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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/53525b2b-6e14-49f5-a778-c84763addb44/Education+Amy+Parsons+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Amy Parsons - Education Doctoral Candidate, Memorial University of Newfoundland (May 2021-Present) Master of Social Work, Memorial University of Newfoundland (June 2017) Bachelor of Social Work, Memorial University of Newfoundland (May 2012) Bachelor of Arts, Memorial University of Newfoundland (May 2012) Certificate in Criminology, Memorial University of Newfoundland (May 2012) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ffbd0d85-c3cf-40b0-9d0a-4674a949799c/Achievements+Amy+Parsons+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Amy Parsons - Achievements Therapy and Counselling Platinum Award, CommunityVotes (September 2024) Community Organization Platinum Award, CommunityVotes (September 2024) Therapy and Counselling Bronze Award, CommunityVotes (September 2023) Pride Leadership Award (Professional Category), PrideYMM (June 2023) Dean’s Excellence Award, Memorial University of Newfoundland (April 2023) Doctoral Fellowship, Social Science and Humanities Research Council (April 2023) Woman of Inspiration, Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta (October 2022) Champion of the Community, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (January 2018) Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies, Memorial University of Newfoundland (May 2017) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/49b100bd-bbb6-49ce-afa6-520f98db7c55/Registration+Amy+Parsons+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Amy Parsons - Registration Amy is a Registered Social Worker (Registration Number: 10845), a Registered Clinical Social Worker (Registration Number: 20913), and a Registered Clinical Social Work Supervisor with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Amy practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). Per the Government Organization Act (RSA 2000), Schedule 7.1, Amy is authorized to perform the restricted activity of psychosocial intervention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/bbdb2939-50d6-4ad4-a0c9-430b34999254/Publications+and+Media+Amy+Parsons+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Amy Parsons - Publications and Media Magazine Articles Parsons, A., Smith, B., & Hickman, J. (2020). The Power of Connection. The Advocate, 45(2): 25-27. Media Mentions Cordeau-Hilliard, N. (2022, October 14). Amy Parsons Named Third Woman of Inspiration. Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta. Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. (2018, January 26). Citizen Recognition Program - Support Through Housing Team. YouTube. Wood, P. (2022, October 17). Third Addition to Local Women of Inspiration Series. My McMurray. Presentations Parsons, A. (2022, March 24). Understanding the Field Education Landscape: Exploring the Perspectives of Social Work Field Education Coordinators and Field Instructors in Atlantic Canada [Research Presentation]. Transforming the Field Education Landscape, Field Education Scholar Seminar, Calgary, AB, Canada. https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/contact daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/faqs daily 0.75 2026-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/resources daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/anger daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3dffbf04-7c8f-464d-8fd0-0b36274baf90/Anger+Management+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anger - Anger and Aggression Anger is an unavoidable, normal emotion that everyone experiences. Anger is a natural reaction to feeling threatened or experiencing a sense of injustice. When you understand and release your anger, you tend to feel more empowered and at ease when things don't go according to plan. But if you struggle with anger, it can feel like this emotion controls you. Anger management therapy focuses on learning some of the root causes of your anger, triggers that affect your emotions, and healthy coping skills to manage your stress. For anger management therapy, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/acb08ddd-0472-41b2-888c-94a6de9f8d07/Anger+Management+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anger - When Anger Becomes Problematic There's nothing wrong with anger itself. We all feel angry from time to time, especially when we feel betrayed by someone, or when crucial things don't go our way. While your angry feelings are valid, how you express anger can significantly impact your mental health. Intense, uncontrolled anger can lead to serious problems in all areas of your life. Consider the following checklist to assess whether you or a loved one may have an anger problem: Your anger impacts your physical health: Research shows that anger coincides with numerous health risks, such as high blood pressure, gastrointestinal distress, and migraines. Chronic anger can increase the chance of cardiovascular disease or stroke. Your anger negatively affects your relationships: We all know that stereotypical ‘angry person,' and they aren’t pleasant to be around! If you have angry outbursts, there's a good chance that people either withdraw from you, walk on eggshells during conversations, or argue back with you constantly. That's no formula for a healthy relationship! Your anger often seems disproportionate to the situation: Anger is absolutely justified, but if you find that every little thing seems to make you angry, you may struggle with emotional regulation. Anger issues can stem from unresolved trauma or other mental health issues. Your anger causes you to hurt yourself: Some people cope with unresolved anger by taking their rage out on themselves. If you struggle with self-harm, substance use, or another type of compulsive behaviour, it may be a sign that you can't manage anger effectively. You consistently have negative thought patterns: Anger can seriously distort your thinking, causing you to be excessively judgmental of yourself and others. These thought patterns can lead to numerous problems in relationships, at work, or in executing basic tasks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f769782d-189e-401d-842f-1137605fe1a8/Anger+Management+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anger - What Makes Anger Such a Challenging Emotion? Anger is often a secondary emotion to other emotions like sadness, fear, guilt, betrayal, or shame. The next time you feel angry, ask yourself: what other emotions am I experiencing now? What thoughts am I having about these emotions? Anger can also be challenging because we live in a world that often encourages us to suppress, downplay, or rationalize how we feel. We associate anger as "bad," and the idea of expressing anger often feels foreign. Finally, many people struggle with anger because they've had poor experiences with anger in the past. Maybe they grew up with an emotionally or physically abusive caregiver. Perhaps they associate anger with violence or threats or silent treatment. Learning to work through your own anger problems sometimes means gently confronting your perceptions of anger and how people have used anger to hurt you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f942be23-ba6c-4dc7-a0d0-623d6bf6d361/Anger+Management+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anger - Common Anger Management Strategies After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will learn about human psychology (we call this psychoeducation) and will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Common include: understanding anger and its functional purpose in daily life learning to identify triggers that cause or exacerbate anger practicing social skills to improve communication with others incorporating relaxation techniques to practice when feeling angry identifying healthier coping skills to solve problems or reduce stress Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as “maintenance.” People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/61266336-982f-4e0e-ae5a-b82251127519/Anger+Management+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anger - Anger Management Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Anger Management Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/7430cac4-60b9-48a1-98ce-ea896ff98b10/Anger+Management+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anger - Anger Management Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are ineligible for direct billing in the majority of cases (this means the cost of service will be out of pocket). If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/anxiety daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/11ed69b8-d162-42e8-93d6-6ba66d8d41a4/Anxiety+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anxiety - Anxiety Do you feel like your mind is constantly racing? Is it hard to concentrate or pay attention to a task because you feel so worried? Do you experience a fixed sense of dread? If so, you may struggle with anxiety. While it's absolutely normal to feel worried about the future, excessive anxiety makes it difficult to stay present in your life. Untreated anxiety often interferes with both your physical and mental health, and it can disrupt everything from your academic performance to your self-esteem to your relationships. Fortunately, anxiety is treatable, and the right therapy can significantly improve your emotional well-being. To begin therapy for anxiety, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9afabf6a-76e1-464d-bd1a-4abaa5168dea/Anxiety+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anxiety - Signs Anxiety May Be Seriously Impacting Your Life You constantly assume something bad will happen: Life is full of twists and turns, but if you feel a persistent sense of dread in your daily life, that level of anxiety makes it hard to stay present or even think rationally. You may be apathetic or cynical because you automatically believe you're doomed. You struggle in social settings: Anxiety can coincide with low self-esteem, and many people with anxiety feel worried about what others think of them. You may find yourself avoiding certain social settings or constantly pleasing others to try to make them happy. You can’t sleep well: Many people with anxiety experience sleep problems like insomnia or nightmares. In addition, sleep deprivation can disrupt your emotional regulation, which can exacerbate your anxiety symptoms. You feel like you can’t turn your mind off: Some people with anxiety describe their emotional state as frantic or hypervigilant. If this is the case for you, it may feel like you can't think logically because your mind is so full of worry. You avoid anxiety-provoking situations: Anxiety can result in people wanting to miss school, work, or other types of commitments because they feel so nervous. However, these avoidance behaviours often lead to more anxiety in the long run. You cope with anxiety in harmful ways: Self-harm, disordered eating, substance use, or violence all represent various ways people sometimes cope with their emotions. Sometimes the anxiety symptoms feel so intense that you don't know what else to do to release them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/7e6b1884-ed18-43c8-af04-3c1bb0b20f1a/Anxiety+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anxiety - Understanding The Common Types of Anxiety Generalized anxiety: Generalized anxiety is non-specific. People with this type of anxiety experience intensified worry without a specific reason. Social anxiety: Social anxiety causes people to feel unsafe, anxious, or overly self-conscious in social settings. You might doubt that others genuinely like you, and you may feel especially afraid to speak in public or make new friends. Illness anxiety: Illness anxiety refers to having a disproportionate fear of getting sick or already being sick. You may feel intensely worried about your health even if you only experience minor physical symptoms. Specific phobias: Specific phobias refer to localized anxiety about a certain situation or object. There are many kinds of phobias, including the fear of flying, fear of spiders, or fear of the dark. Panic disorder: Panic disorder refers to persistent, unexpected panic attacks. The fear of panic attacks can lead you to feel anxious in your surroundings, and it sometimes causes people to withdraw from social settings. Perfectionism: Although it isn't a clinical anxiety disorder, perfectionism is often a cover for high levels of anxiety. Students or working professionals who struggle with perfectionism often feel immense pressure to perform well, and they worry they will be unloved or 'lose control' if they don't meet their unrealistic expectations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/988ba618-59bb-44ba-ae38-015116705f67/Anxiety+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anxiety - Your Anxiety Treatment Plan Research shows that therapy is one of the best treatment options for anxiety. Although everyone's treatment looks different, some of the main therapy goals will include: Recognizing your anxiety triggers: Anxiety can sometimes happen randomly, but fear is often paired with specific situations or feelings. Recognizing these patterns can help you feel more empowered in how you choose to react to your anxiety. Practicing cognitive restructuring: Cognitive restructuring is an essential part of cognitive behavioural therapy, and this skill encourages you to challenge your negative thoughts and examine alternative views of thinking. Safely exposing yourself to stressful situations: Exposure therapy is sometimes part of anxiety therapy, and that includes gently confronting feared situations. The more you can handle these stressful moments, the less stressful they tend to feel. Implementing new coping skills: In therapy, you will learn new ways to cope with stress. Ideally, you will integrate these coping skills into your daily routine, and they will help improve your overall emotional state. Developing a relapse prevention plan: You can't cure anxiety, but you can learn to manage it. With that, it's important to be mindful of potential stressors that may exacerbate anxiety in the future. In therapy, you can review such barriers and discuss effective coping strategies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3a02017b-6489-4bdd-9819-0c6ffa465c73/Anxiety+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anxiety - Therapy for Anxiety Management in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Anxiety Management Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9e964f5b-2b62-457b-9a13-f2bd4b1ec75d/Anxiety+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Anxiety - Therapy for Anxiety Management at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/boundaries daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/16e10ce4-5a89-4b48-bbde-3a43c96c5fe8/Boundary+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Boundaries - Boundaries Boundaries refer to the limits we set within ourselves and with other people. When you set boundaries, you convey how you expect others to treat you, which helps you protect your own needs and energy. Setting healthy boundaries is a sign of self-respect, and it's also the foundation for healthy relationships. Always remember that you're entitled to having needs. That said, it's important that you know how to convey those needs appropriately. To begin therapy to improve boundaries, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/229f7452-9619-4ace-ac26-35e4694c7a29/Boundary+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Boundaries - Types of Boundaries in Relationships There are different types of boundaries, and it's important to consider each of these categories when thinking about the relationships you have with other people. Physical boundaries: Physical boundaries refer to the rules you have about your body and touch. For example, what are your limits about hugs or high-fives? When you're spending time with others, how much personal space do you need to have? Emotional boundaries: Emotional boundaries refer to boundaries you have about your feelings and inner world. What does privacy mean to you? What emotions do you choose to disclose to family members or friends? If you need support, who do you turn to? Financial boundaries: Financial boundaries refer to limits around money. If you earn your own income, how do you choose to spend it? If your friend is short on funds, when do you offer to help? When do you refuse to help? Sexual boundaries: Sexual boundaries refer to your limits around sexual behaviour. If you're in a romantic relationship or have sexual partners, it's crucial to review concepts like consent, safe sex, and open communication. Material boundaries: Material boundaries refer to how you use and share your personal belongings. For example, are you willing to loan your friend your laptop for the weekend? When do you offer to share lunch? What items do you refuse to part with? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/94c43ca9-5031-4bef-aaf3-9b5db40c53d9/Boundary+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Boundaries - What Are Healthy vs Unhealthy Boundaries? Healthy boundaries are ultimately clear boundaries. Generally speaking, you feel close to others without being smothered. Some relationships have overly rigid boundaries. It's like there's a massive wall between you and the other person. When that's the case, there's no space for flexibility or creativity. Other relationships have more blurred boundaries. When this happens, enmeshment can occur. Enmeshment refers to overly close boundaries. It's hard to separate your emotions and needs from the other person. You may feel like your privacy is consistently being violated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/10c5e249-df93-48c7-960a-600e0b77bc9e/Boundary+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Boundaries - What Makes Setting Boundaries Difficult? Most people know that healthy boundaries are essential for their self-esteem and emotional wellbeing. But that doesn't mean it's easy to set these limits. Here are some obstacles that might be getting in the way of your relationship boundaries. Frequent modelling of unhealthy boundaries: Did you watch people set healthy boundaries when you were growing up? Do you know what a healthy relationship looks like? If you experienced trauma or challenging family dynamics, boundaries may feel challenging. People-pleasing behaviour: Maybe you feel guilty telling other people no. Or you worry that setting boundaries means you're selfish or arrogant. If that's the case, you might avoid having limits because you don't want to hurt others. Low self-esteem: People with low self-esteem often struggle to believe they are worth setting boundaries. They often feel uncomfortable recognizing that they have needs and personal limits in the first place! Rejection: If someone has rejected your boundaries in the past, you might hesitate to set them again. You might assume that people will either laugh at, ignore, or step over your boundaries regardless. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/96e0bcaf-f10c-4d54-899d-20c94dbb91e9/Boundary+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Boundaries - What Does Therapy for Setting Boundaries Actually Look Like? If you don't look after your own needs and set boundaries with others, you risk experiencing resentment, toxic relationships, and emotional exhaustion. You also risk repeating negative relationship patterns in the future. Therapy starts by first focusing on self-respect. How do you want to treat yourself? Then, it moves into identifying your needs and values in relationships. How do you want other people to treat you? What kinds of actions are non-negotiable? Therapy may also examine your family dynamics. How did other people's boundaries (or lack thereof) affect your own sense of limits? Do you know what boundaries in positive relationships actually look like? Did you grow up in a home where people could respect others' boundaries - or were poor boundaries the norm? Creating boundaries doesn't usually happen overnight but learning to do this work is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/74baf96d-a364-4c57-8574-d76f91532475/Boundary+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Boundaries - Therapy for Boundary Setting in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Boundary Setting Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to set effective boundaries. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f430cee5-47a5-451f-aa2e-2128900fbf52/Boundary+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Boundaries - Therapy for Boundary Setting at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/bullying daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/6a13835f-d84f-40d1-8bd6-f4fdea27c652/Bullying+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Bullying - Bullying About 1 in 2 Canadian parents report that at least one of their children has been a victim of bullying. It’s a pervasive problem that affects people of all ages and demographics, and it can have lasting effects on a child’s mental health. To begin therapy to address bullying, book with: Amy Parsons (children and teens) D’Arcy Arseneau (children and teens) Darleen Davis (children) Dayirai Kapfunde (children and teens - virtual only) Kenneth Guye (teens - virtual only) Kim Cardinal (children and teens) Lyndsy Stevenson (teens) Samantha LeBlanc (children and teens) Sarah Callin (teens) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/6cfe9ce8-0ef5-4f47-8f7a-0d3f4b81caa1/Bullying+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Bullying - How Bullying Impacts Children and Teenagers Some people wrongfully believe that bullying is just a cliched rite of passage or a normal part of growing up. While bullying is common, it is considered a type of abuse, and it should never be dismissed or taken lightly. Bullying can impact people in many ways, including: Low self-esteem: As children grow up, they become more reliant on their peer group for a sense of support and social acceptance. When people their age turn against them (as is the case in bullying), they often react by feeling deeply ashamed. They may believe that the bully is right, and that they really are a bad or flawed person. Unhealthy coping mechanisms: Many people cope with bullying by trying to numb or escape their pain. Children with histories of bullying may be at an increased risk for self-harm, disordered eating, substance use, and other compulsive behaviours. School avoidance: A child being cyberbullied or bullied at school directly may not want to go to school altogether. Logistically, this makes complete sense. When we suspect we're in immediate danger, we want to avoid that triggering place. Suicide risk: Suicide is a serious epidemic among young people. Research shows that bullied victims are 2-9x more likely to experience suicidal ideation than non-victims. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2944dae9-c00f-4284-b46a-2441dd62856e/Bullying+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Bullying - Know the Warning Signs of Bullying It's important to note that you might not recognize if your child is being bullied. Many kids won't outright say “this person is bullying me.” Instead, they will show other behavioural changes, like: refusing to go to school feigning sickness or complaining of headaches or stomach problems losing interest in school, sports, or other extracurricular activities not wanting to use social media at all (or wanting to use it significantly more) changes in eating habits regressive behaviour (particularly in younger children) Keep in mind that children may feel humiliated about the situation. They might not want their parents to get overly involved because they fear the bullying will only get worse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/99b026db-1fb5-4526-9ad9-d7f3adda4f56/Bullying+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Bullying - How Can Parents Help Their Bullied Child? Listen compassionately: All children need to know that they are safe talking about their stress at home. So, if they start talking to you about something concerning, drop what you're doing and listen thoughtfully and intentionally. It's so important that your child knows their feelings are safe with you. Validate any feelings of anger, fear, or shame, and acknowledge that there are no "wrong" feelings during this time. Collaborate on solutions together: Your child might have ideas about how to handle the bullying, and you should talk to them about what they think would be best for dealing with this situation. It may also be helpful to review various coping skills they can use to manage bullying-related stress. That said, it's also important to avoid blaming your child (or acting like they've done something to “cause” the bullying). While it's great for kids to problem-solve, it isn't fair for them to feel responsible for the abuse. Always remind your child that bullying is not their fault and that you are there to help and love them. Get other adults involved: If bullying is happening at school, don't assume that school personnel know what's going on. It's important that you highlight the situation so the right staff can monitor appropriately. Keep following up. As a parent, you are your child's greatest advocate, and staying connected to what's going on is one of the best ways you can help improve the situation. Any type of childhood trauma can have profound effects on a child's well-being, personal growth, and physical health. However, that doesn't mean your child is doomed to suffer. There is no one-size-fits-all healing process, but it's important for children and teenagers to have a safe place to share their feelings, and therapy offers that environment. Therapy will also focus on providing support, removing self-blame, and implementing healthy coping skills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2a8a9eb-d7f7-4d2b-b290-344c383e0f98/Bullying+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Bullying - Child Therapy for Bullying in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Your Child Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your child’s first appointment, the therapist will meet with you and your child for a quick introduction. After this, the therapist will meet with your child one-on-one (don’t worry, if your child wants you to stay it’s okay). The therapist will ask your child questions to better understand how bullying has been impacting their life. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much your child shares, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps the therapist identify your child’s needs and develop an appropriate treatment plan. At the end of each appointment, you will be invited back to review of what occurred during the appointment. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins. In the treatment phase, your child will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement. Most children will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/5f11356e-829f-40ea-a4d8-ed449c1a3da3/Bullying+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Bullying - Child Therapy for Bullying at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/depression daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/5856112b-7ce7-437d-af45-9171a86af42e/Depression+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Depression - Depression Depression isn't just about feeling sad or wanting to isolate yourself from other people. It's a serious condition that impacts how you think, feel, and relate to others. Untreated depression can lead to numerous physical and emotional issues. While the onset of depression can happen at any time in life, symptoms often first emerge during adolescence. It's estimated that 10% of 15-24 year-olds experience depression symptoms, and one in seven experience suicidal thoughts. These figures may be inaccurate, as many people avoid disclosing their mental health struggles because they fear being judged. Fortunately, even severe depression is treatable, and you can learn how to manage your symptoms and live a fulfilling life. To begin therapy to treat depression, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a8346936-8078-48e5-b060-1364e1292aa1/Depression+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Depression - Common Symptoms of Depression Depression looks different for everyone, and symptoms can either occur gradually or very quickly. Like all mental health conditions, depression exists on a spectrum. Some people have milder cases, and others have more severe conditions. Keep in mind that depression doesn't have a stereotypical look. Sometimes depression is obvious, but many people are skilled at masking how they feel to the outside world. Apathy: Apathy refers to a general sense of numbness. There's a persistent lack of pleasure or motivation. When you feel apathetic, you don't care about anything. School, friends, and personal hygiene may all seem unimportant - as a result, you no longer enjoy the activities that once brought you pleasure. Sleep issues: Depression can coincide with insomnia or sleeping too much. You may also experience sleep disturbances like nightmares. Along with these sleep issues, there's often an increased sense of fatigue throughout the day. Self-harm: Self-harm includes any intentional action to hurt yourself. You may self-harm to soothe depressive symptoms or to punish yourself. The more self-harm, the more depressed you tend to feel. Guilt or feelings of worthlessness: People with depression often blame themselves when things go wrong, and they may ruminate over their perceived flaws. You may also struggle with profound feelings of inferiority or inadequacy. Addictive behaviours: Many people abuse substances to self-medicate depression symptoms. Drugs and alcohol offer immediate relief, but they don't treat depression in the long term. In addition, compulsive behaviours often worsen depression. Physical problems: People with depression may experience increased chronic pain symptoms like headaches, gastrointestinal distress, back pain, and excess body tension. You may notice new aches without knowing where they come from. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/4c9930ac-d380-4901-a273-818d4b6eb247/Depression+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Depression - How to Treat Depression Depression is a complex issue, and treatment isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to care. Depression treatment may include a combination of therapy, medication, support groups, and healthy lifestyle changes. At Boreal Therapy Collective, treatment for depression often includes focusing on the following goals: Crisis intervention: If you or your loved one is experiencing suicide symptoms, it's important to assess the situation and ensure we can stabilize the most severe symptoms. Although some people believe that asking about suicide encourages suicide attempts, research shows the opposite is true. Having tough conversations is often the first step toward helping people feel better. Positive unconditional support: It's important that you have a safe place where you can process your feelings without worrying about being judged. This is what makes therapy so healing. Your therapist is in your corner and rooting for your success. Gaining insight into your triggers: Certain people or situations may aggravate depressive symptoms, so it's important to become aware of these triggers. Once you recognize them, you can take steps to manage them appropriately. Strengthening social supports: Depression doesn't exist in isolation, and treatment may include enlisting family members, teachers, and other external resources for support. Building self-esteem and confidence: Developing a positive self-image can ease depression symptoms and promote feelings of excitement and joy. Practicing stress management: Learning how to cope with stressful situations can help you feel less depressed when life gets tough. Stress management may include skills like cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, and practicing healthy self-care. Practicing more self-compassion: People with depression are often very hard on themselves. Learning to combat some of that negative self-talk with kindness can help you feel more confident as you work on your mental health. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/7f839c81-19c8-464b-aa50-ef9e1554b141/Depression+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Depression - Therapy for Depression in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Depression Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ca68d41e-ff7f-442f-bb2f-ec4839934902/Depression+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Depression - Therapy for Depression at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/distress-tolerance daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/06ef0683-9ff8-4c60-870c-2ce0ec79a4f9/Distress+Tolerance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Distress Tolerance - Distress Tolerance We all experience intense emotions from time to time. Distress tolerance refers to your ability to manage these emotions without making the situation worse. People with poor distress tolerance struggle to cope with certain emotions. They can react in destructive, self-sabotaging patterns, and they can hurt both themselves and others. However, you can improve your ability to tolerate distress. Every time you're presented with emotional pain, you're also presented with an opportunity to cope with that situation. To begin therapy to improve distress tolerance, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/61375c34-190a-4db8-96fc-4f616337975e/Distress+Tolerance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Distress Tolerance - How Poor Distress Tolerance Affects Your Well-Being If you don't know how to cope with emotional pain, it can feel like your emotions control you, rather than the other way around. It's like you're at the mercy of your own discomfort, and this can cause you to feel constantly overwhelmed, frustrated, or alone. Low self-esteem: Consistently sabotaging your own well-being can wreak havoc on your self-esteem. It's hard to feel good about yourself when you feel like you can't tolerate your emotions. Unstable relationships: Low distress tolerance often makes it difficult to accept differences or conflicts in relationships. You may find that you struggle to trust others or that you become emotionally reactive when people do something you don't like. Compulsive behaviour: People may turn to substance abuse, self-harm, or other compulsive actions to manage stress. But engaging in these behaviours makes it even harder to manage your emotions. When you always turn to numbing or heightening an emotion, you don’t give yourself the opportunity to really practice coping. Extreme emotional distress: Poor distress tolerance can elevate ordinary emotions into emotional crises. The mere presence of difficult emotions can send you into a downward spiral. A mildly stressful situation feels like an actual crisis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b1ec8c7f-756b-4d48-98bf-35678733de2d/Distress+Tolerance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Distress Tolerance - Distress Tolerance Techniques Many strategies can help you self-soothe and manage your emotions. Every time you choose healthier choices over unhealthy behaviours, you reinforce your ability to practice distress tolerance skills. Distracting activities: In some cases, distracting yourself can help you feel better. Consider making a list of distracting activities (taking a walk, listening to music, cooking a meal) that you can refer to when you're in an acute state of distress. Self-soothing techniques: Try to engage in activities that soothe one or more of your five senses. Taking a hot bath, wrapping yourself up in a comfortable blanket, or smelling your favourite lotion are all simple techniques that can help you feel more grounded. Physical activity: Some people find that moving their bodies helps them release their emotional stress. Consider engaging in a brief, intense exercise the next time you feel overwhelmed. Cost-benefit analysis: Consider measuring the pros and cons of tolerating distress. For example, what are the benefits of a certain destructive behaviour? What are the risks? This type of cognitive activity can help you think through the short-term and long-term consequences. Radical acceptance: Distress tolerance also comes down to accepting that certain emotions and situations just are. Rather than trying to change the outcome, try to focus on accepting that situation for what it is. Practicing radical acceptance also helps with self-soothing and overall emotional regulation. Opposite emotions: Think about what emotion you're currently experiencing, and then try to consider the opposite emotion to it. For example, if you feel sad, consider spending time with your best friend who tends to cheer you up and make you feel happy. Focus on others: Although it's helpful to practice self-care, many people also find they feel better when they focus on helping someone else. Doing so can give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. You may feel connected to a purpose greater than yourself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/afbeb7c2-9684-4d2c-b9bc-4cc68a679439/Distress+Tolerance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Distress Tolerance - Learning Distress Tolerance Skills You shouldn't have to feel like your life is just one emotional crisis after another. No matter how you tolerate distressing situations, therapy can help you better navigate your emotions. Dialectical behavioural therapy skills can be especially helpful if your distress tolerance coincides with a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, or substance use disorders. It's important to note that stressful situations are unavoidable in life. The goal isn't to eliminate all sources of stress. However, learning how to cope with uncomfortable emotions and limit or avoid impulsive behaviour can help you feel more empowered. Therapy for distress tolerance focuses on increasing self-awareness, strengthening emotion regulation, and implementing healthy coping skills. There is no such thing as negative emotions, and practicing distress tolerance helps you feel more comfortable with how you react to stressors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/46cc8661-d8e4-4ceb-af07-e5805de227aa/Distress+Tolerance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Distress Tolerance - Therapy for Distress Tolerance in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Distress Tolerance Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/655535ef-1758-42fd-9858-11b8b305b14a/Distress+Tolerance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Distress Tolerance - Therapy for Distress Tolerance at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/divorce-and-separation daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/0a984984-b6bc-4c72-a156-4308d974dd3d/Divorce+and+Separation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Divorce and Separation - Divorce and Separation Divorce isn’t easy for anyone in the family. If you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage (or you are already in the divorce process), you may be concerned about how this decision affects your child's well-being. To begin therapy to navigate a separation or divorce, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e382af5d-759c-4292-994e-536c84ec56fb/Divorce+and+Separation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Divorce and Separation - How Divorce and Separation Impact Children Children and teenagers don't always show their emotions in the same ways adults do. But you should still pay close attention to their moods and behaviours in the weeks and months after a divorce. Some of the main warning signs include: regressive behaviour (acting younger than their actual age - this is more common in younger children) separation anxiety changes in sleep or eating habits academic problems withdrawal from family members or friends intense anger and rage toward the family signs of self-harm or substance abuse increased emotional sensitivity feelings of guilt or blaming themselves more physical health problems cynicism toward marriage, relationships, and a secure family dynamic other anxiety or depression symptoms If you're a parent concerned about your child's emotional state, keep in mind that every child copes with this transition differently. If you have multiple children, you may see very different reactions from all of them. The goal of transitioning from divorce isn't to try to fix how a child feels or naively promise a better future. Instead, the goal is to provide a supportive emotional space where your children can come to you with their fears and needs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ab9376ef-cd89-436d-b9e1-d05cef7101a7/Divorce+and+Separation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Divorce and Separation - How Can Parents Help Their Children Cope With Divorce? Parents and children alike face personal challenges when a marriage ends. It can be difficult to manage their feelings while also coping with your own intense reactions right now. Here are some ways to remain supportive: Encourage your child to talk openly with you: It's important to answer their questions and be a source of emotional support during this time. Understand that children may blame themselves or assume they did something wrong. Continue reassuring them that the relationship ending wasn't their fault. Communicate directly and together: If at all possible, try to talk about the separation or divorce together with your spouse. Plan for this conversation in advance. Aim to be amicable and honest without sharing unnecessary details. Aim to keep routines intact: Try to prioritize structure and consistency as much as you can. This sense of predictability doesn't fix the feelings, but it can help children feel a sense of control and empowerment as the rest of their lives change. Avoid speaking negatively about the other parent: Don't badmouth your ex-spouse or demean their parenting. If you have an issue with something they've done, don't use your children as messengers. Likewise, try to avoid arguing in front of the kids as much as possible. Doing so only adds to their tension and discomfort. Don't abandon your rules or expectations: Some parents feel so guilty about getting divorced that they try to compensate for it by taking a more lax parenting approach. This may provide immediate relief in the short term, but it only complicates your family dynamic. Your children need you to uphold your boundaries and model a sense of consistency. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ed436ab9-6b55-4c41-a93b-3c8feec77fc7/Divorce+and+Separation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Divorce and Separation - Therapy for Divorced Families Therapy for divorcing parents or divorced families can take many forms, and it depends on where you are in the separation phase. For example, if you're on the fence about separation, you and your partner may want to consider couple’s therapy. This type of therapy can help you strengthen your communication, establish new relationship goals, and decide whether you want to stay together. If your partner is unwilling to seek professional support, consider getting your own therapy. You might need to review the pros and cons of staying in your marriage - and if you're thinking about leaving, you may need emotional support in determining which logistics you need to iron out. Some therapists also recommend family therapy, particularly if the child is 'acting out' or exhibiting intense emotional distress. A child's mental health is often indicative of difficulties within the family dynamic, and a therapist can help you all come together to build a healthier support system with one another. Finally, teenagers often need their own private space to process their emotions and explore their grief about their changing family unit. If they feel stuck, depressed, or anxious, therapy offers a compassionate environment to focus and identify new coping skills. We are here for you and your family during this difficult time. No matter how your life is changing, the right support can make the transition easier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2ff90287-cd90-4ff0-acee-a71ffde8f901/Divorce+and+Separation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Divorce and Separation - Therapy for Divorce and Separation in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Divorce or Separation Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to improve coping. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/6d5b17f5-3bac-43ff-8a8f-e4aeb2abd330/Divorce+and+Separation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Divorce and Separation - Therapy for Divorce and Separation at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/emotion-regulation daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/059d3342-6162-47f6-9bcf-f13060c8f4aa/Emotion+Regulation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotion Regulation - Emotion Regulation How do you cope with intense emotions? When you get stressed, how do you typically react? Do you ever struggle with aggression or compulsive behaviour or poor communication? If so, these issues are likely rooted in poor emotional regulation. Regulating emotions is a complex skill that requires identifying your emotions, recognizing the urges you have to deal with that emotion (ex: the urge to yell when you feel angry), and determining whether you respond to that urge. To begin therapy to improve emotion regulation, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/90c41dd1-8299-442e-9a16-00c55bb41d91/Emotion+Regulation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotion Regulation - How Do You Know if You Struggle With Emotion Regulation? People sometimes believe that they feel too deeply, or that their emotions are too big. But it's important to remember that emotions are natural reactions to internal or external stimuli. Rather than the emotions themselves, it's more about how you respond to your emotions that determines your mental health. Problems with emotional regulation can start in the early years, and they may progress through adolescence and adulthood. Nearly every type of mental health issue coincides with emotional regulation difficulties, although these difficulties exist on a large spectrum. When someone struggles with their emotional reactions, they often face difficulties in their relationships. Other people may describe them as hostile, temperamental, moody, or unpredictable. They may also face problems in school or in work, and their physical health may suffer because of the excess stress. You perpetually feel overwhelmed: No matter what's going on in life, you feel like you can't manage the stress. It always feels like things are falling apart, and you often don't know how to cope when something is outside of your control. You have high levels of shame: You don't feel like you're good enough, and you experience ongoing self-doubt and low self-esteem. When you make a mistake, you assume it's because you're fundamentally flawed. Concepts of self-compassion or forgiveness often feel foreign to you. You often feel angry with other people: You often feel disrespected or as if other people don't understand you. Even well-intentioned feedback can make you feel upset, and it's hard for you to open up or trust others. You don't treat yourself kindly: Emotional dysregulation often goes hand-in-hand with issues like substance abuse, eating disorders, self-harm, and violence. These strategies are all methods for dealing with strong emotions. You often self-sabotage: People who struggle with their emotions may harm themselves before the outside world causes them more distress. The self-sabotage pattern acts to maintain a status quo and avoid undesirable outcomes associated with change or growth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d6f301a6-0b51-42a4-8bdb-e0774a65c837/Emotion+Regulation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotion Regulation - How Can You Learn to Regulate Emotions Better? Familiarizing yourself with your own emotions often feels strange at first. You've probably spent most of your life trying to avoid, suppress, or change how you feel. The idea of sitting with or even accepting uncomfortable emotions may seem overwhelming. It's true that emotional regulation skills may first feel awkward. But the more you practice them, the more intuitive they become. Stop labelling emotions as good or bad: We're conditioned to believe there are positive and negative emotions. But all emotions have a functional purpose. Even guilt, anger, and fear are necessary, and they help us understand our values and needs in life. Instead of thinking of emotions as either good or bad, remember that they are all valid. Practice pausing: We often respond automatically to our emotions. Maybe you eat ice cream when you feel sad, or scream at your mom when you feel angry. But what if you could increase the space between your feeling and your action? When you practice pausing between an emotion and an emotional response, you have immense freedom over your next action. Increase mindfulness: Healthy emotion regulation often means getting more in touch with your emotions. If you want to feel emotionally well, you need to feel your feelings! Try to get in the habit of recognizing how emotions feel in your body. When you notice an uncomfortable sensation, acknowledge it for what it is, rather than trying to pretend it doesn't exist. Nurture yourself when you experience emotional distress: Consider changing how you talk to yourself when you feel angry or upset. Emotional control often comes down to self-kindness. When you can affirm that you're only a human having an emotional reaction, it's easier to let go of perfectionism, rigidity, and excess stress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/efe80576-7501-4a37-9157-02fcccefd89a/Emotion+Regulation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotion Regulation - Therapy for Emotional Regulation Skills in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Emotion Regulation Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f8f4a8a6-0ed5-4ad0-9090-d5d3f9c8a4a2/Emotion+Regulation+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotion Regulation - Therapy for Emotion Regulation Skills at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/family-violence daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/61207e78-7e57-4119-a237-355b402c7bd9/Family+Violence+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Family Violence - Family Violence Domestic or family violence is a serious issue that affects millions of people worldwide. This type of violent behaviour can be physical, but it can also be emotional, psychological, economic, legal, and spiritual. While domestic violence is a rampant problem, it's often undetected and misunderstood. Many abusers engage in multiple types of abuse against their victims, and some children grow up believing this treatment is normal. All types of family violence are dangerous and unacceptable. If you believe you're experiencing any kind of domestic abuse, help and support are available. To begin therapy, book with: Amy Parsons Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/da685e12-21bf-472f-89aa-d3b9dce08533/Family+Violence+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Family Violence - Types of Family Violence Family violence includes a diverse range of behaviours committed by one family member against another family member. The behaviours are intended to obtain (or maintain) a sense of power and control within the household. Some perpetrators are aware of their abusive patterns - and some will seek professional support - but many will deny, rationalize, or downright lie about their actions. Family violence is multifaceted, but it can include: Any type of physical abuse, including hitting, kicking, pushing, or otherwise using bodily force against someone else. Sexual abuse of any kind Intentionally destroying or violating someone else's personal property Engaging in specific behaviours designed to make family members feel unsafe Name-calling, criticizing, or berating someone else's behaviour Neglect, such as failing to provide basic items like water, food, clothing, medicine, shelter, and safe supervision Exploitation, such as using someone else for financial gain or other emotional needs Many perpetrators and victims of family violence attempt to conceal the violence or deny the severity of abuse within the household. Some try to convince the children that they're overreacting to what they have witnessed. Family members might also use threats, guilt, and other forms of emotional manipulation to convince people to remain quiet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a2b7728f-0dfe-45f7-983c-137ccc5894f4/Family+Violence+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Family Violence - What Should You Do If You're Being Abused by a Family Member? If you recognize that abuse is happening in your home, it's normal to feel frightened, angry, and confused. You may worry that talking about the situation will make things worse. It's important to note that abusive relationships rarely improve on their own. If an adult is using emotional or physical violence against you, it's unlikely they will just stop. There are laws against child abuse, and children are federally protected under the Criminal Code. Each province and territory has distinct laws to protect children from domestic violence. It is always against the law to assault someone or threaten to assault someone, regardless of their age. Professionals who work with children and teenagers are mandated reporters, which means they must report child abuse if they know or suspect someone is in danger. Even though this can sound scary, this protection is meant to help keep you safe. If someone at home is hurting you or another person, it's important to speak up about what's going on. Consider telling a trusted adult, whether that's a teacher, coach, friend's parent, or your therapist. Abuse is never your fault, even if an abuser wants you to believe it is. If you are looking for immediate support, please check our list of resources here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c078b538-b4db-4af5-acd0-53ce5dc080ba/Family+Violence+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Family Violence - Therapy for Family Violence Survivors of family violence often experience anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms. Children, in particular, may act out in school or with friends. They may have a hard time trusting adults, and they might engage in bullying behaviour. Therapy can help family violence victims gain control over their lives. Treatment may include a combination of safety planning, talk therapy, support groups, and learning healthy coping strategies. Young children may benefit from play therapy, and teenagers often need a safe place to explore their feelings and manage unwanted mental health symptoms. Violent behaviour is unacceptable, and you deserve to have healthy relationships with your loved ones. If you need support for domestic violence, we are here for you or your child. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c0a6513a-0050-478b-9ac2-430b19dc4072/Family+Violence+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Family Violence - Family Violence Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will validated and introduced to a variety of skills to support your mental health and wellness. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f81174c1-218e-44a3-96c3-9de60fd09876/Family+Violence+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Family Violence - Family Violence Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/intrusive-thoughts daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/0f9f7529-019b-4248-960c-a3e336ea7477/Intrusive+Thoughts+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Intrusive Thoughts - Intrusive Thoughts Intrusive thoughts refer to unwanted thoughts or graphic images that you experience without prompting or warning. These thoughts often happen randomly, and they can be repetitive in nature. There's no doubt that intrusive thoughts feel distressing and disturbing. You don't like what you're thinking about, and you may feel ashamed, disgusted, afraid, and angry. You might also worry that the presence of these thoughts means something is wrong with you. First things first, nothing is wrong with you. Research shows that a staggering 94% of people have intrusive thoughts! But if they affect your quality of life, it may be time to take a deeper look at what's going on. To begin therapy to treat intrusive thoughts, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3db3dccc-ebcb-4192-b4bb-6b9cc3c350de/Intrusive+Thoughts+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Intrusive Thoughts - Can You Get Rid of Intrusive Thoughts? You can't avoid the thoughts that pop into your head. Most of the time, they're completely automatic, although they may sometimes be triggered by anxiety or stress. It's also possible that intrusive thoughts are simply wired into our survival systems. Our brain is primed to think negatively - it's part of our fight-or-flight system, and that system is essential for ensuring our safety. Intrusive thoughts may simply be your brain processing perceived threats. While you can't necessarily stop intrusive thoughts from happening, you can improve how you think about and manage your thoughts. Ultimately, it comes down to recognizing that thoughts are just thoughts, and they can be challenged or changed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b8f29bd1-379b-458f-812a-dacf3d81f15e/Intrusive+Thoughts+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Intrusive Thoughts - When Are Intrusive Thoughts Problematic? Intrusive thoughts are not inherently bad, especially if you can identify them as random and unhelpful to your daily life. But they can become problematic when they accompany other mental health issues or cause you to act out in unhelpful ways. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): People with OCD experience intrusive thoughts that create significant distress. These intrusive thoughts might include fears of contamination, a need for order, and aggressive thoughts about losing control. You then engage in compulsive, ritualistic behaviours to try to mitigate these disturbing thoughts. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Intrusive thoughts in PTSD may look like reliving the traumatic event (having flashbacks or nightmares) or experiencing ongoing anxiety about the trauma happening again. Avoidance behaviours: Some people with intrusive thoughts assume that a specific disturbing thought indicates reality. For example, if you fear that you might hurt your baby sister, you avoid spending time with her altogether. Or, if you fear that you'll swerve your car into ongoing traffic, you might avoid driving to prevent this from coming true. Eating disorders: Intrusive thoughts about weight gain, poor body image, or eating can cause and maintain eating disorders. Engaging in disordered eating can also trigger more intrusive thoughts about control and perfectionism. Anxiety disorders: People with anxiety disorders often have intrusive thoughts related to losing control or something bad happening. Anxiety can cause you to miscalculate a minor stressor to be a significant catastrophe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cdfa085b-7721-46e5-b287-07e67dbd9389/Intrusive+Thoughts+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Intrusive Thoughts - How Can You Manage Intrusive Thoughts? Intrusive thoughts are so powerful because they tend to linger and fester in your mind. The thought feels more and more real, and it heightens a sense of fear. The first step is recognizing that no intrusive thought is inherently objective. That's because thoughts are always subjective, and you can learn how to examine them more critically. Cognitive-behavioural therapy: CBT focuses on decreasing your sensitivity to intrusive thoughts. You will learn more about the pattern between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and you will explore different ways to cope with intrusive thoughts when they arise. Mindfulness: Learning to stay in the present moment can help decrease the intensity of an intrusive thought. Paradoxically, accepting intrusive thoughts often makes them feel less debilitating or severe. Some people find it helpful to simply note, “I am having an intrusive thought right now. This is disturbing, but it is not real”. Stress management: Many people find themselves having more obsessive thoughts or problematic repetitive behaviours during stressful times. Learning how to reduce stress by increasing self-care and improving negative thought patterns is always a good idea. