The Keys to Hope Team

We are a diverse group of professionals.

As helping professionals with diverse backgrounds, skills, and training, we strive to provide our clients with the highest level of care. Our core values are empathy, transparency, communication, and generosity.

Getting to know us

We are also a bit quirky!

 We strive to provide a team atmosphere that is kind, supportive, and fun! We believe that laughter is an essential part of our day and we love the unique (and pretty awesome) personalities that each team member brings to Keys to Hope!

Melisha Franks

Registered Provisional Psychologist, CCC

 Melisha won't give up on you! Seriously, we think she's a superhero in her other life. Melisha works with all kinds of couples who are struggling, arguing, shutting down, worrying, feeling sad, mad, hurt, and so much more! She will meet you exactly where you are! Whether it be in the muck, in the valley, or on that tiresome climb uphill.  She will help you, teach you, coach you, encourage you, challenge you, and celebrate with you! And you just might find yourself believing in your relationship once again!  And for you individuals- Melisha will walk along side with you too.  Before long, you may see change and new growth while experiencing Melisha's warmth, humor, and relentless belief in you!! When you leave, you might just be wearing your own superhero cape!

Deena West

Registered Provisional Psychologist

​Deena is a lifelong asset to the community of Medicine Hat. Deena’s passion to dig deep and inspire hope developed while working with marginalized populations in homeless initiatives and with women and children fleeing family violence.  Deena is the one you want on your team as she will advocate for the things you didn't even realize you needed! And will remind you of the things you forgot you wanted.  You will stand a little taller and believe in yourself a little more!  Deena is so dedicated to her friends and family, the people she counsels, and her animals. So much so that she has been known to sneak her dogs into her office,  thinking we don't see her... Deena, we see and we love it!  And it reminds us all at Keys of her integrity and commitment to the people (and furry friends) in her life. Deena specializes with those dealing with trauma and childhood pain and provides EMDR. 

Alysha Gurney

Registered Social Worker, MSW

Alysha has two main passions in her life; the great outdoors and helping others to empower themselves through the ups and downs of their own life journey.  Oh, and did you know? Alysha has the best therapeutic play room which all of us at Keys want to sneak into for our own playtime!  Yes, that's right, play and therapeutic play is not just for your kiddos! It's for your teens and it's for you adults!  We are pretty convinced that Alysha is the coolest cat at Keys with all her toys, treats, and tips! Alysha's worked in the field of addiction and mental health and attended the University of Calgary where she completed her Masters of Social Work Program with clinical specialization. Alysha is completing specialized training via the Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute. 

Laïs Morrow

Administrative Assistant

Meet our amazing Administrative Assistant - Laïs Morrow! Laïs brings years of experience working with a multi-disciplinary team within the helping field. Her warmth and humour provide a welcoming atmosphere for our clinic and her skills and strengths provide us with the support and organization needed to meet all the needs of our clients! Laïs is the main KEY at Keys to Hope! Also, we are pretty sure she is a mind-reader as she is usually one step ahead of us! She often knows what we need before we even know what we need! And she will let you know that an animal is the most important ingredient for a happy life! Really, what she means is that multiple furry creatures brings massive amounts of joy!

Angélique Doyle

Events Coordinator, Group Facilitator

Angélique is infectious to be around, but in a good way!  She approaches life with passion, authenticity, and with excitement.  She is Medicine Hat's Giggle Guru, but she is our Creative Guru at Keys to Hope! She lights up every room she enters with her warmth and gratitude for life and her laughter is seriously the best medicine of all.  This lady is the peanut butter to our jam! And our yin to our yang! If you aren't careful, she will have you in giggling with gratitude! We are so lucky to have her on our team! Angélique has a Certificate in Laughter Yoga and facilitates Vision Boarding and Mindfulness activities. A big goal of hers is to have a Labyrinth (mindfulness walk) built in one of these parks in Medicine Hat.

Kyle Graham

Registered Provisional Psychologist

 Kyle is the newest member to our team but it's like he's always been here! He just moved right on in with his humor and his easy going nature and made Keys his own.  He is all about inclusiveness and is a pretty amazing team-player.  Kyle has this magical ability to bring ideas to reality. And poof! The idea is real thing! ​ We are so lucky that he shares his magic with us all! Kyle is passionate about helping others grow, develop, and discover their unique resiliency and abilities to overcome adversity. He has adapted an integrated therapeutic style that tailors to the needs of the individuals, couples, and families.  Kyle is passionate about health and wellness, enjoys spending time with family, and can often be found skiing in the mountains! 

Minota Kennell

RSW, BSW, Counselling Practicum Student

Minota is a new practicum student at Keys to Hope Counselling Services. And she has all the zest for life, lemons, and love in the work she does! This lady has knocked our socks off with her commitment to learning and to genuinely supporting her clients. Outside of school, she works in the field of mental health specializing in relationship conflict. Minota is a busy mom of two little boys who firmly recognize the fun of dirt, mud, rocks, and dragons. And in fact, we are pretty certain that Minota could create a dragon out of thin air and it could become our Keys to Hope therapy assistant! (That's how brilliant she is!) Her main areas of training in are cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, family conflict, EMDR. and emotion focus therapy.

Travis Funk

Practicum Student, Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology

Travis is one of our newest team members and arrives with a great desire to help people, to learn, and to grow his skill-set in the counselling field. Travis is compassionate and curious and his calm presence puts everyone at ease!  He is close to completing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and currently is in the law enforcement field working with vulnerable populations, people in crisis situations, and individuals struggling with mental health and substance misuse and also with people with developmental disabilities.  Travis enjoys family time, walking the trails of Medicine Hat, and working on home improvements.  Welcome to our team Travis! 
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Rae-anne Ziegenhagel 

Practicum Student, Social Work Diploma

Rae-anne has a passion for working with children and families and is looking forward to connecting with all those who cross her path at Keys to Hope! Rae-anne believes in the power of self-care and spends time hiking, being outside, and drinking tea and reading. Fun fact, Rae-anne loves to read books of all kinds and is a big Harry Potter fan! We are excited to see what Rae-anne brings to our team and can't wait for our first Harry Potter themed team meeting! No pressure Rae-anne! 

Interested to join our team?

Call our office at: 403-487-1607

We are hiring a full-time counsellor and are starting to prepare for bringing on a part-time administrator and social media guru! Is this YOU? Call us today!
We provide counselling services for adults, youth, and children and for couples, families, and groups. We also provide wellness services, book clubs, creative arts, and more!  Keep an eye on our Facebook, Instagram, and webpage for some exciting upcoming news!