Counselling
At Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta, Albertans find the support they need to thrive. Our counseling programs have gained worldwide acknowledgment for the positive changes and lasting and meaningful impact it brings to our clients.
Clients seek our services for many reasons, and we personalize each counselling experience using Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT). By having clients’ complete questionnaires before and after each session, we assess their mental health indicators and the quality of the counsellor-client relationship. These assessments are visualized in graphs, facilitating collaborative analysis and discussion between clients and counsellors. Any necessary adjustments to the counselling approach are made to optimize client benefits. This structured process not only provides us with reliable outcome data, aiding clients in achieving their desired results, but also informs the development of more impactful programs and supports counsellors in refining their practice.
“Our counselling department continues to adapt to the evolving needs of our community, addressing affordability concerns and expanding our reach through innovative approaches and strategic partnerships.”
We understand the significant stressors many of our clients face, including concerns about housing and food security, employment, and the rising cost of living. We prioritize access and affordability by offering sliding-scale fees and no waitlist, ensuring clients get help quickly and that financial constraints do not hinder access to crucial mental health services.
Recognizing the importance of meeting clients where they are, both geographically and technologically, we offer a range of counselling options. Our clients have the choice between in-person sessions and virtual counselling, providing flexibility and convenience while maintaining the highest standards of care and client outcomes.
Our commitment to excellence is exemplified by the ongoing professional development of our counselling staff. All our counsellors engage in regular consultations with Dr. Scott Miller, focusing on Feedback-Informed Treatment (FIT), outcome measurement, and deliberate practice. Additionally, we collaborate with renowned experts like Dr. Michael Yapko, enhancing our capabilities in strategic treatment of depression and hypnosis skills.
We recognize the unique mental health challenges faced by rural and farming communities in Alberta. Through our partnership with AgKnow – Alberta Farm Mental Health Network, we receive specialized training and expertise in farm-informed counselling, enabling us to better serve these populations.
Our collaborative efforts with various organizations, including Veterans Affairs Canada, Workman’s Compensation Board, and Emergency Wellness Response Team, among others, allow us to provide comprehensive support tailored to diverse needs.
In our pursuit of continuous improvement, we recently completed a ground-breaking supervision study in collaboration with Dr. Michael V Ellis and Dr. Bruce Wampold. This study compared client outcomes across three different supervision approaches, with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of our counselling interventions. We are currently analyzing and preparing to share the results, contributing to the broader field of mental health research and practice.
Through these initiatives and partnerships, we remain dedicated to advancing our counselling services, ensuring that every individual in our community has access to the support they need to thrive mentally and emotionally.
Specialty Areas
Wilson Centre for Domestic Abuse Studies
With a longstanding commitment to leading domestic violence treatment and prevention efforts, CCC offers counseling and group programs for individuals of all genders, addressing both those engaged in abusive relationships and those experiencing abuse. Throughout our history, we’ve evolved our understanding, expanding our services and approaches to continually enhance therapeutic interventions for domestic violence and actively engaging with community professionals, sharing insights to enhance domestic abuse counseling practices.
The Wilson Centre for Domestic Abuse Studies at Calgary Counselling Centre serves as an asset for community members experiencing domestic abuse. Through the Wilson Centre, we collaborate with researchers spanning through North America to conduct studies, gain deeper insights, and provide enhanced support for clients affected by domestic abuse.
This year, the Wilson Centre for Domestic Abuse Studies has been working diligently to manage the increased demand for services as client referrals return to pre-COVID levels. At the same time, we’ve been making strides in expanding our domestic violence services to better support those in need. Recognizing the changing landscape of our community, our focus has been on actively engaging in initiatives that serve our community and improve the lives of our clients and their families.
In an effort to enhance services for females who abuse, we collaborated closely with other treatment providers. Together, we developed a more efficient and streamlined referral path, guiding our probation colleagues to the most accessible and appropriate resources for this specialized group of clients. The addition of a dedicated team lead to our domestic violence program further fortified our approach, allowing us to better monitor group counselling registration and collaborate with our staff to better prepare clients for group sessions. This collective effort yielded positive results as we successfully conducted our first “Responsible Choices for Women” group since the interruption caused by the pandemic.
We also directed significant attention towards elevating our family violence online training programs for service providers. Through the creation of training videos and instructional modules, we aimed to provide comprehensive guidance on specific clinical practices. Our commitment to inclusivity led us to broaden the scope of our training, now encompassing strategies for working with teenage offenders, insights into working with Indigenous clients, and a more thorough understanding of the legal systems involved in domestic violence.
