The 'fit' between client and counsellor is an important factor in determining how helpful counselling will be. People often look for different characteristics in a counsellor but in general, most people want to feel comfortable and respected. Most people also want to sense their counsellor is competent and can help.

This website was designed to give you a good sense of how I work as a Psychologist - my values, my passions, my approaches and my personality. I invite you to explore this website if you have not already done so.

I also strongly encourage clients to take advantage of the offer for free phone consultations to get a sense of how we might work together.

You can book a free phone consultation  here

You can also learn a lot about my approach from social media. Check me out on Instagram @the.womens.therapist.

Counsellor, therapist, and coach are general terms and are not regulated in Alberta. In other words, anyone can use these terms to refer to themselves regardless of education or training.

I will often refer to myself as counsellor or therapist when looking for a general term for the work I do but my official title is Registered Psychologist.

Beyond the general terms, our titles help communicate our experience and the scope of work we do.

Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Social Workers are all regulated titles in Alberta; only those who meet the requirements and are registered with their regulatory body can use these titles.

• Psychiatrists are medical doctors who completed additional training in psychiatry.  Some Psychiatrists may provide counselling services but most tend to focus on medication regulation. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication.
• Psychologists have a minimum of a masters degree in psychology and have completed additional supervised practice and entrance exams. Psychologists may provide psychological testing or counselling services (or both). Psychologists do not prescribe medication.
• Social Workers with a Masters degree and clinical designation are also trained and able to provide counselling services.

I am a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. As such, I follow the Health Professions Act of Alberta and, the ethical standards and practice guidelines set by the College of Alberta Psychologists, and the Code of Ethics for Canadian Psychologists by the Canadian Psychological Association.

As I am a Registered Psychologist, I follow the guidelines set by the College of Alberta Psychologists. Therefore, I am prohibited from using solicited or unsolicited testimonials of previous or current clients.

You can use the online calendar to book a phone consultation or first appointment.

You can use the phone (403 988 0944) or email (admin@hopefulhorizons.ca). I try to respond to inquiries as soon as possible.

I have a confidential voicemail.  I also make every attempt to keep email confidential, but due to limitations in digital technology, we are unable to guarantee email will be confidential. Many clients will still choose email as the preferred method of contact, and I just ask them to be mindful of this limitation.

I do this work full time and make a significant portion of my calendar available for client work. My goal is to make therapy fit easily into your life. As such, I have a variety of hours including early morning, lunch time, and evening appointments.

My regular hours fall Monday-Friday 7am-2pm Mountain Time. I also have various evening appointments available (Monday-Wednesday).

Over the summer months, I may operate on reduced hours but I will try be accommodating to the schedules of existing clients. Reach out if you would like to discuss appointment availability and scheduling options.

To book an appointment, you can access the online calendar here.

The number of sessions is difficult to predict as it depends on the issues you bring. Many clients are able to meet their goals in 8-12 sessions (some will meet their goals in fewer sessions, and some need more). Some clients also choose to make therapy part of a longer-term coping and wellness plan.

The frequency of sessions also varies. Generally, we will likely meet more frequently in the beginning (every 1-2 weeks) and then space out sessions as we progress.

We will have an open dialogue about the frequency and amount of sessions.

Once I start working with clients, I become part of their support team and I take that role seriously. In addition to short-term support, I also provide clients with the option for long-term support. This does not mean we will be meeting regularly for the next 20 years, but it does mean that previous clients are always welcome to return, regardless of how much time has passed.

Therapy is an investment in yourself. You are investing time, energy, and money into yourself when you start therapy. I hope this investment will result in you meeting your goals, feeling good about yourself, and living a meaningful life according to your values. I want this to happen for you.

I set my fees below the fee schedule for Psychologists provided by the Psychologists Association of Alberta. The fee for service is $220 per session (50-60 minutes).

I acknowledge this fee is not accessible for everyone. I have some sliding scale spots available where I am able to offer reduced rates for those who may not be able to financially manage my regular rates. I also run a low-cost counselling program at times, or can make referrals to low-cost counselling programs. Reach out if you would like to discuss options to make counselling more financially managable.

As a Registered Psychologist, my services are covered by most - if not all - insurance providers (either in-part or in-full). Receipts will be provided to submit for reimbursement according to coverage.

Psychological services are approved as a medical expense by the Canadian Revenue Agency.

Payment can be made by Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Amex) or Email Transfer. Payment is made at the end of each session. You will receive an official receipt to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement and tax purposes.

Our first session will lay the foundation for our work together by going over paperwork and hearing your story.

We will go over consent for counselling and discuss important details such as confidentiality. I will do a little bit of history taking (personal history and family history). Then I will ask you to share your story about why you are seeking counselling. We will discuss your struggles and your hopes for counselling. I will share some ways counselling might be helpful for you and we will collaborate on setting goals and a game plan for our work together.

Yes, our sessions will be confidential. In instances where there is an imminent risk of harm to yourself or someone else, I am required to break confidentiality. I will discuss the limits of confidentially in our first session.

I use a secure video platform to conduct virtual therapy sessions, so we will be able to see each other's faces (telephone sessions are available as an alternative or backup). We have a lot of studies that show virtual therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy.

Many people prefer virtual therapy because:

• it is time-efficient (save time by avoiding traffic and dealing with parking, etc.)
• access to more specialists and providers. You are not limited to working with the practitioners in your local city or town. You are now able to work with any therapist who can provide services in your province (for example:  I can provide virtual therapy to residents of Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Nunavut)
• increased access to mental health services in rural communities
• ability to do this work from the comfort and familiarity of your own home

There are times when virtual therapy is not appropriate, and that includes when privacy and safety are limited. In these cases, it is advisable to seek in-person care.