts of being a psychologist for Danielle.

Danielle and her son are happy to call Red Deer home.  Danielle loves spending time with her family and friends and travelling; her favourite destination so far is Kenya, Africa.  Completing renovation projects and dabbling in interior design are a few of her other favourite past-times.