Frequently Asked Questions

  • The honest answer is that you won't know for certain until we talk. That's exactly what the free 15-minute consultation is for — it's a chance to ask questions, get a feel for how I work, and decide whether this feels like the right fit. There's no commitment and no pressure.

    What I can tell you is who tends to do well working with me: people who are self-aware and motivated, who want structure and direction rather than open-ended exploration, and who are ready to be challenged as well as supported. If you've been in therapy before and left feeling like something was missing — like the work wasn't going deep enough, or the approach didn't match how you think — that's often who finds their way here.

    If after the consultation it doesn't feel right, I'll do my best to point you toward someone who might be a better fit.

  • The first session is a thorough intake. I'll ask about what brings you in, your history, your relationships, and what you want to be different. It's not an interrogation, it's a conversation, but it does have direction and purpose.

    By the end of the first session you'll have a clearer sense of how I work, what the treatment plan might look like, and what we'd focus on together. Most clients leave feeling heard and with a sense that there's actually a path forward.

    First sessions are 50 minutes and held either in person at my Calgary office or virtually across Alberta and Quebec.

  • This is one of the most important questions to ask when choosing a mental health professional in Alberta, and most people don't know to ask it.

    In Alberta, the title "psychologist" is protected and regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). To become a Registered Psychologist, you must hold a minimum of a Master's degree in psychology from an accredited program, complete a supervised practicum, pass a national licensing exam (the EPPP), and meet ongoing continuing education requirements. Registered Psychologists are held to a strict code of ethics and professional standards enforced by CAP.

    The titles "therapist," "counsellor," and "life coach" are not regulated in Alberta. Anyone can legally use these titles regardless of their training, education, or experience. That doesn't mean all counsellors are undertrained , many are skilled and hold strong credentials, but it does mean there is no regulatory body protecting you if something goes wrong, and no guaranteed standard of care.

    As a Registered Psychologist, I am fully regulated, insured, and accountable to the College of Alberta Psychologists. My services are also covered by most extended health benefit plans specifically under the "psychologist" category, which counsellors and therapists may not qualify for depending on your plan.

  • My fee is $235 per session. A sliding scale is available for those who need it , please mention this when you reach out and we can discuss what works.

    Session lengths:

    → 50 minutes — standard individual therapy sessions

    → 90 minutes — deeper processing work, EMDR sessions

    → 2 hours — intensive trauma processing

    Payment is accepted via e-transfer, credit card, debit, or cash. You will receive a receipt following each session that you can submit to your extended health benefits provider for reimbursement.

  • Most extended health benefit plans in Alberta cover sessions with a Registered Psychologist, though the amount and annual maximum varies by plan. Common providers that cover psychological services include Sun Life, Manulife, Great-West Life, Blue Cross, and others.

    I do not direct bill insurance providers. You pay following each session and receive a receipt to submit to your plan directly for reimbursement. Before your first session it's worth checking your plan for: whether Registered Psychologist services are covered, your per-session coverage amount, and your annual maximum.

    If you're unsure whether your plan covers my services, contact your benefits provider and ask specifically about coverage for a "Registered Psychologist."

  • Yes. A sliding scale is available for clients who need it. If the standard fee of $235 per session is a barrier, please mention this when you reach out and we'll have an honest conversation about what's workable. Access to quality psychological care shouldn't be limited by financial circumstances alone.

  • Yes — everything discussed in therapy is confidential. I am bound by the ethical standards of the College of Alberta Psychologists, which means your information is never shared without your written consent.

    There are three standard exceptions to confidentiality, as required by law and professional ethics:

    1. Imminent risk of harm — if I have reasonable grounds to believe you are at imminent risk of seriously harming yourself or another person, I am obligated to take steps to protect safety. This may involve contacting emergency services.

    2. Child protection — if information shared in session leads me to believe that a child is being abused or is at risk of abuse, I am required by Alberta law to report this to the appropriate authorities.

    3. Court order — if a court of law orders the release of records, I am legally required to comply.

    These exceptions are taken seriously and are not invoked lightly. I will always discuss confidentiality and its limits with you in our first session so there are no surprises.

  • This is one of the most important questions to bring into the therapy room itself — and I actively encourage it.

    Progress in therapy isn't always linear. Some sessions feel like breakthroughs. Others feel slower or harder. That's normal and expected, particularly in trauma work. What matters is the overall trajectory over time.

    Practically, I track progress with you throughout treatment. We regularly revisit your goals, notice what's shifting, and adjust the approach when something isn't working. You are not a passive recipient of therapy — you're an active participant, and your feedback shapes the direction.

    If you feel like therapy isn't working, I want to hear that directly. I'll first work with you to understand what's getting in the way and adjust accordingly. If the issue is one of fit or clinical scope, I'll have an honest conversation about that and refer you to someone better suited rather than keep you in a process that isn't serving you.

  • Coaching is future-focused and goal-oriented, it works best for people who are generally well-functioning and want to optimize performance, clarify direction, or build specific skills.

    Therapy addresses the psychological roots of patterns, symptoms, and struggles. It involves clinical assessment, diagnosis where appropriate, and evidence-based treatment. Therapy is the appropriate route when anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship patterns, or other mental health concerns are what's driving the difficulty.

