Designation and Experience:

I am a Registered Psychologist. I have completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology And a Masters of Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. I am currently working on my Doctoral designation through California Southern University.

I have 15 years of experience in the mental health sector. I have worked in the areas of in-home family counselling, supervision of transitioning youth in residential programs, mental health workshops for immigrant women, and addictions treatment. Currently, my focus is supporting adolescents and adults who are experiencing difficult life experiences, mental health symptoms that are preventing them from flourishing, and couples therapy for partners who find themselves struggling in their relationship.

My therapeutic approach includes various modalities and often I find my client’s goals are supported very well by utilizing mindfulness-based practices, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) approaches.

Inspiration:

Nature! When I am paying attention, I am in awe of nature and our beautiful surroundings. I find it to be a great reminder of how one should live: with stillness and trust that things are unfolding as they should.

Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with loved ones, reading, traveling, shopping, and indulging in delicious dessert! I also adore my cat Blue- so spending time with him is a must!

Designation and Experience: I am a Registered Psychologist. I have completed a Bachelor of Arts ... Read More

Designation and Experience: I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor at Eckert Psychology & Education Centre and I provide counselling, academic, life skills, brain training, and reading training support. I am particularly passionate about women’s mental health and supporting women to find a safe space as they navigate the many demands they face. I am graduate of Providence Theological Seminary and completed a Master of Counselling Psychology degree.

What inspires you? What inspires me is seeing people grow and change despite the hurdles that life places in their path. Seeing others persevere to develop and thrive amidst adversity and hardship is something very powerful and beautiful to witness.

What are your proudest accomplishments? My proudest accomplishments are being a mother to my three children, and working to find balance as I parent and work towards my educational goal of graduating with a Masters in counselling. Being a mom to my three kids makes me feel so proud; seeing my children grow into caring, smart, independent little people is so wonderful. I hope that I can inspire my children to make the life that they dream of.

What are your Hobbies and Interests? Some of my hobbies and interests include playing music, indoor wall-climbing and reading British monarchy history.

Why do you think people should choose Eckert Centre? Eckert Centre is made up of a caring, empathic and hardworking team that prides themselves on supporting individuals to be the hero of their own story. The clients who come to Eckert Centre are seen as unique and exceptional individuals, treated with respect, encouragement and care.

Designation and Experience: I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor at Eckert Psychology & Educ... Read More

Title: Registered Psychologist

Credentials: MEd, MSc, PhD

Services Offered: Counselling and Assessment

Client Focus: Couples, Individuals (teens and adults for therapy), Assessment (starting at 6+)

Types of Therapy: Solution Focused Therapy, Couples Therapy

How would you explain your style and approach to therapy when working with clients?

I practice solution-focused brief therapy to support individuals of any age in identifying the resources they have in themselves to build their desired future outcomes. Solution-focused brief therapy is an evidence-based approach to supporting positive client change. In the session, once we work through questions to identify your preferred future, I will help you to identify the strengths and resources you possess in service of this preferred future and take you through a therapeutic conversation in which you will imagine what it will be like in your life where your preferred future exists. This approach is suitable no matter your current problem, no matter what your neuro-diversity, and no matter how you identify yourself. You are seen as the expert in your life and my job is to be your ally through this process, focusing the conversation through your language without judgement. One key distinction in solution-focused therapy from other approaches is that discussion of the problem is not a focus of our therapeutic conversation. If problems work their way into the conversation, I will acknowledge and reframe problem talk that may occur within the session to highlight your capacity for coping and resilience despite these challenges and explore how these qualities can also be used in service of your preferred future. This therapeutic conversation can happen in just a single session but can extend over multiple sessions entirely based on your experience of the effectiveness of the conversation in promoting positive change in your life.

What is a psychoeducational assessment?

A psychoeducational assessment can identify learning challenges in students of all ages, from young children to adults.

Learning disabilities, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, or depression often stay hidden and impact a student’s performance and behaviour both in and outside of the classroom. Gifted students may find themselves under stimulated and once identified, can receive enriched programming.

A psychoeducational assessment identifies areas of strength and weakness in a student’s learning profile and provides a deeper understanding of their educational abilities. It can also identify Gifted Abilities, Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disabilities, reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia) and mathematic (dyscalculia) challenges and other mental health issues that can interfere with learning.