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/8e136205-52da-467d-aa89-00a156c2162c/Intrusive+Thoughts+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Intrusive Thoughts - When to Seek Therapy for Intrusive Thoughts If you're experiencing unwanted intrusive thoughts, you're not alone. Thoughts happen, and if you can recognize them as simply being unwanted or undesirable, they probably won't have much of an impact on your functioning. But if intrusive thoughts affect your everyday life or cause you to engage in dangerous or violent acts, it's important to assess if there's a more serious underlying problem. Professional treatment can help you manage these thoughts. We recognize the relationship between intrusive thoughts and certain mental health conditions, and we use cognitive-behavioural therapy to help our clients manage their unwanted symptoms. You don't have to suffer alone. We are here for you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/877c0d8a-f8ce-4878-acf1-cb326ff8531f/Intrusive+Thoughts+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Intrusive Thoughts - Therapy for Intrusive Thoughts in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Intrusive Thoughts Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a5372380-4d3b-4fd1-af7d-3fd778b1c417/Intrusive+Thoughts+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Intrusive Thoughts - Therapy for Intrusive Thoughts at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/obsessions-and-compulsions daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2e172a86-23d4-433f-812f-42f7651eb4a7/Obsessions+and+Compulsions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Obsessions and Compulsions - Obsessions and Compulsions OCD is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by the coupling of obsessive thoughts and ritualistic behaviours. OCD symptoms can emerge at any time, but research shows that some of the first symptoms often show up between ages 8-12 years old. To begin therapy to treat obsessions and compulsions, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/7172d566-70f6-4b7a-85d4-8c7cd12ef7f6/Obsessions+and+Compulsions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Obsessions and Compulsions - Understanding Obsessions & Compulsions Obsessions refer to distressing, unwanted thoughts or images that trigger a sense of anxiety. Some of the common types of obsessions include: fear of contamination fear of getting hurt or hurting others obsessions with order, control, and symmetry religious/moral obsessions fear of making mistakes or losing something important Compulsions refer to repetitive behaviours intended to reduce the distress associated with obsessive thoughts. Compulsions may provide some relief, but they are not pleasurable in nature. The person engaging in compulsive behaviour often feels burdened and frustrated by having to perform a specific ritual. Compulsive behaviours may include: excessively checking certain items (locks, doors, appliances) tapping, counting, rubbing, or touching rituals excessively washing or keeping clean keeping things in a specific order and rearranging items performing mental rituals (repeating phrases or prayers or rewriting the same homework assignment multiple times) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3778952d-ce1a-49f6-8a4b-e21e9245c5ad/Obsessions+and+Compulsions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Obsessions and Compulsions - How Does CBT for OCD Work? Obsessive-compulsive disorder is treatable, and early intervention can make a big difference in helping reduce OCD symptoms. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy that helps people gradually confront their feared situations. Therapy sessions for obsessions and compulsions may include: Psychoeducation: It's important to talk about OCD with the client and provide information about how certain symptoms and treatment work. Psychoeducation can also help reduce some of the shame or fear clients feel about therapy. Fear hierarchies: Fear hierarchies rank specific types of fears, with the 'least-feared' situation at the bottom of the hierarchy and the most feared ranked at the top. Clients receiving OCD treatment are encouraged to work through their fear hierarchy to achieve desensitization to their symptoms. Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy consists of confronting distressing thoughts through various types of exposure. Although this may feel distressing at first, the more someone exposes themselves to their fears (while realizing nothing bad happens), the less intense they tend to feel. Response prevention: Response prevention refers to interrupting the usual connection between obsessions and compulsions. The client is asked to not engage in their typical compulsive behaviour and simply face the strong urge. At first, this feels challenging (and sometimes impossible), but over time, people learn that an obsessive thought is just a thought and they don't have to act on it. Self-monitoring: OCD treatment doesn't just happen in the office. It's important to continue practicing these skills in everyday life. Self-monitoring may include a combination of homework assignments or otherwise tracking progress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/1e9f4439-1213-4908-9053-968106d739f4/Obsessions+and+Compulsions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Obsessions and Compulsions - Therapy for Obsessive Impulsive Disorder in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2d88115-2b1f-451b-a52d-3de3ff0133cc/Obsessions+and+Compulsions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Obsessions and Compulsions - Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/school-avoidance daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/579fe191-01a0-4262-bc81-0aa8ad22b80b/School+Avoidance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png School Avoidance - School Avoidance School avoidance is a difficult problem that can be extremely frustrating for children, teens, parents, families, and teachers alike. It is important to try to intervene with this issue as soon as possible. Failing to attend school can have both short and long-term consequences on a child's academic and emotional development. To begin therapy to explore school avoidance, book with: Amy Parsons (children and teens) D’Arcy Arseneau (children and teens) Darleen Davis (children ) Dayirai Kapfunde (children and teens - virtual only) Kenneth Guye (teens - virtual only) Kim Cardinal (children and teens) Lyndsy Stevenson (teens) Samantha LeBlanc (children and teens) Sarah Callin (teens) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/1e25d66f-45cf-4981-986a-3457e9a8162c/School+Avoidance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png School Avoidance - Understanding School Avoidance It's normal for most kids to complain about going to school sometimes. But school avoidance refers to a persistent pattern of trying to avoid going to school or displaying immense anxiety around being in school. Even if the child does go to school most days, they may be frequently late to class because they spend so much time protesting leaving the house or car. These children might cry, throw tantrums, try to lock themselves in their room, or threaten to hurt themselves. They might do whatever it takes to get out of class, such as feigning sickness, trying to visit the school nurse, texting parents begging to leave, or just leaving altogether. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76c65082-f443-4e3a-8716-8318f4ad83fe/School+Avoidance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png School Avoidance - What Causes School Avoidance? Social anxiety: Social anxiety often coincides with school avoidance. School is a breeding ground for many potentially stressful situations, such as speaking in front of a class, interacting with friends at lunch, or talking to teachers. A child who is prone to social anxiety may fear these situations so much that they want to avoid school entirely. Depression: Depression can make it hard to find the motivation to do just about anything. Children with depression might protest going to school because the thought of sitting in class or socializing with others feels emotionally exhausting. Academic-related stress: Concerns about taking tests or other academic-related tasks can lead to school refusal. This may also happen if kids feel immense pressure to get good grades. Avoiding the situation may feel better than facing it head-on. Children with learning disabilities may also be at a heightened risk for this kind of stress, especially if the learning disabilities are not yet diagnosed - or if they aren't receiving proper treatment. Separation anxiety: Although this is common in younger children, children of all ages may refuse to go to school if they are worried about being apart from their caregiver. This can happen if they're worried about the caregiver getting harmed or ill in some way. Stress at home: If home life is stressful, children might feel like they need to be at home to help other family members. Bullying: Bullying is a rampant problem on school campuses, and if the bullying happens at school, it makes sense that a child would want to avoid going. They don't want to be vulnerable to ongoing abuse. Changing schools: Changing schools (even when it's for the better) can be very stressful for kids. If your child hasn't made new friends or doesn't feel comfortable in the new setting, they might protest going to school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d40a3a12-7b77-42d4-830a-b60867af3fe9/School+Avoidance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png School Avoidance - How Does Therapy Help With School Avoidance? School avoidance is a complex problem, and it's usually important to have family members and school personnel involved in the treatment. Early intervention is crucial; like with most phobias, the more someone avoids it, the more problematic it tends to become. If you're starting to notice more and more resistance, consider seeking help. School avoidance is treatable, and therapy often entails compassionately exploring the underlying issues maintaining the refusal. It's important to provide a safe environment where your child can safely express feelings and share concerns about school. Therapy offers that space - while also teaching healthy coping skills, building self-esteem, and practicing more distress tolerance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/32e90ac2-ad00-4c6c-8c7c-6175677d4f63/School+Avoidance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png School Avoidance - Therapy for School Avoidance in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for School Avoidance Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your child’s first appointment, the therapist will meet with you and your child for a quick introduction. After this, the therapist will meet with your child one-on-one (don’t worry, if your child wants you to stay it’s okay). The therapist will ask your child questions to better understand their areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much your child shares, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps the therapist identify your child’s needs and develop an appropriate treatment plan. At the end of each appointment, you will be invited back to review of what occurred during the appointment (including any strategies to practice at home). After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, your child will be introduced to a variety of skills to better manage the symptoms contributing to school avoidance. Most children will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b4401616-5011-45fd-8315-a800db3973bf/School+Avoidance+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png School Avoidance - Therapy for School Avoidance at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/self-esteem daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b806c6f9-76d9-4e07-a001-22c95bc92ec3/Self-Esteem+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Esteem - Self-Esteem A recent poll found that 40% of Canadians report a lack of self-confidence. Low self-esteem doesn’t just feel uncomfortable, and it certainly isn't just a passing phase. Low self-esteem affects every area of life. When you don't value yourself, it's difficult to enjoy close relationships, take healthy risks, and embrace your authentic self. To begin therapy for self-esteem, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a5427a5e-17c5-429a-8462-fa4eeb9022bf/Self-Esteem+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Esteem - What Causes Low Self-Esteem? Self-esteem issues are not random, and they come from a complex combination of macro-level and micro-level variables. Unfortunately, feelings of self-doubt can start as early as young childhood, and negative self-image can persist throughout the lifetime. Unrealistic societal expectations: Society itself often contributes to low self-esteem. For example, many companies prey on people feeling bad about themselves to sell products and services. In addition, social media heightens expectations. People compare themselves to what they see online, and seeing everyone else live seemingly perfect lives may cause you to feel inferior. Teens and adults are particularly susceptible to these effects. Trauma: Any type of trauma can affect your self-esteem. Trauma fundamentally affects your sense of safety in the world. If someone you love betrayed your trust, you might internalize the event to believe you deserved that emotional pain. It's hard to feel confident when you aren't sure who or what you can trust. Unhealthy family dynamics: Sometimes parents unknowingly cause or reinforce self-esteem issues in their children. When families have overly high expectations for their children - or when parents have low self-esteem themselves - children often grow up with little self-respect for themselves. Mental health issues: Although low self-esteem does not inherently cause mental health conditions, it's often a risk factor for depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, eating disorders, and other mental health challenges. These conditions can also perpetuate low self-esteem, which can reinforce a difficult cycle. Unhealthy peer or romantic relationships: We are products of the people we surround ourselves with. If you don't spend time with people who value your self-worth, it's hard to believe in yourself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d72236ec-bb17-4246-9b13-f18f0c2974ba/Self-Esteem+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Esteem - Understanding Self-Esteem Developing healthy self-esteem requires practice, intention, and self-awareness. Self-esteem is a mindset - you must choose to challenge your negative beliefs and learn to value your positive qualities. Many people assume that their self-esteem will naturally improve once a specific event happens. For example, they might believe getting accepted into their dream college or dating their crush will bring them the confidence they desire. These positive moments can definitely make you feel better, but the effects are more short-lived than you realize. Without a healthy self-identity, you risk either adding more pressure on yourself or sabotaging your own success. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/28ac52bb-d428-471a-aa72-5936f7574211/Self-Esteem+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Esteem - How Do You Improve Self-Esteem? Challenge negative thought patterns: Negative thoughts about yourself both cause and maintain low self-esteem. Try to get in the habit of noticing how certain thoughts (I'm such a failure, I'm so ugly, nobody likes me) affect your overall mood. Consider alternative perspectives to these thoughts. You may also want to practice positive affirmations to remind yourself of your inherent worth. Strengthen your social skills: Some people have low self-esteem because they feel socially anxious around others. If that's the case for you, consider how you can work on this anxiety. Mindfulness techniques, positive self-talk, and spending time with people you truly care about can all help you feel better. Own your sense of self: You are a unique person with unique values, strengths, and skills. If you spend all your time trying to be like everybody else, what's left for you? Treating low self-esteem also means knowing your own values and living congruently to them. Practice more self-compassion: Self-esteem comes from remembering that you are only human, and that means you will make mistakes and feel uncomfortable emotions. Self-compassion refers to being kind to yourself and remembering that everyone struggles from time to time. Find healthy role models with high self-esteem: Look for someone in your life who exudes confidence in their own skin. How do they carry themselves? What do they do differently from you? Try to surround yourself with people who have healthy self-esteem! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e6ce6c37-dd9e-4b69-a13c-0e49839e3a35/Self-Esteem+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Esteem - Therapy to Build Self-Esteem in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy to Build Self-Esteem Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/820c8609-596d-4498-aa22-73f3bbdf6086/Self-Esteem+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Esteem - Therapy to Build Self-Esteem at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/self-harm daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2f644a48-da75-40fb-bea2-5ea9e574872f/Self-Harm+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Harm - Self-Harm Self-harm is a complex issue, and it's typically a method people use to cope with their emotional distress or manage mental health symptoms. If you struggle with self-harm, you may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid about what's going on. And if you're a concerned family member, you might also feel these emotions - along with a sense of helplessness. Self-harm is treatable, and seeking support is often the first step toward recovery. To begin therapy to treat self-harm, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samatha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/6760d480-5cd5-42b1-a1cc-c8445ec7346d/Self-Harm+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Harm - Signs of Self-Harm People who self-harm often try to conceal their actions due to shame or fear of getting into trouble. Teenagers, in particular, may not want to worry their parents or be perceived as a burden. You may not be able to explicitly tell if someone is engaging in self-harm, but some of the key signs include: unexplained cuts, scratches, bruises, or scars wearing long sleeves, even in hot weather sudden mood swings or evident signs of depression increased talk about hopelessness or helplessness other compulsive behaviour (disordered eating, substance abuse) spending more time alone and isolated from other people People can self-harm anywhere on the body, but the arms, legs, chest, and stomach are often targeted locations. It's common for people to injure themselves in a controlled, patterned way. Some people self-harm only a few times. Others engage in this behaviour in a more frequent, repeated manner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/876a429b-c921-4dcf-b3de-9d5b2ae2a3fe/Self-Harm+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Harm - How to Help Someone Who Self-Harms Family members and friends often worry that they said or did something to cause a loved one to self-harm. Keep in mind that people self-harm for many different reasons, including: experiencing immediate physical release for emotional distress being able to inadvertently express emotions self-punishing oneself for mistakes or having difficult emotions peer influence (others are doing it, so it feels more normalized) Ask directly: Even if you feel nervous, if you have any suspicions about self-harm, ask the person directly. They may be relieved that you started the conversation. More than anything, aim to be compassionate. This is a vulnerable topic, and lecturing or getting angry will likely result in the person shutting down. Keep in mind that your loved one may not be honest with you right away. Don't blame yourself: At this point, it isn't helpful to blame yourself for what's going on. All mental health issues are inherently complex and part of a greater system. A loved one self-harming does not mean you are a bad person. Focus your efforts on being a source of emotional support and be mindful of your judgments or biases. Don't make them promise to stop: Most people who self-harm want to stop, but they often lack adequate distress tolerance skills to manage their intense emotions. They may also struggle with poor impulse control or low self-esteem. Keep in mind that self-harm can mimic other compulsive behaviour, and it's normal to have lapses during the early stages of recovery. Honour your loved one’s mental health: If you know your loved one is under immense stress, try to slow down. Let them know they're allowed to ask for help, support, or downtime. Yes, work or school are important, but they should never be prioritized above someone's emotional wellness. Model how you engage in self-care and try to practice better stress management yourself. Support treatment: Let your loved one know there are treatments for self-harm and that you are willing to help them get the support they need. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3defeec1-a73e-48a7-8d7a-e83f3a9b6c0f/Self-Harm+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Harm - Does Self-Harm Mean Someone Is Suicidal? People often worry that one’s engagement in self-harm indicates that they are suicidal. This is an absolutely valid concern. Research shows that 12 people die from suicide in Canada each day, and more than 200 people attempt suicide. That said, the difference between self-harm and a suicide attempt comes down to intent. Non-suicidal self-injury often acts as a way to provide immediate relief. It's a short-lived escape from intense emotional pain. A self-harm episode is not the same as a suicide attempt, but it can increase the risk of suicide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/1e530f2c-2e6d-4a4f-b103-0268898bb052/Self-Harm+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Harm - Understanding Self-Harm Self-harm is a serious issue, and someone who self-harms is in significant emotional pain. Self-harm tends to peak during adolescence, but even young children can be at risk of hurting themselves. While self-harm does not inherently mean someone feels suicidal, many people who attempt suicide often have histories of self-harm. In addition, self-harm often coincides with mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse, borderline personality disorder, ADHD, and PTSD. If your loved on has a mental illness, they are likely at an increased risk for self-injurious behaviours. Therapy helps people learn how to cope with their negative emotions, improve self-esteem, and identify healthy coping skills to manage stress. The right support can make all the difference. We are here to help you get the professional guidance needed to stop self-harming. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/58ef7bb2-bdce-4409-9908-d1958786d932/Self-Harm+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Harm - Therapy for Self-Harm in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Self-Harm Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/74cb082e-6fde-4d75-8ff5-572f0bd756e9/Self-Harm+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Self-Harm - Therapy for Self-Harm at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/suicide daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e581fee1-022e-4414-901a-46a4a34ac332/Suicide+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Suicide - Suicide It is an unfortunate reality that more than 200 people in Canada attempt suicide each day. This is a devastating trend that appears to be rising. Assessing suicide risk is challenging and it is important to remember that suicidal thoughts are not always straightforward. To begin therapy, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin Help is Available Some Other Solutions Crisis Line (Fort McMurray) - 780-743-4357 (24/7) First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line - 1-855-242-3310 (24/7) Kids Help Phone - 1-800-668-6868 (24/7) Mental Health Help Line - 1-877-303-2642 (24/7) Trans Lifeline - 1-877-330-6366 (24/7) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cc10cb7e-7742-4c0a-b69b-7f6c3f4b4d81/Suicide+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Suicide - Warning Signs of Suicide There isn't a single cause of suicide, but researchers have pinpointed several risk factors that can increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation. Some of these risk factors include: existing mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders prior suicide attempts exposure to suicidal behaviours in other peers family history of suicide childhood trauma history of impulsive behaviour limited use of coping skills history of self-harm Help is Available Some Other Solutions Crisis Line (Fort McMurray) - 780-743-4357 (24/7) First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line - 1-855-242-3310 (24/7) Kids Help Phone - 1-800-668-6868 (24/7) Mental Health Help Line - 1-877-303-2642 (24/7) Trans Lifeline - 1-877-330-6366 (24/7) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/aa698251-d3d3-4800-a43d-62dcd8b2d3c8/Suicide+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Suicide - Recognizing Suicide Ideation Many people aren't open about their mental health. Shame, stigma, and a fear of getting into trouble may cause you or your loved one to hesitate to share what's really going on. If you are worried about your loved one experiencing thoughts of suicide, here are some strategies: Pay attention to their mental health: Don't quickly dismiss behavioural changes. If you notice something concerning, ask about it directly and compassionately. Let your loved one know how much you care about their well-being. Prioritize creating a safe place: You can't control what happens in the outside world, but you can focus on your own responses to your loved one. As much as possible, aim to be empathic and compassionate. Remember that what your loved one is going through in life is very real (and can be very distressing). Talk about suicide: Talk about suicide and your loved one’s thoughts and experiences with it. Ask them if they ever have concerns about hurting themselves. Let them know that you realize suicide is a serious issue and that you want to keep an open line of communication. Help is Available Some Other Solutions Crisis Line (Fort McMurray) - 780-743-4357 (24/7) First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line - 1-855-242-3310 (24/7) Kids Help Phone - 1-800-668-6868 (24/7) Mental Health Help Line - 1-877-303-2642 (24/7) Trans Lifeline - 1-877-330-6366 (24/7) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/5aef3d34-c9f6-4238-a125-5d37587413b7/Suicide+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Suicide - What to Do When You or Someone Else is in an Acute Suicide Crisis? If you or a loved one is experiencing acute suicidal ideation, it's important to seek support immediately. Even if you aren't 100% sure about what's going on, it's always better to err on the side of caution. When in doubt, go to the nearest emergency department. If you are not able to do this - or don’t feel safe to do this - call 911 and ask for help. Help is Available Some Other Solutions Crisis Line (Fort McMurray) - 780-743-4357 (24/7) First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line - 1-855-242-3310 (24/7) Kids Help Phone - 1-800-668-6868 (24/7) Mental Health Help Line - 1-877-303-2642 (24/7) Trans Lifeline - 1-877-330-6366 (24/7) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2fdd8dea-f901-47e9-b804-c68ee9b88143/Suicide+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Suicide - Can Therapy Prevent Suicide? Suicide is a complex and multifaceted issue. Therapy alone is not a cure for suicide prevention, but the right treatment can significantly reduce suicide risk and improve mental health. It's important to understand the underlying beliefs or mental health issues maintaining suicidal thoughts. For example, you might tell yourself that you are worthless or that life will never get better. Therapy sessions will focus on addressing these thoughts and feelings, building social support, cultivating value in life, and learning new coping skills. Suicide is preventable, and if you or a loved one is at risk for attempting suicide, it's so important to reach out for support. Help is Available Some Other Solutions Crisis Line (Fort McMurray) - 780-743-4357 (24/7) First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line - 1-855-242-3310 (24/7) Kids Help Phone - 1-800-668-6868 (24/7) Mental Health Help Line - 1-877-303-2642 (24/7) Trans Lifeline - 1-877-330-6366 (24/7) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/46cbd592-b6b6-4b0c-8710-a2680dcf7857/Suicide+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Suicide - Mental Health Therapy and Counselling in Fort McMurray How to Start Mental Health Therapy and Counselling Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cd83320c-83d4-4b6e-9211-c53812493500/Suicide+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Suicide - Mental Health Therapy and Counselling at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/clinical-supervision daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a03e2dba-ec11-4141-bc51-d5c34018e23b/Clinical+Supervision+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Clinical Supervision - Social Work Supervision (Provisional Registration) After applying to the Alberta College of Social Workers to become a Registered Social Worker, social workers are considered “provisionally registered” until completing 1500 hours of supervised practice. Your practicum hours can be credited toward the 1500-hour total if: your practicum was supervised by a Registered Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers, and; the practicum was completed within five years of your application to become a Registered Social Worker. For any outstanding supervision hours, a Provisionally Registered Social Worker must be supervised by a Registered Social Worker. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we have two Registered Clinical Social Work Supervisors who can provide this form of supervision: Amy Parsons Dayirai Kapfunde https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/af5b5ae0-b509-4438-a191-774896488809/Clinical+Supervision+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Clinical Supervision - Social Work Supervision (Psychosocial Intervention Authorization) Per the Government Organization Act (RSA 2000) Schedule 7.1, psychosocial intervention is defined as the practice of “treating a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behaviour, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life.” Social workers require psychosocial intervention authorization when they are: treating substantial mental health disorders that grossly impair without appropriate supervision and collaboration, or; training or supervising others in the practice of restricted psychosocial interventions. If you are seeking psychosocial intervention authorization, any regulated health professional who is (a) authorized to perform and supervise restricted psychosocial interventions and (b) competent to do so may supervise you. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we have two Registered Clinical Social Work Supervisors who can provide this form of supervision: Amy Parsons Dayirai Kapfunde https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/0d6ed5fe-c7a5-4992-8e93-bb2b0321333f/Clinical+Supervision+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Clinical Supervision - Social Work Supervision (Registered Clinical Social Worker Designation) Registered Social Workers seeking to become Registered Clinical Social Workers (RCSWs) require substantial clinical supervision. RCSW applicants who have completed their Master of Social Work (Stream A) require 1600 hours of direct clinical practice and 100 hours of supervision from an RCSW or RCSW-S. RCSW applicants who have held a Master of Social Work for over five years (Stream B) require 3000 hours of direct clinical practice and 100 hours of supervision from an Advanced Clinical Practitioner. For those completing Stream B, the Advanced Clinical Practitioner does not need to be an RCSW or RCSW-S. Regardless, all applicants from both Stream A and Stream B need a reference letter from an RCSW or RCSW-S to fulfill the requirements of their RCSW application. