How To Find A Therapist or Psychologist in Calgary

Therapy is hard work. Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be. At First Session, we believe the fit between you and your therapist is the most important factor for a positive outcome. 

This guide offers practical steps to finding a therapist in Calgary and tips on how to choose the right therapist for you.
‍

Things To Consider When Looking For A Therapist or Psychologist In Calgary

• Calgary has one of the highest concentrations of psychologists per capita in Canada. Alberta allows Master’s-level clinicians to register as psychologists, meaning there are more options for regulated, talk-therapy professionals.
  
• Calgary is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. A growing and changing population can increase demand for mental health services, particularly among young professionals, newcomers, and families.
  
• Mental health is a key focus for Albertans. Alberta has one of the highest rates of mental health-related hospitalizations in Canada, reflecting both need and growing awareness.
  
• Calgarians face unique stressors like economic fluctuations and climate extremes. Job market volatility, natural disasters (e.g. wildfires or floods), and long winters can all impact mental well-being.

Are therapists and psychologists different in Alberta?

In Alberta, both therapists and psychologists can provide talk therapy and counselling for mental health support. Psychologists are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists and may be either Provisional or Registered, depending on their stage of licensure (more on that below). Unlike in some provinces, Alberta psychologists can have a Master’s-level education. Whether you're looking for a therapist or a psychologist, the most important factor is finding someone you're comfortable working with.

Public Mental Health Resources In Alberta

Most mental health care provided by Alberta Health Services is reserved for crisis, short-term, or acute psychiatric concerns. With few exceptions, mental health services delivered outside of a clinical setting or hospital are not covered by provincial health care. 

The province does provide an option to purchase supplementary health coverage through the government, which provides partial coverage for clinical psychologist services, up to $60 per session, to a maximum of $300 per year. 

You can view a list of publicly-funded mental health resources in Calgary at the bottom of this page. 

Stage 1: You’re Unsure What Kind Of Therapy or Psychologist You’re Looking For 

In this stage, we’ll help you identify the type of therapist you’ll most resonate with, and what style of therapy is most aligned with your needs.

What prompted your interest in starting therapy?

For example: 

• Learning to assert boundaries in your personal and professional relationships
• Healing from traumatic memories
• Identifying behavioural patterns that keep you feeling stuck in life

Some people have goal-oriented personalities and want to feel like they’re moving towards specific goals; however, you don’t need to have a specific goal or even a specific topic of concern to benefit from therapy. 

Even if you don’t have a specific goal or topic of concern in mind, there is a reason you’re looking at starting therapy. Maybe you’re hoping therapy can help you process difficult experiences, or you just want to talk to someone who knows how to listen.

Why is right therapist fit important?

The most important factor for success in therapy is your relationship with your therapist. Decades of research have shown that finding the right therapist for you reliably predicts therapeutic success even across different modalities, mental health diagnoses, and therapeutic settings². 

When you aren’t totally aligned with your therapist, you won’t get the most out of therapy. Many people stay with a meh therapist simply because of how daunting it is to find a new one. When you and your therapist have established a meaningful human connection, you can be vulnerable, feel heard, and trust the process of change.
‍

Therapist or Psychologist Traits

The unique combination of therapists traits and characters that are most meaningful to you will shape which therapists you connect with most.

Here are a few that might feel important to you:

• Age: you might feel most comfortable with a therapist around your own age, or you may find it easier to share with and listen to a therapist who is decades older than you.
• Gender: A therapist’s gender may not matter to you, or you may find it easier to be emotionally vulnerable with a therapist of the same gender.
• Lived Experiences: The education and training to become a licensed therapist will cover the most common issues – but not every therapist has personally experienced it.

Specializations and Focus Areas

While some therapists intentionally keep their practice open to a broad range of client issues, a therapist may choose to specialize in:

• specific diagnoses (e.g. borderline personality disorder, PTSD, autism, OCD)
• client concerns (low self-esteem, sleep issues, grief, relationships, work or professional stress)
• client demographics (such as BIPOC, couples, children, adults, caregivers)

Often, First Session clients will start therapy with a broader scope, and over time they may identify more specific areas they’d like to focus on.

There are some situations where you should look for a therapist with the appropriate training and experience. Some mental health conditions require a unique approach or have been shown to benefit from specific treatment methods, including trauma/PTSD, eating disorders, and gender and sexual identity. 

Therapeutic Modalities

A therapy modality is a specific method or approach used by therapists to give clients practical tools for dealing with mental, emotional, or physical challenges. It acts as a framework for change, tailored to support healing and improve wellness in a way that works best for each individual. These tools can be applied across many areas of life, including work, relationships, and personal growth.

What are the most common modalities?

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
• Somatic Experiencing
• Internal Family Systems
• Eye Motion Desensitization and Reprocessing

It’s tempting to want to search for the most “best” modality, or be influenced by buzzwords and current trends, but evidence shows that therapist-client relationship affects therapy outcomes more than the specific modalities used³. 