Our reports act as a road map for adult learners, parents and/or teachers, providing clear ideas on learning strategies, social/emotional supports, academic accommodations, and assistive technology needed to help the student thrive.

What training and expertise do you bring to your sessions?

I have been a registered psychologist working in Calgary for more than 27 years. My schooling started with an applied school and community psychology program (MEd University of Calgary ‘95) and later research-based neuropsychology focus (MSc University of Edinburgh ‘08; PhD University of St. Andrews ‘13). I started my career in solution focused therapy within a residential mental health setting for youth and drop-in clinics in Calgary in the late 90s. I completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in School Neuropsychology at University of Calgary in 2013. For most of my career, my main focus has been on psychoeducational and psychological assessment of children, youth, and young adults in the public school board and in private practice. Most recently I’ve turned my focus to supervision for graduate students and psychologists in training in assessment and intervention. As I move into the next stage of my career, I’ve updated my training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy to compliment my expertise in assessment as I return to clinical services with Eckert Centre at this stage of my career.

Outside of your therapist role, what are some ways in which you express your uniqueness as a person?

I have been happily married for over 30 years and I live with my husband, 2 young adult sons, and 2 dogs. I was lucky enough to stumble on pickleball in 2018 and since then I’ve been an avid pickleball player. I’ve been a Level 1 IPTPA certified pickleball instructor since 2023 and I was most honoured to teach pickleball to a group of Special Olympic Athletes last year.

As a person of colour and therapist, I resonate with this quote from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Title: Registered Psychologist Credentials: MEd, MSc, PhD Services Offered: Counselling and Ass... Read More

Title: Registered Psychologist

Credentials: MSc

Services Offered: Counselling and Career Assessment

Client Focus: Teens (14+) and adults (individuals and couples)

Types of Therapy: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Techniques, Gottman Therapy (with couples)

How would you explain your style and approach to therapy when working with clients?

I use CBT, ACT, solution-focused, narrative, and Gottman techniques to support clients [adults (couples and individuals) and teens (14+)] to bring about changes that will make their lives richer, more fulfilling, and more meaningful. Though I have a varied background and use techniques that are effective for all kinds of concerns, my approach is especially suited to clients experiencing anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, low self-esteem, grief, loss, and other life transitions.

I use trauma-informed practices to build a foundation of trust, safety, and support from which potential can grow, clients’ strengths can be identified, and skills can be built to navigate life’s challenges. My approach to therapy begins with sessions focused on understanding the issues from the client’s perspective. From there, I support clients to develop therapy goals that are meaningful and important to them. Although there are many techniques within the approaches I use, therapy with me won’t feel like something is being done “to” you. It will feel like we are doing something together. As well, I consider counselling to be a form of learning. My experience (and psychological research) tells me that the more active clients are in this process of learning (e.g., trying things out between sessions, participating actively in conversations), the better the results.

I think my work as a psychologist is sort of like being a dynamic mirror. At the beginning of therapy, I work to build an understanding of my clients and reflect back a picture of what they see. Once the client feels that what I’ve reflected of their present and past is accurate, I work to shift the angle of the mirror, showing them perspectives of themselves and the world that they haven’t seen before. It’s in those spaces where a different future becomes possible.

What training and expertise do you bring to your sessions?

I have nearly 20 years of experience as a Registered Psychologist. I completed my Bachelor of Arts (with Distinction) at the University of Calgary in 2002. I continued at the University of Calgary where I finished a Master of Science degree (Counselling Psychology) in 2004. I gained experience working in the Addiction and Mental Health field before starting at Eckert Centre in 2006. During my initial time at Eckert Centre, I conducted psychoeducational and career assessments. I also gained experience supporting learning skills of children and teens through academic counselling. For the last 13 years, I have worked in the post-secondary sector where I have honed therapy and career assessment skills in support of the social, emotional, educational, and vocational success of young adults.

Outside of your therapist role, what are some ways in which you express your uniqueness as a person?