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we have two Registered Clinical Social Work Supervisors who can provide this form of supervision: Amy Parsons Dayirai Kapfunde https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/community-partnerships daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/75b48d2b-884f-4589-ae1a-e08815ac7465/Community+Partnerships+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Community Partnerships - Community Partnerships At Boreal Therapy Collective, we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellness of children, teens, adults, couples, and families throughout Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Therapy focuses on individual growth, but so much of mental health relies on systemic change. We value partnering with our community to raise awareness and advocate for change. Boreal Therapy Collective provides the following services to community organizations: Seminars and guest talks to educate government, healthcare, education, and non-profit agencies on mental illness and mental health care; School presentations to help students understand mental illness and mental health care Community-based collaboration that focusses on navigating the barriers that prevent people with mental illness from accessing the care they need to thrive; Liaising with government, healthcare, and education, and non-profit organizations increase accessible mental health services. We provide all services both in-person and virtually, and our community partnerships serve a diverse range of students, families, working professionals, and other mental health providers. If you or your organization is interested in engaging us for speaking, writing, consulting, or advocacy-related work to advance community mental health and wellness, we’d love to connect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/kim-cardinal daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e15b52c8-bd82-4c62-b455-56bcc3e433fe/Kim+Cardinal.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2c659c1-b4d2-488b-93fa-74803b797058/Lumino.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/8061ce38-d87e-4725-a686-7f3bddcb276c/Education+Kim+Cardinal+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Kim Cardinal - Education Master of Social Work, Wilfred Laurier University (2025) Bachelor of Social Work, University of Calgary (2009) Diploma in Social Work, Portage College (2007) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/8fa6cf2a-73b8-4eb6-8536-130cd09b4f5c/Registration+Kim+Cardinal+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Kim Cardinal - Registration Kim is a Registered Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers (Registration Number: 9943). Kim practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/the-space daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f676c6cd-07a9-457a-85bc-a7a42d79e5e7/_DSC6555.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ca4beba0-a913-43ab-a6a7-2f58d34040d5/_DSC6653.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/effa0141-fe75-442c-be0f-8edade87f7c1/_DSC6793.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/5b20ba38-9a4b-4c6f-a97b-a1ab1091b4ca/_DSC6615.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e0f33b1a-75d6-4f33-8ea8-9f8a2a6286ba/_DSC6821.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/300934ab-d57b-42c6-bd1b-465168f2612e/_DSC6571.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cafccf20-8fe5-4274-a32c-c34323ab50be/_DSC6654.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f39b4a38-70a1-4004-9bd2-7b88054686e9/_DSC6762.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b15bd6a3-7de7-4730-84ec-3ddfbf073e70/_DSC6603.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2439e4d5-e305-45bf-b09d-c36666f28e07/_DSC6823.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f4868063-9391-4364-8936-28de20ec0ab9/_DSC6586.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ce0f5f4b-dcd9-4b9a-b1d4-3605c22e692a/_DSC6660.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/eb2e61e6-f559-4fd6-84d2-8629da6e2820/_DSC6767.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/1034a182-88e0-4871-b77d-41273d5f39c3/_DSC6636.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/1d51031f-d91b-4413-9644-a55cbcfc6afb/_DSC6842.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f962de93-1bd6-4a33-bfc6-02ba3c0b2f9b/_DSC6550.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/bee3c164-3230-45df-aba5-7deabc2fbb1e/_DSC6661.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/014aa1fc-e0ba-4a4b-b60c-e7a5f7dfaca4/_DSC6770.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/de71b570-3f38-48d1-aa50-94d093a0c791/_DSC6607.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3e3a9212-4a6b-4424-b280-08e30dc0f81c/_DSC6862.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b727c320-db3a-49cf-bb97-ed3255dcdc76/_DSC6588.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/20d447c5-a081-433c-8819-9ea84ef83ea5/_DSC6670.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9ae33c09-3bc9-42f1-9703-ff3e35d54ef7/_DSC6714.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/5d3f467c-7aca-46bd-be21-3e9bdb65ad8e/_DSC6795.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/db4c20e1-b270-4692-9ee0-4f53534858b6/_DSC6810.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/02d28be1-8129-4e31-a1e6-29154b3b5c1a/_DSC6558.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/75db8cb0-6941-4c15-a4e7-fa2e2c973bc7/_DSC6682.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9d3876f3-41dd-4379-82ff-32cac8dd9d86/_DSC6780.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/66ae3abd-d4fd-4e26-bf50-20a20d6a9c2d/_DSC6630.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/6a3200bb-3d40-4241-b21e-a9c6919a31da/_DSC6845.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/724ec000-5717-4bb1-8530-f3e74feb7a75/_DSC6561.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/4b79495a-35df-4dba-80fb-e35b26586f7c/_DSC6722.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/44f2e8be-9b0d-47b0-aa92-1028ebe09772/_DSC6640.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/30c75241-2a54-49c9-ace2-4b47459608df/_DSC6597.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/0974fbc4-280f-4366-9407-d4edbe86d69e/_DSC6801.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/aa6b7981-5dd5-47d2-b223-f2f7ab78f09d/_DSC6727.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3a033f91-be48-4b6d-9c31-9513aad20c2f/_DSC6786.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/dfec01d2-ebf2-4aa4-946c-9ea4a42f733c/_DSC6619.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/17eee320-95a4-40b0-a017-1ea2aad511dd/_DSC6868.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c9ab2615-8505-4778-b16d-4436ca55ce1c/_DSC6752.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c53429ef-21da-4c02-8965-e298e1d9fb7e/_DSC6554.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ef757c71-223f-410d-9dd8-30ae9fc4e8e8/_DSC6656.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cced94a8-c030-475e-b6fc-eccf2b4c1f81/_DSC6800.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/996d384e-bdef-4199-bc77-17c8187d690e/_DSC6665.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c5d5285f-a7ea-4d61-8606-4648fef1e981/_DSC6674.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/27a6359a-5a75-4287-a390-3e576e61739a/_DSC6675.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e904eff7-1a15-4e2b-b64a-c019c714aa6e/_DSC6757.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ed5acac5-ca7d-4e83-8ffb-3b2466b77f11/_DSC6711.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/746f43eb-5957-46cc-8223-c0d62fea495d/_DSC6728.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b5040c53-0bb3-4d6b-b2f7-1ecd14fd58c4/_DSC6744.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b55e8af9-dec0-49fb-b6b2-0a6e843106df/_DSC6745.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/68b2ebd3-2fdd-41f2-bb17-f7d98f32680c/_DSC6754.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/08753193-d0bd-4441-96ea-0fab642ee85a/_DSC6631.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d537e95e-a4d2-4b64-aaec-1d7da1960d16/_DSC6647.jpg Space Boreal Therapy Collective is a mental health practice founded on the principles of social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. We offer mental health therapy and counselling for children, teens, adults, and families throughout Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/8c98d6bf-6bb8-4fd1-aae0-59bc0a253ef3/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray+Office+Space.png Space - The Space When we created Boreal Therapy Collective, we envisioned a space that fuses therapeutic healing and connection with nature. As you enter the space, you will notice the scent of lemon, juniper berry, and black spruce and the hum of gentle music. High ceilings, warm wood floors, and large windows allow the natural light to flood in. Live wood accents and earth-tone fabrics blend to create a cozy seating area. Nature-inspired artwork enhances the space, depicting mountain landscapes and woodland critters. In the corner of the sitting room, you will find a coffee bar with a selection of coffees, cold drinks, and a variety of snacks. At Boreal Therapy Collective, everything we do is rooted in our connection to nature and our connection to one another. Inspired by the boreal forest, we hope we have created an environment that nourishes and supports your mental health and wellness. The strength we gain from nature serves as a reminder of the inherent resilience that exists within us all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/cognitive-behavioural-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/0f1121e4-137e-40f0-9004-6d7c0e25b717/Cognitive+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based type of talk therapy. It's one of the most studied and well-known therapy models used worldwide, and it's been proven to be beneficial for people of all ages and presenting issues. At its core, CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. As you learn how to change your negative thoughts, you can improve your emotional responses and overall well-being. After completing CBT, you will have greater insight into your various triggers and behavioural reactions. For CBT, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/65129469-dc2c-4a98-9e6a-5caf5cd25520/Cognitive+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - How Does CBT Work? CBT works by identifying and changing negative thought patterns. Even if you don't realize it, you may be holding onto unhelpful beliefs about yourself or others. These beliefs can affect your well-being and cause significant distress in daily life. Recognizing these negative thoughts is the first step toward changing these beliefs. Over time, you will develop more balanced thinking patterns, which can help you feel better. CBT can treat depression, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), low self-esteem, intrusive thoughts, OCD, general emotional difficulties, and various mental health conditions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/afdf2313-6495-4039-b51e-c6748858d6e2/Cognitive+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - What Happens During CBT Sessions? CBT sessions are individually structured based on your therapy goals. You and your therapist will work together to establish a treatment plan that best reflects your needs. These are some of the common techniques CBT therapists use in their practice: Psychoeducation: Insight helps cultivate change, and psychoeducation refers to understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Psychoeducation also includes learning about cognitive distortions (unhelpful thinking patterns) and problematic coping strategies that may be keeping you stuck. Throughout treatment, you will learn more about your triggers and responses. Identifying negative thought patterns: In CBT, it's important to learn how to distinguish unhelpful thoughts and the core beliefs maintaining them. You will gain awareness of how these thoughts contribute to psychological distress. Many people find that learning how to change these thoughts feels deeply empowering and motivating. Cognitive restructuring: Cognitive restructuring is a CBT intervention that entails replacing negative thinking with more realistic beliefs. Over time, this can help you develop a more balanced perspective in managing various emotional challenges. Skills training: CBT often includes learning specific coping mechanisms, like problem-solving strategies, assertiveness training, relaxation exercises, and self-esteem development. These skills can improve your self-esteem and help you better cope with everyday challenges. Homework assignments: CBT therapists often assign homework to complete between sessions. These practical exercises reinforce the skills learned in the session and also encourage you to practice new ways of coping. Exposure therapy: CBT may include exposure techniques that encourage you to confront fears or discomfort. All exposure is gradual and intended to help you feel less anxious about certain stressful situations in daily life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/8afab054-98f0-4026-9a8c-43c4f0e3d106/Cognitive+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Beginning cognitive behavioural therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will learn more about CBT and will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/074644e9-e2e2-4b58-84da-46f713928131/Cognitive+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/dialectical-behavioural-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c293a9a5-5d57-4e26-aa40-787966bff684/Dialectical+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills - Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive therapy model focused on helping people cope with intense emotions and improve their mental health. DBT was initially developed for treating borderline personality disorder, but its model has been demonstrated as effective for treating various other mental health conditions, including depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation, eating disorders, impulse control, and relationship problems. DBT can be a standalone treatment. However, many therapists implement DBT skills in conjunction with other theoretical orientations in their practice. At its core, DBT focuses on recognizing and coping with strong emotional reactions. For DBT skills, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kim Cardinal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3af25da1-4a07-451b-af2b-24fb8a5cf9f8/Dialectical+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills - Emotion Regulation Skills Emotional regulation refers to how well someone can react, soothe, and manage a range of emotions. When someone experiences emotional dysregulation, they tend to use unhealthy coping strategies to deal with their feelings. Emotional regulation starts with being able to identify your emotions and understand their function. We generally can't avoid emotions from arising, but you can increase your sense of resilience and learn better ways to cope when you're struggling. DBT skills rooted in emotion regulation may focus on: Opposite action: Opposite action refers to deliberately engaging with a certain emotion differently than you usually do. For example, if you tend to lash out at people when you get angry, you might choose to write in your journal or take a walk. If you isolate yourself when you feel sad, you would instead reach out to connect with others. Build pleasant experiences/activities: It's important to build a list of positive coping skills or activities you can refer to when you feel overwhelmed. This reduces the likelihood of you engaging in responses that you might later regret. Ride the wave: Ride the wave is a metaphor that refers to letting emotions pass. All emotions - even the biggest and most challenging ones - ebb and flow. Knowing that they are temporary (and managing them accordingly) can be deeply empowering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/db9a8cb1-ae56-44b0-ad10-a73bfd52523b/Dialectical+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills - Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills Interpersonal effectiveness skills focus on making and maintaining healthy relationships. It's important to learn how to identify your needs and set boundaries with others. It's equally important to respect other people's needs and boundaries. DEAR MAN: DEAR MAN is a well-known DBT acronym that stands for describe, express, assert, reinforce, mindful, appear confident, and negotiate. The goal is to clearly describe a specific situation, express what you'd like or need, assert why that's important to you, reinforce others when they meet your needs, be mindful of the present moment, appear confident when approaching interpersonal situations, and be open to negotiating and compromising with others. GIVE: GIVE is another acronym that stands for gentle, interested, validate, and easy manner. People generally respond better to having a gentle conversation, particularly when you show interest and validate their concerns and feelings. An easy manner refers to being easygoing, humorous, and kind. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c4a509e0-3e05-4c8d-a835-dbe9a0f5186f/Dialectical+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills - Distress Tolerance Skills Distress tolerance refers to how well someone can cope with stress or adversity. Problems can arise at any moment, and it's important to manage such challenges without hurting yourself or others. Radical acceptance: Radical acceptance refers to accepting the present moment for what it is (even if you don't like it). Instead of trying to change the situation or obsess over it, you simply stay with what's in the here and now. This is a key skill that helps with tolerating difficult emotions. TIPP: TIPP is an acronym that stands for temperature, intense exercise, paced breathing, and paired with muscle relaxation. These distress tolerance skills help quickly change body chemistry, which can provide immediate relief when dealing with negative emotions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b839e593-3845-4b88-bab3-69a96f0f861b/Dialectical+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills - Mindfulness Skills Mindfulness refers to living in the present moment, and this skill is essential for developing a 'wise mind,' which refers to having a balanced life that blends both your reasonable mind with your emotional mind. Observing: Observing allows you to identify or label experiences without necessarily reacting to them. In practicing mindfulness, you learn how to watch your emotions or thoughts without getting wrapped up in them. One-mindfully: One-mindfully refers to keeping your attention on the here and now. Instead of multitasking (like so many of us do), you commit to focusing on one task at a time. This allows you to be mindful as you move through the day, which can help you feel more grounded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b888cbd5-0a33-4e7a-bfd6-2708930fb310/Dialectical+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills - DBT Skills Training in Fort McMurray How to Start Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills Training Beginning dialectical behavioural therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will learn more about DBT and will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/eb4fca0a-8d09-4714-b9f4-675becde80ae/Dialectical+Behavioural+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills - DBT Skills Training at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/narrative-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/701e948f-fd72-4a1b-af41-08eb33014ca8/Narrative+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Narrative Therapy - Narrative Therapy Narrative therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on identifying and rewriting the stories people tell about themselves and their lives. Narrative therapy focuses on strengthening your unique identity and constructing a life that best aligns with your values and needs. Narrative therapy can treat various mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, low self-esteem, and family issues. In this treatment, people learn how to change their stories and become more empowered in their own lives. For narrative therapy, book with: Amy Parsons Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Leah Jans https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b92f78d3-d7a7-48f0-b417-8e52c02cd464/Narrative+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Narrative Therapy - What Happens in Narrative Therapy Sessions? The narrative practice is a collaborative process between the therapist and client. A narrative therapist acts as a facilitator supporting clients to explore significant events and identify alternative stories. Narrative therapy also involves talking about the cultural and societal influences affecting a person's life. In many cases, dominant problematic stories set a foundation for oppression, and narrative therapy aims to dismantle such stereotypes. Externalization: Narrative therapy separates people from their problematic stories, and externalization is one of the most well-known narrative therapy techniques. For example, instead of telling yourself, “I'm depressed,” you might say, “I experience depression.” Instead of depression being your entire identity, it's just one part of it. Some people might even give their depression a name to further the externalization. Deconstructing a dominant story: Narrative therapy focuses on breaking down dominant stories that impact how you perceive yourself. Deconstruction is important for really understanding the root of a specific situation and clarifying specific pain points. In therapy, unpacking your dominant story in depth can help you better focus on what you want to work on or change. Unique outcomes technique: Learning your unique outcomes is part of changing your narrative. This is where you might identify times when you have acted or thought differently about a situation. Pulling from those outcomes can give insight as to where you might be feeling stuck, and it can also offer a roadmap for more self-compassion. Re-authoring life stories: The stories we tell ourselves can shape our feelings and experiences. Sometimes known as re-storying, re-authoring focuses on creating narratives that better align with your values and needs. These types of stories generally emphasize successes, strengths, and meaning. Therapeutic documentation: Narrative therapists often write down a client's new narrative. This document acts as a concrete reminder of therapeutic progress, and it can be reviewed again for further insight and introspection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/7589618f-5637-41e9-b2f2-4227f183e0e1/Narrative+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Narrative Therapy - Is Narrative Therapy Right for You? Narrative therapy seeks to provide a path for rich self-exploration. Learning your life story can be powerful. At the same time, revising unhelpful stories allows you to recognize that you can move through feelings of stuckness. Narrative therapists are compassionate and collaborative in their approach. You are considered to be the expert in your own life. As you work through deconstructing and rewriting your stories, you will be continuously respected. With that, narrative therapy is in-depth and seeks to balance talking about both problematic stories and inherent strengths. You will unpack obstacles causing you emotional pain, and you will also learn to tap into your own skills to manage personal challenges in the future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/bf980365-9d47-4d8f-9f8e-e13469bf9564/Narrative+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Narrative Therapy - Narrative Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Narrative Therapy Beginning narrative therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will learn more about narrative therapy. You will begin exploring and reauthoring your story. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/58cc62a0-8ea3-4a33-8be0-cd065923531d/Narrative+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Narrative Therapy - Narrative Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/play-based-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/77c9a8d9-e0a5-402e-a74f-b5e5931f12a8/Play-Based+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Play-Based Therapy - Play-Based Therapy At Boreal Therapy Collective, we are not Registered Play Therapists (RPTs), but we are skilled and passionate about play-based intervention. Adult therapy techniques typically entail engaging in deep dialogue and cultivating internal insight. But therapeutic conversations look much different with kids, and therapy focused on treating children must reflect those developmental needs. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we work with children age 6+. Play-based therapy is intended to support young children experiencing a variety of emotional, social, and interpersonal concerns. Research shows that this type of therapy can boost a child's self-esteem and improve their problem-solving skills. For play-based therapy, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Samantha LeBlanc https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9a4bbd2a-971e-4c50-9de7-65434e85a0d9/Play-Based+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Play-Based Therapy - Signs Your Child May Benefit From Play-Based Therapy As a parent, you want what's best for your child, but the idea of having them seek therapy may feel upsetting, confusing, or even frustrating. These are normal reactions, and you're not alone in your emotions. That said, many parents find that play-based therapy helps their child thrive in ways they didn't think possible. Here are some signs your child may benefit from play-based therapy: They have experienced trauma: Research shows that unresolved childhood trauma may leave a lasting imprint on a child's development. Very early traumatic events can be particularly damaging. Regardless of the type of trauma, play-based therapy offers a supportive environment for your child to receive professional guidance and treatment. They are struggling in school: Behavioural problems at school or school avoidance often indicate a sense of emotional distress. Such problems might also speak to underlying social anxiety, learning disabilities, or general issues with adjustments and transitions. Play-based interventions can address these concerns and help your child feel more comfortable. They are showing signs of depression or anxiety: While these symptoms often emerge in adolescence, many young children exhibit early signs of mental health issues. Early intervention can be paramount for a child's development. Play-based therapy can help identify sources of stress and introduce strategies that may help treat it. The family is going through a significant change: The birth of a new baby or an upcoming divorce can be tumultuous for parents, but they can also be challenging for children. Even if your child doesn't show outward signs of distress, they may internalize their emotions, which can impact their overall well-being. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/15801de6-285b-4c5c-a794-ad47fc6678e6/Play-Based+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Play-Based Therapy - Common Play-Based Methods Non-directive sessions are child-led. This means the child plays and explores freely - without the therapist giving a specific direction. Such an approach operates under the assumption that children are the experts in their own lives and that they will bring in whatever they need each session. More structured play-based intervention, on the other hand, entails a therapist bringing in certain activities or guidance into the session. Most therapists balance some of both methods in their therapeutic practices. Role-playing: Role-playing can take on several forms, but it often helps children rehearse certain situations, whether those are future interactions with a friend, taking an important exam, or even managing a stressful event the following weekend. Drawing and colouring: Art allows children to express everything from their current feelings to their home life to the quality of their friendship. Play-based interventions often use art as part of assessment and treatment. Worry boxes: Worry boxes encourage children to write down their worries, place them in a tangible box, and take some time each day to review their concerns with their parents. This practice helps children identify their fears and set reasonable limits around them, which is important for strengthening distress tolerance. Mindfulness activities: Mindfulness jars, breathing exercises, and other play-based techniques focused on the here and now can encourage children to practice healthy coping skills when they feel overwhelmed. Storytelling: Storytelling in play therapy refers to allowing young children to express their truths and needs at their own pace. Rather than speaking face-to-face, most therapists will use various games or artwork to help inspire this type of thoughtful free association. