🍎 Don’t wait until September to book your academic assessment!

Academic assessment appointments fill up fast as the new school year approaches. A comprehensive psychoeducational assessment or ADHD assessment can help identify a student’s learning strengths and challenges — and point to the right supports for a successful year ahead.

Book your assessment appointment this summer, before the fall rush hits. 📚

📧 info@crossroadscpc.ca
📞 902-702-3656
🌐 crossroadscpc.ca/contact

#CrossroadsCounselling #AcademicAssessment #BackToSchool #HammondsPlains #NovaScotia

Beginning counselling can bring up a lot of questions, and it’s common to wonder what your first session will be like. Many people worry about what to say or feel like they need to have everything figured out before they begin their first therapy session.

During your first session, you and your therapist will begin getting to know each other. You’ll have the opportunity to share what brought you to counselling, talk about what’s important to you, and discuss what you would like to work toward.

Counselling is a collaborative process, and your therapist is there to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and help you feel comfortable throughout the session. There is no pressure to share everything right away, and you can move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Before your session ends, you’ll have time to ask questions, discuss possible next steps, and decide together what ongoing counselling may look like.

There isn’t one “right” way to begin counselling. Your first session is an opportunity to learn more about yourself, explore your goals, and discover how counselling can support you moving forward.

If you would like to talk to us about getting started, please contact us. We would love to help you in your journey.

We’re delighted to share some exciting news from our team: Kelsey Chiasson, M.A., Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate (RCT-C), has completed her Comprehensive Basic Training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy.

This is a meaningful milestone for Kelsey and wonderful news for our clients here at Crossroads Counselling & Psychological Services.

What This Means for Our Clients

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process and heal from difficult, distressing, or overwhelming life experiences. Rather than relying solely on talking through a memory, EMDR uses guided bilateral stimulation — most often eye movements, tapping, or alternating sound — to help the brain reprocess “stuck” memories so they no longer carry the same emotional charge. Decades of clinical research support its effectiveness, and it’s recognized by the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association as a leading, evidence-based treatment for trauma.

With this training now complete, Kelsey is able to offer EMDR therapy as part of her practice — alongside her existing approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Somatic Therapy.

Clients working with Kelsey can now explore EMDR therapy as part of their care for:

• Trauma and PTSD
• Anxiety
• Chronic pain

Kelsey offers sessions in both English and French, and works with adults (18+) and couples from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences.

A Bit About Kelsey

Before becoming a therapist, Kelsey worked as a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), which gave her a deep appreciation for the connection between body and mind — and for addressing the root causes of distress, not just the symptoms. Her approach is trauma-informed, and grounded in authenticity and respect. She tailors each session to the unique needs of every client and believes that each person is the expert of their own life, with strengths waiting to be uncovered.

Interested in Booking with Kelsey?

If you’re a current client of Kelsey’s, feel free to speak with her directly about whether EMDR may be a fit for your goals. If you’re new to Crossroads and think EMDR might help you, we’d love to hear from you.

Please join us in congratulating Kelsey on this achievement!

We are excited to announce a wonderful new addition to our Crossroads team. Please join us in welcoming Brittany MacGregor, M.A.!

Meet Brittany

Brittany is a Registered Psychologist with the Nova Scotia Regulator of Psychology (NSRP). She has over ten years of experience conducting diagnostic assessments and providing clinical interventions. Her background spans both public school and private practice settings.

Brittany holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology from Saint Mary’s University. She also holds a Master of Arts in School Psychology from Mount Saint Vincent University.

Her Areas of Expertise

Brittany specializes in comprehensive psychoeducational assessments and ADHD assessments. This includes evaluations for giftedness, from childhood through early adulthood. She also has specific diagnostic expertise in ADHD, Specific Learning Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, and anxiety-related disorders. On top of assessments, she offers therapeutic support to strengthen emotional regulation and executive functioning.

Brittany works with school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults facing a wide range of learning, behavioural, and mental health challenges. Her deep familiarity with the public school system means her recommendations are realistic, actionable, and aligned with the support families can actually access. As a parent herself, she also brings a personal understanding that keeps her approach grounded and practical for real family life.

Now Accepting New Clients

Brittany is now accepting new clients, whether your family is seeking clarity through an ADHD or psychoeducational assessment, or support in building the skills needed to thrive at school and at home. Whatever your family’s needs, Brittany’s collaborative and compassionate approach is here to help.

Want to learn more about Brittany and the services she offers? Contact us today to book an appointment and take the first step toward a clearer path forward.

A Warm Welcome

We are so pleased to have Brittany on board. We are excited for the difference she will make in the lives of the students and families she works with.

Once again, welcome Brittany MacGregor!

Please join us in welcoming Brooke to Crossroads!

Brooke joins our team on July 20 as a practicum student and will be providing low-cost counselling sessions for adults (19+) for just $25/hour.