I follow tennis so closely it might be considered a bit obsessive. Although my body is telling me to play less and make the transition to pickle ball, I haven’t quite done that yet. I also like to think of myself as a decent cook and I love to try out new restaurants with my partner of 27 years. We’re also a bit obsessed with our dog – a Shiba Inu, named Shin Yu (best friend in Japanese).

Although he was an imperfect man, I’m inspired by many quotes from Winston Churchill. One that I think relates very well to the work I do as a psychologist is: “if you’re going through hell, keep going.” I think this captures that change and growth is largely about persistence, and even when things seem bleak, it’s not the end of the journey – keep going.

Title: Registered Psychologist Credentials: MSc Services Offered: Counselling and Career Assess... Read More

Not Accepting New Clients

Designation and Experience:

I am a Registered Psychologist with a Master of Counselling degree. I integrate a variety of techniques and theoretical orientations in my work and am always seeking to learn about new and innovative ways of approaching therapy. I have received specialized training and developed skills in the following areas:

• Family therapy
• Couple’s counselling
• Individual counselling for adults and children aged 12+
• Group therapy
• EMDR therapy
• Psychoeducational assessments
• Legal assessments (to determine emotional and/or academic impact following injury)
• Teaching (family therapy and counselling skills courses, university level)
• Mental health strategy and program development

Accordingly, I work with a broad set of issues and concerns. These are some areas of specialty within my practice:

• Supporting parents and families with adolescents who are struggling with some aspect of their development or wellbeing
• Working with families to navigate the transition to separation or divorce and to develop positive co-parenting dynamics
• Improving communication and interpersonal relationships
• Depression, anxiety, ADHD
• Grief and loss or emotional trauma from past experiences
• Relationship with food, body image, and health behaviours (for persons living with obesity and related physical health issues)
• Existential and spiritual concerns

What inspires you?

Therapy, for me is a deep passion. I truly believe anyone can benefit from therapy; it is not a fringe activity for people who suffer from mental health disorders. Therapy is a creative process that can take many different forms depending on a family’s or individual’s goals and needs.

What are your proudest accomplishments?

I suppose I take some pride in my capacity for change. Growth and development, in my view, is a lifelong journey. I have managed to adapt to various changes in circumstances, new settings and challenges and despite difficulties along the way.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I love many outdoorsy and artistic pursuits. Snowboarding, gardening and travel are some of my favourites. Being in nature, reading, and spending time with friends and family are things I enjoy.

Why do you think people should choose Eckert Centre?

I believe the staff at Eckert Centre are knowledgeable, well-trained and professional. Eckert Centre offers a variety of services, some of which are fairly unique within Calgary. I find the team here genuine, caring, and collaborative.

Not Accepting New Clients Designation and Experience: I am a Registered Psychologist with a Mas... Read More

Designation and Experience:

I am currently not taking new clients until June, 2024

My name is Cecilia (or Cici) and I am currently a registered provisional psychologist. I finished my M.Sc. in Educational Psychology with a specialization in counselling from the University of Calgary. I have over a decade of experience working in the mental health field. I help children, teens, adults, and couples find their strengths and better cope with life’s challenges by using a combination of collaborative therapeutic modalities.

My areas of specialization are:

• Counselling for Neurodivergent clients (autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, giftedness, selective mutism, etc.)
• Early intervention support and/or functional behavioral strategies
• Emotional regulation
• Trauma and/or attachment-based challenges (trauma-informed talk therapy and I am EMDR-trained)
• Depression, anxiety, and general mental health challenges
• Relational conflict
• Identity concerns and life transitions
• Couple’s counselling (including neurodiverse couples)

I am LGBQT2S+ allied, trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and culturally sensitive. Finally, I can speak Mandarin-Chinese for those who need a language bridge.

What inspires you?

In general, I am inspired by people’s strengths and stories. I am humbled by individuals that have the courage to seek help when it is necessary and to allow themselves to be vulnerable.

What are your proudest accomplishments?

I am proud to be an ally for the marginalized communities I work with. Specifically, I take great pride in giving back to the community. I started a non-profit during my undergraduate degree to help provide support and resources to women and children with disabilities and I have been a director of both a First Nation’s cultural group as well as a local animal rescue.

What are your hobbies and interests?