Objective Criteria

Cost & Payment

Therapy sessions in Calgary can cost between $100 - $225+ per session, and most sessions last for either 50 or 60 minutes. Some therapists have higher session fees based on their level of education and training, specialization(s), and costs of running a private practice. 

Many employment or student health plans cover therapy, though they may limit which therapist qualifications are eligible. Look into your policy or log into your health benefits portal to understand what's covered: Manulife, Sunlife, Blue Cross and Pacific Blue Cross. Check out our guide on how to find a therapist in Canada covered by insurance.

Therapist Availability

• Are they available during the time window you’re looking for? (mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends)
• Do you want a consistent day and time for each session, or do you need flexibility in your schedule?
• Are you required to book weeks in advance or can you take it one week at a time?
• Do they offer appointments on short notice? 

For in-person therapy you also need to consider the location of their office, which will impact your commute and parking.

Some therapists do not have availability to take on new clients – you can often join a waitlist for a specific therapist, but the timeline until an opening becomes available will likely be unclear. 

Stage 2: You Know What You Want/Don’t Want, But Need To Find Them!

PsychologyToday has over 3,500 therapists listed in Alberta - where do you even start digging through to find your next therapist?

First Session aims to connect Canadians with their ideal therapist from the get-go. Our curated directory simplifies the search. Dive into our therapist profiles and book your initial session today.
‍

How to Assess a Therapist’s Profile Page

Visuals and video: Seeing your potential therapist is crucial for many. First Session enhances this with videos on every profile, offering a richer sense of what to expect.

Keywords and phrases: Look for language that resonates with your goals and values – words like “spirituality”, “strengths-based approach”, or “self-compassion” might stand out.

Objective criteria: Don’t overlook logistics like availability, fees, necessary qualifications for insurance, and location.

Take Advantage of Free Consultations

If you’ve found a therapist you’d love to work with, you can go ahead and schedule a full therapy session directly. But if you're looking to feel out the connection first, free consultations can provide a no-pressure way to ask questions and gauge compatibility. To avoid decision fatigue, limit yourself to a few consultations spread over a week or so.

If you want to test the chemistry or need to ask a few specific questions before starting, a short, no-commitment consultation is a great option. We recommend scheduling no more than 2-3 free consultations at most, spread out over at least a week. 
‍

Stage 3: Making A Decision & Booking Your First Session

At this stage, you’ve found one (or more) potential therapists that you feel drawn to, and now it’s time to take the leap and officially start your therapy journey. 

Choosing might be tough if you're torn between options, but remember, either choice likely leads to a positive path. It's not about finding the one perfect therapist but recognizing that many could be a great fit. Trust your gut and your ability to choose. It's a significant step toward prioritizing your wellness.

Most people feel better after booking their first therapy session, before the session even takes place. The decision to prioritize your mental health, invest in yourself and act on what you want is empowering. And it's the beginning of meaningful change.
‍

How Can I Tell If Therapy Is Working?

Starting therapy can feel like stepping into a new journey without a clear map. But as you progress, you'll start looking for signs that you're heading in the right direction. Here are a few ways to track your progress:

Journaling: Taking 10-15 minutes to jot down your thoughts post-session can be super insightful. Think of it as creating a personal healing diary. It's like having a chat with your past self, seeing your progress in your own words.

Feedback from Your Circle: sometimes, the changes in us are so gradual we don't notice them ourselves, but our friends and family do. Checking in with your partner or close pals can open your eyes to the shifts they're seeing in your relationships and day-to-day life.

Not everyone needs to keep a scoreboard for their therapy journey. If you find yourself caught in the loops of overthinking, or if striving for perfection tends to weigh you down, remember: therapy doesn't have to be another arena where you have to meet certain standards. 

‍
‍Ready to take the next step? Dive into our directory and explore the profiles of therapists who are here to walk this path with you. Let's find the therapist who resonates with you, and begin a journey centered on healing, wellness, and embracing change at your own pace.

References:

¹https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tv7079&lang=en-ca 

²Horvath A. O., Luborsky L. (1993). The role of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 61, 561–573

³Horvath A. O., Symonds B. D. (1991). Relation between working alliance and outcome in psychotherapy: a meta-analysis. J. Couns. Psychol. 38, 139–149

Publicly-Funded & Community Mental Health Resources:

Calgary Zone, Access Mental Health is a non-urgent service. Anyone is invited to call for information and options for Addiction & Mental Health services.

Help in Tough Times is a Alberta Health Services directory of mental health resources available in Alberta. 

Call 2-1-1 to find mental health programs and services in your community.

BounceBack Alberta is a free, guided self-help program for people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression

Call the Alberta Wide Mental Health Helpline to speak with a mental health specialist, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-877-303-2642