Recognizing the importance of expanding our reach to address men’s mental health, we proactively engaged with the community, meeting with members of Calgary Police Service and Action Dignity. Together, we identified gaps in services and crafted strategic action plans to better serve non-mandated men at risk of violence. Our active participation in forums such as the Action Table Calgary (an initiative encouraging a collaborative and cross-sector approach to address heightened risk situations within the community) and Shelter of Care project reinforces our commitment to informing the larger community about our work with men, particularly our Family Violence programs.
Depression & Anxiety
Depression and anxiety continue to rank within the top three reasons for Albertans seeking support at Calgary Counselling Centre. As noted by the World Health Organization, depression is among the leading causes of suffering globally, with its impact exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it’s estimated that incidents have surged by 25%. However, it’s crucial to recognize that despite its prevalence, depression is highly treatable.
“We gauge clients’ progress throughout counselling, session by session, while also evaluating the quality of the client-counsellor relationship, making necessary adjustments as needed. This meticulous approach has resulted in our clients achieving outcomes that surpass published benchmarks by 43%.”
We remain dedicated to enhancing our capacity to effectively address depression and anxiety within our community. In 2023, we took significant strides in this initiative by conducting specialized training sessions for 27 of our staff counsellors in collaboration with Dr. Michael Yapko, a distinguished authority in the field. Dr. Yapko, Ph.D., award-winning author, and renowned international speaker and trainer, brings invaluable expertise in the areas of depression and clinical hypnosis.
The training initiative, made possible through the support of our generous funders, provided our counsellors with invaluable insights, techniques, and strategies to better respond to the increasingly complex needs of our clients struggling with depression and anxiety. Equipped with enhanced skills and knowledge, our counselling team is empowered to offer more targeted and effective interventions, ensuring that individuals affected by these mental health challenges receive the support they need to navigate through difficult times.
We continue to prioritize the mental well-being of our community and are committed to effectively addressing depression and anxiety. Through ongoing training, strategic partnerships, and compassionate care, we strive to provide comprehensive support to those affected by these pervasive mental health issues, fostering resilience and promoting recovery within our community.
Children & Youth
In 2023, we provided counselling to 2,220 children, youth, and emerging adults between the ages of 3 and 24.
3–12
10.1%
13–17
12.1%
18–24
77.8%
At Calgary Counselling Centre, we believe that good mental health begins early in life. That’s why we prioritize working with children and youth, providing them with the skills and strategies they need to navigate life’s challenges. Our approach involves integrating counseling for both the child and their parents or caregivers, ensuring a holistic and family-centered perspective. Over the years, we’ve continually adapted our programs and services to meet the evolving needs of our young clients, empowering them with the tools they need to thrive.
Alongside our individual counseling services for children, youth, and emerging adults, we also offer specialized group programs tailored to different age groups- Responsible Choices for Children, Children of Divorce, and Self-Esteem for Adolescents. Our Responsible Choices groups aim to help families deal with conflict, behavioral challenges and problem solving while improving relationships and staying connected to each other. The Children of Divorce program helps parents and children cope with grief and loss associated with parental separation while adjusting to the many changes that occur in families who experience separation. In Self-Esteem for Adolescents, teens learn tools create a positive, stronger sense of self and make healthy choices.
Through these groups, we strive to support families in strengthening their relationships, enhancing communication, and fostering resilience. By providing a supportive and understanding environment, we help children, youth, and their families navigate life’s obstacles and build important life skills. Our research indicates that children who attend both individual counseling and group programs experience better outcomes compared to those receiving only individual counseling. One of the reasons for this is the effectiveness of play therapy in counseling, which allows children to express their feelings and explore their experiences in a safe and creative environment. Additionally, group programs provide a sense of community and help alleviate feelings of isolation, helping children realize that they are not alone in their challenges and that there are others with similar experiences.
We use Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) to evaluate client progress and ensure our services are effective. For children under 12, we use a specialized Youth Outcome Questionnaire (YOQ), which is completed by their parents or guardians. This allows us to gain insights into the child’s progress and the impact of our services from a caregiver’s perspective. Children aged 12 and above are encouraged to complete the YOQ on their own, while their parent or guardian fills out a separate questionnaire. This approach ensures that we receive feedback directly from the child, as well as from their family, allowing us to gain a comprehensive understanding of their progress and tailor our services accordingly.