In my spare time, I like to be active, especially with my two fur babies, dancing (I love teaching others how to dance!), video games, and fantasy, and being a self-proclaimed foodie.

Why do you think people should choose Eckert Centre?

Eckert Centre provides assessment, counselling, and cognitive coaching services, which allows clients to receive the support they need in one setting with the same team of professionals. Also, the team comes from a diverse background, and this ensures that we can serve a wide variety of clients.

Designation and Experience: I am currently not taking new clients until June, 2024 My name is C... Read More

Designation and Experience:

I am a Registered Psychologist with a Master of Education in School and Applied Child Psychology. I am also the original Cognitive Coaching Specialist of Eckert Psychology & Education Centre and have been supporting parents and their children since 2004. I currently provide counselling services and psychoeducational assessments for children, teens, and adults. I have also expanded my practice by becoming a certified parent counsellor through the Circle of Security – Parenting™ program and trained in EMDR therapy. Within the organization, I oversee Intervention Services, including supervising our coaching team.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by the perseverance and dedication of families that I have worked with over the years to continue to move forward despite adversity.

What are your proudest accomplishments?

My proudest accomplishments are using the knowledge base that I have acquired through my educational pursuits to support my clients in making positive changes in their lives. I feel profoundly amazed and inspired with my clients’ dedication and growth that occurs through the Cognitive Coaching process.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy snowboarding, playing recreational hockey and camping with my husband, young son, and dog, Tucker. I also enjoy reading and travelling to new places.

Why do you think people should choose Eckert Centre?

People should choose Eckert Centre because we offer specialized services that are tailored to the individual client’s needs. Moreover, the ability to have an assessment completed, as well as receive intervention support from the same clinic, is highly advantageous. Not only can the psychologist, counsellor, and/or Cognitive Coaching Specialist consult with one another, they can also support each other in achieving the highest quality of service for each and every client. This level of collaboration between mental health and education/coaching professionals ensures that our clients will continue to move forward towards positive change.

Designation and Experience: I am a Registered Psychologist with a Master of Education in School ... Read More

Designation and Experience: I am currently a Registered Provisional Psychologist. I have completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology with Mount Royal University and a Master of Counselling through City University. I have spent over nine years working alongside children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of settings. These include public and private schools, in-home support, residential programs, early-intervention programs, and non-profit organizations. I have experience working from a variety of modalities and work from an integrated approach when working with my clients. I have specialized training in Synergetic Play Therapy and formal psychoeducational assessments. I am passionate about helping families and children enhance their family functioning by setting achievable and sustainable goals. I believe that each child, adolescent, and family is unique, and that services should be curated as such.

What inspires you? Children! Their resilience and ability to adapt is awe-inspiring and extremely humbling while working in this field. Furthermore, my clients as a whole are a source of inspiration for me. Their dedication to strengthening or improving their quality of life is an incredibly humbling journey to be a part of.

What are your proudest accomplishments? Being able to give back to my community with the skills and traits I have acquired in my journey as a provisional psychologist is one of my proudest accomplishments to date. De-stigmatizing mental health in the Asian community through representation is an on-going journey as a collective, but I am proud to be part of this change.

What are your Hobbies and Interests? Outside of work, I spend the majority of my time with my friends and family, or tending to my plants. My love for plants is connected to my own journey of mindfulness, which grounds me. If I’m in the mood for something more energetic, I hop onto my spin bike and channel my extra energy through an upbeat cycling class.

Why do you think people should choose Eckert Centre? Eckert Centre is truly a pioneer in its field of Educational Psychology, with the variety of services that it offers for families. The dedicated and diverse team ensures that a wide variety of clients and presenting issues can be addressed, supporting each client to reach their unique potential.

Designation and Experience: I am currently a Registered Provisional Psychologist. I have complet... Read More

Title: Registered Psychologist, Executive Director

Credentials: M.Sc.

Services Offered: Counselling, Assessment, Supervision

Client Focus: Families - Children, Teens, Parents; Psychologists – training and mentorship

Types of therapy: EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment Informed Therapy (Circle of Security-P)

How would you explain your style and approach to therapy when working with clients?

