Kris Ames

Get to know Kris

I bring together a calm and grounded presence, an authentic approach, and the mindset of a lifelong athlete. My practice is built on the belief that people heal and grow best when they feel genuinely understood and connected with themselves. Whether I’m working with someone navigating trauma or helping an athlete sharpen their mental game, I strive to create a space where clients feel safe enough to be honest, curious, and open to change.

I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at The King’s University where I also played five years on their men’s volleyball team. After my undergraduate degree, I completed my Masters in Counselling Psychology at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).  This is where I developed a therapeutic approach that is client‑centered, trauma‑informed, and collaborative. I prioritize the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for meaningful work. Clients often describe me as steady, thoughtful, and direct in a way that feels supportive rather than overwhelming.

After my schooling I began my clinical work in the Edmonton area in 2020.  I have worked with a variety of clientele, from PTSD, Complex PTSD, first responders, military and  paramilitary; anxiety and depression disorders, and relationship difficulties.  I help my clients develop clear goals on what they want to change and achieve for their mental health.  I let them know what it might entail to achieve those goals and how we will work together to do so.

Shortly after my clinical career began, so did my coaching career.  I coached with the NAVC volleyball club and the NAIT Men’s Volleyball Team. I was lucky enough to be a part of two national championship winning teams (NAVC u17, 2022; NAIT, 2024). These experiences have taught me what it means to be a successful athlete, what it means to be a successful teammate, and what it means to develop a successful team culture.

Whether you are someone looking to change their relationship with their mental health, an athlete looking to sharpen their mental game, or both; I'm here to implement my trainings and experiences to help you move towards your goals.  I utilize training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I integrate these approaches to help you understand the patterns shaping your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and to support the deeper internal shifts that lead to lasting healing. My goal is to help you move toward greater clarity, confidence, and self‑leadership so you can navigate your life with more ease and intention.

Outside of the office I live here in Sherwood Park with my family and our three dogs. You can catch me walking our dogs, playing some golf, or watching an Oilers game. In the summer time we spend a lot of our weekends on the road camping with our friends, family, or just ourselves.  It has become a running joke amongst our friends that we can’t make any events in the summer time because the Ames’s have, “gone camping again…”  In the winter time we are much less busy, enjoying all the major sports leagues as me and my wife are avid NHL and NFL fans.