Trauma-Informed Therapy
Compassionate Support Focused on Safety, Choice, and Healing
In-person trauma-informed therapy in Calgary and Red Deer, with secure online counselling available across Alberta and Ontario.
Trauma can affect emotional well-being, relationships, self-perception, and how the nervous system responds to everyday experiences.
At Calgary Mental Health & Wellness Centre and Cienna Mental Health & Wellness Centre, we offer trauma-informed therapy for individuals seeking support with the effects of past or ongoing stressful, frightening, or overwhelming experiences.
Our therapists provide a safe, respectful, and collaborative environment where clients can explore their experiences at a pace that feels supportive and manageable.
What Trauma-Informed Therapy Means
Trauma-informed therapy recognizes the impact difficult experiences can have on a person’s thoughts, emotions, relationships, behaviours, and physical responses.
This approach prioritizes safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. Clients are supported in maintaining a sense of control throughout the therapeutic process.
Trauma-informed counselling does not require you to revisit or describe distressing experiences in detail unless and until you feel ready and believe doing so would be helpful.
Who This Support Is For
Trauma-informed therapy may be helpful for people experiencing:
Ongoing emotional distress connected to past or current experiences.
Feeling constantly alert, overwhelmed, reactive, or unable to relax.
Difficulty feeling safe, grounded, stable, or connected to the present.
Challenges with closeness, boundaries, communication, vulnerability, or trust.
Feeling emotionally numb, disconnected, withdrawn, or avoidant.
Symptoms that feel connected to unresolved stress, loss, change, or trauma.
Support is available whether your experiences feel recent, long-standing, clearly identifiable, or difficult to explain.
How Trauma-Informed Counselling Can Help
Trauma-informed counselling focuses on emotional safety, nervous system regulation, resilience, and helping clients develop a greater sense of stability and control.
Depending on your needs and goals, therapy may help with:
- developing grounding and coping strategies
- increasing emotional awareness and regulation
- understanding nervous system responses
- reducing the impact of trauma-related stress
- strengthening a sense of safety and stability
- developing healthier boundaries and communication
- supporting reconnection with yourself and others
- building confidence, resilience, and self-compassion
Counselling is paced according to your individual needs, comfort, goals, and readiness.
Our Approach
Our therapists use client-centred, trauma-informed approaches grounded in evidence-based practices. Therapy is collaborative, respectful, responsive, and tailored to each client’s experiences and goals.
Depending on the therapist and your individual needs, treatment may incorporate cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, internal family systems-informed approaches, attachment-based therapy, mindfulness, somatic strategies, narrative therapy, or other trauma-focused methods.
We focus on supporting clients without rushing the process, forcing disclosure, or requiring detailed discussion of experiences before the client feels prepared.
Where Trauma-Informed Therapy Is Available
Calgary Mental Health & Wellness Centre:
In-person therapy in Calgary and secure online therapy throughout Alberta.
Cienna Mental Health & Wellness Centre:
In-person therapy in Red Deer and secure online therapy throughout Alberta.
Online psychological services are also available to eligible clients located in Ontario. Availability depends on the therapist’s registration, the client’s age, and the type of service requested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a trauma diagnosis to start therapy?
No. Trauma-informed therapy can be helpful even when you do not have a formal diagnosis or are uncertain whether your experiences would be considered trauma.
Will I have to discuss past trauma in detail?
No. Therapy emphasizes safety and choice. You and your therapist can focus on current symptoms, coping strategies, emotional regulation, or other goals without discussing experiences in detail.
Is trauma-informed therapy suitable for children and teens?
Yes. Trauma-informed principles can support children, teenagers, and adults. The therapeutic approach and level of parent or caregiver involvement will depend on the young person’s age, needs, and circumstances.
Can trauma-informed therapy be provided online?
Yes. Secure online sessions may be appropriate for many clients. Your therapist can discuss privacy, safety, location, and whether virtual therapy is suitable for your needs.
Is trauma-informed therapy covered by insurance?
Many extended health benefit plans cover services provided by psychologists. Coverage depends on your individual policy, provider requirements, and the credentials of the treating therapist.
Getting Started
If past or ongoing experiences are affecting your emotional well-being, relationships, or ability to feel safe and grounded, trauma-informed support is available.
You are welcome to book an appointment or contact our team to ask which therapist, location, or appointment format may be the right fit.
Appointment Time Zone Notice
Appointment times on our booking page default to Mountain Time. Clients booking from Ontario should change the time zone to Eastern Time at the top of the booking page before selecting an appointment.