Education & Training
At Calgary Counselling Centre, we have always viewed educating and training future counsellors as one of our pillars. Our commitment to excellence led to our accreditation as a training centre in 1975, and today, we stand as the largest training program of its kind in Western Canada. CCC is a national leader in training for psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy, with our alumni now practicing in hundreds of communities locally, across North America, and the globe.
The Haskayne Learning Centre for Graduate and Post-Graduate Counselling Studies, was named in 2009 as a tribute to Dick and Lois Haskayne. The Haskaynes, one of our major donors, have not only generously supported us financially but have also been pivotal in our leadership, with Lois Haskayne serving on our Board of Directors from 1992 to 2001.
In 2023, our organization took significant strides in enhancing our education and training program, particularly in response to the evolving needs of our community. One of the most notable developments was the introduction of a blended approach to onboarding and orientation for our counseling students, combining virtual sessions with in-person experiences. This innovative approach marked a departure from traditional methods and proved to be immensely beneficial, garnering positive feedback from participants. Students expressed appreciation for the flexibility and richness of the combined training modalities, recognizing the value in being offered such a comprehensive learning experience.
Our commitment to adaptability and responsiveness was evident throughout the year as we continued to refine our training program to better serve our students and community. In 2023, we prioritized providing robust, hands-on training and supervision to a diverse cohort of 4 undergraduate, 86 graduate students, and 38 postgraduate students.
Central to our training initiative are the weekly clinical practice seminars, where students engage in experiential learning under the guidance of seasoned facilitators and esteemed industry leaders. Noteworthy among these leaders are Dr. Scott Miller, the visionary founder of the International Center for Clinical Excellence, and Dr. Michael Yapko, a renowned clinical psychologist acclaimed for his expertise in depression. Their contributions have enriched our program, ensuring that our students receive the most current and relevant training in the counseling field.
In essence, 2023 was marked by innovation, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to providing excellence in education and training. As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to advancing our program to meet the ever-changing needs of our community and empower the next generation of counselling professionals.
Community
In addition to our industry leading counselling services and training programs, we have also become an invaluable community resource, sharing our expertise and fostering the resilience necessary to collectively overcome the obstacles we face.
In 2023, Calgary Counselling Centre deepened its commitment to the community through various initiatives and collaborations aimed at enhancing mental health services and support across Alberta. Counselling Alberta – a division of Calgary Counselling Centre and a partnership with the Government of Alberta – saw a significant increase in referrals for counselling services, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of mental health support in our province.
Effective, affordable counselling services are accessible both virtually and in-person at partner agencies in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, and Lethbridge. Our collaboration extended beyond client services as we engaged in regular virtual meetings with the partners agencies. These partnerships fostered an environment of learning, connection, and collaboration, facilitating the growth of Counselling Alberta services provincewide.
In an effort to address the mental health needs of the agricultural community, CCC partnered with AgKnow (Alberta Farm Mental Health Network). Together, we worked to increase awareness and access to mental health resources through agricultural networks. As part of this initiative, we piloted a counselling learning series on farm-informed culture, leveraging our partnership with AgKnow to develop and deliver tailored counselling support for Alberta farmers and their communities.
Another significant collaboration in 2023 involved our multi-year contract with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). We provided support in the reimplementation of Feedback Informed Treatment across Canada, offering clinical training to VAC clinics nationwide. This partnership culminated in workshops held in Calgary, where we celebrated successes and focused on improving client outcomes alongside VAC leadership and clinical teams.
In times of crisis, CCC remained responsive to community needs, as demonstrated during the wildfire evacuation of individuals from the Northwest Territories who were temporarily relocated to Calgary. Our organization stepped in to provide counselling support to individuals and families struggling with the stress and uncertainty of this disaster, embodying our commitment to serving those in need, regardless of circumstance.
Beyond these key partnerships, CCC actively engaged in various community collaborations aimed at enhancing family resilience, addressing acute concerns, and supporting newcomers.
- The Collaboration for Family Resilience, a collaboration to develop new ways to provide services to families in the city of Calgary and surrounding area
- Action Table Calgary Initiative, a pilot that brings different agencies from different sectors together to determine which programs or services could collaboratively be prioritized to address specific needs to expedite referrals for people struggling with acute concerns
- Gateway, a collaborative of over 75 partners who work together to provide resources and connect newcomers to services
These partnerships underscore our dedication to working collaboratively across sectors to ensure individuals and families can access the support they need without encountering barriers.
In 2023, Calgary Counselling Centre launched its own podcast, “Living Fully,” recorded and produced in-house. The podcast is designed to offer valuable insights and guidance on various mental health topics. Throughout the year, the podcast released 18 engaging episodes, covering a wide range of subjects including men’s mental health, depression, anxiety, and building coping skills. Notably, the podcast also featured a timely bonus episode addressing the stress and anxiety brought on by the Alberta and BC wildfires.
