Rachelle Yu

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

(NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS)

Meet Rachelle

B.A., M.A., Ph.d.[Candidate]

CLINICAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST | Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology | 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.

RACHELLE YU

Rachelle is a dedicated and highly skilled clinician who specializes with children and adolescents. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Child Psychology from Simon Fraser University and is near completion of her Ph.D. degree in the same field and institution. Currently completing the Pre-Doctoral Residency in Pediatric and Child Clinical Psychology at Alberta Children’s Hospital, Rachelle’s work involves conducting child autism assessments and therapy with youth who are diagnosed with diabetes and endocrine disorders. Her upcoming rotations in complex ADHD and chronic pain further highlight her commitment to specialized pediatric care. Rachelle has completed placements in the BC Children’s Hospital Mood & Anxiety Disorders Clinic, OCD Clinic, and Medical Psychology Intake Clinic in addition to a private child psychology clinic. 

Rachelle’s clinical training focuses on supporting children, adolescents, and their families. She has diverse experience in conducting psychoeducational assessments (e.g., learning disorders, giftedness, intellectual disability) and psychodiagnostic assessments for ADHD, autism, and/or social-emotional difficulties. Rachelle also excels in therapy with children and adolescents experiencing challenges related to anxiety (e.g., generalized anxiety, selective mutism, separation anxiety, specific phobias), obsessive compulsive disorder, needle pain, and chronic pain. To maximize the effectiveness of therapy, she involves parents as experts on their children and key agents in carrying change from inside the therapy room into the child’s day-to-day life.

Rachelle aims to highlight the courage and resilience of growing humans as they move toward a more meaningful life. She practices from an integrated therapeutic approach, drawing from cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and solution-focused brief therapy. She is committed to evidence-based practice and provides both client-centered and culturally sensitive care. Ultimately, Rachelle strives to establish a safe and open environment that is carefully designed to bolster each client’s unique strengths and personality, while integrating fun and humour along the way.

Rachelle’s dissertation focuses on identifying sex differences in an investigation of longitudinal associations between ADHD in childhood and adolescence and harmful behaviours preceding premature mortality in adulthood. She has published articles in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals such as Child Psychiatry & Human Development and Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. Rachelle’s master’s-level research was generously funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Rachelle is in the process of obtaining her Provisional Psychologist status with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and remains a member in good standing, committed to upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University, where she completed a double major in Psychology and English, along with a minor in Counselling and Human Development. With a strong clinical foundation and a deep passion for supporting children and adolescents, Rachelle is dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality assessment and treatment services for youth and their families. Her commitment to collaborative care makes her a valued member of the Nova Psychology team.

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 
  • Adult: 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 Assessments

  • Intelligence Testing
  • Achievement Testing

Attention and Focus

  • Continuous Performance Tests
  • Auditory Attention Testing
  • Behaviour Rating Scales

Executive Functioning

  • Executive Function Rating Scales

Memory

  • Memory and Learning Assessments

Motor Functioning

  • Visual-Motor Integration Testing

Social-Emotional Functioning

  • Autism and Social Responsiveness Assessments
  • Behaviour and Emotional Scales
  • Anxiety and Depression Assessments
  • Anger Expression Scales

Adaptive Functioning

  • Adaptive Behaviour Assessments
  • ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT (ACT)
  • CLIENT-CENTERED
  • COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL (CBT)
  • COMPASSION-FOCUSED
  • CULTURALLY SENSITIVE
  • EMOTION-FOCUSED (EFT)
  • PROLONGED EXPOSURE
  • SOLUTION-FOCUSED (SFT)
  • STRENGTH-BASED
  • SUPPORTIVE
  • PENDING: REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST, COLLEGE OF ALBERTA PSYCHOLOGISTS
  • Ph.D. Candidate 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
  • ENGLISH
  • CANTONESE

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.”
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