Alyssa Lightfoot, MA
Counselling Therapist
Quick Glance:
Works with adolescents, teens, and adults
Specialties: Neurodivergence/autism, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD).
$180/hour
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been deeply curious about people. I’ve always cared about what’s underneath our experiences: the stories, nervous systems, and meanings that shape how we move through the world.
Being diagnosed with ADHD and then autism in adulthood was a turning point in my life and sparked my passion for this career. For years, I had been trying to function in ways that went against how my brain actually works — pushing myself to meet expectations that weren’t built for me. When I was diagnosed, there was relief in finally understanding myself, and also grief for how long I didn’t. Learning about my neurotype helped me stop fighting against myself and start creating structure and systems that actually work with the unique characteristics of my mind. It’s what helped me see that there was never anything “wrong” with me, I had just been trying to fit a mold that wasn't built for me and never learned what my brain actually needed to thrive.
That understanding is at the heart of my work. I care deeply about helping people learn how their brains and bodies work together, and how to create environments that support their nervous systems. I believe that caring for our mental health is part of caring for our whole selves and that therapy should be a place where you can feel safe to explore, unmask, and reconnect with who you truly are and what you truly value.
As one of my favourite storybooks reads:
“You can’t go over it. You can’t go under it. You have to go through it.”
To me, that captures what therapy is. It’s not about forcing yourself to “feel better,” but about moving through the things life has thrown at you with compassion, curiosity, and authenticity.
I’m especially passionate about working with:
Adults and teens with ADHD and/or Autism — I help people who are newly or late diagnosed with ADHD and/or autism understand their experiences through a neurodiversity-affirming lens, unlearn internalized ableism, and find ways to live in alignment with how their brains actually work.
Young adults in transition — I help people in their 20s navigate identity, independence, and burnout by reconnecting with their values, redefining balance, and learning what authenticity looks like for them.
Teenagers — I help teens understand their emotions, relationships, and values through open conversation, self-exploration, and gentle guidance that builds confidence in their autonomy.
My work is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and authenticity. I aim to meet each person exactly where they are at and create space for understanding, self-acceptance, and genuine growth.
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I see therapy as a collaborative process. You bring the lived experience of your own life, I bring my training and understanding of psychology, and together we make sense of what’s happening and move through your experience. My role is to listen closely, take time to deeply understand the unique individual in front of me, and offer reflections, tools, or psychoeducation that might bring clarity. We keep what feels true for you and adjust what doesn’t, always working at your pace and in ways that feel supportive to you.
My work is guided by a neuro-affirming approach, which recognizes neurodivergence as a natural and valuable variation in how human brains work. Rather than trying to make people appear or function more “typical,” I help clients understand their own wiring and discover what truly supports them. Together, we unlearn deficit-based messages, explore strengths, and build systems that honour how each person’s brain and nervous system operate.
Because no two people think, feel, or process the same way, my approach is flexible and responsive. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems and parts work, humanistic and trauma-informed principles, and psychoeducation, all grounded in an understanding of the nervous system and regulation. What I bring into sessions depends on who you are and what’s happening in the moment. Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s something we shape together.
I work to make therapy feel like a safe space where you can move, fidget, or rest however you need to. My office is sensory-friendly, however for some, that sense of safety comes more easily outdoors. Therefore, I also offer Walk-and-Talk sessions for those who find it grounding to move, think, and talk side by side.
However we meet, the intention is the same: to create a space where you can feel seen, understood, and supported exactly as you are. I believe we are all doing our best with what we have, and that therapy is less about changing yourself and more about rediscovering what’s already there - the parts of you that have always been worthy, capable, and whole.
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Registered Counseling Therapist through the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta
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Outside of my work, I love spending time in nature and getting involved in community theatre! I also enjoy walking my dogs through the beautiful landscapes of Cochrane, taking in all the outdoors has to offer.