“By providing expert advice from our team of skilled counsellors, the “Living Fully” podcast serves as an additional resource for our community, extending our commitment to helping individuals navigate their mental health journeys with informative and accessible content.”
Finally, during the 2023 National Depression Screening Day, CCC collaborated with community and corporate partners to promote mental health awareness and encourage individuals to prioritize their well-being. Through a free and anonymous online quiz, we provided a platform for individuals to assess their mental health and access referrals and resources as needed. The overwhelming response to this initiative, with 6,175 total respondents, a 123% increase in total respondents compared to the previous year, highlights the importance of community engagement in destigmatizing mental health issues and promoting help-seeking behaviors.
Moving forward, we remain dedicated to broadening and improving the ways in which we serve our community. With a renewed focus on supporting individuals across Alberta, we are committed to attentively listening to their distinct needs and adapting our services to address them effectively.
Research
Calgary Counselling Centre has valued research as a vital component to providing exceptional client care since 1996. The research department has consistently paved the way in clinical care knowledge and research from its inception, with our researchers propelling these goals forward in 2023.
In keeping with the collaborative efforts of CCC in 2023, the research team expanded and strengthened its work with other clinical experts in the region, across the country, and around the world. These partnerships continue to bring forth useful information for clinical work and decision-making.
Here are some 2023 highlights:
- We completed our study on clinical counsellor supervision and training, working together with Dr. Bruce Wampold and Dr. Michael Ellis. The findings from the study are now guiding how we will improve counsellor training policies to ensure our students receive the best training possible.
- Research operations were supported by 8 practicum students and 2 volunteers. Students and volunteers helped complete research tasks, presented their research CCC luncheons, and gained real-world experience in practical statistical programming and data science.
- We began research collaborations with PolicyWise and Alberta Health Services to explore the experiences of youth in Alberta’s mental health systems.
- With help from collaborators across Alberta, we began collecting and analyzing data from the Counselling Alberta initiative, designed to improve mental health access in rural areas of the province.
- We published three peer-reviewed articles in influential clinical practice journals.
- We led the presentation of four papers at an international conference for psychotherapy researchers.
- We internally developed dozens of new research software tools to make CCC’s science and reporting capacity faster, more sophisticated, and more reliable.
2023 Publications
Gurm, K., Wampold, B. E., Piatt, C., Jagodzinski, R., Caperton, D. D., & Babins-Wagner, R. (2023). Effectiveness of telemental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A propensity score noninferiority analysis of outcomes. Psychotherapy, 60(2), 231–236. doi:10.1037/pst0000472
Goldberg, S. B., Babins-Wagner, R., Imel, Z. E., Caperton, D. D., Weitzman, L. M. & Wampold, B. E. (2023). Threat alert: The effect of outliers on the alliance-outcome correlation. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 70 (1), 81-89. doi: 10.1037/cou0000638.
Kuo, P. B., Tanana, M. J., Goldberg, S. B., Caperton, D. D., Narayanan, S., Atkins, D. C., & Imel, Z. E. (2023). Machine-learning-based prediction of client distress from session recordings. Clinical Psychological Science. doi: 10.1177/21677026231172694.
2023 Presentations & Conference Papers
Babins-Wagner, R., Wampold, B. E., Ellis, M. V., Keough, C., & Caperton, D. D. (2023). Innovating clinical supervision in naturalistic settings: Three models implemented and compared. Panel presented at the 54th International Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research. Dublin, Ireland.
Babins-Wagner, R. & Caperton, D. D. (2023). Implementation and effectiveness of three supervision models in a community mental health setting. Paper presented at the 54th International Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research. Dublin, Ireland.
Keough, C. (2023). Routine outcome measurement supervision: A feedback informed supervision framework. Paper presented at the 54th International Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research. Dublin, Ireland.
Imel, Z. E., Kuo, P. B., Tanana, M., Goldberg, S. B., Caperton, D. D., & Atkins, D. C. (2023). Prediction of distress in psychotherapy from prior session conversation. Paper presented at the 54th International Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research. Dublin, Ireland.
Gurm, K., Wampold, B. E., Piatt, C., Jagodzinski R., Caperton, D. D., & Babins-Wagner R. (2023). Effectiveness of telemental health during COVID-19 pandemic: A propensity score noninferiority analysis of outcomes. Presented at Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy Forum. Calgary, AB.