James Lieske, MA, RSW, CPC -- Marriage & Family Therapist

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I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, across the street from West Edmonton Mall. I come from a family of two sisters and one brother and have many memories as a typical youth hanging around the mall and riding my bike in the city. I was raised in a traditional Christian family environment where my mom stayed at home with us and my dad fulfilled his steady job duties as a cost estimator with an oil company. 

Though we were known to be a loud and reactive group, my family and I have always been very close and my experiences with them, the good and the bad, drew my passions towards supporting families in the helping profession.  While I was completing my Bachelor of Religion in Edmonton my studies in sociology and psychology grew a desire to further my studies in this field. After receiving my degree, I pursued this passion in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where I completed my Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. The passing of my mom from cancer shortly after graduate school continued to elevate my core values in caring for others and the legacy she left behind establishing a safe retreat in the context of a connected family life.

My return to Alberta in 1999 rewarded me with meeting my wife, Sharon, and finding a job in a city we had never heard of before... Medicine Hat, a community we fell in love with and where I began my career. Sharon and I have been married for 23 years and have three children:  two sons, 20 and 15, and a 18 year old daughter.

For more than two decades, I have had the privilege of providing supportive guidance to individuals, couples and families working through a multitude of personal relationship issues and obstacles that people encounter in their lives. My experiences working as a Marriage and Family Therapist with Medicine Hat Family Service has afforded me the opportunity to extend compassionate, client-centered care to many who are seeking to overcome and face the challenges before them. I hold to the conviction that strong relationships within supportive circles build the foundation to both stable home environments and thriving communities.  

Along with my Masters Degree, I am a Registered Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), a Counselling Therapist under the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA), as well as a Certified Professional Counselor with the Professional Association of Christian Counselors and Psychotherapists (PACCP). 

I enjoy the continuing education opportunities and networking through my associations, as they allow me to remain current in this ever-changing field.

I also hold a spot on the referral list of counselors for Focus on the Family Canada, and am honored to assist those searching for a Christian Counselor in Southern Alberta.

When you come to see me, I believe you know your story best, and I want to walk with you through your struggles. My desire is to offer you the support and care that makes you feel safe in a non-judgemental setting, without shying away from providing feedback and ideas, or discuss a thought or belief that might be getting in the way of your progress. I see my work with you as being highly collaborative in restoring relationship with others, engaging more fully in life, and reflecting on personal growth. 

I look forward to the opportunity to connect with you.