Gary Meiers, Registered Psychologist
Adult Children of Alcoholics, Marital and Family Therapy
Adults, Children and Adolescents Impacted By Trauma
My work as a Psychotherapist/Registered Psychologist in Alberta ranges in working with children who have experienced trauma in the context of their family of origin, to a child who may have been bullied or may have been involved in an auto accicident, sexually or physically abused and today experience nightmares, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks which interfere with their day to day lives. Adolescents who experience anxiety or depression and seem to have withdrawn or acted out to escape their pain. Adults who, as children, grew up with alcoholic and/or emotionally unavailable parents, who were emotionally neglected and who today re-experience the same patterns in their intimate relationships. Husbands and wives who find themselves feeling caught in the same dysfunctional patterns/dance learned in their family of origin. And families at any stage of the life cycle who find themselves unable to resolve problems that keep repeating .
Adults who react to original trauma triggers at work and among their family and/or friends are helped through therapy. Such individuals are taught how to be in the here and now. Triggers often leave these individuals feeling as if they are back in the original trauma. Feelings of being out of control, helpless, anxious or powerless are common. Generally, adults come to therapy when they are chronically sad or anxious, and find themselves withdrawing from life to escape these feelings.
Other examples of people who may benefit from counseling are:
• Adults who grew up with alcoholic parents,
• A spouse of an adult child of an alcoholic, and
• Adults who, growing up, experienced the trauma of physical, mental or sexual abuse.
As a result of these experiences or situations, such individuals may have difficulty in times of intimacy or conflict. In addition, holidays, celebrations, or anniversaries can trigger strong memories and feelings from the past that have remained unresolved. This may impact upon current relationships with a spouse, children and/or at work.
Parents who are conflicted as how their children relate may be re-experiencing the same trauma or conflict from their family of origin and now have reached an impasse, that creates conflict or difficulty for them.
Children can also themselves feeling scared or anxious. Some children are afraid to go to school, while others wake up at night with frightening dreams. Some children fight with their siblings. Others silently withdraw from the family without explanation. Many of these children have experienced the trauma of a family breaking up, living with an alcoholic parent, or loss of a significant family member. A child displaying any of the feelings or behaviors may benefit from therapy.
Teenagers are often in conflict with their parents over house rules. They may experience conflicts with friends due to feelings of jealousy while other may have strong feelings of rejection, sadness, or depression. Some have struggles with completing schoolwork or with a lack of direction in life. Some teenagers withdraw and then become lost to the family in a network of unhealthy relationships. They get involved with drugs, truancy, theft, and other forms of acting out. As a consequence, parents and teenagers find themselves in conflict over rules and consequences. In addition, there are situations in which the parents, rather than attempting to find a united voice to help their teen, instead fight amongst themselves about how to raise their young adult.
My way of working involves a collaborative alliance. I typically utilize EMDR when the underlying problem is related to trauma or anxiety, Structural Family Therapy with Couples and Families. I have many years of training and experience as a Gestalt Therapist.
Education/Training
University of California, Santa Barbara, Experimental Psychology, 1975
University of California, Santa Barbara, Child and Family Development, 1979
University of Alberta, Edmonton, PhD. Counselling Psychology, 1992
Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic Family Therapy Training Center,1979
EMDR Institute Level 1 & 2, 1998
Advanced Training in Gestalt with Judith Brown; Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara 1978-1984
Advanced Training in Functional Family Therapy with James F. Alexander; Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara 1977-1981
Bio
Dr. Meiers has been working in the counselling field since 1970, receiving his PhD in Counselling Psychology from The University of Alberta in 1992. He initially worked with troubled teens and their parents in family therapy. Dr. Meiers was licensed in California in 1980 as a Marriage, Family and Child Therapist. In 1989 he became registered as a Psychologist in Alberta. Dr. Meiers completed levels I and II of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing training from the EMDR Institute in 1998. Today his practice addresses many clients: adults, teens, and children from alcoholic families, adults who have experienced traumas often in the context of their own dysfunctional family of origin, couples who are seeking to strengthen their relationship, families looking for new ways to resolve old problems, and individuals who keep repeating the past. Dr. Meiers leads individual and small group supervision sessions focusing on Individual, Martial and Family Therapy for professionals.
Memberships
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
Psychological Association of Alberta
EMDR International Association
Registry of Marriage & Family Therapists in Canada
Payments Accepted
Credit cards, debit, cash and checks after the first session, Call to determine what your insurance will cover.
License:1846
Helpful Links
 Bullying - How to help, how to identify and how to stop:
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Website for Adult Children of Alcoholics:
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Practice Areas/Issues Treated
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Therapy
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Grief and Loss
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Addiction
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Life Transitions
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Adolescents
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Loneliness
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Anger Management
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Marriage & Family Therapy
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Anxiety and Panic
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Marriage Counseling
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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
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Men's Issues
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Body Image Issues
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
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Caregiver Issues
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Online / Teletherapy
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Children's Counseling
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Pre and Postpartum Mental Health
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Chronic Illness
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Problem Gambling
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Couples
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Relationship Issues
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Depression
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Self-Esteem Issues
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Divorce
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Seniors and Elder Care Issues
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Eating Disorders
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Stress Management
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Educational Therapy
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Trauma and PTSD
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Gay or Lesbian Issues
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Work and Career Issues
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Licenses/Certifications
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Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.)
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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
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