ABOUT ALINA
…. and I am a Registered Psychologist with a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology from Athabasca University. I truly believe that people are the experts of their own lives, and I practice from a strengths-based approach. As your therapist, I can help you navigate the inevitable pain and challenge that comes with life, but ultimately I would like to help you find and trust your own inner truth, knowledge, and wisdom.
Together, we will discover what inner experiences (emotions, thoughts, beliefs) are getting in the way of you living your values. We will identify behavioural cycles and patterns that are no longer serving you. We will help you improve your relationship to yourself and others, and empower you to live authentically!
As someone who works with many self- proclaimed perfectionists, high-achievers, and people-pleasers, I have noticed a common theme amongst many of my clients. They often feel like whatever they do is never good enough. Their minds are constantly racing & their emotions can become overwhelming. They are coasting or surviving, rather than thriving. All of this may lead to disconnect from their values and purpose.
I want you to take meaningful action everyday. If you are ready to get back in touch with your values and live authentically, you’re in the right place!
Hi, I’m Alina…
POPULATIONS SERVED:
Individual Adults (18+)
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Internal Family Systems-Informed
Mindfulness-Based
SPECIALTIES:
High functioning anxiety & stress
Perfectionism & people pleaser recovery
Boundaries & assertive communication
Emotion regulation
Relationship issues
Life transition & adjustment
Trauma & cycle breaking
Self discovery & values alignment
Alina’s Fun Facts
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…and we moved here when I was two, so I’m a true Calgarian. I still speak Russian with my parents, and my daughter is learning the language now as well.
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…and that is likely why I connect so well with my clients. I know what it’s like to feel that pressure, to never feel good enough, and always feel the need to strive for more. I also know what it feels like to slow down, find balance, and hold your perfectionism lightly.
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…My favourite countries that I’ve visited so far have been Italy, Greece and Croatia. I am pretty comfortable in the European continent, but I do have Bali on my bucket list.
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…at the library while studying. It definitely was not love at first sight and I tried to break up with him after about a month. He convinced me not to and here we are 12 years later, with a beautiful daughter. As cheesy as it might sound, he’s my best friend.
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…I’d be an event planner or interior designer. I love organizing, planning, and decorating. You could say my type A and perfectionist skills come to good use at times.
“Awareness is the greatest agent for change”
—ECKHART TOLLE
ABOUT JESSICA
Hi, I’m Jessica…
I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist with a Master of Counselling Degree from City University of Seattle. I truly believe that at any given time people are doing the best that they can with the resources they have. From this lens, I find the good in everyone, which helps me provide a supportive and compassionate space that welcomes all parts of you, free of judgement. I help people navigate the relationships they have with themselves, their children, and their partners.
In therapy, my clients often feel unworthy and struggle with self criticism. This often results in perfectionist tendencies and behaviors that ultimately lead to anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and a lack of authentic connections (both with themselves and others). Together, we can discover why these limiting beliefs came to be, and understand that at one point in time they were even helpful.
I will encourage you to take an active role in your life, living one that is meaningful and authentically yours, free from limiting messages passed down from family, societal, and cultural narratives. I can help you shift from self- criticism to self- acceptance.
I approach therapy through attachment and trauma-informed perspectives, because we know that connections with others greatly influence the beliefs that we hold about ourselves. The relational bonds formed with influential people in our lives provide the foundation for building and maintaining relationships. Through the therapy process, I support my clients in experiencing more compassionate and effective ways of relating to themselves and with others. I look forward to meeting you, and being a part of your therapy journey!
POPULATIONS SERVED:
Individual Adults (18+)
Couples (18+)
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES:
Internal Family Systems-Informed (IFS)
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Gottman Method Couples Counselling (Level I & II)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Attachment-Based Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
SPECIALTIES:
Anxiety & Depression
Body image issues & Unhelpful eating habits
Life transition & adjustment to new roles
Maternal Mental Health & Motherhood
Perfectionism
Premarital Support and Guidance
Relationship issues
Self Esteem
Trauma and PTSD
Women's Issues
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…and immersing myself in culture, witnessing how others live in environments so different from my own. The experience often shows the strength, adaptability, and resiliency of us humans.
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Although I may not look like it, my family immigrated to Canada from Southern Italy. I have first-hand experience in learning how to balance traditional family and cultural pressures with differing values that feel more authentic to me.
