Dr. Rachelle Yu

"We know what we are, but know not what we may be"

(ACCEPTING CHILD / YOUTH CLIENTS)

Meet Rachelle

B.A., M.A., Ph.d.

CLINICAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST | assessment SPECIALIST

As human beings, feelings of burnout, anxiety, or depression can arise at various points in our lives. Consulting a psychologist can be immensely beneficial in addressing these challenges.

dr. RACHELLE YU

Rachelle is a dedicated and highly skilled psychologist with a strong focus on supporting children and adolescents. She holds both a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts in Clinical Child Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Most recently, she completed a Pre-Doctoral Residency in Pediatric and Child Clinical Psychology at Alberta Children’s Hospital. During her residency, her commitment to pediatric care was evident through her work in the Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinic, the Complex ADHD Treatment Team, and the Diabetes, Endocrine, and Complex Pain Clinics.

Rachelle’s clinical background also includes valuable training at BC Children’s Hospital, where she completed placements in the Mood & Anxiety Disorders Clinic, OCD Clinic, and Medical Psychology Intake Clinic. In addition, she spent four years working as a student clinician at a private child psychology clinic in British Columbia.

Her professional experience spans a range of assessment and therapeutic services for youth and families. Rachelle has particular expertise in conducting psychoeducational assessments related to learning disorders, giftedness, and intellectual disabilities, as well as psychodiagnostic assessments for conditions such as ADHD, autism, and mood disorders. In therapy, she supports children and adolescents coping with anxiety—including generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, selective mutism, and specific phobias—obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and medical-related challenges such as chronic pain and fear of needles.

Rachelle works closely with families, recognizing parents as experts on their children and essential partners in the therapeutic process. Her goal is to help translate the progress made in therapy into meaningful changes in daily life. She practices from an integrated therapeutic approach, incorporating cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and solution-focused brief therapy. Rachelle is committed to evidence-based, client-centered, and culturally sensitive care. She strives to create a safe, supportive environment that nurtures each child’s unique strengths and personality—infusing the process with warmth, fun, and a sense of hope.

In addition to her clinical work, Rachelle has contributed to the field through meaningful research. Her doctoral dissertation explored sex differences in the long-term effects of ADHD, examining how early symptoms relate to harmful behaviors in adulthood. Her research has been published in respected, peer-reviewed journals including Child Psychiatry & Human Development and Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, and her master’s-level work was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Rachelle is registered as a Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and is committed to maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University, completing a double major in Psychology and English, along with a minor in Counselling and Human Development.

With a deep passion for working with children, adolescents, and their families, Rachelle brings both warmth and clinical expertise to her work. She is proud to be part of the Nova Psychology team, where she contributes to a shared vision of accessible, high-quality mental health care grounded in compassion and collaboration.

Rachelle currently offers direct billing to Alberta Blue Cross, ASEBP/ARTA, Medavie Blue Cross, SSQ Financial, Green Shield Canada, Sun Life, and Manulife.

  • Play-Based Child Therapy (8 years & younger)
  • Children’s Therapy (8 – 11 years)
  • Early Adolescence Therapy (12 – 16 years)
  • Youth Therapy (16+ years)
  • Virtual (Online) Therapy
  • Child/Youth: Psychological Assessment & testing
  • Young Adults: Psychological Assessment & testing 
  • ADHD
  • AUTISM
  • BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES
  • CHRONIC PAIN
  • COPING SKILLS
  • DEPRESSION
  • EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE
  • FAMILY CONFLICT
  • GRIEF & LOSS
  • INTELLECTUAL / LEARNING DISABILITIES
  • OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE (OCD)
  • PEER RELATIONSHIPS
  • SCHOOL-RELATED ISSUES
  • SELF-ESTEEM ISSUES
  • TESTING & EVALUATION
  • Cognitive and intellectual functioning
  • Academic achievement
  • Attention and executive functioning
  • Memory
  • Social, behavioural, and emotional functioning
  • Adaptive functioning
  • ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT (ACT)
  • CLIENT-CENTERED
  • COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL (CBT)
  • COMPASSION-FOCUSED
  • CULTURALLY SENSITIVE
  • EMOTION-FOCUSED (EFT)
  • PROLONGED EXPOSURE
  • SOLUTION-FOCUSED (SFT)
  • STRENGTH-BASED
  • SUPPORTIVE
  • REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST (#P8336), COLLEGE OF ALBERTA PSYCHOLOGISTS
  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
  • MASTERS OF ARTS (M.A.), SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
  • Bachelor of ARTS (B.A.), SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
  • MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE OF ALBERTA PSYCHOLOGISTS (CAP)
  • MEMBER OF PSYCHOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA (PAA)
  • MEMBER OF Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
  • Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) Clinical Training, Autism Spectrum Education, Research, and Training Group, Calgary, A.B.
  • Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) Clinical Training Autism Spectrum Education, Research, and Training Group, Calgary, A.B.
  • Clinical Hypnosis Skills for Health Professionals, Level 2
    Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis (B.C. Division)
  • Clinical Hypnosis Skills for Health Professionals, Level 1
    Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis (B.C. Division)
  • Solution-Focused Workshop for Clinical Students
    Clinical Psychology Centre, SFU, Burnaby, B.C.
  • Self-Directed Violence Risk Assessment and Management Workshop Protect International Risk and Safety Services, Vancouver, B.C.
  • Connect Parent Group Leader Training Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre, Burnaby, B.C.
  • San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia
  • Alberta Blue Cross
  • ASEBP / ARTA
  • Medavie Blue Cross
  • SSQ Financial
  • Green Shield Canada
  • SunLife
  • Manulife
  • CANADA LIFE
  • MANULIFE

LET'S GET PERSONAL

Outside of her professional work, Rachelle prioritizes quality time with her partner and his 4-year-old son, who is a cheerful and affectionate boy with autism. They embrace his differences by stimming, lining up toy cars, and riding elevators together. In her down time, Rachelle enjoys indulging her sweet tooth, admiring the passion projects of others at car meets, and supporting local businesses. She places deep value in broadening her worldview by immersing herself in her own Chinese heritage in addition to other cultures, with Costa Rica and Belize among her most memorable travel destinations. Rachelle endeavours to practice authenticity and engage in life-long learning in both her personal and professional lives. She shows a sincere appreciation for, and dedication to embodying, the Chinese name that she was given— 芯, which directly translates to “heart.”