Meet Dr. Crystal Dittrick (she/her), founder of CARE Psychology.

I am a Registered Psychologist, Registered/Certified Play Therapist Supervisor, and EMDR Certified Therapist with over 20 years of education and experience in working with children, youth, adults, and families.

My education journey includes a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary, a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Lethbridge. I am also a Play Therapist and EMDR trained. I consider myself to be a life-long learner and continue to update my practice based on the latest evidence of what works for the people I serve.

I have experience providing counselling and psychological services in a variety of settings including education, mental health services, community clinics, and private practice. I have presented for various schools, organizations, and parent nights, national and international conferences, and written peer reviewed articles.

I provide psychological services to children, adolescents, young adults, and their families, including both treatment and assessment. I believe in a strengths-based, creative approach with a focus on understanding and building relationships. I integrate a variety of therapeutic approaches in my work including Client Directed, Outcome Informed Therapy, Play Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Family Systems, and Mindfulness practice.

I believe in developing positive relationships with the individuals I work with and tailoring my approach to meet their needs. There is no one way to do therapy so it is important to me that I develop a treatment plan that works for you and your family.

Meet Dr. Crystal Dittrick (she/her), founder of CARE Psychology. I am a Registered Psychologist,... Read More

Meet Dr. Cristina Fernandez Conde (she/her).

I hold a Doctorate in School and Applied Child Psychology from the University of Calgary and have over ten years of experience supporting children and youth in schools, hospitals, and community clinics in Canada and Mexico.

I joined CARE Psychology in February 2025 and have a passion for working with children and youth. I love helping them understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours influence their well-being. My goal is to help individuals thrive by overcoming challenges using a strengths-based approach.

As a counsellor, my practice is rooted in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and I integrate other approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, therapeutic play, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy skills to foster resilience. I strive to create a supportive and collaborative therapeutic environment that honours diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.

When conducting assessments, I work with families to better understand their child or adolescent’s reasoning abilities, learning skills, and overall development. I also explore social, emotional, and behavioural concerns to identify neurodiversity, including autism, intellectual disabilities and ADHD, learning, mood, and behavioural disorders. My approach to psychological assessments focuses on identifying strengths and providing personalized recommendations to support each child’s unique needs.

My core values —honesty, trustworthiness, respect, and collaboration—guide my practice.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, watching movies, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

Meet Dr. Cristina Fernandez Conde (she/her). I hold a Doctorate in School and Applied Child Psyc... Read More

I am a registered provisional psychologist with a passion for supporting children, adolescents, and adults. Currently, I am completing my Doctoral degree at the University of Calgary where I earned my M.Sc. in School and Applied Child Psychology. I have worked in the mental health field for more than ten years. Throughout this time, I received quality training and extensive experience in psycho-educational assessments in areas of cognition, academics, behaviour, social-emotional functioning, and neurodevelopmental conditions. In therapeutic approaches, I integrate components of Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), EMDR, and Mindfulness practice to best support each person and their unique strengths and needs. In all my work, I take a collaborative and strengths-based approach. I value building positive relationships and working together to identify concerns and highlight strengths. My goal is always to meet you where you are and help you feel empowered moving forward. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, exploring new games and books, and attempting to take my cat on walks.

I am a registered provisional psychologist with a passion for supporting children, adolescents, a... Read More

Meet Dr. Marisa Van Bavel (she/her).

I am a registered psychologist with extensive experience supporting children, youth, and adults. I hold a Doctorate in School and Applied Child Psychology from the University of Calgary, where I also earned my Master of Science in the same field. Over the past eight years, I have worked in various settings, including community-based mental health programs, education, and private practice.

My passion for psychology began in high school while volunteering with youth with exceptional needs. Since then, I have developed expertise in psychological assessment and consultation, addressing concerns related to mood and anxiety, giftedness, and neurodevelopmental differences such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and learning disorders. My approach is strengths-based and collaborative, aiming to meet individuals where they are in their journey while equipping them with strategies and supports to thrive.

Beyond clinical practice, my research has focused on mental health, collaborative practices with Indigenous communities, and community-based programming. Through this work, I am committed to promoting inclusive, evidence-based approaches that respect and integrate diverse perspectives.

Meet Dr. Marisa Van Bavel (she/her). I am a registered psychologist with extensive experience su... Read More