Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.

Whether you seek personal healing, want to rebuild a relationship, or learn to better support a loved one through a difficult circumstance, it helps to have support. Seeking counselling for the first time (or finding a new counsellor) can seem like a daunting task. Having been in the client chair, I know the value of having a safe space to share and develop strategies in order to take the next step. Therapy is a collaborative effort and finding a counsellor that you can connect with will be important to your success in counselling.

It starts with a conversation. I invite you to reach out for a free 20-minute consultation to chat about your needs and learn how we can work together.

+ NEW TO THERAPY? Click to learn more…

If you are new to therapy, you may feel unsure about what to expect from counselling. You may have heard about therapy through your friends or you may have even browsed a few counselling directories. Even so, it can be hard to envision what therapy will be like or to make sense of all the information out there. You may also wonder about the time commitment, value for your money, and the usefulness of therapy.

Counselling is a relational and interactive process. Sometimes your counsellor will help you deconstruct, synthesize, and process your thoughts and emotions. Other times you may seek some additional perspectives and insights into your concerns. At times, a more solutions-focused approach may be helpful when you are ready to take action.

The hope is that you may discover deeper truths about yourself or your situation, acquire new skills and tools to better cope with stressors, experience an emotional release or perspective shift on key issues, or gain greater clarity and empowerment concerning next steps.

What is counselling for?

Counselling is for anyone who wants to put in some effort to get unstuck or move through a difficult situation. Many people consider therapy when they are in a crisis, but you do not have to be hitting a rock bottom to benefit from therapy.

What if I am struggling but unsure of what I need help with?

Understanding the issue, jointly exploring and setting goals, and determining available resources are often part of the counselling process. If you don’t know where to start, I can help guide the process.

What should I expect from my first session?

In the first session, I will go over your rights and responsibilities in counselling so that you can be informed of the risks and benefits of engaging in counselling. After that, we will take some time to get to know one another, explore what brought you to counselling, discuss the issues you hope to address in therapy, and work to create a customized support plan. Therapy should be purposeful and practical, and I strive to optimize our time together by focusing on issues that are important to you.

How will I know if you are the right counsellor for me?

Therapy involves collaboration and an emotional bond of trust, caring, and respect. For this reason, it is important that you feel comfortable with your counsellor and be able to discuss personal information. A strong therapeutic relationship and sense of rapport are critical to therapy. While I often adapt my methods to meet your preferences and needs, there are times that my approach may not be the right fit. I do check-in periodically to see if any adjustments are needed in our work together as I want our time together to be beneficial. If this does not work, I would be happy to refer you to other resources or a different counsellor upon your request.

If you are still curious, schedule a no-risk consultation to discuss your needs and to learn if we would work well together. I can help to further demystify the process.

FEATURING

Therapy for caring and insightful people-pleasers in Alberta

  • Do you feel anxious and doubt yourself often?
  • Do you compare yourself to others, and fixate on your own flaws?
  • Do you over-extend yourself in relationships, and feel annoyed by the lack of reciprocity?
  • Do you avoid rocking the boat, apologize, or edit yourself in conversations?
  • Do you cave on your boundaries because you don’t want to hurt or disappoint others?
  • Does it feel like you can’t shut your brain off?

If you self-identify as a people-pleaser, you may pride yourself in being deeply caring and generous. Perhaps, you do good work and make things happen. Maybe you are an awesome support to others and can sense moods and anticipate needs. You may be able to quickly diffuse uncomfortable moments before they happen. You may also be skilled at reading a room and can usually get what you need out of a situation. Additionally, being selfless and prioritizing the needs of others may be intricately connected to your family, cultural, or spiritual values.

There can also be a shadow side to people-pleasing. The same strengths that serve you well can also slip into self-criticism, over-responsibility, and needing others’ validation all the time. It can also make you conflict avoidance, hesitant to vocalize your own needs, or fearful to offer your true opinions if they are different from others. Being overly accommodating and “on” all the time can also get exhausting. Deep down, you may long for close relationships and to be accepted by others as your true self.

Many of my clients do amazing work, care deeply for others, and are driven by high standards for themselves– but despite their best efforts, they feel overwhelmed and struggle with self-approval. Past attempts to vocalize their own needs may have also resulted in push-back, feelings of guilt, or self-doubt. This is where it can help to have support.

Hi! I’m Angela.

I work with people-pleasers who struggle with depression, anxiety, burnout, and issues of self worth. I am passionate about collaborating with adults, couples, and teens to navigate difficult relationships, stop unnecessary self-sacrifice, and master the skills of self-advocacy.

From a stance of curiosity and compassion, I love to ask questions to get people to think more deeply about their values and situations.

If you are ready to:

  • Let go of unhealthy habits.
  • Stop self-neglect.
  • Establish clear boundaries.
  • Release resentment.
  • Change the way you relate to others.
  • Dive deep into your approval-seeking patterns.
  • Feel liberated to be yourself.

I want to work with you to create the life that you desire. Book a consultation with me to learn more.