Our Team is here for you.
Patricia Arango
Executive Director
Patricia was born in Colombia and is a psychologist with a Masters Degree in Social and Community Psychology. She has dedicated her life to helping others. In Colombia, she created a non-profit assisting women, kids and underserved people. She was an Advisor to the Colombia Human Rights President and National Director of Indigenous Communities and Education. Upon her arrival in Canada, she became a Registered Psychotherapist where she focused on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Solutions Focused Therapy.
In 2014, Patricia accepted the role of Executive Director for CASASC, where she continues to successfully tackle challenges. She has proudly implemented preventative programming, including the No Secrets program and the #iRespect campaign. She also initiated the text/webchat option of the 24 hour help line.
Patricia works tirelessly for her community and has proven to be an exceptional leader, pioneer and innovator with a devoted compassion and empathy for those in need.
Counsellors and Therapists
For information on counselling sessions contact: casasc@casasc.ca or phone 403-340-1124
Tracy Cross
Psychologist – MC
Tracy is a registered psychologist in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She holds a Masters of Counselling degree from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Alberta.
She has over 15 years experience working in various capacities with adolescents, adults and families experiencing complex issues. She has a particular interest working with those dealing with trauma and the associated challenges of personal development, relational issues, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, emotional-dysregulation, boundary issues, communication difficulties, shame, identity and self-esteem concerns.
Tracy is heavily influenced by Attachment Theory and believes that our earliest attachments influence relational and personal functioning in adulthood. She works from a client-centered, compassionate approach where she believes the client is the expert in their own lives, incorporating techniques from various therapeutic approaches depending on client need. She considers herself a life-long learner and has future plans of further studying grief, the neurobiology of trauma, somatic experiencing and mindfulness-based techniques.
Tracy is currently accepting new clients.
Mark Ballantyne
Child Therapist – MACP CCC
Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Calgary and has completed a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Yorkville University.
Mark has twenty years of experience in working with children and youth who have experienced trauma, emotional dysregulation, behavioral health issues and family/personal stress.
His use of an integrated approach provides cognitive behavioral strategies, strength based development, play/art techniques and a person centered philosophy allowing for the creation of a safe place to better manage trauma. Mark believes that in creating a strong therapeutic alliance children and families can move forward in their path to healing, and that people have the inner resources to make change. Mark brings that philosophy to individual clients and also with his work in the Sexual Behaviour Support Program focusing on early intervention to sexual behavior concerns.
Mark is an active public speaker providing professionals, parents and children with evidence-based strategies, and knowledge surrounding healthy relationships, coping, trauma, emotional intelligence and positive mental health.
Mark is currently accepting new clients.
Lana Kennedy
Therapist – MACP
Lana holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree from Yorkville University and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta.
She has over 25 years of experience working with youth and adults, and with various communities to help people build strengths and capacity to address complex situations.
Lana has a particular passion for helping individuals to work through trauma on a cognitive and somatic level, understanding the importance of trauma’s impact on the brain and the body. She has training in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and is looking forward to training in Somatic Integrative Therapy. Lana believes in tailoring sessions to meet the needs of individual clients which means that clients may receive a blend of therapies. She is very down to earth and believes in the importance of establishing and maintaining a supportive therapeutic relationship with her clients.
Lana is accepting new clients.
Joanne Prysunka
Therapist – MA CCC
Joanne holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and is a Canadian Certified Counsellor.
Her counselling background includes crisis counselling youth and young adults and working with adults who have been affected by sexual violence. After working with agricultural clients and holding leadership positions throughout her career, Joanne pursued a mid-life career change into counselling.
Joanne draws upon her own experiences, feelings, and personality to enhance the therapeutic process. She believes it is essential to create a safe, bonded relationship with clients and that people have inherent wisdom and the ability to heal when they feel safe in the present as they process the past. Joanne believes lifelong learning is essential in her role as a therapist. The therapy she uses incorporates attachment focused EMDR, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Currently, she is learning how to integrate polyvagal and somatic interventions into each phase of EMDR to enhance her competency as a trauma therapist.
Our Supporters
CASASC would not be able to provide programs and services without the support of our donors, funders, partners and sponsors.
Government of Alberta
- Alberta Justice & Solicitor General
- Alberta Health Services
- Alberta Community and Social Services
Government of Canada
- Public Safety Canada
Community supporters
- Lifelong Learning Council of Red Deer
- Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise
- Rotary Club of Red Deer East
- Red Deer and District Community Foundation
- Rotary Club of Red Deer Urban Spirits
- Canadian Women’s Foundation
- Servus Credit Union
- F-12.net
- Scotiabank Red Deer
With gratitude and a spirit of reconciliation
the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre recognizes that we work and live within the traditional, unseeded lands and travelling routes of the Indigenous Peoples represented in Treaties 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10, and the home of the Métis Districts 1 through 22 who also share a deep connection with these lands.
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