About Derek
I strongly believe in the counselling relationship and working as a team with you to build trust, respect, and acceptance, allowing for enhanced awareness, harnessing the power of perception, purposeful behaviour, and the courage to explore, support, challenge and achieve meaningful goals.
My name is Derek Robinson, and I have been working as a Registered Psychologist since 2005. I moved to Calgary in 2002 after graduating from the University of Lethbridge with a Master of Education specialized in Counselling Psychology. As a former Varsity athlete (CIAU Hockey), my research focused on Junior ‘A’ hockey.
Supporting others to achieve goals, overcome adversity, and enjoy the relationships that matter most is something I am very passionate about, will never take lightly and always love doing!
I strongly believe in the counselling relationship and working as a team with you to build trust, respect, and acceptance, allowing for enhanced awareness, harnessing the power of perception, purposeful behaviour, and the courage to explore, support, challenge and achieve meaningful goals.
This also applies with couples and supporting relationships. Relationship/Partnership is a Team experience and seeing how Teams/Relationship may realize the Relationship Identity (how we see/sense/act/speak/experience OUR Relationship). Clarity in knowing and actively living a Relationship Identity is choosing/practicing/ exercising Shared Core Values & Beliefs and can be freeing as well as empowering. Honest communication and connection as individuals choosing the Relationship, working the Relationship process, practicing, executing, and celebrating the small and big Wins is a creative and positive experience.
Practically speaking, when we are aware and know who we are, what we’re about, what we want may fuel an articulated mindset, plan, and relationship habits that bring satisfaction in ways of growth and flow we may not even see coming. There is nothing better than the feeling of winning as a team! Together, we can explore your personalized metrics of what winning means to you, what’s working/not working, maintaining, revising, or resetting the plan as we continually develop throughout life.
Credentials & Experience
Professional Psychologist Credentials
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) - University of Lethbridge
Master of Education (Counselling Psychology) - University of Lethbridge
I am a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists (2005-Present)
I am a member of the Psychologists' Association of Alberta
I am also a member of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association
Post Graduate Training
Healing in Couples Therapy: New Strategies to Rebuild Trust, Overcome Trauma & Save Relationships (Online Conference)
Last Chance Couples Therapy: Helping Couples On the Eve of Destruction (September 28, 2024)
Doing Imago Relationship Therapy in the Space Between: A New Way of Seeing Couples (July 2024)
The Great Adaptation with Esther Perel (July 2024)
Outcome Informed Interdisciplinary Addiction and Mental Health Treatment (March 2024)
Critical Race Theory and its Implications for Indigenous Cultural Safety: Deconstructing Racism Strategies for Individuals and Organizational Change(January 2024)
Spirit Bear’s Guide to Reconciliation (January 2024)
Trauma Conference: The Body Keeps the Score: Trauma Healing Through the Senses with Bessel van der Kolk, MD (December 2023)
Anxious Grief: Strategies for Working with the Missing Stage of Grief (January 2024)
Trauma Informed Training for Children and Families Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (April 16, 2019)
NSSMAC Discipline Meetings: Own the Podium and the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario
Workshop for Canadian Sport Centre and National Sport Organization - Mental Performance Consultants/Sport Psychologists. Toronto ON, Jan. 25 – 26, 2013
Canadian Olympic Committee & “Olympic Excellence Series” in preparation for Torino 2006, Vancouver 2010, 2014 Sochi & Pyeong Chang 2018 Olympic Winter Games
The Power of Mindfulness: Mindfulness Inside and Outside the Therapy Hour -Dr. Ronald D. Seigel, Psy D. May 12 & 13, 2011
The SPIN Summit 2011 and Petro Canada Sport Leadership, November 8-10, 2011
Feeling Good Now: How to Overcome Depression and Boost Self Esteem with David Burns, MD. Calgary, AB May 5-6, 2008
Hypnotic Enhancement of Peak Performance
The Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis (CSCH) Alberta Division, May 3, 2008
The Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis, Banff AB,. October 13-15, 2006
“Integrating Mindfulness with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy With Dr. Michael Yapko, Ph.D.” Nov. 19 & 20, 2007
MBTI Stress Management Master Class
Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP). Vancouver BC, October 26-29, 2005
Professional Experience as a Psychologist
With 20 + years of experience in starting out at the Mount Royal University Wellness Centre, Calgary Health Region (SHIP) Program, and largely in private practice and counselling work doing assessment, conceptualization, interventions, and maintenance with a variety of populations. My professional philosophy is grounded in Reality Therapy as well as an eclectic approach integrating elements of Positive Psychology, Interpersonal work, Cognitive-Behaviour-Therapy, the Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment approach, ACT, Solution Focused Therapy, Strengths-Based Teamwork, and Imago Therapy for couples.
Mental Performance Consultant work has also allowed me to work in the trenches of elite sport. The values of teamwork, honesty, and accountability has always energized my focus in supporting athletes, coaches, and staff through the 2005 Canada Summer Games as well as the last 4 Winter Olympic Games in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. I have had the opportunity to work with teams and organizations such as The Canadian Sport Centre/Institute Calgary, Hockey Canada, Speed Skating Canada, Alpine Canada as well as professional opportunities in the Western Hockey League and National Hockey League. And continuously working with athletes currently at the highest level, as well as with athletes who are learning to build, develop, and master their craft.
When I am not working with clients I can often be found playing hockey and spending time with family and friends. Fun fact - I have known Anu for over two decades from our undergraduate university days at the University of Lethbridge!
I look forward to meeting with you! Please feel free to book online or call our office at 825-509-5455 to meet with me at Aligned Minds.
Derek Robinson, M.Ed. R.Psych.