Kim Williams

 

Hi, I’m Kim (she/her).

** Please fill out this form to apply to work with me or another intern on our team. **

I am a queer, femme, fat, mostly able-bodied, neuro-spicy, white settler ciswoman completing my Master of Social Work through Western New Mexico University, located in the traditional lands of the Pueblo and Apache in what is now the United States.

I hold a student membership with Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) and have prior degrees in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (PhD, University of Maryland), History (MA, University of Toronto) and Theatre (BA, Rhode Island College). In addition to being a therapist-in-training, I am a professor of Women's and Gender Studies at Mount Royal University in Treaty 7 territory, homelands of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai), the Îyârhe Nakoda Nations (Chiniki, Wesley and Bearspaw), Tsuut'ina Nation, and of the Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6. 

Because I am simultaneously marginalized and privileged, I understand the necessity of navigating the harmful impacts of oppression while also coming to terms with my own complicity in maintaining those same systems and structures. I work from a client-centred and trauma-informed framework rooted in harm reduction, anti-oppression, sex positivity (sex work is work!), and an anti-capitalist, decolonial, intersectional feminist praxis. 

My areas of focus include:

  • Exploring and celebrating identity/ies

  • Significant life transitions (e.g. immigration, starting college or uni, midlife career changes, illness and/or death of a loved one, coming out processes, supporting a trans spouse/partner, etc.)

  • Burnout and overwork, especially among GenX AFAB and femme folks

  • Harm reduction

  • Communication skills (consent, boundaries, and self-advocacy)

  • Navigating challenges resulting from privilege, power, and systemic oppression

  • Womxn’s issues (I use a trans-affirming and inclusive feminist framework)

As a counselling intern, I am able to provide trauma-informed counselling but not specialized trauma treatment. I am also unable to provide treatment for those experiencing active psychosis and cannot write gender affirming assessments for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and gender affirming surgery. Post-traumatic stress, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and active addiction will be considered by my clinical supervisors on a case-by-case basis to ensure I can provide an appropriate level and type of support.

I live in Calgary with my genderqueer co-conspirator Ari (they/them), a cat named Spike (they/them), and a mini mystery mutt named Sunshine (she/her), with whom I climb mountains and play dog sports.

Session Fee: $40 per 50-minute session (plus applicable tax).