Registered Social Worker, MSW

Donna Balkwill

“Everyone carries a story that deserves to be heard. Through connection, my hope is to support you in finding your voice—and when you’re ready, help you begin shaping what comes next.”

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Meet Donna.

Donna is a Registered Social Worker with both the Alberta College of Social Workers and the Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work in 2011 and her Master of Social Work in 2020.

With over 14 years of experience, Donna works with children, adolescents, adults, and families navigating a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and mental health challenges. Her work often focuses on parent-teen conflict, complex youth behavioural needs, and trauma-informed care across all ages, while also supporting adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and other life stressors that impact emotional well-being. She provides both individual and family therapy, offering a space that feels safe, steady, and supportive—where clients can gently explore their experiences, feel heard, and move at a pace that feels right for them.

Her practice is grounded in trauma-informed, evidence-based, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist frameworks. She takes a client-centered approach, tailoring each session to the unique needs of the individual or family, and drawing from modalities such as Narrative Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Motivational Interviewing.

With warmth, cultural sensitivity, and a deep respect for each person’s lived experience, Donna walks alongside clients as they move toward greater clarity, connection, and well-being.

Ages
Adults
Youth/Teens (12+)
Services Offered
Adult Therapy
Youth/Teen Therapy
Family Therapy
Appointment Options
In-Person
Virtual
Phone
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    • Anxiety and depression

    • Trauma (childhood, developmental, attachment, relational, complex trauma, and PTSD)

    • Emotional regulation, chronic stress, and life transitions

    • Behavioural concerns (including ADHD, ODD, and OCPD)

    • Low self-esteem and self-worth

    • Boundary-setting and codependency

    • Family dynamics, separation/divorce, and parenting support

    • Parent-teen relational challenges

    • School-related difficulties

    • Grief and loss

    • Domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and abuse

    • Suicidal ideation, self-harm and crisis support

    • Disordered eating, body image concerns, and phobias

    • Substance use and addiction recovery

    • Trauma-informed care

    • Evidence-based practice

    • Anti-oppressive practice

    • Anti-racist practice

    • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

    • Narrative Therapy

    • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

    • Motivational Interviewing

Rooted in Purpose.

Donna felt called to social work early on, recognizing that many individuals—especially teens—were struggling to feel seen within an often overwhelming mental health system. That awareness continues to shape her work today, guiding her commitment to creating a space where clients feel acknowledged, understood, and supported.

What draws Donna to this field is its ability to look beyond the surface. She values a holistic approach that considers not only what’s happening within the mind, but also the environmental and systemic factors that influence well-being. This perspective allows her to support clients with both insight and context, helping them make sense of their experiences in a broader, more compassionate way.

Through her work, Donna is passionate about helping individuals feel informed and empowered as they navigate the mental health system—offering steady guidance, clarity, and care along the way.

Insurance and Direct Billing

Many of the services offered at Maliya may be eligible for insurance coverage. Before booking, please confirm your practitioner’s designation and if your insurance provider(s) are able to provide coverage.

Please note that we cannot guarantee coverage for any specific service, as eligibility depends on your individual insurance plan/policy. For this reason, we strongly recommend confirming your coverage details directly with your insurance provider prior to booking, including whether your service may be eligible under a Health Care Spending Account.

Once coverage has been confirmed, please contact us to determine whether we are able to direct bill your insurance company or if you will require an invoice receipt to submit for reimbursement.