Krysee Altrows – Mental Wellness and Life Coaching

About Me

I am an early childhood & infant/toddler educator, and professional life skills coach.

Currently earning a BA Psychology at. Thompson Rivers University.

I graduated with my ECE in 2007 and spent 10 years in child development while earning my Infant/Toddler specialty (graduating again 5 days before the birth of my youngest). After the very premature birth of my daughter in 2013, I was unable to return to group care, continuing in a private setting. My experience of having a micro-preemie in the NICU created a passion to connect with others who have this very deep and unique experience. While in the NICU, I found that, while there were support resources available, none of them had lived this experience. It made it hard for me to connect because while they could sympathize, they didn’t really “get” it. That support, I found in the pump room with the other women who were “in the trenches” with me. They got it. Our stories were all different but we shared this overwhelming experience. So, I decided to take on the task of becoming who I needed while I was in the hospital. At 35 years old, I went back to college; completing a diploma in applied psychology and professional counseling in 2019.

The last several years have given me a lot of time to work through my own hurdles related to domestic violence, sexual assault, post-partum depression, anxiety, PTSD, time in NICU, and all that comes with a micro-preemie.

Learning to navigate the waters of being a mother and wife. I have readjusted my entire life by altering my career path, following my passion, and learning to care for myself in the process. My lived experience makes me uniquely qualified to help others. It has been a challenging evolution and there is no finish line but learning to take it all in stride and love my life for the good parts has been worth every ounce.

Most recently I have started to study and explore how traumatic birth affects brain development, psychological, neurological, cognitive and behavioural development; particularly in underdeveloped infants. (Looking at infants of very low birthweight < 1250g at birth and their mothers.)

Accolades

Voted best “At-Home Heath Care Service” in Best of the South Okanagan 2023, 2024, & 2025

Qualifications

-ECE/ITE

-Professional Life Coach diploma

-Diploma in applied psychology and professional counseling

-Trauma-informed care

Areas of focus

-Life skills coaching

-Parenting support and guidance

-Pre & postnatal support for Fathers

-NICU support

-Communication skills in relationships

-Stress, anxiety & Burnout

-Mental and emotional strain from chronic pain/illness

-Living with grief

-End-of-life emotional/mental support

-Not currently working with minors.

Session Options

Home visits
Patio sessions
Phone sessions
Walk & talk sessions (details below)

2025 Rates

***Please ask about my sliding scale if needed***

30 min initial consultation: Free
60 minute individual session: $95
90 minute individual session: $130
60 minute couples session: $125
90 minute couples session: $140
“After work debrief” – a way to unload your work day without taking it home to land on your home life- 45 min – $65
>24 hours notice for cancellation – no charge.
No show/no call – Full cost of the booked session.
Telephone sessions: Same as a session.
Walk & talk sessions: same as a session (travel fee may apply depending on location)

A sliding scale is available based on income and ability to pay fees.

A little about walk & talk sessions

Have you ever gone for a walk and noticed that all of your best thoughts come to you, or you bring up old (or desired) conversations and talk them through in your head? (Possibly for the millionth time?) Walk & talk helps to take advantage of this natural process and turn it into progress while caring for your whole body.

Walking can be calming and cleansing, which can be beneficial if you are talking about tricky issues that may bring up challenging emotions.

It can be less intimidating and more natural feeling than meeting in an office with me staring at you! Walking side by side allows the two of us to start from the same place. Opening up, sharing and engagement in the counselling process usually happens much more easily.

Moving your body can help your brain get moving. New connections, thoughts and ideas can come out in the counselling process.

There is evidence of therapeutic benefits for anxiety, depression, grief and loss and addictions.

What happens in a W&T session?

Before a walk & talk session, we will spend at least one session talking about worries, risks, and personal communication style. We can meet at a quiet, outdoor location for the first visit but this session requires some notes, getting to know each other and talking out any worries, risks or concerns. This is more effective when we can sit and focus.
Location can be predetermined at the end of the first session, by phone, text or email. Location can be your choice but please provide 24 hours notice of location choice or change.
If the appointment ends up going over our session time due to factors outside of our control, you will not be billed for the additional time.
In the event of questionable weather, you have the option of cancelling and rescheduling the session (with 24 hours notice to avoid a missed session fee), moving it to your home, or to one of the indoor walking tracks (if in, or near, Penticton.)
The purpose of these sessions is to get outside, get moving, stimulate conversation, get some fresh air and experience calming effects of the out doors. This is an easy, mindful walk, not a race or training session.. We both need to be able to talk easily and not be short of breath in order to actually talk with each other. Slow and steady is exactly what we’re hoping for! Fitness level is not a factor but if mobility issues are present, please let me know, we can modify it accordingly.