She takes a warm, collaborative approach to therapy and enjoys supporting clients through anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, confidence, resilience, self-esteem, and personal growth.

Through her work in community and mental health settings, Brooke has supported individuals from diverse backgrounds, including neurodivergent individuals, older adults, LGBTQIA2S+ communities, newcomers, and underserved populations.

If you’ve been considering therapy, this is a great opportunity to access affordable, high-quality counselling.

Contact Crossroads today to book your low-cost therapy session

When communication breaks down during a relationship disagreement, it is entirely normal to feel defensive, disconnected, or stuck in a reactive loop where both partners feel unheard. Navigating conflict successfully isn’t about avoiding disagreements altogether, but rather about learning how to lower the emotional temperature before a conversation gets out of control. To help you navigate these tense moments with empathy and intention, we have created the infographic below as a quick, actionable resource to get you thinking about the language you’re using as you engage in potentially challenging conversations. By shifting your language toward validating responses like “What I’m hearing is…” or vulnerable expressions like “I feel overwhelmed when…”, you can defuse defensiveness, hit the pause button on conflict, and create the necessary space to work through challenges together as a team.

We’ve expanded our services! 🧠✨

Navigating higher education or professional milestones can be challenging, but you don’t have to guess your way through it. Crossroads is now offering Expanded ADHD & Psychoeducational Assessments for students and adults up to age 30.

An assessment can be the key to unlocking:

✅ Academic and professional exam accommodations

✅ Clear insights into how your brain learns and performs best

✅ Deep answers regarding ADHD symptoms and executive functioning

✅ Tailored strategies to help you finally reach your full potential

Whether you’re studying at university, preparing for professional boards, or trying to better understand your mind, we’re here to help you find a clear path forward.

🚀 Spaces are available. Click the link below or call us to book your assessment today! 🌐 www.crossroadscpc.ca/contact | 📞 902-702-3656

Expanded ADHD & Psychoeducational Assessment services

We are thrilled to (finally!) officially welcome Michaelina Dawson Otoo to the Crossroads team.

Yes, this announcement is a little late—Lina actually joined us back in April—but she hit the ground running so fast that we’re just now catching our breath to write this!

Lina brings a wealth of international experience and educational background to our practice. She holds both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ghana and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Mount Saint Vincent University.

Lina has worked in various administrative and organizational roles across Ghana, the Cayman Islands, and Canada.

Supporting Our Crossroads Community

As our Administrative Assistant, Lina is often the first person you meet when you come into the office and the steady hand behind the scenes. She provides daily support to both our clients and our clinicians, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, efficiently, and with the utmost care.

Though she’s already been an indispensable part of our team for a couple of months now, please join us in giving her a warm, official Crossroads welcome.

Welcome to the team, Lina!

HAMMONDS PLAINS, NS, May. 26, 2026 /CNW/ – Crossroads Counselling & Psychological Services is expanding its specialized assessment services to include comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations for children, young adults, and adult students. This initiative is designed to help learners up to the age of 30 identify undiagnosed learning barriers and secure the academic accommodations necessary for success.

As the academic landscape becomes increasingly competitive, Crossroads has noted a significant surge in demand from students–ranging from grade school to those in professional programs–seeking clarity on ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive processing differences.

“Many high-achieving students hit a ‘ceiling’ in school because an underlying learning difference was masked or managed in their younger years,” said Amy Wiens, Founder and Principal Psychologist at Crossroads. “Our goal is to provide the diagnostic clarity that turns academic struggle into a clear roadmap for success. Understanding how your brain processes information is the first step toward reclaiming confidence in the classroom.”

The expanded services now cover individuals up to age 30, filling a critical gap in the Atlantic Canadian healthcare market where educational testing, particularly outside of the Halifax downtown core, is often difficult to access. These assessments provide the vital documentation required by universities and professional licensing bodies (such as those for the LSAT, MCAT, or CPA exams) to grant accommodations like extended testing time or assistive technology.

Key features of the expanded service include:

• Targeted ADHD Evaluations: Specialized testing for focus and executive functioning.
• Comprehensive Cognitive Profiles: Deep dives into memory, processing speed, and verbal reasoning.
• Professional Exam Support: Documentation tailored for high-stakes testing bodies.
• Mature Learner Re-entry: Support for adults returning to education after a hiatus.

Based in Hammonds Plains, Crossroads Counselling & Psychological has grown into a multi-disciplinary practice, serving the greater Halifax region with evidence-based psychological care for individuals, couples, and families. This expansion reinforces the firm’s commitment to supporting the local academic community and fostering lifelong learning.

For more information on the assessment process, to book an ADHD assessment or to book a psychoeducational assessment, please visit www.crossroadscpc.ca.

SOURCE Crossroads Counselling & Psychological Services

Media Contact: Bryan Wiens, Director of OperationsCrossroads Counselling & Psychological Services, 902-702-3656, info@crossroadscpc.ca, http://www.crossroadscpc.ca

PR Newswire