Cut Through the Noise

In a world of soft language and vague promises, Dr. Kathleen Kelava stands out — for all the right reasons. A registered psychologist at Calgary’s Pinnacle Psych clinic, Kelava’s tough-love approach is one of the things her clients consistently convey the greatest appreciation for. 

In her practice, Kelava asks the hard questions and helps clients get unstuck through a lens of profound compassion and heartfelt championing. As a mother of three neurodivergent children and with a background as a police officer, Kelava brings a rare blend of fortitude, insight and clinical prowess to the clinical arena.

Kelava specializes in working with individuals (children, adolescents and adults) and families navigating a variety of adversities, including ADHD and executive-functioning challenges, sensory-processing issues, OCD, giftedness, PTSD and trauma, parenting and family dynamics, substance-use assessment and treatment, elite-performance challenges (for physicians, lawyers, executives and more) and forensic services (Practice Notes 7&8).

The approach: Tough love meets tactical precision

As a specialist as well as a strategist, Kelava has advanced training in all her specialty areas (including assessment and intervention) and she brings evidence-based tools to every session. 

Every session is a tactical move toward clarity, regulation and sustainable change. She triages in real time, pivots when needed and zeroes in on what’s keeping her clients from moving forward, allowing them to leave with tools, insight and a renewed sense of agency.

The outcome: Getting to the core issue

“A crucial part of my job is to figure out the core thing — the root of the dismay, disgust and despair in clients’ lives — and to triage and guide a way to get in charge of it,” says Kelava. “Sometimes there are a lot of ‘red herrings’ in the process — things we think are the problem, or contributing factors, that are actually distractors. Sometimes we are gingerly side-stepping the core thing; other times, we are fervently running in the other direction. Anything in between is also a possibility. Figuring out the core thing is a critical part of my job as a psychologist. It’s a very flexible process, and my objective is to figure out what overall plan is going to be the most efficient and effective way to get clients where they want to be.”

Whether you’re a high-performing professional battling burnout, an individual navigating complex diagnoses or a family going through the heartaches of separation/divorce, Kelava offers a path forward that’s grounded, strategic and deeply human.

Life can be complicated, heavy, frustrating, intolerable, unforgiving and clumsy, but Kelava approaches challenges with grit, conceptualizes them from a stance of gratitude and helps her clients to emerge with grace.

To learn more, visit pinnaclepsych.ca and drkathleenkelava.com. 

The post Cut Through the Noise appeared first on Avenue Calgary.