Our Dream Team
Authentic You: Counselling, Assessment & Addictions Services Inc. is expanding and growing June 2025!
Currently in addition to founder and Registered Psychologist, our small but mighty team includes our Clinical Care Administrator (CCA) providing exceptional administrative and billing support to our clients and future psychologist associates.
We’re also very excited to soon be expanding our private practice by welcoming multiple psychologists on board the Authentic You team to better serve you in 2025.
Thank you for supporting small businesses in Alberta, Canada— your ongoing trust means the world to us!
Meet AYP's Melissa - Clinical Care Administrator
Meet Melissa, Authentic You Psychology's highly skilled administrative and billing assistant. She brings over +18 years of experience as a medical/ registered health professional administrative assistant and receptionist. Her extensive professional background includes working in private practices for psychologists, where she developed a deep understanding of the administrative, billing and operational needs of private practice.
In her role, Melissa is responsible for managing administrative and billing functions with precision and care. She ensures the seamless coordination of appointments, client communications, and financial processes, contributing to the efficient and effective operation of the clinic. Melissa’s expertise in medical administration, combined with her strong organizational skills, ensures that every client and psychologists experience is handled with intentionality and professionalism.
Melissa graduated from CDI College’s Medical Administrative Assistant program in 2007 and holds a diploma in Medical Terminology from NAIT, earned in 2005. Her attention to detail, dedication to excellence and her ability to show up authentically, makes her an invaluable part of the Authentic You Psychology team.
We are proud to have Melissa on board, supporting our mission to provide our clients and psychologists with a welcoming and well-managed environment where their administrative and billing needs are met with the highest standard of care, performance and professionalism.
Thank you for all that you do Melissa! You are very much appreciated here :)
Karen Gaudin -Registered Psychologist
(R. Psych)
Karen is a dedicated and experienced Registered Psychologist with a deep passion for helping her clients overcome challenges and achieve personal growth by supporting them to be the most authentic versions of themselves!
She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Grant MacEwan University (2010) and a Master’s in Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle (2020). Her thesis research on student alcoholism screenings was presented at the AARE Conference in 2011 and subsequently published, reflecting her commitment to evidence-based practices in psychology.
With over +15 years of experience in the field of addictions, Karen has cultivated a robust specialization in this area. She spent 11 years at Homewood Health (2009–2020), starting as an Addictions Case Manager before advancing to the Addictions Program Manager. From 2020 to 2023, she served as Insight Psychological Addiction Clinical Lead, further honing her expertise in addiction-focused care. In addition to her extensive work in addictions, Karen has provided both counselling and formal assessment services in private practice since 2019 and became a Registered Psychologist in 2022.
Karen’s career is driven by a lifelong curiosity about the human behaviour and connection, with a profound drive and dedication to make a positive impact in her community. She considers it an incredibly special privilege to support individuals, couples and families on their healing journeys.
As the founder and CEO of Authentic You Psychology, Karen is committed to creating a safe and supportive space for our clients, staff and psychologists, where all feel accepted, appreciated, and empowered to embrace their unique strengths and resiliencies.
You can book a counselling session or formal assessment with Karen today. She looks forward to connecting with you!
Want to know more about Karen's educational background, training and certifications?
