Frequently Asked Questions

People usually decide to see a therapist when they, or those who care about them, believe they are stuck in unproductive ways of thinking, feeling, or behaving. The goal of therapy is to help people to gain self insight and build self awareness that can be used to develop more adaptive ways of being and relating. Ideally, this leads to greater quality of life and improved satisfaction in relationships.

A common approach to the beginning phase of couples therapy is to start with a relationship check up to assess for both relationship strengths and those relationship areas that are in need of strengthening. 

The assessment includes 1 - 2 sessions with both partners present to provide a description of the relationship history up to and including present-day concerns within the relationship. Following these initial sessions, many couples decide to complete Gottman Institute questionnaires to provide me with detailed information about many important aspects of the relationship. Then, each partner will typically have an individual session with me. The purpose of the individual sessions is to offer each partner an opportunity to share their perspective about the relationship as well as to explore individual history that might be relevant to the relationship concerns. 

We then plan for a feedback session that both partners attend in which I aim to provide feedback from the relationship assessment process. The aim here is to specifically identify relationship strengths and the areas of instability so that the next phase of therapy, the intervention phase, is approached with a thorough understanding of the relationship. This depth of understanding of relationship dynamics supports effectiveness and efficiency within the process of changing relationship patterns from disconnecting to connecting patterns. 

The relationship assessment process helps me to understand what theories and practice models will be most helpful for the next phase of therapy e.g. Gottman Method couples therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, etc. 

The frequency of sessions and length of treatment are discussed and are guided by the needs of each individual client. Some concerns can be addressed in 8-12 sessions while other clients find that longer term therapy better suits their specific needs and therapy goals. Clients who do not have access to funding or who have limited resources may benefit from seeing a therapist for just a few sessions to gain insight and guidance. 

Some individuals have coverage through extended health benefit plans that will reimburse for the cost of services in whole or in part. The College of Alberta Psychologists current recommended fee for individual and couples therapy is currently, $220/50 minute session and this is increasing to $235/50 minute session on Jan. 1st, 2025. My rate at $230/50 minute session for the time being and notification of fee increases will be provided to existing clients when the time comes.  

Many clients have access to funding to assist in payment for services through employer provided extended medical plans which include coverage for services provided by a Registered Psychologist. 

I use a combination of approaches depending on the presenting concern and the personality of the client.The main theories and practice models I use include the following: 

Person Centered therapy is a humanistic approach based on the notion that human nature is to seek balance, growth, and self-fulfillment. Person-centered therapy is nonjudgmental so as to allow for honest self reflection within an accepting and empathetic client-therapist relationship. 

Narrative Therapy highlights the stories we tell about our lives given the significant impact that these narratives have on the direction and quality of our lives. Sometimes we are stuck in an old and unhelpful story and narrative therapy uses curiosity and reflection to edit and reshape personal narratives. 

Emotionally Focused Couple and Individual therapy is informed by Attachment Theory which attends to the impact that our early childhood experiences have on our sense of self, our sense of others, and thus, impacts our patterns of interacting with ourselves and with others. There is no shame in any attachment style, rather, coming to understand our style of attachment can help us to make sense of the choices we make, the behaviours we engage in, and the longings we feel.   

Gottman Method Couples Therapy aims to : support emotional intimacy, improve communication between partners such that conflicts are navigated productively, heighten feelings of respect, affection, and connection through deepening understanding and empathy within the relationship context. 

Relational Therapy is based on the that reciprocal relationships are a necessary component of emotional well-being. Social factors such as race, culture, gender, and socioeconomic status and issues that arise in the context of these factors are considered in relational therapy. This approach is helpful for people who are experiencing distress within their family, professional, romantic, or social relationships, and desiring healthier and more fulfilling relationships.