What’s the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

Counselling is for everyone who wants to improve their mental health, whereas psychotherapy is intended to alleviate the symptoms of a mental illness. Both counselling and psychotherapy can increase your self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-acceptance.

What are your credentials?

I am an authorized Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) in good standing with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). In the province of Alberta, both CCCs — like me — and psychologists are authorized to provide counselling and psychotherapy services; however, only psychologists are permitted to perform assessments and make diagnoses. Like most psychologists, I also have a clear and current Criminal Records - Vulnerable Sectors Check and a clear and current Child Interventions Check.

Who do you take as clients?

I currently work with teens, adults, and couples. My office is on the second floor and only accessible by stairs, so clients with limited mobility should book online sessions.

What struggles can you help with?

I can help you with the following mental health struggles:

• ADHD

• anxiety (generalized, social)

• boundaries

• caregiving (child, parent, spouse)

• couples (dating, common-law, married, pre-married)

• depression (double, major, persistent)

• grief and loss (tangible, intangible, ambiguous)

• identity

• parenting

• self-esteem

What are your rates?

I charge $150 for 60-minutes and $180 for 90-minutes.

What treatment modalities do you use?

I consider it my calling to be present with people in their suffering and to instill hope, nurture healing, and promote growth. My approach is attachment-based, trauma-informed, biopsychosocial-spiritual, culturally aware, relational, and faith-based (when requested).

Sometimes it’ll be really important to you to understand how a problem developed in your life and sometimes you just want help with the problem. If your goal is to alleviate a problem, such as anxiety, then I’ll most likely draw from proven-effective third-wave cognitive-behavioural therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy. These therapies combine the benefits of mindfulness with tried-and-true knowledge and strategies based on the cognitive triangle.

If you want to get at the root of your difficulties or adapt your relationship patterns, I’ll lean into Emotionally Focused Therapy with its foundation in the science of attachment.

How long are your sessions?

I prefer to spend a full hour with my clients instead of the usual 50-minutes. 90-minutes sessions will last 90-minutes. I find that the extra time together really contributes to our therapeutic relationship. If you need to leave early, please let me know at the start so that we can get you going on time.