    As a Registered Psychologist, I provide therapy, not coaching. The distinction matters because the tools, the depth of work, and the ethical and regulatory framework are fundamentally different. If you're unsure which one you need, book a consultation and we'll figure it out together.

  • Yes. I offer virtual therapy to clients across the province of Alberta and in Quebec. Virtual sessions are conducted via a secure, confidential video platform and are identical in structure to in-person sessions.

    Many clients prefer virtual sessions for the flexibility and convenience, particularly for longer EMDR or processing sessions where travelling afterward isn't ideal. Others prefer the structure and presence of coming into the office. Both are fully supported.

    In-person sessions are available at Suite 210, 333 24 Ave SW, Calgary, AB.

  • EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based trauma therapy recognized by the World Health Organization and Health Canada as a first-line treatment for PTSD and trauma-related conditions.

    EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess traumatic memories that have become "stuck" — stored in a way that keeps triggering emotional and physical responses in the present as though the event is still happening. Through a structured protocol that combines focused attention on a distressing memory with bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements), the brain is able to process and integrate the memory in a way that reduces its emotional charge.

    In plain terms: EMDR doesn't erase memories. It changes your relationship to them. What was once overwhelming becomes something you can recall without being hijacked by it.

    I use EMDR as part of a phase-based approach, meaning we build stabilization and nervous system resources before moving into memory processing. This makes the work sustainable rather than overwhelming.

  • Trauma therapy is not a fixed-length process, and anyone who gives you a precise number of sessions upfront without knowing your history is guessing.

    What I can tell you is how the work is generally structured. We start with a stabilization phase, building coping resources, grounding skills, and a working relationship with your nervous system. This phase alone can take several weeks and is foundational to everything that follows. Once that foundation is in place, we move into processing work using EMDR, IFS, or CPT depending on what fits best.

    Single-incident trauma (a specific event) often resolves in fewer sessions than complex or developmental trauma (patterns of adverse experience over time). Clients with complex trauma typically work with me for several months to over a year, not because progress is slow, but because the work has depth and the gains compound over time.

    Progress is tracked throughout. You won't be in therapy indefinitely without a clear sense of direction.

  • Both are evidence-informed approaches used in trauma treatment, but they work differently and suit different people and presentations.

    EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured protocol that targets specific traumatic memories and reduces their emotional charge through bilateral stimulation. It tends to be more direct and focused on specific events or triggers.

    IFS (Internal Family Systems) works with the different "parts" of yourself — the inner critic, the protector, the part that shuts down, the part that pushes everyone away. Rather than targeting a specific memory, IFS helps you develop a compassionate relationship with all parts of yourself, including the ones that have been running defence strategies since childhood.

    In practice I don't choose one or the other in isolation. I use both, often in combination, depending on what a client needs at a given stage of treatment. We'll figure out together what fits best for you.

  • Yes, and this describes many of the men I work with.

    Men who are new to therapy often come in skeptical, unsure what to expect, or quietly convinced that talking about feelings won't actually help them. I don't take that personally and I don't try to argue them out of it. Instead I work with what they bring, building practical, evidence-based skills early on that demonstrate value quickly, so that trust in the process develops naturally.

    Sessions with men who are new to therapy tend to be direct, structured, and focused on real-world application. We work on what's actually in the way, anger, relationship patterns, anxiety wearing the mask of control, the relentless inner critic — with tools you can use outside the therapy room.

    If you're on the fence, the 15-minute consultation is a low-stakes way to test the water.

  • Yes, and this is work I'm particularly experienced in and personally connected to.

    As a Filipino-Canadian psychologist, I understand the specific pressures that come with growing up between cultures — the family obligation, the unspoken scripts around success and sacrifice, the guilt of wanting things that don't fit what you were handed, the exhaustion of navigating identity in spaces that don't fully see you.

    I work with second-generation Canadians of all backgrounds, as well as first-generation immigrants navigating adjustment and cultural transition. You won't spend half your session explaining context I should already understand.

  • Yes. I work with adolescents from age 12 and up.

    Adolescent therapy with me is age-appropriate, collaborative, and focused on building genuine insight and coping skills rather than compliance. I work to involve parents where it's appropriate and where the young person is comfortable — in my experience the most effective adolescent therapy includes the family system in some capacity. That said, the teen's autonomy and trust always comes first.

    If you're a parent looking for a psychologist for your teenager, the consultation call is a good place to start — we can talk about your child's specific situation and whether my approach is a good fit.

  • I require a minimum of 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule a session. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice, or no-shows, are charged the full session fee.

    I understand that life happens — emergencies and genuine unforeseen circumstances are handled with discretion. If something comes up, please reach out as soon as possible rather than simply missing the appointment.

    This policy exists to respect both your time and the time held open specifically for you.

  • The first step is a free 15-minute consultation. Fill out the contact form and I'll be in touch within 24 hours to schedule a time.

    The consultation is a chance to briefly share what's going on, ask any questions you have, and get a feel for whether working together makes sense. There's no commitment and no pressure.

    I currently have availability for new clients. In-person sessions are available at Suite 210, 333 24 Ave SW, Calgary, AB. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta and Quebec.

Still Have Questions?

Feel free to reach out directly. I respond to all inquiries within 24 hours and am happy to answer anything not covered here before you decide whether to book.