EDUCATION
Masters of Counselling Psychology 2020
City University of Seattle – Edmonton, Alberta
Bachelor of Arts – Honours Psychology 2010
Grant MacEwan University – Edmonton, Alberta
University Course Work Completed:
All completed Masters level coursework in psychology:
·CPC 501 Introduction to Counselling Psychology Practice;
·CPC 502 Systemic Theory: Diversity and Cultural Psychology;
·CPC 510 Professional Ethics and Law;
·CPC 511 Psychology of Loss and Grief;
·CPC 513 Brief Therapy Models;
·CPC 523 Psychology of Sexuality and Human Development;
·CPC 524 Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology;
·CPC 526 Counselling Psychology Theory;
·CPC 527 Group Counselling Psychology;
·CPC 529 Psychology of Addictions;
·CPC 512 Family Systems Therapy;
·CPC 514 Research Methods and Statistics;
·CPC 522 Psychology of Trauma and Interpersonal Violence;
·CPC 556 Assessment in Counselling Psychology;
·CPC 600 Child and Adolescent Counselling;
·CPC 606 Couples Counselling
All completed Undergraduate level course work in psychology:
·PSYC 104 Introductory Psychology;
·PSYC 105 Individual and Social Behaviour;
·PSYC 241 Social Psychology;
·PSYC 233 Personality Psychology;
·PSYC 339 Abnormal Psychology;
·PSYC 312 Advanced Research Methods;
·PSYC 385 Applications of Learning;
·PSYC 333 Advanced Personality;
·PSYC 337 Intro to Forensic Psychology;
·PSYC 370 Human Sexuality;
·PSYC 301 History/Systems of Psychology
·PSYC 438 Psychological Interviewing;
·PSYC 434 Intro to Clinical Psychology;
·PSYC 490 Honours Thesis;
·PSYC 400 Psychology Senior Seminar;
Publications
Gaudin, K. & Johnson, G. M. 2011. The Student Alcoholism Screening Test (SAST): Proposal and exploration, in Jan Wright (ed), Proceedings of the AARE Conference, Nov 27 - Dec 1 2011. Hobart, Tas: Australian Association for Research in Education.
Awards
-Won the ‘Client Care Excellence Award’ at Insight Psychological - highest client ratings and client retention collectively (received in 2023)
-Won the ‘Service Excellence Award’ at Homewood Health Inc. (received in 2015)
Conferences
-ADHD Insights Conference (Edmonton, AB, October 2024)
Certifications
-Being an Ethical Psychologist - Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Certification (received February 2025)
-Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Certification Training (received in 2023)
-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Training Certification (received in 2023)
-Intensive Trauma Treatment Certification: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on How the Body Keeps the Score (received in 2023)
-Mastering DSM-5® Differential Diagnosis, Mental Health Documentation & Medical Necessity (received in 2023)
-The Canadian Model Alcohol and Drug Policy Certification’ (received in 2015)
-Mental Health First Aid Canada Certification (received 2014)
Courses
-Personality Disorders Course: Advanced Diagnosis, Treatment & Management (February 2025)
-Treating Personality Disorders: Advances from Brain Science and Traumatology (February 2025)
-Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues for the Advanced Practice Clinician: Strategies for Reducing Risk in Clinical Practice (February 2025)
Trainings
-EPIC Master Clinician Supervision Retreat (completed 2022)
-EPIC Master Clinician - Practicum Ethics and Practical Knowledge (completed 2022)
-EPIC Master Clinician - Building a Treatment Plan/Successful Sessions (completed 2022)
-EPIC Master Clinician - Introduction to Family Therapy
-EPIC Master Clinician - Introduction to Couples Work - Part 1
-EPIC Master Clinician - Introduction to Couples Work - Part 2’ (completed 2022)
-EPIC Master Clinician - Treating Trauma - Successful Interventions (completed 2022)
-EPIC Master Clinician - Working with Children Through Play (completed 2022)
-EPIC Master Clinician – Therapist Question & Answer’(completed 2022)
-EPIC Master Clinician - Specialized Assessments (completed 2022)
-EPIC Master Clinician - Nature and Animal Assisted Interventions (completed 2022)
-Preventing Workplace Bullying, Harassment and Violence Training (received in 2017)
-AODA Customer Service Training (received in 2017)
-WHMIS Refresher Training’ (received in 2017)
-Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training for Supervisors (received in 2017)
-Diversity in the Workplace Training (received in 2017)
-Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Program (ASIST) (received 2015)
Come Find Karen Gaudin on Psychology Today!
Interested in our psychological services? We’re here to help and accommodate you the best we can!
Please be aware that our therapists schedule typically fills up +3 months or more in advance. To secure a spot, it's crucial to plan ahead, and make your bookings for sessions as early as possible. Clients are limited to booking one 1 hour or 2 hour session per week, unless otherwise approved on a case by case basis. Our therapist also maintains a cancellation list. You will be notified of any openings via SMS/text and email providing an opportunity to schedule an appointment sooner. Please don't delay; take the first step toward your healing journey by booking ahead. Your path to healing with Authentic You: Counselling, Assessment & Addictions Services Inc. begins with the proactive steps of securing your session bookings as far in advance as possible. Thank you for your understanding and commitment!