Family Counselling Services in Nisku, AB.

Regardless of the dynamics of your relationship—be it with family, as a couple, within a throuple, or as part of a close-knit pod—relationship therapy can be a deeply supportive and enriching resource. My primary therapeutic approach is centred on several cognitive therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), and Narrative Therapy. Together, we will work to understand the challenges you encounter and collaborate on ways to address these situations in more effective and helpful ways.

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.

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.

The family unite can provide a foundation of security, love, and a sense of belonging. However, often times families can struggle for a variety of reasons and seeking counselling can help improve family dynamics, interactions, communication, and problem solving. Through counselling, families can begin to heal the broken pieces and establish a nurturing environment in which the family can flourish emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

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.

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.

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!

Families are complicated and exist in many different forms; nuclear families, multi-family units, blended families, adopted families, foster families, siblings, parent/child, etc.. In all these settings communication breakdown and conflicts can arise. With many differing views and perspectives, navigating and finding solutions to conflict can sometimes seem impossible. Some areas of focus in family therapy: Conflict between family members Blended families Divorce/Separation Grief and loss Navigating co-parenting relationships Behavioural concerns with family members Mental health concerns with family memebers Physical or mental conditions adding stress to the family unit

In my work with families, I draw on attachment theory and systems approaches to strengthen communication, play-based interventions, emotional attunement, and co-regulation. I help families understand one another’s experiences, build empathy, and create new patterns of connection. Whether navigating conflict, transitions, or behavioural challenges, my goal is to foster relationships grounded in trust, respect, and shared growth.

Seeking help for struggles is not easy. You have made the most important step in returning your life to balance, stability, and healing, just to let you know. I offer counseling services for couple, families, and individuals looking for guidance to improve the relations with others, and also with themselves. Let's start your journey together. My philosophy is systemic, and grounded in the complex web of how we relate to others. I believe relationships are life's greatest teacher. Through our counseling sessions, my goal is to help you and your loved ones break the destructive cycle that is causing you distress. My expertise is in working with families experiencing difficult situations such separation, mental illness or behavior issues. I can guide...(view profile to read more)

I see families with young children, teens and adult children. Sometimes I see siblings trying to sort out old family history. I help you discern how to set appropriate boundaries that take into account issues of safety and responsibility as well as the age appropriate needs of the children. Within the family counselling, issues between the parents may need to be addressed separately as they can interfere and sometimes inadvertently sabotage parenting roles. Children can be quick to take advantage of these issues. I believe in the value of families and work to strengthen family ties.

Healthy communication and regulation skills foster positive and healthy family relationships. In session, we can explore and build on a family's communication skills, ability to navigate conflict or family crisis, and improve family coping styles. Together, we can build positive practices to provide a safe and supportive environment for you and your family.

When working with families, I focus on built-up hurts, communication, expectations, and appropriate parent/child roles, so that all members learn how they each affect one another . We work as a team to unearth feelings that have not been shared, and how to communicate these effectively, so that they can be heard, acknowledged, and resolved. We also work on practical strategies to help with everyday life, whether this be with regards to parenting strategies, discipline, rule setting, negotiation for older children, or age appropriate expectations. By developing more empathy for one another, families can reach a greater understanding and sense of connection with one another.