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Trained as a dancer for 15 years, I have a huge love for music and movement. While I may no longer be dancing at the latest nightclub, I will definitely be busting some moves in my car and throwing at-home dance parties with my two daughters.
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Perhaps it’s the Italian in me, but I value connection with others over food. I love trying new cuisines and feel grateful to live in a city that offers so many diverse cuisines. My current favorites are Indian, Ethiopian, and Southeast Asian dishes.
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…was to become an architect. I remember spending hours drawing city skylines and extravagant floors plans on drafting tables in school.
Jessica’s Fun Facts
“What we know matters, but who we are matters more.”
—BRENE BROWN
ABOUT MELANIE
Hi, I’m Melanie…
I am a Registered Social worker with a Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of Calgary. I have 14 years of experience supporting diverse populations struggling with mental health, addiction, and trauma. I have worked in settings ranging from nonprofit organizations to healthcare.
I specialize in working with anxiety/stress, trauma, and depression. My clients often struggle with feelings of unworthiness, not showing up the way they want to show up, and the pressures they feel on a day to day basis. So perhaps you feel alone, you can’t seem to catch a break, or life just feels harder than it needs to be. Life is hard, but you don’t have to suffer. Together we can discover what's causing distress in your life, dig deeper while also working on skills and solutions, and create values-based goals to alleviate suffering.
I am especially passionate about working with men’s mental health, as I have noticed a gap in our industry. As a therapist, I understand the unique challenges and pressures that men face in today's society. With compassion and expertise, I offer a safe space for men to explore their emotions, navigate life transitions, and cultivate resilience.
I genuinely believe that people do the best they can, with what they know and understand. Due to circumstances out of their control, people may not have the tools needed to thrive, grow, and better understand themselves and their experiences. I offer an empathetic and compassionate approach that seeks to support, learn, and discover with clients. I look forward to supporting you in this discovery and journey!
POPULATIONS SERVED:
Individual Adults (18+)
Special Interest in Men’s Mental Health
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (EX/RP)
Attachment-informed therapy
SPECIALTIES:
Anxiety/Stress
Depression
PTSD and trauma
Emotional regulation
Coping
Self esteem
Personality Disorders
Relationship issues
Divorce & Separation
Melanie’s Fun Facts
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……and I don’t discriminate - I listen to it all and I’ll watch it all (especially horror movies). If I’m not working or spending time with my tribe, I am probably watching a movie.
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…Moving my body is an important self-care item for me, so I try hard to incorporate these two as much as I can.
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……Until I reached university that is! I struggled a great deal all through junior high and high school and never imagined in a million years that I would attend and succeed in post secondary. Just goes to show you never know what you are going to be good at until you try!
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…Whether that be a weekend away in the mountains or traveling abroad, a change of setting always helps me re-centre and re-group.
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…We are rare but we exist! I’ve lived all over the city and love living here. The winters suck but the rest of the year makes up for it!
“Unlike self-criticism which asks if you’re good enough, self compassion asks, what’s good for you?”
—KRISTIN NEFF
ABOUT LISA
Hi, I’m Lisa…
I am a Registered Social Worker with a Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of Calgary. I have 20+ years of experience supporting children, youth, and families in diverse settings such as government and non-profit agencies. Before I entered private practice, I spent 10 years as a therapist in Child & Adolescent Mental Health with Alberta Health Services in Calgary.
I am passionate about helping pre-teens and teens better understand themselves, navigate their struggles, and celebrate their strengths. The majority of my practice focuses on youth who struggle with anxiety and big emotions. I help them improve their self worth and self esteem, develop new and effective coping skills, and feel empowered.
In addition I offer emotion focused parent coaching and support. I can help parents better understand themselves in order to better understand and support their kids and teens. I can also support parents with burnout, overwhelm, adjustment to this new stage of life, and managing the stress of being a parent.
At my core, I believe connection is the key to change. So that means the connection to your therapist, the mind-body connection, and connection to those important people in your life. Overall, I can help families work through their struggles and empower them to move to more authentic and connected relationships.
My passion is building relationships with young people and their families to strengthen their connections and improve their mental health and functioning. It is a privilege to walk along side young people and families in this journey.
