NP Mental Health & Wellness Clinic
At the Faculty of Nursing, we care for each other by building psychological health and safety among ourselves and among people we serve.
We are here to help
Nursing can be a challenging program, and a challenging profession. Are you struggling with feelings of anxiety, depression, unresolved grief, past trauma, or overwhelm? Awareness is the first step in wanting to shift your paradigm to a healthier mental and physical state. Often those in the helping professions find that their own wounds surface in the process of helping others. It is important to learn to take care of ourselves, as that is the most important relationship we have! You cannot give from an empty cup.
Treatment & Services
Take a look at all the various treatments, services and spaces available to UCalgary Nursing students, faculty and staff in PF 122.
Some of the services offered in the Mental Health & Wellness Clinic are:
- Scheduled 1x1 counselling sessions to support psychological wellbeing and short-term stabilization with referrals to external mental health professional (as needed)
- Nursing specific wellness coaching to help navigate the stressors of the nursing program
- Learn Emotional regulation techniques such as HeartMath that help build resilience
- Learn Stress management tools (such as Emotional Freedom Technique- Tapping) to support your emotional health & wellbeing
- Psychoeducation workshops that combine life skills training such as self compassion, meditation, mindful breathing, and building foundations for health (see monthly calendar of workshops)
- Visit during our Drop-in hours and a try our calm space to unplug and de-stress, practice Heart Math or engage in art therapy activities.
Referral forms
For students, faculty and staff
Includes undergraduate, graduate, PhD, post-doc, academic, sessional, AUPE, MAPS
Please start by filling out this online referral form.
Visit the clinic in PF 122
Sandy Johansson, MScN, NP-PHC
Clinic Manager, Lead Nurse Practitioner
Sandy Johansson is a family/all-ages Nurse Practitioner (NP) specializing in mental health, wellness coaching, and integrative medicine. She believes in a holistic and integrative approach to health, helping patients optimize their brain and body wellness. Sandy blends the best practices of Western Medicine and Functional Medicine to identify and address the root causes of illness. This integrative health approach ensures that patients receive highly skilled and comprehensive care in a safe and supportive setting.
Dr. Kimberly Shapkin, MSN, NP, GNC(c)
Clinic Nurse Practitioner, Associate Professor (Teaching)
Kimberly is a Nurse Practitioner with a passion for working alongside people to support their mental and physical well-being. Her goal is for people to live stronger and better through health optimization. She believes that by optimizing our mental and physical health, we can live our best lives. She works through an integrative health lens, taking a holistic and comprehensive approach to care. She understands that each person’s health journey is distinct, and strives to tailor care that addresses the person’s mental, physical, and functional goals.
Dr. Jacqueline Smith RN, PhD
Associate Professor, Nurse Therapist
Jacqueline joined Sandy Johannsson in the Mental Health & Wellness Clinic in February 2023.She is a wellness counsellor who brings in a trauma informed lens as a certified EMDR therapist and somatic psychotherapist. As a wellness counsellor, educator, and advocate for emotional health and wellbeing, she supports mental health needs as well as enhancing awareness of health promotion and disease prevention strategies.
Shelley Heinz, MN (with distinction), RN
Clinic Nurse, NP Health and Wellness Clinic
Shelley Ammeter Heinz joined the Faculty of Nursing in 2013, bringing experience in nursing education and clinical practice. During her time here, she has assumed various roles within the faculty including teaching in years 2 to 4 of the nursing program, including clinical practice and labs, theory, course coordination and curriculum development.
Shelley's professional interests are centered in mental health and addictions. Her extensive work experience encompasses a broad spectrum of settings, including acute inpatient care, psychiatric emergency services, outpatient services, program development and community health. Trained in CBT, DBT, LENS, individual and group psychotherapy. Shelley enjoys working with others to enhance wellness and positive mental health.
