Family Counselling Services in Calmar, AB.

A Masters in Marital and Family therapy, including extensive work with struggling families, has prepared me to help you work out your differences, no matter how long they have been troubling you. Sometimes patterns in communication just get "stuck", and we need a little outside help to make new shifts in how we see each other and communicate with one another. I can help you make those shifts!

After going through a Divorce our therapists can help you to • Learn how to co-parent successfully • Understand the roles of a parent and step parent and learn the basic rules of parenting • Find and understand the emotional needs of every member in the family • Help kids cope with the transition successfully • Reduce the impact of your grief and trauma

Your family is one of the most important aspects of your life. Therefore, it is extremely important to find a caring professional, who will help your family as a whole to recover and heal. I want to work together with you to achieve reconciliation, forgiveness, strength, understanding, hope, support, peace, agreement, and resolution in your family.

Treatable conditions appear in the most traditional of families. In addition, the number of non-traditional families (blended, adopted, foster, alternative lifestyle) is increasing; and treatable conditions arise in these families, too. When unhealthy and/or unfulfilling patterns affect whole families, it can be useful to involve the entire family in the healing process. At Sussman Psychological, family members interact on a level playing field where everyone has a chance to be heard, and an obligation to listen well and to hear others. The usual power structure is temporarily put aside in favor of optimizing effective communication processes at the level of the emotions.

Family therapy with me focuses on restoring connection, clarity, and communication across the people who live or operate as a family unit. Whether it’s navigating shifting roles, power imbalances, parenting struggles, or long-standing tensions, I help families move beyond blame and into respectful dialogue. My approach is structured and neutral—no one gets labelled the “problem.” Instead, we focus on patterns, emotional safety, and practical strategies that help the family function better together. Each voice matters—and each dynamic can shift.

Shift family therapy or family counseling is designed to address specific trauma or issues affecting the health and functioning of a family and individuals within it. It can be used to help the family through a difficult period of time, a major transition, or mental or behavioral health problems in family members. We often break family members up into individual sessions to target are beliefs that we hold about ourselves and the world that become part of our identity.

When one member of a family is struggling, the rest are often struggling as well. In my work with families, it is imperative to foster positive communication and to validate the concerns and individual as well as collective experiences of family members. Psychoeducation, parenting strategies, conflict resolution, and understanding the origins of family difficulties are common themes in family therapy sessions. I often use creative means to help explore negative patterns and role playing to develop a deeper understanding of problematic interactions. My overarching goal is to help families restore damaged relationships and begin working together towards a positive shared experience.

In my approach to family counseling, I create a supportive environment where all members can express their feelings and concerns, while also understanding the dynamics that influence their relationships. Unlike traditional marriage or couples counselling, family therapy takes a broader perspective by focusing on the collective emotional needs, communication patterns, and behaviour dynamics within the family system. My goal is to help families navigate conflicts, improve understanding, strengthen bonds, and enhance overall functioning by creating healthier interactions and promoting emotional healing for every member, individually and as a unit. Through this approach, families can develop to

Family relationships play an important role in our lives and can provide us with a strong sense of connection and belonging. When challenges/stresses arise they can have a ripple effect on everyone involved. I help families identify the issues involved, find direction, and establish more effective tools in communicating with each other and progress toward resolution of concerns.

Our families can be our greatest source of support or cause for our most intense pain. Learning to talk and listen with respect is a key to healing. When there is a willingness for openness and acceptance of each other bridges can be mended. It is often easier to do this in a safe place with an objective person. Individual sessions are usually recommended before bringing the family together.

[I ONLY OFFER VIDEO SESSIONS THROUGHOUT ALBERTA FOR FAMILY THERAPY - NOT ONTARIO]. None of us took degrees on how to be great parents, yet despite our best efforts, things can go amuck quickly. I have a son and a daughter of my own… I know how challenging raising children and making families work can be. I have been a psychologist since 1986. Let’s not waste time but instead get down to the issues that are affecting your family right now. Book an appointment by going to https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112

Family Therapy can be very helpful when a family is going through change or crisis together, such as a sudden death, divorce or blending of family. When problems occur in a family it is usually effecting everyone. It is helpful to be able to sit together and hear from each other, and reunite the bond that has been fractured or broken. Family therapy is meant to help strengthen all relationships within a family.

At our clinic, we recognize that everyone's "nest" can differ. Whether you are co-parenting, married, heterosexual, LGBTQ+ identifying, separated, divorced, or blended - we provide a safe space for families of all shapes and sizes to get the care and support they need. We provide a non-judgemental space for families to explore their concerns and grow together.