POPULATIONS SERVED:
Pre-teens (8+) and Teens
Parent Coaching and Support
Individual adults (Parenting stress and overwhelm, transition/adjustment to parenthood)
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Attachment Based Therapy
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Narrative Therapy
SPECIALTIES:
Anxiety & stress
Navigating big emotions
Depression
Parenting support
ADHD
Coping with divorce
Relationship issues (peers, family)
School Issues
Self esteem
Self harming and suicidal ideation
Lisa’s Fun Facts
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…I knew very little about Canada when we moved so had zero idea what to expect but my parents said if we moved I would get my ears pierced so I was getting on that plane!
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…only for the social aspect & had zero skills but had lots of fun!
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… I learned to ski at a ski hill in NB where the highway was right below the bottom of the run. Separated by a flimsy plastic “fence”. So I learned that pizza stop really fast.
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… and even did party planning classes and considered it for a career. And the people close to me will tell you I have a hard time not involving myself in any party planning even if it’s for me 🙊
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… I did my BSW practicum in Australia. And when I lived in the UK for a bit after my undergrad I travelled around Europe whenever I had a chance. I dragged my poor aunt all over the place & I went to Barcelona alone as my family & friends weren’t interested in going.
“Safety is not the absence of threat, it is the presence of connection.”
—GABOR MATE
ABOUT BRI
Hi, I’m Bri…
I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor with a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. I have over 11 years experience working in the mental health sector with children, adolescents, and families with diverse and complex mental health needs. Through this experience I have come to recognize how crucial relationships are for people. It’s important to recognize and understand the impact and significance that relationships have in our healing.
My passion for healing and helping others is deeply rooted with a trauma informed lens, the use of flexible interventions, and holistic therapeutic approaches to meet your specific needs. I work from an attachment perspective, providing therapy for children, teens, and couples. Whether it's your relationship with yourself, your spouse, or your family, I've got you.
A foundation of my practice is holding space for you, as the expert of your own life, to bring me along your journey. Most importantly, I will be a non-judgemental and supportive listener, and together we will create a plan for moving forward.
There’s no sugar coating that therapy is hard, but most importantly, your story and lived experiences matter to me. I show up to our time together the same way you show up, which is authentically and organically human. Together, I will hold a safe space for you to feel all your emotions, work together to develop goals, provide you with realistic tools and strategies, and most importantly, make sure to leave time for a good laugh.
POPULATIONS SERVED:
Children (6+) and Teens
Couples (18+)
Emerging Adults (16-24 years old)
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
Attachment Based Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Gottman Method (Level I and II)
Mindfulness- Based (MBCT)
Narrative Therapy
SPECIALTIES:
ADHD
Anxiety
Anger Management
Autism
Behavioural Issues
Coping Skills
Stress, Trauma and PTSD
Relationship Issues
Family Conflict
Emotional Dysregulation/Disturbance
Intellectual & Learning Disabilities
Bri’s Fun Facts
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…….Call me crazy, but I would choose lakes over the mountains! The one thing that makes me feel most at home is jumping into a refreshing cold lake in the heat of summer!
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…….I’ve played ringette for over 20 years and continue to spend my winter evenings in a cold rink around Calgary! I even played for a Europe travel team in 2009 where we went to Prague, Sweden, Finland, and Germany!
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…….Traveling and new experiences are always on my mind! I am that person who is planning the next trip while the current one wraps up. I’m usually in Palm Springs or Phoenix in the winter months visiting my parents or in-laws, otherwise you can catch me on a beach somewhere!
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……I have always been a HUGE animal lover, and during COVID I finally convinced my husband to let me be a foster mom for a local rescue agency! 30 foster dogs later I have officially “foster failed” and now have 3 resident dogs of my own! A Saint Bernard, Pitbull, and Chihuahua- we definitely get some laughs and looks at the dog parks!
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……To say I'm a foodie is an understatement! I love going out with my husband and/or friends to try new food all over the city (and world). Perhaps I was a food blogger in a previous life! I am that person that everyone asks for a suggestion for the best happy hour or trendy spot to go! My favorite food is most definitely pizza, so if you have any recommendations, I NEED to know!
Our Client Care Team
Hi, I’m Cassandra…
…. I have a passion for building people up, and making things happen! With 10 years of experience in Mental Health working and leading as an administrative assistant to help support clinics, inpatient units, and develop new programs, I wanted to get out on my own and help private practices grow. I love seeing peoples visions and goals come to life, and enjoy giving a helping hand to those in need.