Welcome
This branch of DPS is where a team of trained therapists, ranging from new to senior-level therapists (psychologists, counsellors), are available to help you navigate life storms and to offer support to enhance your mental health. We aim to offer everyone a high degree of ethical, competent, trauma-informed care, sensitive to diversity and focuses on understanding your perspective and needs.
Our Services For Those 16 And Older
Our wonderful therapists have built themselves many skills to help various individuals through life storms.
Here are just some of what our compassionate and ethical therapists can provide you.
EMDR
This is a therapy that is well recognized for healing from trauma (acute and chronic). Telling the trauma story is not required to get relief. This approach is highly suitable to reduce phobias and to prepare for upcoming stressful events (e.g., exams, surgeries).
Somatic Experiencing
Aimed to help treat trauma
and stress-related disorders through a bottom-up processing (release of survival energy stuck in the body).
Transactional Analysis
Discover our ego states (our personality and how it has been shaped by experience) and learn about games people play to get their needs met. This is a therapy well suited for organization management, those in leadership roles, and those who want to learn why we do what we do.
CBT
Helps with learning to identify, question, and change
thoughts, attitudes and beliefs related to emotional and behavioural reactions.
Sandtray
Starting in late 2026. Sandtray in person services will be offered. This is a powerful interevention to gain insight into your past, present, and future. More details to more.
Expressive Arts
Guide clients in discovering the transformative potential of expressive art practices that incorporate rhythm, pendulation, ancestral imagery, personal awareness, and meaningful affirmations.
Attachment Therapy
Helps to target interpersonal challenges through the exploration of early childhood attachment experiences.
DBT & SFT
Enhancing skills to navigate life storms. Unique skills are reviewed and practiced.
Our Compassionate Therapists
Currently, Alyson Has Openings
Alyson Worrall
Reg. Psychologist
Alyson is certified in EMDR and has taken extensive training in many modalities, including Somatic Experiencing & IFS.
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In her work, she knows the value of feeling heard, being understood, and having the time to unpack what you need to digest. She also emphasizes the crucial mind-body connection and the power of one's thoughts to influence their actions. In addition to EMDR and SE, Alyson has also undergone training in Transactional Analysis (TA).​​ Of interest, Alyson was a high school teacher for over 20 years.
Waiting List Is Full To Work With Dawn
Dawn McBride
Reg. Psychologist
Dawn specializes in treating complex trauma, dissociation/DID, self-harm, personality disorders, medical trauma, and violence/abuse (perpetrators, victims, & witnesses).
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She has clinical expertise in many area, including providing long-term psychodynamic therapy using Transactional Analysis (TA). She actively uses CBT, DBT, creative expressive therapies, sand tray work, and ego-state interventions (e.g., adapted IFS work), as well as process-based group therapies. Furthermore, she integrates attachment-based EMDR and somatic experiencing in a trauma-informed manner.
Things To Know About Our Counselling Services
How do I connect
with a therapist?
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For new clients you will want to book a discovery call meeting with the therapist of your choosing. These discovery calls usually last about 15 mins. and will be done via phone or online (via Zoom). ​​
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Our therapists want to be as accessible as they can be so all of our services will be through phone or online (via Zoom). We are currently in the process of looking at in-person services, though it is still in the development stage.
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During your first meeting, time will be dedicated to ensuring you know how your therapist will have your back, as you have many rights as a client. ​​
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As your caring therapist learns about you and your challenges, they will check on how well you are sleeping and coping and inquire about who/what may be helping and hindering you. ​
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You will control the pace of the session and remain in charge of what you want to share or not share. ​
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We know it can be very challenging to set goals when you are experiencing struggles, so the first session is about connect, understanding, and offering hope.
What is the
first meeting like?
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Our fees follow the Psychological Association of Alberta recommended fee guide: $220 for 50 to 60 minutes.​​
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We have reserved several slots of substantial fee discounts (sliding scale), and there is a waiting list for these slots.
What are the fees for this service?
Resource Hub
Please note that the content shared on this DPS webpage does not replace therapist delivered, client-specific recommendations and professional knowledge (CAP, 2019).
Connect for a free 15-min. discovery meeting!
FYI --IT IS IMPORTANT YOU KNOW there is no guarantee of privacy of your contact information or this message due to:
(a) inherent privacy flaws when using any technology, such as email/text (e.g., security breaches);
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(b) your contact information may need to be released to relevant individuals/professionals if you disclose to a DPS staff member that there is a risk of potential harm to self or others (including animals), as we may need to alert others/arrange for outside help to attend to those who may be in distress or who we believe could be at risk for harm;
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(c) you are not a client/customer of DPS yet, since we have not had the opportunity to put a formal agreement in place with you where we confirm everyone's understanding of what is being consented to, including your privacy limits;
(d) any correspondence to/from DPS staff may be kept (e.g., filed electronically via WIX) and if stored, likely for at least 11 years;
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(e) you have not not been briefed on the Alberta laws regarding how long client files are kept when sexual violence, work injury, or disability has been recorded in the file - so at this point, we advise you NOT to share any information related to the above (e.g., abuse /assault) until you have been informed of your privacy rights via DPS consent form/service contract.
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​We recognize these privacy warnings may not be relevant to why you are contacting DPS :)
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WANT TO LEARN MORE about the limits to privacy? Great idea - please see the information under "counselling tab". We believe it is vital you know your rights before you disclosure personal information to anyone in the helping field.
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Truly, we welcome your contact - thank you for reaching out.