I support families where one member has complex needs (e.g., down syndrome, brain injury) or is neurodivergent (e.g., Learning Disabilities, ADHD or ASD). My involvement includes parent support sessions, individual therapy with one or both parents, individual therapy with the child, teen or young adult who experiences complex needs or is neurodiverse, and when needed, individual therapy sessions for the siblings within the family. I seek to create a safe space where every member of the family feels seen and heard. You will experience me as kind, highly attuned, calm, and curious. When needed, I also know when to bring levity to hard moments. Clients experience me as invested in their families and their well-being.

What is a psychoeducational assessment?

A psychoeducational assessment can identify learning challenges in students of all ages, from young children to adults. Learning disabilities, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, or depression often stay hidden and impact a student’s performance and behaviour both in and outside of the classroom. Gifted students may find themselves under stimulated and once identified, can receive enriched programming.

A psychoeducational assessment identifies areas of strength and weakness in a student’s learning profile and provides a deeper understanding of their educational abilities. It can also identify Gifted Abilities, Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disabilities, reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia) and mathematic (dyscalculia) challenges and other mental health issues that can interfere with learning. We pride ourselves on providing comprehensive assessment services. Myself, and my team of experienced psychologists utilize state-of-the-art assessment tools, provide clear written reports, and ensure our clients have a positive experience during the whole process.

Our reports act as a road map for adult learners, parents and/or teachers, providing clear ideas on learning strategies, social/emotional supports, academic accommodations, and assistive technology needed to help the student thrive.

What training and expertise do you bring to your sessions?

I am a Registered Psychologist and the Founder and Executive Director of Eckert Psychology & Education Centre. I hold a B.A. Honors Psychology degree, obtained from Trinity Western University in 1989, and a M.Sc. School/Community Psychology degree, obtained from the University of Calgary in 1994. At the beginning of my career, I primarily provided psychoeducational assessments and learning intervention services to children, teens, and adults through the public school system and nonprofit sector. I then broadened my focus to including counselling services for children and teens, along with parenting support and education. I also specialize in trauma informed therapy for children and teens (but I also love to do the same kind of work with their parents). I am a certified facilitator of Circle of Security – Parenting, which is an evidence based, relationship based, parenting program. I welcome you to tune in every Wednesday morning on 88.9 Shine FM for Parenting Moments with Kimberly.

My current focus in my practice is supervision and mentorship of my amazing team of psychologists and counsellors. I also provide expert witness assessments for the courts. When young people have experienced a personal injury that has impacted their psychological and educational functioning, I bring my expertise in education and trauma to provide an assessment of impact and a recommended treatment plan.

What are your proudest accomplishments?

Professionally: After six years in private practice, I recognized a need for Calgary families to have just one place to come and find the services they needed to support their mental wellness, relationships, and educational endeavors. When Eckert Psychology & Education Centre opened its doors in September 2001, it was a time of great celebration. Over the course of the last two decades, my journey as a business owner, coupled with my training and experience in psychology, has resulted in a unique and interesting career. I am particularly grateful to my husband and my parents for their support and belief in me, and for my exceptional team at Eckert Centre who have an unwavering commitment to our vision and mission – together we have built a place that really does “share the light of hope and courage” with all who walk through our doors.

Personally: Becoming a parent does not neatly fit into the arena of ‘proudest accomplishments,’ but for me, it has brought me the most joy and the most wisdom. My daughter has been my greatest teacher. Being a parent has also developed within me a spirit of humility as I support other parents in their journey of being “good enough” parents.

Outside of your therapist role, what are some ways in which you express your uniqueness as a person?

I LOVE learning. I read books on a wide variety of topics and listen to podcasts that focus on my faith, nutrition, psychology, and business. Summer is my favorite season and hot tropical holidays with my family make my heart sing!

I LOVE to compete. Pickleball is my latest sporting passion. I am like a dog with a bone – I pursue experts and learn from them so that I can master my game.

Really, I love sweating and reading – but not at the same time, of course!

Finally, my faith inspires my work as I know that each and every one of us are created with infinite worth and have a specific purpose that is ours to fulfill.

Title: Registered Psychologist, Executive Director Credentials: M.Sc. Services Offered: Counsel... Read More