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Authentic Heart Counselling

Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.- Carl Jung

We believe in the power of real connection with our clients and use a multitude of tools, focused on a systemic and integrative approach.Counselling can help enrich many areas of your life by providing you with insight, support, and a deeper understanding of your unique behaviours, needs, and reactions in life.Together, we weave a richer tale—one of acceptance, connection, transformation, and the beauty of simply being human, where all parts of you can be embraced.

Awakening your heart from the inside out.

Leanne DeLong

Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.
- Zen Proverb

Guiding Viewpoint

The essence of my practice lies in a simple yet profound truth: we are all fellow travellers on this road of life, burdened by the weight of our struggles. Within our shared existence, regardless of our place along life's path, we are connected. While our experiences may differ, the core of our humanity - pain, grief, growth - binds us together. Within the fabric of this shared existence, each thread represents a potential story of resilience and hope.

Journey

Along my travels, I often wore masks that were based on beliefs about who I needed to be. Over time, these masks became heavy, suffocating my authentic self and resulting in anxiety and depression placing shadows over my life. I lived in overwhelm and believed I was alone. Yet, as I stumbled along this uncertain path, I encountered fellow travelers—kindred spirits who illuminated my way.Their support and understanding helped me peel away the layers of pretense, allowing me to step into the light of acceptance. It was through their compassion that I began to learn the art of embracing my true self, “imperfections” and all. This transformative experience ignited a desire within me to cultivate a safe space for others, where they too could find acceptance, healing, and peace amidst the chaos of life.

Approach

In my practice, I embrace a holistic and client-centered approach, recognizing the intricate interplay of mind, body, and spirit in our healing journeys. I draw upon several therapeutic modalities, including Internal Family Systems Therapy, which invites individuals to explore their inner landscape. This method encourages a dialogue with our various internal "parts," fostering a deeper understanding of our behaviors and emotions. By navigating these parts, we can unearth the roots of our struggles and cultivate strategies for acceptance and healing.Somatic Experiencing also plays a vital role in my approach. I encourage clients to tune into their bodies—the very vessels of experience. In slowing down to notice sensations, feelings, images, memories and behaviours, we can uncover insights that often elude us in the hustle of daily life. This embodied awareness can reveal pathways toward healing, allowing emotions to flow rather than become trapped within.

Support

I am passionate about supporting adults as they navigate the complex terrain of relationships, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, trauma, and loss, and my heart particularly resonates with those who are co- or single parents, as I have walked this path myself.*Currently not accepting couples or families.

I hope to see you soon!

Leanne

Professional Education and CertificationsMA in Counselling Psychology
Registered Psychotherapist (qualifying)
18+ Year Professional (community building & people leading)Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy AssociationInternal Family Systems Level One CertificationSomatic Experiencing Intermediate Level (on-going)Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Basic Training (EMDRIA approved)ASIST Suicide PreventionEMDR & Parts Work for Treating Complex Trauma (Facilitator Arielle Schwartz)Breathwork Facilitator Training (on-going)

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Greg DeLong

Bio

Coming soon!

Greg

Authentic Counselling Logo showing the letter A connected to the letter H through a heart.
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How we can help

Do you find yourself repeating painful struggles? Or experiencing anxiety that you just don’t know how to hold or what to do with? Do you continue to have problems or issues with your family or loved ones? Is what you are doing or have been doing leaving you feeling stuck, unhappy or frustrated with certain aspects of your life? Are you experiencing grief, loss or other painful experiences? Has a traumatic event or experiences in life left you feeling alone and unsure of your place in the world?

As you access more SELF you shift from being led by your parts' desires to being led by your heart's desires.- Richard Schwartz

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You are NOT alone


We all face difficult times that can create tremendous pain and suffering in our lives, deeply impacting the quality of our life's journey. Together we can discover, process, and ultimately uncover deeper meaning within your unique experience.

Our areas of support look like:

  • Experiences with self - such as anxiety, stress, trauma, wounding, chronic pain, emotion regulation, overwhelm, grief, sadness, numbing, self harm, disordered eating, intense emotions, self-criticism, addictions, self-sabotage, loneliness, perfectionism, isolation.

  • Experiences with others - such as interpersonal conflicts, parenting/co-parenting, boundary setting, relationship navigation, workplace dynamics, role transitions, teamwork, communication, emotional intelligence, oppression, harm.

  • Experiences with the transpersonal - such as human connection, spirituality, making meaning of life, non-ordinary states of consciousness, values identification.

Evidenced Based Services

Trauma Informed Counselling

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Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

Steeped in Cognitive Behavioral Theory, this modality can assist with deeper acceptance of one's experience, provide concrete mindfulness based tools and foster the development of values-based committed actions.

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Internal Family Systems

All "parts" of you are welcomed with curiosity in this non-pathologizing modality. IFS helps you forge new relationships to the internal parts of yourself, helping you gain insight into patterns of behaviour and fostering internal healing.

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Somatic Based Therapy

The use of Somatic Experiencing (SE™) is a therapy processing approach that avoids direct exposure to trauma, through the use of corrective interoceptive experiences (sensing, interpreting, and encoding signals from within the body), to address stuck responses.

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EMDR

EMDR uses various forms of bi-lateral stimulation of the left and right sides of the brain (such as eye movements, sound, etc.) to process distressing or traumatic memories. EMDR relies on the natural healing ability of the brain to resolve concerns.

Want to take a closer look?

Deep Dive

Somatic Experiencing

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)

Conscious Connected Breathwork (offering spring 2025)

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

REAL - The Power of Authentic Connection

Change Starts with a Single Step!

Whether you have a question, want to inquire about Authentic Heart Counselling’s services, or simply want to say hello, feel free to reach out to us.

Guidance is in the union of thoughts, the heart, the senses, and nature; and going astray is disarray and confusion amongst these four.- Chinese Proverb

IN-PERSON & ONLINE
By Appointment Only


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LOCATION
205 Ave G North Saskatoon


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CONNECT
Authentic Heart


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