Meet Dr. Crystal Dittrick (she/her)

Hi, I’m Dr. Crystal! I am the founder of CARE Psychology.

I am a Registered Psychologist, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™, Certified Play Therapist Supervisor™, and Certified EMDR Therapist™ with over 20 years of education and experience in working with children, youth, adults, and families.

From a young age I have always loved helping people and watching them grow. I knew I wanted to be a psychologist after my very first psychology course in high school. I have a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia. 

I provide psychological services to children, adolescents, adults, and their families, including both treatment and assessment. I believe in a strengths-based, creative approach with a focus on understanding and building relationships. I integrate a variety of therapeutic approaches in my work including Client Directed, Outcome Informed Therapy, Play Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Family Systems, and Mindfulness practice.

I am the clinical supervisor of CARE Psychology. I enjoy teaching and mentoring psychologists through supervision in our clinical practice. I am a Play Therapist Supervisor (Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™ and Certified Play Therapist Supervisor™) and am working towards my certification as an EMDR consultant (EMDR Certified Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant-in-Training). I consider myself to be a life-long learner and continue to update my practice based on the latest evidence of what works for the people I serve.

I have experience providing counselling, assessment, and psychological services in a variety of settings including schools, mental health services, community clinics, and private practice. I have presented for various schools, organizations, and parent nights, national and international conferences, and written peer reviewed articles on the topics of child and adolescent mental health, bullying, peer relationships, social emotional learning, and mindfulness.   

I am a mom of two incredible boys and grew up in a family with three sisters. I spend much of my free time with my family. A creative person at heart, I enjoy crafting, hosting family events, baking, watching movies, and playing with my kids.