Trauma Counselling
Distressing experiences can continue to affect how you feel, relate to others and move through daily life. You may feel constantly on alert, struggle with unwanted memories or notice that you avoid situations associated with what happened. Other people experience numbness, disconnection or difficulty finding words for their reactions.
At Maria Schmid & Partners, we provide trauma counselling in Calgary to help you understand these experiences and consider ways to move forward. Your concerns may follow a single event or a series of difficult experiences over time. Support begins with how you are affected now and what you need from the work.
Your counsellor will explore your circumstances and discuss an approach suited to your needs. You can ask about their training, experience and the options relevant to your particular concerns.
Book an appointment or call 403-801-4839 for help choosing a counsellor.
When trauma counselling may help
You may seek support when memories, nightmares, irritability or a heightened sense of danger are interfering with sleep, relationships or work. You might find yourself withdrawing from people, avoiding reminders or responding strongly to situations that other people seem to find manageable.
These concerns deserve careful exploration. Experiencing distress after an event does not by itself establish a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. A clinician can help clarify your experiences and discuss appropriate support. If your circumstances include current safety concerns, these will be important in deciding how to begin.
How we approach trauma counselling
The work begins with understanding your current difficulties and identifying a manageable starting point. You and your counsellor may explore reminders that bring up distress, ways of responding when you feel overwhelmed and the supports available in your everyday life.
Where appropriate, counselling may also address how you understand what happened, its effects on your beliefs about yourself and others, and patterns that are limiting your life. Your counsellor will explain the proposed methods and discuss the pace of the work with you.
Within our team, Shantelle Szuch uses trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive processing therapy. Contact us to discuss which clinician and approach may be suitable for your needs.
What to expect at your first appointment
The first appointment focuses on getting to know you, understanding the main concerns you want help with and discussing how counselling might proceed. You can begin with the effects on your life today. Your counsellor can explain what information would be helpful and discuss how to approach difficult material at a manageable pace.
Questions may cover sleep, current stress, previous support and the people or activities that help you feel more settled. Together, you can identify an initial focus and discuss confidentiality, appointment arrangements and any additional support that may be appropriate.
Meet the counsellors who specialize in Trauma Counselling
Nicole Berggren
Registered Psychologist
Nicole is a registered psychologist with experience supporting individuals and families affected by trauma and adversity. She brings a developmental perspective to the work, with attention to how experiences across a person’s life can shape relationships and responses to stress.
Shantelle Szuch
Registered Clinical Psychologist
Shantelle is a registered psychologist who works with people affected by trauma, including complex trauma. Her approach can draw on trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy or cognitive processing therapy, with the choice guided by the client’s needs.
Renata Logan
Registered Psychologist
Renata is a registered psychologist who works with adults affected by post-traumatic stress and complex trauma. Depending on the client’s needs, she draws on elements of cognitive processing therapy and Somatic Experiencing to address the effects of past experiences.
Jason Stein
Registered Social Worker
Jason is a registered social worker with experience supporting people affected by trauma. His practice draws on approaches including Accelerated Resolution Therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy, and he works with clients to decide which goals and methods fit their circumstances.
Sheri Sadowick
Counseling Therapist (AB), Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (BC)
Sheri is a counselling therapist who supports adults recovering from trauma, including people affected by intimate partner violence or abuse. She pays attention to the client’s current circumstances and works at a pace that gives them room to decide what to address.