Individual Counselling | Adults, Teens (13+)
Provided by: All providers
- Common topics include: Anxiety, depression, panic, self-esteem, grief/loss, emotional
regulation, stress, communication, healthy relationships, trauma, etc.
- Your provider will work with you to determine the best fit for treatment i.e., cognitive behavior therapy, cognitive processing therapy, DBT-informed, solution-focused, narrative, etc.
Individual Counselling | Children (7-12)
Provided by: Melody (RSW, play therapist), Stephanie, Andrea, Katherine, Practicum Counsellors
- Some common topics include: Anxiety, depression, panic, self-esteem, grief/loss, emotional regulation, stress, communication, healthy relationships, trauma, etc.
- Your provider will work with your child to determine the best fit for treatment i.e., cognitive
behavior therapy, play-based, expressive, family systems, solution-focused, narrative, etc.
- Parents must attend a parents-only intake appointment before we can meet with child.
- Separation/divorce: One parent can provide consent; in many cases a whole-family approach is best and both parents are involved. We will review on a case-by-case basis and may require a copy of Orders pertaining to decision making or protection Orders pertaining to your child(ren)/family.
Couples Counselling
Provided by: All providers
- Common topics include: communication, boundaries & expectations, infidelity, intimacy,
parenting, conflict resolution, etc.
- It is typical that the provider may meet with partners individually at times or refer one or both partners for individual support services.
Psycho-Educational Assessments
Provided by: Shyanna, Lindsay, Lisa
- This is a comprehensive assessment of ability, academic achievement, learning, memory, focus, and/or behavioral concerns to identify strengths and challenges, and to identify
recommendations to assist the learner to reach their full potential.
- Psych-ed assessments may result in diagnosis of a Learning Disability, ADHD, as well as other related mental health concerns.
- Reports may be used to inform schools of student needs and recommendations, assist with development of specialized learning plans, or to apply for required accommodations in post-secondary programs.
Mediation for Separation/Divorce (with or without Arbitration)
Provided by: Katherine (mediation, arbitration)
Mediation is a voluntary form of Alternate Dispute Resolution where clients meet with a neutral
facilitator (the mediator) who helps them to resolve conflict, clarify and prioritize issues, and come up with win-win solutions pertaining to various aspects of their separation/divorce.
Mediation can be a timely and cost-effective alternative to litigation and other adversarial processes. Mediation can also help to preserve the parenting relationship post-divorce, which provides lasting positive effects and protective factors for children.
Topics typically addressed in mediation include:
- Parenting plans
- Child support
- Division of property (financial separation)
- Spousal support
Mediation is conducted in three phases:
- Pre-mediation: individual meetings with each co-parent to screen for suitability, review the
Service Agreement, and identify topics for mediation. - Joint meetings: meeting together with the mediator to sign the Agreement to Mediate, and to mediate the issues.
- Report-writing: mediator writes the Mediator’s Report which is a summary of the agreements reached in mediation
Optional: Binding Arbitration
- Clients who wish to make their agreements binding, may choose to enter (by consent of both parents) into binding arbitration. In this process, parties in mediation may choose to move an issue to arbitration, and the arbitrator (offered by Katherine Mooney) will issue a binding Award.
Parenting Coordination with Arbitration
Provided by: Katherine
Parenting Coordination with Arbitration (PC-Arb) is a service available to separated/divorced parents who experience ongoing conflict in communication, decision-making, and implementing their parenting plan. Co-parents can enter PC-Arb voluntarily with certificates of independent legal advice, or they may be court-ordered to enter PC-Arb services.
PC-Arb is typically appointed for a minimum 2-year term. The parenting coordinator’s role is guided by the principle of reducing parental conflict for the well being of the child(ren). The functions of the PC include meeting with children or refer to a Child Consultant, facilitating communication and consensus-building among co-parents, mediate disputes, assisting with implementation of the parenting plan, providing education to parents, giving direction to parents regarding supportive services required, and binding decision-making within the agreed-upon scope of the arbitrative function of the parenting coordinator.
Child Consultant
Provided by: Andrea and Katherine
A Child Consultant is a neutral party in a parent’s post-separation/divorce conflict who is appointed by the parents, the Court, or the Parenting Coordinator-Arbitrator to meet with the child(ren) to ascertain and advise decision-makers of the children’s views, wishes, and mental health.
Clinical Supervision
Provided by: Katherine
Clinical supervision is available to professionals seeking registration with College of Alberta
Psychologists, Alberta College of Social Workers, and Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy
Association.
Circle of Security Parenting Sessions
Provided by: Anneta (Currently on maternity leave)
Years of attachment research shows children who feel safe and secure are more likely to have
better relationships with siblings, peers, and parents, higher self-esteem, better problem-solving
skills, trusting relationships with loved ones and the ability to empathize with others compared to children who are not secure.
Delight and enjoy with your child
Read and respond to your child’s emotional cues
Help your child successfully organize his/her feelings
Understand what your child’s behaviour is telling you
Enhance the development of your child’s self esteem
Strengthen a secure relationship with your child
DBT-Informed Skills Group
Provided by: Stasia
(Information coming soon!)
Children of Divorce Group
Provided by: Katherine
(Information coming soon!)
EMDR Therapy
Provided by: Anneta (Currently on maternity leave)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a well researched and effective treatment discovered in 1987 by psychologist, Dr. Francine Shapiro. It is based on the Adaptive Information Processing model which states that the brain’s information processing system has a natural ability to move toward healing.
EMDR Therapy treats:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief/loss
- Guilt
- Life Crises (e.g., loss of employment)
- Panic Attacks
- Performance Anxiety
- Phobias
- Trauma and PTSD
- and many others as well
FAQs
What does EMDR stand for?
- Eye movements – Bilateral stimulation of the left and right hemispheres of the brain is done with eye movements (i.e., client’s eyes follow the psychologist’s fingers/hand/wand or a dot on a screen). The eye movements mimic what happens in REM sleep (rapid eye movement where we process information unconsciously), but in EMDR this is done while the client is awake. Alternate bilateral stimulation such as tapping, butterfly hugs or tones may also be used.
- Desensitization – In the desensitization phase, processing is done to remove the emotional disturbance linked to the issue/incident/memory.
- Reprocessing – In the reprocessing phase, unhealthy negative beliefs associated with the issue/incident/memory are replaced with more adaptive beliefs.
- EMDR sessions are booked for 60 or 90 minutes.
- The length of therapy is dependent on client’s history, issues being treated and client’s ability to tolerate disturbing emotions.