Individual Counselling in Calgary

Personalized therapy to support understanding, healing, and growth

At different stages of life, you may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain about your next steps. Ongoing stress, emotional pain, relationship difficulties, or unresolved past experiences can gradually affect how you feel and interact with daily life.

Monarch Psychology provides individual counselling in Calgary for adults who want caring, personalized support. Our therapists take time to understand your experiences and look beyond symptoms, helping you explore the factors that influence your well-being. Therapy creates a supportive environment where you can feel heard and work toward meaningful change at a pace that suits you.

Lori Helfenbaum

Registered Social Worker (she/her)

Peter Driftmier

Registered Social Worker (He/Him)

Paige Ellis

Registered Social Worker (They/Them)

Anna Robertshaw

Registered Social Worker (She/Her)

Natasha Thibodeau

Registered Social Worker (She/Her)

Devany Paxman

Registered Psychologist (She/Her)

Nicole Caines

Registered Psychologist (She/Her)

Monika Pakstas

Registered Social Worker (She/Her)

Is Individual Counselling a Good Fit?

Individual counselling may be helpful if you are:

Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or burnt out
Experiencing low mood, emotional numbness, or loss of motivation and joy
Struggling with the impacts of acute or cumulative trauma
Navigating life or career transitions, changes, or uncertainty
Experiencing perinatal or parenting concerns
Struggling with self-esteem, perfectionism, or people-pleasing
Coping with grief, loss, or difficult past experiences
Experiencing difficulty with problematic use of substances or compulsive behaviours
Noticing patterns that no longer serve you, in your relationship with yourself or others
Wanting more peace in your relationship with food and your body
Navigating or leaving an unhealthy or abusive relationship
Wanting space for self-reflection and personal growth

Some clients seek counselling with a specific concern, while others reach out when something simply does not feel right. You do not need a diagnosis or be in crisis to benefit from individual therapy. Counselling can help you gain insight, develop coping strategies, and create positive change, no matter where you are in life.

How Individual Counselling Services Work

Individual counselling at Monarch Psychology in Calgary is collaborative and tailored to your unique needs, goals, and comfort level. We don’t just listen or apply a one-size-fits-all approach – we dig deeper, take time to understand your story, and find a path forward that is tailored to you.

Depending on your needs, therapy may include:

Talk-based counselling to explore thoughts, emotions, and experiences
Evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, DBT, or parts-informed therapy
Specialized trauma modalities that help to heal and resolve the impact of acute, complex, and developmental trauma, including EMDR, ART, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Depth-focused therapy that looks beyond just symptoms to contributing and causative factors, supporting deeper change
Tools for managing stress, emotional regulation, and coping
Specialized approaches for perinatal concerns, parenting, disordered eating, grief, or substance use concerns
A thorough treatment plan for coexisting conditions
Neurodiversity-affirming approaches

Your therapist will integrate different approaches as your goals and needs evolve, so your therapy remains responsive and effective.

What to Expect from Individual Therapy

Early sessions focus on understanding your history and story, the challenges you have been facing, and what support might be most helpful for you.

Over time, individual counselling may support:

Increased self-understanding and insight
Improved coping skills and emotional regulation
Decreased trauma or mental health symptoms
Enhanced relationship and life satisfaction
Greater clarity around values, boundaries, and relationships
A stronger sense of confidence, self-compassion, and resilience

Therapy progresses at a pace that feels comfortable for you, providing space for reflection, growth, and positive change without added pressure.

A Collaborative and Respectful Approach

We believe therapy is most effective when it feels safe, collaborative, and grounded in trust. Your therapist partners with you to co-construct a plan to help guide you on your path forward.

Our clinicians strive to provide a welcoming space where you can be yourself, free from judgment, and explore your experiences with care and understanding. We are genuine and real people and want you to be, too – you can cry, laugh, swear, and show up just as you are.

Common Questions About Individual Counselling

What is individual counselling?

Individual counselling is one-on-one therapy that supports emotional well-being, self-understanding, and treatment of a range of mental health concerns. At Monarch Psychology, sessions are held in-person at our Calgary office or online for clients across Alberta, and focus on your experiences, concerns, and goals in a confidential, supportive setting.

How do I know if I should see a Psychologist or Social Worker?

Registered Psychologists and Registered Social Workers can both provide individual counselling in Alberta, and both are regulated professionals. The difference tends to come down to slight differences in training background and, for some clients, insurance plan requirements (some plans only cover one or the other). If you’re not sure which fits your situation, you can book a free therapist matching consultation, where our director speaks with you directly and helps identify the right clinician and credential for your needs.

What happens during the first session?

The first session focuses on understanding what brings you to therapy and what you hope to gain from it. You and your therapist will discuss your concerns, history, and goals, and begin shaping a path forward together.

How long does individual counselling usually take?

The length of therapy varies by person. Some clients benefit from short-term, focused support, while others engage in longer-term counselling. This is reviewed collaboratively with your therapist based on your needs and how things are progressing.

Is individual counselling confidential?

Yes. What you share in session is kept confidential, with a small number of legal and ethical exceptions, such as concerns about immediate risk of harm to yourself or others. Your therapist will walk through these limits with you clearly at the start of therapy.

Is individual counselling covered by insurance?

Many extended health benefit plans cover individual counselling when provided by a Registered Psychologist or Registered Social Worker. Coverage varies by plan and provider type, so we recommend checking your specific benefits. Direct billing is available for most major insurance plans, and our team can help confirm what’s available to you.

How much does individual counselling cost in Calgary?

Session fees range from $200 to $235 for a 50-minute session, depending on your clinician. Limited reduced-rate spots are available with some practitioners, based on need. Visit our Fees & Insurance page for full details, or contact us directly to ask about availability.

What if my therapist isn't the right fit for me?

That’s a common concern, and a reasonable one. Therapy works best when there’s a genuine connection with your therapist. If something isn’t feeling right, you can talk to your therapist directly, or reach out to our director, who can help you switch to a different clinician on our team. This is part of why we offer therapist matching consultations, to reduce the chance of mismatch from the start.

Do you offer online or virtual counselling in Calgary?

Yes. Alongside in-person sessions at our Calgary office, we offer secure online counselling for clients across Alberta who prefer to meet virtually or who don’t live nearby. Learn more on our Online Counselling page.