Lindsay Miedema (she/her)
MSW, Registered Social Worker
Lindsay Miedema is a Registered Social Worker with diverse clinical experience. She holds a Masters of Social Work from Dalhousie University, as well as additional Bachelor Degrees in Sociology and Social Work.
Lindsay has been working in the mental health field for over 13 years. Lindsay believes it is a privilege to walk alongside her clients in their mental health journey. When working with Lindsay you can expect a genuine caring, accepting and compassionate approach.
"It's a big step looking into therapy, as a therapist, it is very important that all my clients feel safe...safe to truly be themselves in session, safe to say what is on their mind without judgment, and to feel seen and heard."
What made you want to work with CCP?
I have been working independently in the community as a therapist for a few years now, and working in a caring team environment has been a significant aspect that was missing in my career and life! I have had the pleasure of getting to know Carly, and other clinicians at CCP over the years and even collaborating care together for clients. Coming on board to CCP feels like the most natural step for me. I am so excited to be working more closely with this team. There are many advantages for clients when they are seeing a therapist who works on a team as well. A team brings a wealth of information from many different therapists that can be implemented into your care.
What modalities do you use?
My overall approach and style in session is warm and casual. I strive in my practice to have my clients experience sessions that do not feel clinical and rigid.
The following therapies form my practice in how I respond and interact with you in session: Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Self Compassion, and Emotion Focused Individual Therapy.
I also use Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.) (which is a trauma eye movement therapy). These sessions are separately scheduled and structured differently from talk therapy sessions.
When supporting parents, I use an Emotion Focused Parenting approach.
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What areas of practice and populations do you enjoy working with?
I work with a variety of clients at all different ages. From adolescents to adults.
I offer support for:
-Eating disorders, disordered eating, healing relationships with food
-Neurodivergent Feeding differences and sensory needs (ARFID).
- ADHD, Autism, Executive functioning differences
- Post traumatic Stress- supporting First Responders, childhood trauma, single incident trauma.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
What prevents people from coming in and doing this work?
Starting therapy can bring on feelings of uneasiness and anxiety, especially since you are speaking to someone you have never met before about vulnerable information. It is understandable for someone to wonder, “Will this be a safe place to talk about my pain?”, “Will my story be safe here?” Maybe you have reached out for help before and you felt invalidated and judged.
Other times I see that people delay asking for help because they don’t think what they are going through is worthy of help or significant. Additionally, therapy is also expensive and financially this can be a barrier.
Please know that I care very deeply that you feel comfortable, safe and your struggles will be held with the utmost care and respect. We will also address any anxiety and fears that you have about therapy in session.
"My practice is also formed from a non-diet, body inclusive, fat positive, neurodivergent-affirming lens."
What’s the most surprising thing about you?
After you get to know me you will see that humor is a big part of my personality. I have been told that I am very distracting to sit next to in meetings… Humour is a way I connect with friends, family and even clients (when the situation allows). There is a lot of value in laughing and play. We tend to not have enough of this as adults and need this more in our lives. Watching or attending live comedies? Please sign me up.
A personal surprising fact about me is that I am a twin, I have a twin brother who is 6 minutes older than me, this number was very important growing up :) Being a twin shaped my childhood in a positive way.
What approach do you take when treating Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders cause so much pain, and this pain is incredibly misunderstood by others and the world. It is important that when I am treating someone with an ED that they feel understood and listened to about how their ED is uniquely affecting them. That their experience is not judged or discounted. Having an eating disorder can lead to a lot of feelings of loneliness, and my hope for my clients is that they will feel someone is journeying alongside them.
How do you help people who are not sure what to talk about in therapy?
I’ve heard clients many times at the end of session say “wow I came into this session not sure what to talk about and that flew by and we covered so much!”
Just know this is a very normal and a common concern, and that I can hold that responsibility for you. I have ways to ask questions to prompt conversation and processing.
Sometimes clients come to me with a list of material they would like to cover in session, and other times sessions are started open ended. There is no right or wrong way.
We will also discuss at the beginning of your treatment your goals for therapy, and will regularly touch base that we are staying on track for what you would like therapy to look like.
What would or have clients had to say about you and how you have helped them?
My clients have said that they are grateful they made the decision to start therapy. I can’t express enough how thankful I am for every single session with my clients. They also have said that they value my warmth and caring approach.