Leslie Austford RN, MN, MBA
Clinic Nurse and Coach
Leslie joined the Mental Health and Wellness Clinic in September 2025 as a Clinic Nurse and Coach. She brings a genuine passion for personal and leadership wellness, and she believes deeply in the power of resilience as the foundation for emotional well-being.
Her coaching practice is rooted in connection, creativity, and trust. Leslie loves partnering with clients to help them uncover their strengths, tap into their unique gifts, and move toward the personal and professional results that matter most to them. Through thoughtful conversations, active listening, and insightful questions, she supports clients in building self-awareness and shifting mindsets, beliefs, and behaviours in meaningful ways.
Leslie is a HeartMath Certified Practitioner, a Certified Executive Coach (CEC) through Royal Roads University, and a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner. She is also a registered nurse with a Master of Nursing from UCalgary and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Calm Room
This is a therapeutic space designed to help you unplug, relax, and self-regulate. Drop in and try it out!
Faculty of Nursing pilot clinic offers a new approach to emotional regulation Read UToday story
Emotional Freedom Technique – Tapping
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) often referred to as tapping is an integrative self care technique (similar to deep breathing exercises, mindfulness and yoga) that can be used for our own healing processes.
The Tapping technique draws on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices of acupuncture (where acupoints are stimulated with needles). Acupuncture is linked to the belief that disease is caused by disruptions to the flow of energy, in the body and by stimulating acupoints on or under the skin, blocked energy can be released.
Likewise, the tapping technique uses defined acupoints that are connected by high density nerve endings & nerve fibers through which our body’s energy flows. Tapping on acupoints provides a soothing signal to the brain that can calm the body’s stress response. Research has also shown that tapping can have a quieting effect on the amygdala (the part of the brain that helps to regulate emotion) by helping individuals to feel calmer and able to think more clearly.
Emotional Freedom Technique - Tapping
HeartMath
HeartMath is a system of simple and powerful self regulation techniques that can help increase your internal awareness and self- empowerment skills. It is easy to learn and can help transform stress into resilience, support higher levels of performance and can help you to live your life with more heart, health, and happiness.
We are excited to be introducing HeartMath wiithin the Faculty of Nursing.
We have drop-in hours available for you to practice and learn HeartMath.
Nursing faculty begins pilot project for well-being of students, faculty and staff Read UToday story
Low Energy Neurofeedback System
Low Energy Neurofeedback System (LENS) is an effective and a natural approach for emotional regulation. Neurofeedback is a form of EEG biofeedback based on the electroencephalogram. It is an evidence-supported brain-based technique that helps clients balance and normalize their brain function and body regulation. Neurofeedback helps the brain to develop new neural pathways, to get “unstuck” from repeated patterns with anxiety, depression, PTSD and more. Neurofeedback, alongside other psychotherapy modalities, can provide an integrated approach to addiction, mental health and chronic pain to help alleviate the many symptoms of emotional stress and trauma.
Additional Supports to Enhance Your Mental Health
Peer Support
At the Faculty of Nursing, our mission is to care for each other by building psychological health and safety among ourselves and the people we serve. This means that there can be heavy emotional demands in Nursing, and it can be a challenging program, and profession. Our Peer Support program aims to support our students and staff in this endeavour.
Podcast: UCalgary Mindfulness
UCalgary Mindfulness podcast presents Stepping Out of Reactivity, an eight-part mindfulness series. The practice of mindfulness is for everyone. It is a meditation practice that can reduce stress and anxiety and improve attention and creativity, supporting our daily functioning.
Our first season is led by UCalgary Nursing doctoral student Julia Imanoff, MN, RN, PNC (C) and instructor Justin Burkett BN RN, Masters Student. Brought to you by the University of Calgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy.
Read article "Pair demystifies mindfulness — one podcast at a time"
NurseMentor
Mentoring makes a difference! All undergraduate UCalgary Nursing students and alumni RNs are invited to register.
Clinic Gallery