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f27ce697-8985-48ab-9a36-e160a8fa5b63/Play-Based+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Play-Based Therapy - Play-Based Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Play-Based Therapy for Your Child Beginning play-based therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your child’s first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your child’s first appointment, the therapist will meet with you and your child for a quick introduction. After this, the therapist will meet with your child one-on-one (don’t worry, if your child wants you to stay it’s okay). The therapist will ask your child questions to better understand their areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much your child shares, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps the therapist identify your child’s needs and develop an appropriate treatment plan. At the end of each appointment, you will be invited back to review of what occurred during the appointment (including any strategies to practice at home). After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, your child will be gently introduced - at their own pace - to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage their symptoms. Most children will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/bac7ba83-f7da-41e9-8139-f4c472438ead/Play-Based+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Play-Based Therapy - Play-Based Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/solution-focused-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3e3245ea-0c56-4fcb-a318-4b8fd5b91ccf/Solution-Focused+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Solution-Focused Therapy - Solution-Focused Therapy Solution-focused therapy (SFT) is a therapy model that embraces a goal-directed approach toward emotional relief. Rather than targeting and analyzing problems, you'll be encouraged to consider the best solutions for moving forward in building a preferred future. SFT is collaborative, friendly, and always respectful of a client's specific needs. If you are seeking therapy to tackle a particular problem, SFT can provide a reasonable roadmap to help you resolve it. For solution-focused therapy, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9ea0d359-2ca6-45ca-af01-3d25cd945c13/Solution-Focused+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Solution-Focused Therapy - What Happens During Solution-Focused Therapy Sessions? SFT is solution-oriented and future-focused. The model assumes that you are the expert on your own life. Therapists, therefore, don't act in an all-knowing stance. Instead, they collaborate with you to help you find solutions and build the confidence to achieve your desired goals. In SFT, therapy techniques primarily focus on drawing upon your own inner strengths and resources. While exploring past life events may be important, the model emphasizes how to find solutions and relief in the present and future. Future-focused questions help you clarify what matters most in defining your own goals for therapy. Miracle question: The miracle question is a specific question that encourages you to imagine a future where the problem was no longer a problem. For example, a therapist might ask, "If you woke up tomorrow and were not feeling depressed, what would you do differently?" Scaling questions: Scaling questions help you evaluate a current situation and also recognize progress. Your therapist might ask you, "On a scale of 1-10, how intense was your anxiety the other day?" If you answer a 4, your therapist might then ask, "What would have escalated it to a 5 or turned it down to a 3?" These questions help you assess your emotional states, which can support building solutions. Exception questions: Exception questions focus on when the problem isn't a problem. It also helps you tap into current solutions you might not be that aware of. For example, if you experience low self-esteem your therapist might ask, "When was a time you didn't have low self-esteem? What made that time different? What do you need to do to have more times like that?" Coping questions: Coping questions encourage you to recognize your current strengths and coping strategies. If you struggle with self-harm, a therapist might ask, "How did you avoid engaging in self-harm the last time you feel depressed?" This can cultivate a sense of confidence, and it may remind you of your own resilience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b604d672-4424-42e9-be22-d821a7021657/Solution-Focused+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Solution-Focused Therapy - Who Can Benefit from a Solution-Focused Approach? SFT is generally a brief therapy, and many clients experience significant change after just a few sessions. While a past-oriented focus is a major premise of most talk therapies, SFT is different in that it truly embraces what's already working while emphasizing your capacity for effective problem-solving. Research shows that SFT can be particularly helpful who need support with: poor impulse control, including substance use, and disordered eating relationship problems child behavioural problems (school avoidance, emotional dysregulation, aggression at home) anxiety and depression moving through trauma symptoms In SFT, every therapy session is intended to help you feel less "stuck" with your life or problems. Over time, you become more skilled in solution-building, which improves your overall well-being. This work also helps you come closer to living the desired future of your dreams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3c42b8e0-2898-45d9-ab59-01230b1ef7e1/Solution-Focused+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Solution-Focused Therapy - Solution-Focused Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Solution-Focused Therapy Beginning solution-focused therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will learn more about solution-focused therapy and will be introduced to a variety of strategies to improve your mental health. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Solution-focused therapy, in particular, is designed to be quite brief (three to six appointments). However, many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/94e461d1-989b-4c45-8bef-8a0e0ed375a4/Solution-Focused+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Solution-Focused Therapy - Solution-Focused Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/rates daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/1e371bdd-8f22-4eb3-b379-cbd1dff44704/Rates+and+Benefit+Coverage+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Rates & Benefit Coverage - Mental Health Therapy Initial Assessments (Children, Teens, Adults, Couples, and Families) $330.00 (1.5 hour appointment) Follow-Up Session (Children, Teens, Adults, Couples, and Families) $220.00 (1 hour appointment) $330.00 (1.5 hour appointment) Supportive Therapy Services (Referrals, Care Meetings, Phone Calls) $55.00/15 minutes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/885959cc-1c96-444e-b07f-4f529d1f1aa2/Rates+and+Benefit+Coverage+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Rates & Benefit Coverage - Understanding Benefit Providers and Direct Billing Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. Importantly, our ability to offer direct billing does not mean that direct billing is always available (confusing, we know). For instance, while Boreal Therapy Collective can direct bill Canada Life, Canada Life's agreement with certain employers does not cover social workers. Similarly, Alberta Blue Cross' agreement with certain employers requires that the therapist providing treatment have a master’s degree. In short, direct billing can get complicated and everyone’s benefit provider is different. If you are wondering how much your benefit provider will cover - or if a therapist must meet certain educational criteria to be a covered provider - please check your benefit plan booklet or reach out to your benefit provider directly. We commit to being transparent with you throughout the direct billing process. Again, we encourage you to thoroughly review your benefit coverage and its limitations. Remember, most benefit entitlements reset on January 1 of each year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2d277026-161e-48d5-8634-8c9465b94ed1/Rates+and+Benefit+Coverage+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Rates & Benefit Coverage - Understanding Coordination of Benefits Coordination of benefits is a standard practice among benefit providers in Canada and allows people with more than one plan to maximize their benefit coverage. Adults (18+) must always submit claims to their own benefit plan first (this is the primary benefit plan). Once that claim is processed, the remainder can be submitted to a secondary benefit plan (eg: a spouse's benefit plan). For adults who do not have their own benefit plan (but do have benefit coverage through another person's benefit plan), that person's benefit plan is the primary benefit plan. In the case of children age 17 and under (or dependent adult children), the benefit plan of the parent/caregiver with the earliest birthday in the calendar year is the primary benefit plan. For instance, if one parent/caregiver has a birthday on February 1 and another has a birthday on October 15, the benefit plan belonging to the parent/caregiver with the February 1 birthday is the primary benefit plan. Once that claim is processed, the remainder can be submitted to the other parent/caregiver's benefit plan (the secondary benefit plan). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f5f1db76-8dc9-4341-846a-07926132f853/Rates+and+Benefit+Coverage+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Rates & Benefit Coverage - Direct Billing: Accepted Benefit Providers (A-G) Alberta Blue Cross Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan Benefit Plan Administrators (BPA) Beneva Inc. Bigstone Health Benefits Canada Life Canada Life - Public Service Health Care Plan Canadian Armed Forces (CFA) Canadian Construction Workers Union Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance CINUP ClaimSecure Cooperators Coughlin & Associates Ltd. Cowan D.A. Townley Desjardins Insurance Equitable Life of Canada First Canadian Global Benefits GMS Carrier 49 GMS Carrier 50 Great West Life Green Shield Canada GroupSource https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cba0b4bf-26db-4c4f-994b-ad0ae834daca/Rates+and+Benefit+Coverage+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Rates & Benefit Coverage - Direct Billing: Accepted Benefit Providers (I-Z) Indian Day Schools Resolution Health Support Program Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program Industrial Alliance Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) Johnson Inc. Johnston Group Inc. Jordan’s Principle LiUNA Local 183 LiUNA Local 506 Local 1460 Alberta Millwrights Manion Manulife Maximum Benefit MDM Insurance Medavie Blue Cross Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Resolution Health Support Program NextgenRX Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) People Corporation Simply Benefits SSQ Insurance Sunlife Telus AdjudiCare Union Benefits Veterans Affairs Canada https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/5fe6670e-af91-426d-a8d9-2c18691cc62f/Rates+and+Benefit+Coverage+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Rates & Benefit Coverage - Manual Claim Submission The following benefit providers do not allow for direct billing. Instead, these benefit providers require that you pay upfront and then submit your receipt for reimbursement. GroupHEALTH RWAM Insurance Administrators UV Insurance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/90337697-4e26-4958-be97-96a46db1af1e/Rates+and+Benefit+Coverage+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Rates & Benefit Coverage - Social Work Supervision Social Work Supervision (Provisional Registration) $220.00/hour Social Work Supervision (Psychosocial Intervention Authorization) $220.00/hour Social Work Supervision (Registered Clinical Social Worker Designation) $220.00/hour https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/children daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/6923ee2f-a42b-4209-9649-f907797f18c1/Child+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Children - Children Everyone's mental health is important, and that applies to society's youngest people. Research shows that children can benefit greatly from therapy. Professional treatment is associated with better mental health, higher self-esteem, and more access to positive coping skills. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we work with children ages 6+. We specialize in helping our young clients cope with life transitions, bullying, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and much more. For child therapy, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Samantha LeBlanc https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/fe78f1d2-c831-45e0-822c-bae378340d37/Child+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Children - Common Reasons to Consider Therapy for Your Child There's nothing wrong with seeking mental health support for your child. A therapist can help your child with various mental health issues and emotional concerns. Here are some signs your child may benefit from working with a therapist: They struggle with emotional regulation: Does your young child become overwhelmed very easily, have frequent tantrums, or struggle with change? Or maybe their anger goes from 0-100, and you aren't sure how to best respond. Having big emotions isn't inherently a problem, but a therapist can help assess if there are underlying concerns worth addressing. They are having problems with their peer relationships: Social inclusion is important for people of all ages, and it becomes especially important in school. If your child struggles to connect with others, it may be a sign they're struggling with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or certain behavioural disorders. Your family unit is changing: Adding a new baby, getting divorced, or moving to a new home can be challenging for everyone. But your child may struggle with the transition, causing them to react by withdrawing, lashing out at others, or showing regressive behaviours. They need support recovering from trauma: Trauma can fundamentally impact a child's development. Even if your child doesn't exhibit any trauma symptoms, that doesn't mean they weren't affected by what happened to them. Therapy offers a safe place to explore past hardships, and it also offers a viable roadmap for positive healing. They show signs of depression or anxiety: When young children experience depression or anxiety, it can manifest as physical symptoms (eg: they might have complaints of stomach aches or headaches). Anxiety can look like rigidity or avoidance. In some cases, this may also present as obsessive-compulsive disorder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/00916a81-89e7-41f5-a892-2eaae13b90f5/Child+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Children - What to Expect From Your Child's Therapy Sessions No two therapists are exactly the same, but treatment starts by understanding your child's current mental health and specific needs. This helps establish a collaborative plan for care. If there are specific issues you want to be addressed, your child's therapist will ask for your input. Keep in mind that younger children often respond well to play-based interventions and experiential techniques. They simply don't talk in the same back-and-forth introspective ways that adolescents and young adults can. During these sessions, it may look like the child is simply playing, but this type of therapy helps kids process emotions, tell their stories, and open up about their struggles. Over time, this can turn into developing problem-solving skills and choosing prosocial behaviours. Change can take time, and your child may, at first, resist going to therapy. Regardless of the situation, aim to stay open-minded about the process and be encouraging and validating of your child's progress. Many therapists also recommend family therapy when young children are involved. This gives parents the chance to learn how to better support their families, and it can strengthen boundaries and resilience within the home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/83b3f7b3-60bb-478a-b891-eaa3f1fd84c7/Child+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Children - Child Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Your Child Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your child’s first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your child’s first appointment, the therapist will meet with you and your child for a quick introduction. After this, the therapist will meet with your child one-on-one (don’t worry, if your child wants you to stay it’s okay). The therapist will ask your child questions to better understand their areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much your child shares, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps the therapist identify your child’s needs and develop an appropriate treatment plan. At the end of each appointment, you will be invited back to review of what occurred during the appointment (including any strategies to practice at home). After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, your child will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage their symptoms. Most children will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/19d66d7d-2e43-4738-a002-8db7f6b188e6/Child+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Children - Child Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/families daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/811d96a5-3550-407a-ac12-0c79d60e0b8e/Family+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Families - Families Family therapists help families improve communication, strengthen boundaries, and increase emotional intimacy. This type of therapy isn't about taking sides or aligning with one family member to solve a certain problem. Instead, this treatment focuses on helping family members relate to each other adaptively and compassionately. Upon completing treatment, family members often feel more understood and connected. While therapy isn't a cure for completely solving family problems, it does offer a working roadmap for better functioning, respect, and support. For family therapy, book with: Amy Parsons Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/18255216-3afa-424b-8e35-829de85c19db/Family+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Families - What Can You Expect From Family Therapy? The idea of family therapy may seem intimidating, especially if you've never been to therapy before. But many families find that having an impartial, empathic presence helps them work through issues that were keeping them feeling stuck or resentful. Therapists value working with the entire family unit. Family therapy offers families support with the following issues: Boundary clarification: Boundaries refer to the implicit or explicit limits set by a person. Poor boundaries lay the foundation for family conflict. When family roles are overly rigid - or overly loose - people may feel bombarded, unsupported, or misunderstood. It's especially important for parents to clearly state (and implement) their boundaries to their children. Adjusting to new life transitions: Big changes like new jobs, homes, and babies can all be exciting, but they also represent significant sources of stress to a family system. Therapy offers a supportive environment for everyone to learn how to cope with these adjustments. Support for child and adolescent mental health problems: If you feel lost with your child, some of the solutions may actually exist within your current family environment. Compassionate family interventions focus on how everyone can come together to improve a child's mental health. Skills in healthy conflict resolution: When family members interact with hostility or aggression, the entire family system can feel unsafe. Conflict resolution isn't about the absence of conflict. Instead, it's about practicing more emotion regulation, improving how families speak to each other, and managing difficult issues respectfully. Parenting skills: Parents generally have the best intentions when it comes to their kids, but some of their strategies may jeopardize the integrity of certain family dynamics. A family therapist can teach appropriate parenting skills designed to best support the entire family unit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/70f1272e-9f9a-497c-97eb-3874ab4f6aed/Family+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Families - Who Can Benefit From Family Therapy? What makes family therapy advantageous over individual talk therapy or child therapy? And is family therapy necessary for your current stage of life? If you're confused about which option is best for you, keep the following considerations in mind: You're blending your family: When two families come together, it's important to establish new roles and expectations. Family therapy can address potential conflicts and set the stage for healthy relationships between other family members. You all endured a crisis: Family issues like domestic violence, divorce, or grief can dramatically impact overall family functioning. Family therapy may be beneficial for safely addressing intense emotions and healing emotional wounds. You keep having the same conflicts: Even if you have insight into what you (or another family member) need to do to improve the situation, gridlocked issues can make everyone feel frustrated. Family therapy can help people move past this point of stuckness. Your child is in individual therapy: If your child is working with another mental health professional, family therapy can augment their current treatment. When family members understand their child's needs - and can come together to support their well-being - the entire family unit benefits. With that in mind, there isn't a right or wrong reason to seek family therapy. If you feel frustrated with current family dynamics or want specific strategies to improve communication or boundaries, the right mental health treatment can make a significant difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3f1f9203-673f-4272-bd7d-7c94d696ed40/Family+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Families - Family Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Family Therapy Beginning family therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your family’s initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your family’s first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your family’s first appointment, the therapist will ask your family questions to better understand your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much your family shares, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps your family and the therapist understand your family’s goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support your family in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, your family will be introduced to a variety of skills to support everyone in improving communication, strengthening boundaries, and increasing emotional intimacy. Most families will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many families choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. Families that do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ac978c57-f731-4a51-9c63-38b5f3448161/Family+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Families - Family Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/adults daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a800d9ca-e81e-4ff4-b1e1-4ffa08466efe/Adult+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Adults - Adults Navigating adulthood can be both challenging and confusing. You want to succeed and do well, but the harsh realities of accumulating stress, relationship problems, and your own insecurities might be holding you back. You value your emotional health, but you may not know how to truly take care of yourself. Working with a therapist can help you feel supported and understood. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we support adults with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, work stress, relationship problems, boundaries, and more. For adult therapy, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/55e573cb-cc7f-458b-b31c-711dc5aed705/Adult+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Adults - Common Challenges Adults Face Adult issues range in complexity, and they can include everything from identity concerns to depression to social anxiety to work-related stress. Sometimes these issues are new to adulthood, but other times, they speak to core struggles you may have started experiencing as a child or teenager. In many cases, the stress compounds gradually. Making big decisions: From choosing a career to relationship commitments to deciding where your child will attend school, adults are constantly faced with significant choices about their present and future. These decisions can feel daunting, especially if you don't know the best option for your needs, or if you need to make a decision quickly. Family stress: You may have unresolved issues from your family of origin, including past trauma or relationship difficulties. Likewise, you encounter stress in your current family, whether that includes managing dynamics with extended family members or with your own children. Family stress can be challenging to navigate, and it can pull some of the most vulnerable heartstrings. Substance use or compulsive habits: Do you escape to cope with stress or feel better about yourself? Adults struggling with compulsive behaviour (substance use, self-harm, disordered eating, shopping) may believe that these issues will resolve over time. However, the opposite tends to be true. Unresolved compulsive habits tend to worsen progressively. Dating and stress within intimate relationships: Relationship issues can feel complicated at all stages of life. Whether you’re deciding to get married, divorced, or simply having problems with your partner, it can take a toll to navigate these challenges. Serious mental health concerns: The onset of many serious mental health issues first emerge in young adulthood. However, they can occur at any time, and they can range from being mildly uncomfortable to downright debilitating. In more serious cases, these issues can escalate into suicidal ideation. Grief and Loss: Adulthood is full of grief, from losing loved ones to watching the kids grow up to leaving a meaningful job. Grief is not bad or wrong, but it can be painful, and feeling alone in your complex feelings can hinder the grief process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/98499daf-126c-44fe-b397-16b9e2189966/Adult+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Adults - How Therapy Can Help Improve Your Emotional Well-Being Many adults struggle with feeling insecure, ashamed, or not enough. It can seem like all the other people have something you don't. In reality, most people struggle, even if they seem outwardly successful or confident. Here are some ways therapy can help if you're experiencing difficulties. Clarify your main values: Who are you, really? What priorities matter most to you? What goals are you working toward? If you don’t know the answers to these more existential questions, therapy offers a safe space for deeper introspection and reflection. Knowing your values can help you with your self-esteem and your decision-making process. Set healthy boundaries in your relationships: From setting new limits with your aging parents to coping with dating challenges to reevaluating unhealthy friendships, adulthood comes with many relationship challenges. Therapy can help you define boundaries in ways that honour your integrity and convey a sense of respect to others. Practice more self-care: Many adults are busy and completely strapped for time. But if you consistently neglect your needs, you will feel even more exhausted and resentful. Therapy can help you ground yourself with better coping skills, healthier routines, and more mindfulness practices. Improve your self-esteem: Low self-esteem can erode your relationship with yourself and with others. It can also coincide with other issues, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, and poor emotional regulation. The therapeutic process can help you address negative thought patterns and develop more realistic, balanced thoughts about yourself. Decrease/eliminate problematic mental health symptoms: Mental health symptoms can worsen progressively without treatment. Things may feel frightening or even hopeless, and you might naturally feel frustrated about your ability to manage your well-being. Therapy can help you improve how you cope with stress and regulate your emotions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c6714114-3c26-4e09-9cf0-3b58135024b8/Adult+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Adults - Therapy for Adults in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your struggles. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/217987f4-a25b-474d-b164-bf7f6df459c6/Adult+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Adults - Therapy for Adults at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/2slgbtqia daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/626e7be8-65bf-407f-9f2b-8cd77c5311ba/2SLGBTQIA%2B+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png 2SLGBTQIA+ - 2SLGBTQIA+ At Boreal Therapy Collective, we are committed to supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and are proudly a Wood Buffalo Pride Rainbow Space. We understand that 2SLGBTQIA+ folks often face significant and unique stressors, including discrimination, oppression, violence, and unjust scrutiny. We’re here to support you in navigating challenges associated with mental health, gender identity and expression, family conflict, social isolation, inclusion, and acceptance. We validate and honour your lived experience. For affirmative therapy, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/536b5ac1-16ec-4b31-8c17-794d75783eb7/2SLGBTQIA%2B+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png 2SLGBTQIA+ - What Does Affirmative Therapy Offer? People often seek therapy because they feel dissatisfied with their current lives. But when someone is part of a population that experiences injustice and oppression, they have to manage this dissatisfaction with other barriers, including discrimination, bullying, ostracization, family alienation, and other traumatic experiences. For 2SLGBTQIA+ folks who are exploring their identity, therapy can help you understand and celebrate your gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, sexual attraction, and romantic attraction. For those who are secure in their identity but require a safe space, therapy can help you build self-esteem, navigate mental health struggles, social relationships, and enjoy more healthy, attuned relationships. Your therapist can support you in giving yourself the permission you need to truly be yourself in everything you do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ab0dd0f4-721e-4cf9-8265-8a81f0fb256a/2SLGBTQIA%2B+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png 2SLGBTQIA+ - Common Issues to Work on in Therapy No two people are identical, and no two therapy treatment plans are exactly the same, either. Wherever you are, we will meet you there. That said, here are some of the goals we often work on with 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. Internal conflict: Many folks come to us grappling with the intense effects of systemic discrimination. Whether it's a family conflict or societal rejection, you may feel alone in your experience. Therapy balances a sense of compassion, support, and guidance to manage these difficult problems. Low self-esteem: Low self-esteem is the manifestation of many awful societal messages. Low self-esteem can make it seem like you're living "small" in your life. It can also perpetuate problems with depression, anxiety, and poor coping skills. Therapy can help you harness your strengths and feel more grounded in yourself. Dating and relationships: Navigating dating can feel overwhelming, especially if you are newly coming to terms with your gender and sexual orientation. Regardless of how you identify yourself, therapy offers a space for deeper exploration. Depression and suicide: Members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ are more likely to experience suicidal ideation due to stigma and discrimination. Therapy alone does not solve this systemic barrier. However, it can help you develop healthy coping skills to manage complex feelings, and it can encourage you to feel more connected to your queer community. Other mental health concerns: Affirmative therapy is paramount for working through other mental health concerns, including anxiety, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and school/work performance. Our therapy approaches are both evidence-based and compassionate. You will be accepted for who you are, and we will work together to help you achieve your most important goals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/0486897f-ddb3-484e-b51d-dc00eedf8420/2SLGBTQIA%2B+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png 2SLGBTQIA+ - Support for 2SLGBTQIA+ Folks in Fort McMurray If you are experiencing distress due to gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or sexual attraction, affirmative therapy can help. We can work together to explore the emotional barriers impacting your well-being and help you wholeheartedly embrace your authentic self. If you're experiencing distress due to experiencing discrimination for who you are, we are here. While therapy alone does not fix discrimination and oppression, or change your sense of external safety, it can offer a non-judgmental space to process your fears, needs, and desires. We are here to support our community. Please check out our resources for information on local, provincial, and national supports for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/273cb762-a7b0-45b6-9373-3015fdb3b88c/2SLGBTQIA%2B+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png 2SLGBTQIA+ - Affirmative Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Affirmative Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to support your mental health and wellness. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/67cfca6e-65d2-47df-8f7c-85762a88c750/2SLGBTQIA%2B+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png 2SLGBTQIA+ - Affirmative Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/teens daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c62209f6-085d-43d3-85bf-768d3cbde5e2/Teen+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Teens - Teens The teenage years can be tumultuous for everyone in the family. Parents often feel conflicted about their role during this time. They want to help their kids without being overbearing, and they are also naturally worried about their development and well-being. Teenagers often want independence, but they may also be struggling with their identity, relationships, and mental health. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we work with teenagers experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, loneliness, low self-esteem, self-harm, and more. We are here to help teenagers feel better about themselves and live life more authentically. For teen therapy, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/355445c7-8456-4a3d-a23b-880587590ea3/Teen+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Teens - When Should You Consider Therapy For Your Teenager? Some teens self-initiate seeking therapy. They want a private space where they can talk about their feelings or needs. However, some teenagers will resist the idea. As a parent, it’s important to consider treatment if your child is struggling with any of the following issues: They seem to be depressed: Depressive symptoms can happen in childhood, but they tend to emerge during adolescence. Depression may coincide with self-harm, school avoidance, and low self-esteem. In serious cases, it can result in suicidal ideation. They are getting bullied: Bullying is a rampant problem that can result in both short-term and long-term consequences. Unfortunately, it often leaves both parents and their children feeling helpless about the situation. They have problems with anger or aggression: While anger is an inevitable emotion, not knowing how to cope with it can lead to all sorts of problems, such as excessive stress, relationship problems, and physical health issues. Some teens will bully others or inflict violence to release their anger. Others might turn it inward with self-harm, substance use, or other compulsive behaviors. They are questioning or struggling with their sexual orientation or gender: Teenagers may face uncertainty and internal conflict about their gender, relationships, or sexual preferences. It is an unfortunate and unjust reality that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community continues to experience discrimination and violence. If your child is a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, this can certainly have an impact on their mental health. They are acting much differently: If your child’s mood or behaviour has changed drastically, it could be due to a worsening mental health problem or a recent trauma. Some children might open up about how they feel, but others present as more guarded or even silent altogether. This can speak to difficulties with distress tolerance, which may compound over time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/22053a74-1696-4736-a45c-188513cc7e0d/Teen+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Teens - Benefits of Therapy for Teenagers Boreal Therapy Collective offers a supportive and secure environment for teenagers to receive guidance and coping skills to navigate these tender years. Here are some of the common outcomes clients receive in treatment: Strengthened self-esteem: Having a safe place to talk about feelings and learn new coping skills can foster a sense of resilience, which can help teenagers feel better about themselves and more capable of handling life’s difficulties Increased values clarification: Therapy can help teenagers feel more affirmed in who they are and what they value. Over time, this can lead to them making choices that feel more aligned with their ethics and desires. Better relationships: As teenagers gain self-esteem and improve their boundaries, their relationships tend to improve. They may be less likely to tolerate dysfunctional relationships, resulting in them seeking healthier support systems in daily life. Mental health stabilization: There aren’t specific cures for conditions like depression, anxiety, or PTSD, but therapy can offer a roadmap for helping teenagers understand their triggers, cope with inevitable stressors, and reduce the impact of certain symptoms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d44064b3-26e6-4ea8-95f8-dbf96e3e8d84/Teen+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Teens - What to Expect From Your Teen's Therapy Sessions Unlike younger children who benefit more from play-based therapy, adolescents and teenagers often engage in a more traditional therapy format. Your older child will likely learn new coping skills to manage stress and improve their self-esteem. Based on their current mental health circumstances, they will also work on managing distressing symptoms. If there are crisis issues, treatment will focus on managing and resolving those first. Parental consent is an important part of treatment. Your child has a right to confidentiality, and older children may naturally be more protective over their privacy. That said, you, your child, and your child's therapist will collaborate on which kind of information will be shared with you. Change can take time, and your teen may, at first, resist going to therapy. Regardless of the situation, aim to stay open-minded about the process and be encouraging and validating of your child's progress. It may also be helpful to consider your own therapy at this time. Having your own therapist allows you to work on some of your own emotions or mental health needs, and it's a great way to model taking care of yourself. Many therapists also recommend family therapy when adolescents are involved. This gives parents the chance to learn how to better support their families, and it can strengthen boundaries and resilience within the home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9e115d63-0e97-4d51-a84a-ca72f61aa5fa/Teen+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Teens - Teen Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Your Teen Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your teen’s first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your teen’s first appointment, the therapist will meet with you and your teen for a quick introduction. After this, the therapist will meet with your teen one-on-one (don’t worry, if your teen wants you to stay it’s okay). The therapist will ask your teen questions to better understand their areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much your teen shares, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps the therapist identify your teen’s needs and develop an appropriate treatment plan. At the end of each appointment, if your teen is comfortable, you will be invited back to review of what occurred during the appointment (including any strategies to practice at home). After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, your teen will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage their symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2910e4ec-c570-45c9-a2d1-d99b92eaf2f1/Teen+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Teens - Teen Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/parking daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c2ddbbda-0160-428d-ad61-d1a332241d92/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Parking.png Parking - Parking We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. There is an empty dirt lot adjacent to our office. Do not park in the dirt lot. Bylaw will issue a $120.00 fine. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. Below are some photos to help you find our space and navigate parking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/4051ef58-abb6-44c2-a2fc-4676eac83bba/Front+Parking+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cad5d2a3-f806-41d8-9eef-8e4e8e632231/Back+Parking+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ad7dcc9e-76ac-4a94-b86f-cca906a94d1e/Parking+Directions+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/sarah-callin daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/191b6bc8-4ee3-45ad-8df8-b814a69bdfd1/Sarah+Callin.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2c659c1-b4d2-488b-93fa-74803b797058/Lumino.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b9f57bf3-ddac-4682-a928-16f4f75f35e4/Verified.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3c0ecf7d-d7f8-455c-bb31-9f97ba2ce9dc/Education+Sarah+Callin+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Sarah Callin - Education Master of Social Work Student (2025-Present) Graduate Diploma in Addiction and Mental Health Psychotherapy (2024) Bachelor of Social Work, University of Calgary (2021) Diploma in Social Work, Keyano College (2016) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/81197875-3947-4775-9aef-8667f130dc1b/Registration+Sarah+Callin+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Sarah Callin - Registration Sarah is a Registered Social Worker (Registration Number: 14336) with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Sarah practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/samantha-leblanc daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ac586a19-1943-4afa-bd31-109da52349cb/Samantha+LeBlanc.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2c659c1-b4d2-488b-93fa-74803b797058/Lumino.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b9f57bf3-ddac-4682-a928-16f4f75f35e4/Verified.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b1468d81-f0e4-4fb6-9224-ca9b6811c342/Education+Samantha+LeBlanc+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Samantha LeBlanc - Education Master of Social Work, University of Calgary (May 2023) Bachelor of Social Work, University of Calgary (May 2020) Diploma in Social Work, Keyano College (May 2018) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/710147d2-48e1-443a-ad8c-f33ed996cc39/Registration+Samantha+LeBlanc+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Samantha LeBlanc - Registration Sam is a Registered Social Worker (Registration Number: 14410) with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Samantha practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/couples daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9cde64e9-7cb5-469f-a482-d0ae5b6e2dfe/Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Couples - Couples Every relationship has its ups and downs, but if things continuously feel hard, it might be time to consider the benefits of couples counselling. Couples counselling can help you and your partner improve communication skills, increase emotional and physical intimacy, and strengthen your overall relationship satisfaction. This dynamic treatment can benefit couples of all ages. Couples counselling sessions are dedicated to both you and your partner's wellness. Your therapist isn't here to take sides - their job is to help you both understand the roles you play in the relationship dynamic. Your therapist will aim to help you cultivate the positive aspects of your relationship and develop a newfound connection with one another. For couple’s therapy, book with: Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Samantha LeBlanc https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/04d9c807-cce6-4f2e-b9c1-1f206260ab61/Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Couples - Signs You and Your Partner May Benefit From Couples Therapy You feel like you can't resolve issues well: Conflict happens in even the healthiest relationships, but the inability to appropriately address conflict can cause problems between you and your partner. Unresolved conflict may result in poor communication, resentment, and emotional distance. This isn't necessarily one person's fault - communication is tricky, and you simply may not know how to resolve tension effectively. Therapy will help you redefine boundaries and learn healthy strategies for communicating well. You're reeling from infidelity: Infidelity can be devastating for couples, affecting everything from trust to sexual desire to self-esteem to parenting. Couples counselling can help partners recover from infidelity and rebuild a sense of connection with one another. It gives you both space to process your feelings and assert what you need in the relationship to move forward. You are struggling with a significant life transition: Marriage, kids, blending families, career changes - these milestones may feel exciting, but they can increase relationship difficulties. Couples counselling helps you identify how these stressors are affecting you. You're struggling with your mental health: Individual therapy can help address both the internal and external stressors affecting your emotional well-being. However, when these issues affect the relationship, couples counselling offers a safe space to focus on coming together to provide deeper support and connectivity. You're on the fence about staying together: Maybe you don't know if you want to stay in the relationship anymore. Perhaps you're debating separating or divorcing, but you have concerns about whether that’s what you really want. Maybe you just need to give things a "last chance" to see if there's hope for change. This is where couples counselling comes in. Your counselling sessions can help you move past feelings of stuckness. You're struggling with parenting: Raising children can be an enormous challenge, particularly if you and your partner don't always see eye-to-eye on everything. Disagreements with parenting can affect everything from your intimacy to the connections you have with your kids. At times, couples counselling may be recommended if your child is in therapy or if you’re all participating in family therapy. This can also be a meaningful way to help co-parent if you have decided to separate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f255ca81-e4e8-4637-9587-f63793b990c5/Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Couples - What Happens During Couples Counselling? Your couples counsellor will first want to learn more about you and your partner's history together. This is important for establishing your goals for therapy. At the beginning of treatment, you'll spend time talking about what's bringing you to therapy and what you hope to see change in the relationship. Your therapist will also share their own observations about what they think might most be helpful for you both to work on together. From there, the treatment may focus on the following : identifying triggers that cause or exacerbate relationship issues learning new ways to effectively communicate with one another reestablishing boundaries within the relationship learning how to come together to navigate life stressors discovering new ways to strengthen intimacy, joy, and connection coming together to enhance problem-solving skills in daily life Each therapeutic process is uniquely its own, as your relationship isn't the same as other people's relationships. But in couples counselling, you'll better understand your own feelings and needs and your partner's feelings and needs. With that, you'll also gain more awareness of what's maintaining your relationship distress, and you'll leave with more action-based skills to move through stuckness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/16279bb3-1689-499f-94fb-d27f27c80ba8/Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Couples - Couple’s Counselling in Fort McMurray How to Start Couple’s Counselling Beginning couples counselling with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Counselling and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, the counsellor will ask your partner questions to better understand your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you and your partner share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you, your partner, and the counsellor understand your shared goals, and it helps your counsellor develop a treatment plan to support you and your partner in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you and your partner will be introduced to a variety of skills to improve communication, strengthen boundaries, and increase emotional intimacy. Most couples will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective couples counselling typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many couples choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. Couples that do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/0ea59827-a4f6-4ac5-83c8-0987bd4ca327/Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Couples - Couples Counselling at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/emotionally-focused-couples-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/761708ad-dfd5-4a3d-a34c-8cf2fc92c7ac/Emotionally+Focused+Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy - Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy Do you struggle to articulate what you need, or do you hesitate to engage in expressing emotion in your relationship? Do you find yourself experiencing negative patterns with your partner, where one or both of you struggle with emotion regulation? Maybe you really love each other, but conflict brings out the worst in both of you, and you believe your relationship isn’t as supportive as it could be. Emotionally-focused couples therapy (EFT for short) is a type of evidence-based, experiential therapy intended to help couples strengthen their emotional bonds through deeper attachment. EFT can be beneficial for all forms of relational or marital distress, and it can be particularly useful if one or both partners have a history of trauma. For emotionally-focused couples therapy, book with: Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Leah Jans Samantha LeBlanc https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/1022a7a6-3599-47b8-9305-ed96e125b4cd/Emotionally+Focused+Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy - EFT for Couples We all have varying levels of emotional intelligence and emotional processing. An EFT therapist works closely with emotional and logistical changes in psychotherapy. Instead of taking sides, they strive to deeply understand each person's needs and feelings. Couples often come to therapy because they fear their relationship is unsalvageable. This can be a scary and tender time full of complex emotions, including anger, fear, betrayal, shame, and sadness. Emotionally-focused interventions tend to be helpful for couples experiencing: insecure attachment (one or both of you either withdraws or clings to in times of stress) difficulties with regulating or expressing negative emotions repetitive patterns of negative interactions where one or both of you doesn't feel heard poor conflict resolution due to attachment difficulties or weakened distress tolerance EFT helps couples expand their emotional awareness and build a more secure attachment bond with one another. You may benefit from this particular modality if you're seeking a non-pathological psychotherapeutic process that promotes a sense of interpersonal safety. An emotionally-focused approach can also augment other forms of individual or family therapy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/16f85f50-e845-4220-87cd-f1eae493de33/Emotionally+Focused+Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy - What Happens in Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy? De-escalation and assessment: Your therapist will help you identify and explore the negative patterns of interaction causing emotional distress within the relationship. This is an important stage for understanding how you both engage in emotional experiencing with one another. Restructuring the bond: Restructuring interactions focuses on promoting healthier emotional engagement. Your therapist will encourage you to share and react to one another's big emotions in a validating, affirming way. You'll also work to change your attachment bonds to build a greater sense of emotional security. Consolidation and integration: In the last phase, your therapist will help you implement the changes you have made into your daily life. This often entails practicing new communication patterns, resolving ongoing conflict, and preparing roadmaps for navigating future challenges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ffad5950-77ec-493b-a8e8-29333127462a/Emotionally+Focused+Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy - What Else Do You Need to Know About EFT for Couples? Humans intrinsically have a social need to be understood and attuned by others. This is the core basis of attachment theory, and it's a significant premise of most therapy work. We build our emotion schemas based on early emotional experiences, and past relationship difficulties can exacerbate hypervigilance, intense emotional arousal, withdrawal, unease, and other mental health problems. Poor emotional regulation can also lead to self-criticism and projection in your relationship. For example, anger can quickly spiral into withdrawing from your partner altogether. Or, it may result in you lashing out and treating your partner in a way that you later regret. EFT therapists pay close attention to how emotional responses shape a couple's emotional experience. No matter your current circumstances, it is possible to restructure your relationship to enjoy a more meaningful, rewarding sense of connection. In this type of treatment, you'll also learn how to openly share your vulnerabilities and ask for what you need from your partner or other loved ones - this is all part of strengthening your emotional brain. While there are no maladaptive emotions, engaging in negative interaction patterns can perpetuate feelings of stuckness and resentment in relationships. Learning to change or even reconcile how you connect to your partner is a key part of this depth-oriented therapy process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/28ac94d7-cda6-42d3-931a-d92d1c69bd49/Emotionally+Focused+Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy - Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy Beginning emotionally-focused couples therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you and your partner questions to better understand your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you and your partner share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you, your partner, and the therapist understand your shared goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you and your partner in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you and your partner will be introduced to a variety of skills to improve communication, strengthen boundaries, and increase emotional intimacy. Most couples will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective EFT typically takes eight to twenty appointments (for some more, others less). Many couples choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. Couples that do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c15d7970-9c24-4fac-ac73-abd0b2d6397d/Emotionally+Focused+Couples+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy - Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/emdr daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2781c324-d9d1-4da3-b56f-07558f47db48/EMDR+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png EMDR - EMDR Do you feel like past traumas continue to affect your present functioning? Do you resonate with feeling 'stuck' in everyday situations? Do you experience physical responses like panic attacks, flashbacks, nightmares, or other trauma-related symptoms? Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the gold-standard treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other traumatic memories. EMDR therapy may be used as a standalone treatment, but it can also be part of a more integrative approach. EMDR may help people recover from trauma at a faster pace than other conventional talk therapies. After completing EMDR therapy, people generally feel a greater sense of relief and fewer trauma-related disturbances. For EMDR, book with: Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Leah Jans Samantha LeBlanc https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a159f0ca-1e2a-4964-85b0-ebefa321a417/EMDR+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png EMDR - Who Can Benefit from EMDR? Most EMDR research has focused on its role in treating traumatic memories and emotional distress. Trauma is complex, and it doesn't come with a one-size-fits-all recovery method. With that in mind, research has shown that EMDR can be an effective treatment if you experience the following PTSD symptoms: Re-experiencing the trauma via flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares Feeling numb about the trauma Avoiding people, places, or objects reminiscent of the trauma Experiencing difficulty recalling significant elements of the trauma Feeling deep shame, fear, horror, and anger Blaming yourself or others disproportionately Struggling to access positive emotions Increased hypervigilance (restlessness, paranoia, jumpiness, feeling ‘keyed up’) Problems with focus and concentration Sleep issues Feeling like you can't move past a traumatic memory even if you've had therapy for it Research has also shown that, in addition to treating chronic PTSD, EMDR can be beneficial for treating other mental health conditions, including dissociative disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, and other strong emotional difficulties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cf834c57-3a4d-4ded-b420-dbda6a0c6e54/EMDR+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png EMDR - What Happens In A Typical EMDR Therapy Session? EMDR consists of eight phases focused on learning and reconciling parts of your past and present. Although EMDR is a structured therapy, the unfolding of each phase moves at a pace suited to your specific needs and comfort. Phase 1 - Assessment and History-Taking: The first part of EMDR consists of treatment planning. At this point, you and your therapist will review some of your traumatic events, triggers, or negative thoughts (known as targets). This information sets the stage for your EMDR practice. Phase 2 - Preparation: Preparation entails skill-building, as it's important to move within your specific window of tolerance when doing trauma work. Preparation may consist of learning various grounding exercises and other coping skills to familiarize yourself with working through distressing memories. During this phase, your therapist will also provide you with psychoeducation about the flow of EMDR sessions, so you know exactly what to expect. Phase 3 - Accessing Target Memories: During this phase, you and your therapist will collaborate on which traumatic memories or traumatic experiences you want to explore. You'll assess how disturbing this event is on a scale from 0-10. The third phase also includes activating your target memory, which can be achieved by noting body sensations, identifying negative emotions or negative beliefs, or sharing images associated with the target. Phase 4 - Desensitization: During this phase, your therapist will engage you in bilateral stimulation (via a finger or light bar or a virtual app) to start the desensitization process. Your therapist will encourage you to openly identify what sensations or feelings you notice. Over time, your distress should decrease from your initial rating on the 1-10 scale. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/47825b9e-dbd5-4a69-865d-0453926883c4/EMDR+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png EMDR - What Happens In A Typical EMDR Therapy Session? Phase 5 - Installation: Installation entails moving to integrate the positive cognition into the trauma memories. You will be encouraged to hold these positive beliefs or physical sensations while engaging in more bilateral stimulations. The goal is to strengthen the positivity as much as you can. Phase 6 - Body Scan: A body scan simply entails checking in with your body to work through any subjective distress held within. You will be encouraged to continue holding onto your positive belief as you scan through your body and notice the associated sensations. Phase 7 - Closure: Not all target memories are fully reprocessed in each therapy session. Therefore, it's important to engage in appropriate closure until the next appointment. This allows you to feel grounded and safe throughout trauma treatment. Phase 8 - Reevaluation: Reevaluation entails identifying what you have noticed in between sessions. You might notice new memories emerging or changes within your relationships or thoughts. During this phase, you and your therapist will decide what to work on in future sessions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/88b5954b-ad50-470d-bc30-94da83cd1265/EMDR+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png EMDR - What Else Is Important to Know About EMDR? The length of EMDR work ranges depending on the individual. It can take time for you to feel safe with your therapist, and building that initial rapport is essential for successful treatment. While the goal of therapy isn't to forget a disturbing event, EMDR can help strengthen your emotional health while releasing some of the intensity associated with your most troubling memories. That said, this mode of therapy tends to be brief and lasts, on average, around 6-12 sessions for single incident traumas. For complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD), the work can take longer, but healing may also happen faster than it would in conventional talk therapy. EMDR can be used as a standalone treatment, or it can also be used to complement other therapies, including CBT, DBT, and narrative therapy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/55ac7d45-c659-4c4b-b412-e2aecc15d914/EMDR+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png EMDR - EMDR in Fort McMurray How to Start EMDR Beginning EMDR with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective EMDR treatment takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/49a2442d-ae8e-4a27-9d93-519cd1902b14/EMDR+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png EMDR - EMDR at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/miranda-swan daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/7879424e-a9a7-4f11-a7b6-0081db727340/Miranda+Swan.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/darleen-davis daily 0.75 2026-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b8918575-aea5-4ec6-a14c-bb9e465e1e9f/Darleen+Davis.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2c659c1-b4d2-488b-93fa-74803b797058/Lumino.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b9f57bf3-ddac-4682-a928-16f4f75f35e4/Verified.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2f6cef1e-10f3-4ffd-8aef-0132e7aeea33/Education+Darleen+Davis+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Darleen Davis - Education Bachelor of Social Work, Dalhousie University (1983) Bachelor of Arts (Honours), St. Thomas University (1980) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3f8ea957-56ae-45ff-abc1-e85006596d30/Registration+Darleen+Davis+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Darleen Davis - Registration Darleen is a Registered Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers (Registration Number: 9833). Darleen practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/indigenous-peoples daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/28ac52bb-d428-471a-aa72-5936f7574211/Indigenous+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Indigenous Peoples - Indigenous Peoples At Boreal Therapy Collective, we honour and respect the cultural heritage, traditions, and healing practices of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island and throughout the world. We acknowledge the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, including the devastating legacy of residential schools. Through eurocentric diagnoses, a disregard for traditional healing practices, power imbalances, and limited access and inequity, Indigenous peoples have been placed at a fundamental disadvantage when seeking mental health care. While we are a team consisting of primarily white settlers, we are working to decolonize mental health care by increasing access to services and supports, acknowledging the history of colonial trauma, collaborating with Indigenous people and communities, and showing up each day with a yearning for knowledge and a commitment to unlearning harmful colonial practices. Please read on to review federally funded counselling/therapy services and the mental health practitioners that can offer these services. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b8f29bd1-379b-458f-812a-dacf3d81f15e/Indigenous+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Indigenous Peoples - Working Within A Colonial System We want to begin by acknowledging that the system is broken. While the Government of Canada offers 22 hours of counselling/therapy for Indigenous peoples per year (through Non-Insured Health Benefits - NIHB), this support is limited to those with Indian Status (a term itself that is synonymous with colonial harm). What’s more, NIHB is quite specific in the mental health practitioners it will approve to offer counselling/therapy, further limiting access to care. The approved providers are: Registered Clinical Social Workers Registered Psychiatric Nurses Registered Psychologists While there are many Registered Social Workers and Registered Provisional Psychologists capable of providing outstanding mental health care, government gatekeeping prevents these providers from offering support via NIHB. In addition to NIHB, the Government of Canada offers up to 60 hours of counselling/therapy for Indigenous people (and their family members) who have been impacted by residential schools, day schools, and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Once again, mental health practitioners must be Registered Clinical Social Workers, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, or Registered Psychologists. For Indigenous children aged 17 and under, mental health care can be accessed through Jordan’s Principle. Ironically, care through Jordan’s Principle can be offered by any mental health practitioner, including Registered Social Workers, Registered Provisional Psychologists, and unregulated mental health providers. Unfortunately, while Jordan’s Principle was once incredibly accessible, there is now a several-month wait for application approval. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ffa8f651-72d7-4b38-ba6c-620e0f94e002/Indigenous+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Indigenous Peoples - Approved Mental Health Practitioners Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Providers: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Lyndsy Stevenson Bigstone Cree Nation Health Benefits Providers: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Lyndsy Stevenson Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program Providers: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Lyndsy Stevenson Indian Day Schools Health Support Program Providers: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Lyndsy Stevenson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3107a188-c511-45a2-a2a7-ff685390dac0/Indigenous+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Indigenous Peoples - Approved Mental Health Providers (Continued) Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health Support Program Providers: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Lyndsy Stevenson Jordan’s Principle Providers: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin Note: Most programs require prior approval from the Government of Canada after the first appointment has been completed. We will help you complete your prior approval request. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d699dc48-1438-4386-a4dc-325f71766dd3/Indigenous+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Indigenous Peoples - A Holistic Approach to Mental Health Care At Boreal Therapy Collective, our mental health therapists move beyond traditional therapy by actively advocating for the social support and resources you need to thrive. We don’t believe in treating symptoms in isolation and recognize the interconnectedness of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We collaborate with communities, healthcare providers, educational institutions, government organizations, and other key stakeholders to maintain important connections and pride ourselves on being advocates first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/aca3d083-9330-4184-b00b-efa1a5dbe3c4/Indigenous+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Indigenous Peoples - Therapy for Indigenous Peoples in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment If utilizing any of the programs noted above, your first appointment will be 120-minutes long (this will allow us time to complete necessary prior approval for the Government of Canada). All future appointments will be 60-minutes in length. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. Following the first appointment, you can rebook future appointments. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal care. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2023dd2a-210e-422e-9df6-598dc54b2b02/Indigenous+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Indigenous Peoples - Therapy for Indigenous Peoples at Boreal Therapy Collective Rates & Benefit Coverage If accessing therapy through NIHB, Bigstone Cree Nation Health Benefits, the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, the Federal Indian Day Schools Health Support Program, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health Support Program, or Jordan’s Principle, therapy will be at no cost to you. In all other cases, initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. We will always work with you to make services financially accessible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/51e4e5bb-7bf2-4a51-b395-7b277e220659/Indigenous+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Indigenous Peoples - Therapy for Indigenous Peoples at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/single-session-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/48b4ea0d-9446-435b-bb6d-a69e433a2ba3/Single-Session+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Single Session Therapy - Single Session Therapy Sometimes you need immediate support and guidance without committing to long-term therapy. Single session therapy is designed to provide you with focused, solution-oriented support in one appointment. This approach is ideal for addressing specific issues, making decisions, or gaining clarity on a particular situation quickly and effectively. For single-session therapy, book with: D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e79b57d9-2bb5-4dfa-9e4f-818ecf9ca9f7/Single-Session+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Single Session Therapy - What Are the Benefits of Single Session Therapy? Flexible and Accessible: Sometimes, you need help right away. Single session therapy provides you with timely support to address the particular challenge you are experiencing. Single session therapy is available seven days a week, with in-person and virtual options. Focused Approach: Single session therapy is designed to target specific issues or goals you want to address. Whether you are experiencing stress, relationship issues, or seeking personal growth, our therapists will offer practical strategies to support you. This targeted approach is designed to provide you with a clear understanding of your next steps and the insights you need to move forward with confidence and clarity. Enhanced Self-Awareness: In a single session, you can gain valuable insights into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. This heightened self-awareness can help you understand the root causes of the challenge you’re experiencing and how to make informed decisions about your next steps. Increased Motivation: A single session can help reignite your motivation to address personal challenges and take proactive steps toward resolution. The clarity and direction provided can boost your confidence and drive to make positive changes. Access to Resources: Our therapists have a wealth of knowledge about available resources and supports throughout Fort McMurray and Alberta. During your session, your therapist will share the resources that may benefit you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/740e9bde-8989-4822-b229-046322fc5f45/Single-Session+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Single Session Therapy - Who Can Benefit Single Session Therapy? People Facing Immediate Challenges Personal Crisis: If you’re experiencing a personal crisis - such as a sudden life event, acute stress, or heightened emotional upheaval - a single session can provide immediate support and practical strategies to help you manage the situation effectively. Urgent Decisions: When you need to make a significant decision and are feeling overwhelmed, a single session can offer clarity and help you weigh your options thoughtfully. People Seeking Prompt Solutions Problem-Solving: For a specific, well-defined problem or challenge, single session therapy can provide a focused approach to address the issue and develop actionable solutions. Skill Development: If you want to enhance specific coping skills, such as stress management techniques or effective communication strategies, a single session can offer targeted guidance. People Experiencing a Specific, Short-Term Concern Single Issues: If you’re dealing with a short-term concern - such as a work-related problem, a minor relationship issue, or temporary stress - a single session session can help you explore the issue and develop a workable action plan. Transition Periods: During times of transition, such as a career change or a move, single session therapy can provide support and help you navigate the changes more smoothly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/372e9c57-ef4b-484c-a6a9-a699cae7eb82/Single-Session+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Single Session Therapy - Single Session Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Book Single Session Therapy Accessing single session therapy is easy and requires no referral. You can book your appointment here. When booking, you can choose a 60-minute or 90-minute session, either in-person or virtual. Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Rates & Benefit Coverage 60-minute sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour and 90-minute sessions are billed at a rate of $330.00/hour (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/lyndsy-stevenson daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/11268d64-2718-450b-a726-70d237ab1217/Lyndsy+Stevenson.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b9f57bf3-ddac-4682-a928-16f4f75f35e4/Verified.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/5a0c5816-e001-4af5-8f54-434943ef331b/Education+Lyndsy+Stevenson+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Lyndsy Stevenson - Education Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing, Douglas College (2017) Registration Lyndsy is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Registration Number: 5872) with the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta. Lyndsy practices in accordance with the Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice of Psychiatric Nursing (2022). https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/privacy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/cookies daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/terms-of-service daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/darcy-arseneau daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/560bb700-4be1-4633-adaf-ec2a27f2f3be/D%27Arcy+Arseneau.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b9f57bf3-ddac-4682-a928-16f4f75f35e4/Verified.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d531ec11-7a4b-44b3-a422-2edcd61dc800/Education+Darcy+Arseneau+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png D'Arcy Arseneau - Education Master of Psychiatric Nursing Student (2025-Present) Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing (2019) Registration D’Arcy is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Registration Number: 6266) with the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta. D’Arcy practices in accordance with the Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice of Psychiatric Nursing (2022). https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/dayirai-kapfunde daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/55f00a4b-2c0d-4fe7-85f9-d873146693f2/Dayirai+Kapfunde.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b9f57bf3-ddac-4682-a928-16f4f75f35e4/Verified.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2c659c1-b4d2-488b-93fa-74803b797058/Lumino.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ccba89ed-4d0f-486c-9222-6e0f24cbda77/Education+Dayirai+Kapfunde+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dayirai Kapfunde - Education Doctoral Student, University of Alberta (2023-Present) Post-Graduate Diploma in Professional Addiction Studies, McMaster University (2017) Master of Social Work, Toronto Metropolitan University (2009) Bachelor of Social Work, McMaster University (2008) Bachelor of Arts, McMaster University (2008) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3976687e-9768-4f43-90f6-3c17d4fc9e50/Registration+Dayirai+Kapfunde+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Dayirai Kapfunde - Registration Dayirai is a Registered Social Worker (Registration Number: 11212), a Registered Clinical Social Worker (Registration Number: 20900), and a Registered Clinical Social Work Supervisor with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Dayirai practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). Per the Government Organization Act (RSA 2000), Schedule 7.1, Dayirai is authorized to perform the restricted activity of psychosocial intervention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/kenneth-guye daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a025d16c-35aa-4d49-b32e-34d573fe676d/Kenneth+Guye.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b9f57bf3-ddac-4682-a928-16f4f75f35e4/Verified.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2c659c1-b4d2-488b-93fa-74803b797058/Lumino.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c7ab7f36-7367-4582-86a6-c8a8a21db00e/Education+Kenneth+Guye+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Kenneth Guye - Education Master of Social Work, Dalhousie University (2021) Bachelor of Social Work, Dalhousie University (2018) Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, Cape Breton University (2017) Correctional Services Diploma, Nova Scotia Community College (2014) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/da91f5d1-e092-432e-9f9e-a6bb9efb17bf/Registration+Kenneth+Guye+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Kenneth Guye - Registration Kenneth is a Registered Social Worker (Registration Number: 15169) and a Registered Clinical Social Worker (Registration Number: 21001) with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Kenneth practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). Per the Government Organization Act (RSA 2000), Schedule 7.1, Kenneth is authorized to perform the restricted activity of psychosocial intervention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/grief-and-loss daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/56581da8-91b7-423c-882d-6e297e770530/Grief+and+Loss+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Grief and Loss - Grief and Loss Loss is unavoidable in this lifetime. We are all susceptible to experiencing grief, and every type of grief comes with its own unique grieving process. While there is no right or wrong way to grieve, some emotions may feel confusing, frustrating, or even scary. Although it may be hard right now, you don't have to navigate these intense emotions alone. Therapy offers support and guidance during this vulnerable time. Grief isn't just about death and dying. It can emerge after any loss, including the loss of certain relationships, jobs, and homes. It can coincide with significant life transitions, like a child leaving for college or your parent becoming ill. At Boreal Therapy Collective, our compassionate therapists are well-versed in understanding grief symptoms. We are here to support you in exploring your feelings and needs. If you have a child navigating the death of a loved one, we also offer supportive services for young children and teenagers. To begin therapy for grief and loss, book with: D’Arcy Arseneau Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cffe3da0-8049-4101-940a-29f1a71793b0/Grief+and+Loss+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Grief and Loss - Common Symptoms of Grief There is no right way to experience grief. What you feel is what you feel, and all your feelings are valid. Some grief feels sharp and all-consuming. Other times, grief feels quieter and may even come with a sense of relief. Intense sadness: Sadness is one of the most typical feelings associated with grief. Sometimes the sadness comes with heavy crying spells. Other times, the sadness is more cerebral - you're aware that you're feeling emotional pain even if you aren't physically that connected to it. Anger: Anger is a natural response to grief. You might feel angry about the injustice associated with a certain loss, angry toward yourself for any role you played, or simply angry due to feeling powerless. Guilt: Guilt can be a part of the grief experience, and it often speaks to feeling guilty that you didn't do more or didn't spend more time with what (or who) you lost. You might also feel guilty during happy moments - it's as if you "shouldn't" be able to enjoy the good parts of life when something this painful has happened. Bargaining: Bargaining refers to attempting to negotiate or make arrangements to make sense of grief. For example, you might find yourself making statements like, 'If only I had called him back that night, this never would have happened,' or, 'If he had taken better care of himself, he'd still be here today.' Existential anxiety: You may feel like you've lost purpose or question the meaning of life after a significant loss. In more serious cases, this may coincide with themes of intrusive thoughts, self-harm or suicidal ideation. Physical symptoms: Some people relate more to the physical sensations of grief, which can include sleep problems, headaches, stomach pains, achiness, and chronic pain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c6a5a8e9-57f6-40f8-b286-5d03e0bdabce/Grief+and+Loss+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Grief and Loss - How Can Therapy Help You With Grief? There are many ways to seek support during grief - reaching out to friends and family members, reconnecting with your spiritual beliefs, or joining a grief support group can help you stay connected during this tender time. Grief therapy offers several other benefits, including: Having a non-judgmental space to feel and talk: Sometimes people just need to be witnessed. This can be especially true in cases of complicated grief or anticipatory grief. You may not necessarily need coping skills or advice on how to think differently. You just need someone who can deeply listen as you move through your various feelings. Setting boundaries: Grief can come with various logistical concerns, and you may be navigating complex estates, challenging family members, financial uncertainty, and more. Your therapist can explore how certain ways of behaving may be affecting your mental health. Together, you will review whether it's worth implementing new limits. Making meaning: Some people value making meaning out of their intense grief. Of course, this isn't required, but you may find you want support in honouring the significance of what you lost. In therapy, you can explore what you need to cultivate this meaning, whether that means connecting with other loved ones, getting involved in volunteering, or simply commemorating your loss creatively. Reducing or eliminating unwanted coping responses: It can be so hard to cope with the intense feelings that come with grief. You may find yourself numbing how you feel with drugs, alcohol, food, sex, or work. While these strategies do provide some temporary relief, they may also exacerbate problems within your everyday life. Therapy offers guidance rooted in self-compassion, mindfulness, and self-care. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/712d4c01-2a21-4250-9197-59c06f20b377/Grief+and+Loss+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Grief and Loss - Therapy for Grief and Loss in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Grief and Loss Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a708e08a-b5a8-4f1e-9853-b741cb1db02e/Grief+and+Loss+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Grief and Loss - Therapy for Grief and Loss at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/hallucinations-and-delusions daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/4a8f93f1-44e3-4799-a446-02f82625adb4/Hallucinations+and+Delusions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Hallucinations and Delusions - Hallucinations and Delusions Hallucinations and delusions can be frightening and confusing for individuals and their loved ones. These symptoms often coincide with various mental health concerns, including severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other disorders. Hallucinations and delusions can be stigmatized and many people fear seeking support because they worry about negative judgment or involuntary hospitalization. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we offer compassionate, evidence-based care for those experiencing hallucinations and delusions. No matter how difficult things may feel, we are here to support you every step of the way. To begin therapy to treat hallucinations and delusions, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Kim Cardinal Lyndsy Stevenson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/64d03f2e-9267-4ff6-8ffd-570fa814406e/Hallucinations+and+Delusions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Hallucinations and Delusions - Understanding Hallucinations Hallucinations refer to sensory experiences that feel very real without actually being real. Hallucinations involve any of the five senses - sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Visual hallucinations: Seeing images, shapes, or people Auditory hallucinations: Hearing voices or other sounds Tactile hallucinations: Feeling certain sensations like something touching the skin or crawling on the body Olfactory hallucinations: Smelling certain scents Gustatory hallucinations: Tasting certain tastes Hallucinations can coincide with substance abuse, medication side effects, sleep deprivation, and some neurological disorders. The onset of hallucinations can occur at any age, but people often first experience them around late adolescence to early 30s. Although it's rare, hallucinations can occur in childhood. If you're concerned about your child's well-being, please reach out for support as soon as possible. The right treatment can make a significant difference, especially when symptoms first emerge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/ff2f70eb-7d90-466d-9ea1-3c12cbe20e95/Hallucinations+and+Delusions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Hallucinations and Delusions - Understanding Delusions Delusional thinking refers to experiencing false perceptions that aren't rooted in reality. People with delusions may present as paranoid or irrational in their thinking. These seemingly unshakable beliefs come in many forms, including: Grandiose delusions: Beliefs of having special powers or exceptional abilities Somatic delusions: Beliefs that the body has some serious medical issue or physical condition (eg: parasites) Delusions of control: Beliefs that something or someone else is controlling one's thoughts Persecutory delusions: Beliefs that one is being conspired against, harassed, or intentionally tracked (eg: believing the government is plotting to hurt them and their family) Delusions likely come from a variety of biological, environmental, and psychological factors. In addition to certain mental health conditions, delusions may result from brain abnormalities or dysfunction, substance use, neurological impairments, and severe trauma. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/094611c1-efa1-4df9-9d0f-e1b4c0dd7de5/Hallucinations+and+Delusions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Hallucinations and Delusions - How Are Hallucinations and Delusions Treated? Although these symptoms can be challenging to live with, the right treatment can make such a difference in helping you feel better. Treatment tends to be multifaceted and may include several components, including: Comprehensive assessment: If you feel concerned about your mental health, a full assessment reviews all past and current physical and psychological symptoms. Because misdiagnosis can happen (even with the best intentions), a proper assessment may help rule out other conditions contributing to hallucinations or delusions. Psychiatric medication: Antipsychotic drugs are typically the first treatment measure for hallucinations and delusions. Antipsychotics affect the dopamine receptors and they can help manage the underlying mood shifts that may trigger a psychotic episode. Medication can also support overall emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Therapy: Therapy helps people cope with their symptoms and improve their overall emotional well-being. We use a combined approach at Boreal Therapy Collective, pulling from cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT) to change the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. We may also recommend family therapy for family members seeking to better support a loved one. Lifestyle changes: People experiencing hallucinations or delusions often benefit from making basic lifestyle changes, such as sleeping and eating regularly and eliminating mood-altering substances. It’s equally important to adhere to medication recommendations and attend all medical appointments. Wraparound support: Comprehensive care can be an important part of treating any mental health condition. A treatment team may include a psychiatrist, medical doctor, qualified mental health professional, and case manager. The key is for all individuals to collaborate on a treatment plan and advocate for the client's well-being. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/11d11398-c85f-46a9-be0b-73748161e425/Hallucinations+and+Delusions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Hallucinations and Delusions - Therapy for Hallucinations and Delusions in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy for Hallucinations and Delusions Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e19408dc-b6e5-461e-a1c5-900496c8ac5b/Hallucinations+and+Delusions+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Hallucinations and Delusions - Therapy for Hallucinations and Delusions at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/communication-and-conflict daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f53caf60-a034-4330-b020-899b69d7b605/Communication+and+Conflict+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Communication and Conflict - Communication and Conflict Poor communication can make even the healthiest relationship feel toxic and stressful. When we don’t communicate our needs clearly and effectively, we risk hurting ourselves and the people we love the most. Healthy communication requires honesty, assertiveness, and considering your feelings and the feelings of the other person. This type of emotional work isn't always straightforward, and it can feel awkward at first. However, improving communication often leads to more satisfying personal relationships. To begin therapy for communication and conflict, book with: Amy Parsons D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis (children only) Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/91c5b4d2-4a5e-4581-8643-25ae0abbb622/Communication+and+Conflict+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Communication and Conflict - Common Communication Problems in Relationships Aggressive communication: People who communicate aggressively often come across as hostile and dismissive toward others. They may be domineering and controlling, and they often blame others instead of taking accountability for their own feelings or actions. Passive-aggressive communication: Passive-aggressive communication refers to a mix of passive communication with undertones of hostility and resentment. This type of communication often feels confusing and stressful. The person tends to come across as upset, sarcastic, or dismissive. You can sense something is wrong, but they won't readily admit it. Passive communication: People who communicate passively don't express their feelings or stand up for their own needs. It can seem like everyone else speaks for them. As a result, these individuals often also feel resentful toward others. At times, they may seem entirely people-pleasing, only to become explosive once the stress becomes too much. Poor conflict resolution skills: Most of us don't like to admit when we're wrong, but this stubbornness can erode communication. If people are more interested in proving that they're right rather than connecting or actively listening to the other person, tension tends to escalate. Mind reading: Mind reading is a common cognitive distortion where you assume what someone else is thinking or doing without actually confirming the truth. This can cause all sorts of problematic communication because you might get upset before you even know what's going on. Lack of trust/fear of intimacy: If it's hard for you to open up to others, you may feel anxious, depressed, or withdrawn when you're around others. This explains why people with histories of trauma often struggle with communication in relationships. Trusting others is inherently vulnerable, and nobody wants to risk repeat betrayal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/95832b06-6e12-4196-bf92-4d748666b717/Communication+and+Conflict+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Communication and Conflict - How Can You Improve Communication In Your Relationships? Improving communication first starts with awareness. Can you identify some of your own communication issues? When do you lash out at others or avoid saying what's really on your mind? When you fight with others, do you fight fairly, or do you sometimes say or do things you later regret? Practice active listening as often as possible: Try to be mindful when others speak and do your best to offer your undivided attention. Avoid distractions and consider how the other person might be feeling when they share something important with you. If you don't understand something, ask clarifying questions. Don't assume you're on the same page: Remember that it's impossible to know what another person is thinking. It's always better to ask what someone else might be feeling or thinking before automatically assuming you know their stance. Apologize when you make a mistake: Hold yourself accountable if you suspect or know you've hurt someone else. Don't try to rationalize your behaviour. Offer a genuine apology and ask how you can do better next time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/48898dca-eb5f-4cc6-85fc-78ebb882bafb/Communication+and+Conflict+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Communication and Conflict - Therapy for Communication and Conflict in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy to Improve Communication Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/46383d71-22ec-4a69-92f6-227f54672205/Communication+and+Conflict+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Communication and Conflict - Therapy for Communication and Conflict at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/rcmp-military-first-responders daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/7439cbe5-cc9d-4d0c-84e5-f656767943e1/Therapy+for+RCMP%2C+Military%2C+and+First+Responders+at+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png RCMP, Military, and First Responders - RCMP, Military, and First Responders Uniformed personnel and professionals on the front lines may have unique mental health needs that go unnoticed and untreated. A recent study examining the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) found that nearly one-half of veterans experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both. They are also disproportionally more likely to experience PTSD. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we provide treatment for police, military personnel, and other first responders, including firefighters, EMTs, security professionals, emergency dispatchers, crisis line workers, and their families. We acknowledge and respect your role in keeping our communities safe, and we are here to support you. Approved Veteran’s Affairs & Canadian Armed Forces Providers: Amy Parsons Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Samantha LeBlanc RCMP K Division Can Request Preauthorization for the Following Providers: Amy Parsons Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Samantha LeBlanc https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/01bf26ab-b82a-4b6a-89ec-7d9aa20b0d24/Therapy+for+RCMP%2C+Military%2C+and+First+Responders+at+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png RCMP, Military, and First Responders - Reasons for Police Officers, Military, and First Responders to Seek Therapy Your work comes with intense and unique stressors that may be difficult to put into words. Peer support from colleagues can help, but you may also benefit from seeking professional guidance. Therapy can be helpful if any of the following apply to you: You experience vicarious trauma: Vicarious trauma is common in these lines of work, and it refers to the reactions associated with being chronically exposed to different types of trauma. These symptoms can mimic those of PTSD and include emotional numbness, somatic distress, distractibility, increased irritability and anger, and a general sense of apathy. You have relationship problems: Maybe you relate to feeling like nobody understands what you do. Maybe you come home and just want time alone. It can be hard to go from work mode to your personal life, and your relationships may suffer as a result of your job. You feel professionally burnt out: Burnout can happen in any industry, but military and first responders absorb an immense amount of stress on a daily basis. Long hours, inconsistent work schedules, and unhealthy work environments can all contribute to burnout. This can exacerbate both physical and emotional issues. You're struggling with your emotional regulation: You may seem like you have it all together at work, and there's often an intense pressure to act unfazed by whatever is happening. This can result in you compartmentalizing your stress and suppressing your feelings. But those emotions may come out in other ways, including hostility toward others, shutting down when overwhelmed, or engaging in impulsive behaviours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3b4d4574-c0de-4846-8485-880b0205ef42/Therapy+for+RCMP%2C+Military%2C+and+First+Responders+at+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png RCMP, Military, and First Responders - What Does Therapy Offer? All treatment starts with a thorough assessment of your current needs and presenting symptoms. It's important to have a collaborative relationship with your therapist - you're the expert of your life, so you get to determine which therapy goals feel most important for you. Treatment may be short or long-term, but your autonomy is always prioritized. We embrace a multidisciplinary approach that may include several components, including cognitive behavioural therapy, EMDR, acceptance and commitment therapy, medication management, and more. Better stress management: In therapy, you will learn how to understand and respond to your stress triggers adaptively. Work may always feel stressful, but you can change your relationship with anxiety and implement new coping skills to help you feel more regulated. Trauma support: Military and first responders can experience trauma at work, but you might also have old trauma affecting your well-being. Therapy can help you recognize trauma triggers and strengthen your ability to take care of yourself when you feel dysregulated. Help with intrusive thoughts: Thoughts about suicide, self-harm, or violence toward others can manifest through traumatic experiences. However, these thoughts often feel shameful and taboo. In therapy, you have space to explore your feelings without judgment, and you can receive the care you need to manage these symptoms. Better work-life balance: You may feel so consumed by your career that it’s taken over your identity. Therapy can help you recenter and refocus. You can explore your values, determine which priorities need to change, and implement healthy boundaries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/65d3c719-10ed-45d6-b697-1a23d68100b9/Therapy+for+RCMP%2C+Military%2C+and+First+Responders+at+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png RCMP, Military, and First Responders - Therapy for RCMP, Military, and First Responders in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c45e95ae-efe6-4d47-89a0-54f5fa65f1ec/Therapy+for+RCMP%2C+Military%2C+and+First+Responders+at+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png RCMP, Military, and First Responders - Therapy for RCMP, Military, and First Responders at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). With prior approval, Veteran’s Affairs, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the RCMP will cover therapy provided by the therapists noted above. For all other first responders, we recommend that you consult your benefit provider to determine coverage details. Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/f95a329a-95af-4f5d-87d0-a80b363461b9/Acceptance+and+Commitment+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of behavioural therapy that blends mindfulness with self-acceptance. ACT interventions support learning how to cope with life's challenges and strengthen overall psychological flexibility. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we offer ACT to help people experiencing various mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety disorders, low self-esteem, trauma, chronic pain, intrusive thoughts, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse, and more. For ACT, book with: D’Arcy Arseneau Lyndsy Stevenson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c0a35a8a-82d6-4036-a96d-b252e9bff38f/Acceptance+and+Commitment+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - How Does ACT Work? ACT assumes that people are naturally capable of strengthening their psychological flexibility. Strongly rooted in mindfulness principles, ACT focuses less on controlling or even changing your circumstances and more on embracing your experiences and taking meaningful actions that align with your values. In other words, it isn’t about trying to change how you feel. It’s about owning your feelings and making greater meaning out of them. Consider this: it's normal to want to suppress or deny your painful emotions. They feel uncomfortable! But doing so can actually make the emotional discomfort more intense. The same thing applies to difficult life situations. Although it's tempting to ruminate over the past or fixate on what might happen next, there's something to be said about just sitting with what's happening right now. ACT helps build these mindfulness muscles. Increasing your capacity for mindfulness can make you feel more empowered and regulated. The truth is that emotional pain is simply unavoidable. No matter how much you try to make good choices, you will face some tough times. This is what it means to be human. ACT differs from other modalities in the sense that your therapist won't try to reframe your pain or actively reduce it. Instead, you'll learn how to strengthen your self-acceptance and feel more inner peace regardless of what's going on in life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e9856fc5-d5af-4435-be33-988e64cfaa90/Acceptance+and+Commitment+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - What Happens During ACT Sessions? At its core, ACT emphasizes acceptance as a significant part of reducing psychological suffering. An ACT-based therapist will integrate some or all of the following interventions into your treatment: Identifying your values: ACT therapists believe that emotional discomfort can arise when you act in ways that don't align with your core values. Identifying and clarifying your values is an important part of living more congruently and authentically - this is a big component of ACT. Cognitive defusion: Cognitive defusion focuses on showing you that thoughts are just thoughts. They are not literal truths, and they do not inherently need to predetermine any specific actions. This, in turn, can reduce negative thinking patterns and help you break difficult behavioural patterns. For example, cognitive defusion focuses on reframing phrases like, I'm completely depressed! to a more external phrase like, I am experiencing intense depressive symptoms right now. Such cognitive shifts can help you broaden your perspective and even embrace more neutrality. Self as context: This idea is rooted in honouring that you have a unique, special identity. You are also more than just your symptoms, feelings, or thoughts, and none of those have to inherently dictate your actions or personality. Commitment to action: Commitment to action focuses on acknowledging which actions move you closer to your values and which ones bring you further. Knowing this can orient your goal-setting and help you build a rich and meaningful life. Present moment contact: ACT focuses on enjoying the virtues of the here and now through various mindfulness exercises. The more you can be mindful, the less anxious you will likely feel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/9e12fa8b-5102-4e48-9f1b-af3ae2baa8cf/Acceptance+and+Commitment+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Is ACT Right for You? Acceptance and commitment therapy can be a standalone model, but it also integrates well with other modalities, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, and EMDR. Ultimately, ACT can be helpful if you: experience distressing thoughts or feelings that feel difficult to manage feel directionless in life (or you often feel like you keep making the "wrong choice") learn toward experiential avoidance (avoiding situations or places that make you feel anxious) find it difficult to stay in the present moment want to embrace more holistic approaches to managing your mental health feel ready to take committed action that aligns with your values and needs want to improve your capacity for managing stress (even if you can’t change your circumstances) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2fafa24d-8e80-4b92-838e-5206bcc0207e/Acceptance+and+Commitment+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d9728380-6b3f-4309-8f4a-680db4e8c774/Acceptance+and+Commitment+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/leah-jans daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/202b738e-cf76-42e9-a76b-f1dae258c30f/Leah+Jans.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/b9f57bf3-ddac-4682-a928-16f4f75f35e4/Verified+By+Psychology+Today.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e2c659c1-b4d2-488b-93fa-74803b797058/Lumino+Health.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/1948e968-0c31-480d-a713-1c106cfc3900/Education+Leah+Jans+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Leah Jans - Education Master of Social Work, Dalhousie University (2025) Bachelor of Social Work, University of Calgary (2017) Diploma in Social Work, Red Deer College (2010) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/de38f90d-ec20-4d46-a8a1-4d48a304fad5/Registration+Leah+Jans+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Leah Jans - Registration Leah is a Registered Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers (Registration Number: 11787). Leah practices in accordance with the Canadian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, Values, and Guiding Principles (2024) and the Alberta College of Social Workers Standards of Practice (March 2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/psychiatry-referrals daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/d72236ec-bb17-4246-9b13-f18f0c2974ba/Psychiatric+Referrals+in+Fort+McMurray+Through+Boreal+Therapy+Collective Medication Management - Psychiatry Referrals It's estimated that nearly half of Canadians with a mood or anxiety disorder take psychiatric medication, and about one-third receive therapy along with medication. Medication can be an integral part of mental health treatment. The right medications can support better emotional regulation and mood stabilization. Based on your individual circumstances, they may also significantly reduce depressive or manic symptoms, hallucinations, and delusions. However, taking medications isn't always straightforward. Because everyone's brain chemistry is inherently unique, it's hard to predict how certain drugs will work. Similarly, some medications take weeks or months for their full effects to unfold. Some people stop taking medication due to side effects, perceived lack of effectiveness, or forgetfulness. This can affect mental health treatment. Psychiatrists are part of Alberta Health Services and are free for you to access with a referral. At Boreal Therapy Collective, every therapist has the credentials needed to refer you to one of our local psychiatrists or telepsychiatry services. If you and your therapist mutually agree, your therapist will refer you to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will meet with you to complete an assessment to determine whether medication is right for you. Your therapist will collaborate with your psychiatrist to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care. Please note that you can also request a psychiatry referral from your family doctor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cd83320c-83d4-4b6e-9211-c53812493500/Psychiatric+Referrals+in+Fort+McMurray+Through+Boreal+Therapy+Collective Medication Management - Starting Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e6ce6c37-dd9e-4b69-a13c-0e49839e3a35/Psychiatric+Referrals+in+Fort+McMurray+Through+Boreal+Therapy+Collective Medication Management - Starting Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/accelerated-resolution-therapy daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/3defeec1-a73e-48a7-8d7a-e83f3a9b6c0f/Accelerated+Resolution+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Accelerated Resolution Therapy - Accelerated Resolution Therapy Accelerated resolution therapy (ART) is an evidence-based practice intended to process and resolve traumatic memories and other trauma-related stressors. ART may be beneficial if you're experiencing chronic trauma symptoms or if you haven't had the success you want in other forms of therapy. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we offer ART to support clients experiencing various mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intrusive thoughts, substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more. For ART, book with: D’Arcy Arseneau Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2f644a48-da75-40fb-bea2-5ea9e574872f/Accelerated+Resolution+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Accelerated Resolution Therapy - How Does Accelerated Resolution Therapy Work? ART seeks to directly reprogram how your brain stores memories and negative images via rapid eye movements. This treatment is specific, structured, and directive, and many clients experience tremendous relief in just a few sessions. Although this is a relatively new model, one large randomized controlled trial found that participants receiving ART significantly reduced PTSD and anxiety symptoms when compared to a control group. Other research has found that ART is positively correlated with treating pain, particularly chronic refractory neuropathic pain. ART can be a standalone treatment model, but certain interventions can also overlap with other modalities, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c078b538-b4db-4af5-acd0-53ce5dc080ba/Accelerated+Resolution+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Accelerated Resolution Therapy - What Happens During ART Sessions? Unlike other therapies, ART emphasizes being quick, efficient, and non-invasive. The overarching goal is to rapidly replace negative images or experiences with more positive ones. Some of the other main benefits include: Fast results: ART is aimed to resolve chronic symptoms quickly, with some treatments lasting just 1-5 sessions. Your length of treatment will vary based on your goals and symptoms. Smooth pursuit eye movements: Like EMDR, repeated eye movements can create a desensitizing effect, decreasing the emotional intensity associated with past traumas. A relaxing effect happens as you follow your therapist's hand. Solution-focused healing: An ART-trained therapist can be valuable in treating trauma, even if you do not want to share what happened to you explicitly. ART is not contingent on you talking about your trauma or diving deep into any specific narrative. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/876a429b-c921-4dcf-b3de-9d5b2ae2a3fe/Accelerated+Resolution+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Accelerated Resolution Therapy - What to Expect from ART ART therapy sessions adhere to a predictable protocol that entails you visualizing a past distressing event. As you share this information, your therapist will then gently move their hand from side to side. You will follow their rhythmic movements while also noting sensations that spontaneously arise in the present moment. Eye movements: ART therapists use bilateral guided eye movements to help the brain process, integrate, and then reframe distressing material. Eye movements also aim to promote relaxation and create a sense of internal safety. This process can shift how traumatic memories are stored. Desensitization: Your therapist will direct you to identify a specific traumatic event for processing. You will be instructed to pay attention to your sensations while your therapist moves their hand from side to side. You will focus on your therapist's hand as you simultaneously note your own physical and emotional reactions. Your therapist will continue engaging in eye movements until sensations diminish in intensity. This process is repeated until you can move through all processing with fewer or no sensations. Imagery rescripting: During a typical ART session, you will be asked to visualize distressing events and 'rewrite' them into more neutral or positive images. The goal here is not to change the facts or sequencing of what really happened. Instead, it's about reorienting your emotional response to it. This can offer a much-needed sense of relief. Closure: Sessions always end with a sense of processing and closure. It's important that you're able to examine your memories or traumatic experiences without feeling significant distress. This can take anywhere from one to four sessions, although it may be longer in cases of complex trauma or when other mental health conditions are present. Your therapist may continue with ART interventions or other techniques to support memory consolidation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/6760d480-5cd5-42b1-a1cc-c8445ec7346d/Accelerated+Resolution+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Accelerated Resolution Therapy - Is ART Right for You? All therapy aims to reduce emotional discomfort, increase the ability to access positive feelings, and improve your overall quality of life. ART focuses on doing this via its rapid recovery process. ART is an effective treatment that can help clients resolve their most distressing memories and improve symptoms of other mental health concerns. That said, with so many treatment options available, sometimes it's hard to decide which therapy model is best for your needs. Accelerated resolution therapy may be helpful if you: have PTSD symptoms adversely affecting your mental health or overall well-being experience persistent anxiety that impacts your functioning want a brief treatment that may offer excellent results in fewer therapy sessions experience symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have complicated grief and depressive symptoms associated with it If you're not sure if accelerated resolution therapy is right for you, we welcome any questions or concerns. Our clinical practice and dedicated providers are dedicated to offering you individualized treatment focused on your specific needs and goals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e19408dc-b6e5-461e-a1c5-900496c8ac5b/Accelerated+Resolution+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Accelerated Resolution Therapy - Accelerated Resolution Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Accelerated Resolution Therapy Beginning accelerated resolution therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. ART is aimed to resolve chronic symptoms quickly, with some treatments lasting just 1-5 sessions. Your length of treatment will vary based on your goals and symptoms. Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/58ef7bb2-bdce-4409-9908-d1958786d932/Accelerated+Resolution+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Accelerated Resolution Therapy - Accelerated Resolution Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/deep-brain-reorienting daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2d277026-161e-48d5-8634-8c9465b94ed1/Deep+Brain+Reorienting+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Deep Brain Reorienting - Deep Brain Reorienting Deep brain reorienting (DBR) is a neuroscientifically-guided treatment intended to resolve symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and other traumatic-related experiences. DBR is designed for those with unresolved trauma and helps those experiencing intense emotional responses that create distress in everyday life. Unlike conventional talk therapy, DBR addresses the brainstem, which is the part of the brain that initially stores trauma responses. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we offer DBR to assist those experiencing various mental health concerns, including post-traumatic memories, attachment wounding, avoidance symptoms, and chronic difficulties with emotional regulation. For DBR, book with: Samantha LeBlanc https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/8e136205-52da-467d-aa89-00a156c2162c/Deep+Brain+Reorienting+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Deep Brain Reorienting - How Does Deep Brain Reorienting Therapy Work? DBR is a gentle therapeutic model that blends neurobiology with trauma-focused therapy. The goal of this approach is to change how your body reacts to traumatic stimuli or other emotional triggers. This model is rooted in the awareness that trauma directly impacts the nervous system, affecting how people respond to stress many years after a particular trauma occurs. These automatic responses reinforce PTSD symptoms, and this is why it sometimes feels like you're "stuck" in a traumatic event. Deep brain reorienting therapy works by accessing the root of the traumatic experience by tracking the primary physiological sequence within the brainstem. In this therapy, you will focus on integrating body awareness to treat your trauma at a respectful pace. Your therapist will help you identify and work with various physical sensations to process and release stored trauma without becoming overly dysregulated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/90337697-4e26-4958-be97-96a46db1af1e/Deep+Brain+Reorienting+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Deep Brain Reorienting - What Happens During DBR Sessions? DBR sessions entail focusing on specific traumatic memories and noting the affective response associated with them. Throughout treatment, your therapist will encourage you to identify the first physiological responses - these are often subtle (a slight change in breathing, muscle tightness, diverting eye contact). In this work, physical sensations are prioritized over cognitive and emotional processing. The length of DBR therapy varies based on each individual's presenting symptoms and nervous system sensitivities. Processing single-event trauma may take between 8-12 sessions. Long-term cases may take several months or 1-2 years. Unlike other traditional therapies, DBR's focus is on how trauma is stored in the body. With that, in this model, all memory processing integrates current here-and-now experiences. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a5372380-4d3b-4fd1-af7d-3fd778b1c417/Deep+Brain+Reorienting+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Deep Brain Reorienting - What to Expect from DBR Research shows that DBR is a unique psychotherapy that facilitates PTSD recovery without needing to engage in extensive trauma narratives. The focus of this treatment is rooted in what's happening in the present moment, focusing on various automatic responses connected to past events. Deep brain awareness: Throughout sessions, you will be guided to focus on automatic physical responses occurring within the brainstem. This starts by noting your own subtle sensations and naming them directly. Orienting to safety: Safety is an essential component of any trauma psychotherapy, and your therapist will prioritize helping you stay grounded if you find yourself becoming emotionally activated. Nervous system regulation: It is easy to get flooded when processing traumatic stimuli. Flooding comes in many forms, but it may include feeling disoriented, overly anxious, angry, or deeply ashamed. Sometimes it also shows up with physical symptoms of rapid breathing, dizziness, or trembling. Throughout DBR, your therapist will integrate various grounding techniques to support emotional regulation. Integration and reorientation: Over time, as treatment progresses, clients successfully reorient how their nervous system reacts to trauma. This, in turn, reduces the emotional intensity you may experience around certain memories. It also promotes a deeper sense of distress tolerance and emotional regulation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c08d96d9-6605-448c-a5a3-536aea37a4b9/Deep+Brain+Reorienting+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Deep Brain Reorienting - Is DBR Right for You? All trauma therapists seek to support clients in identifying and resolving unwanted trauma symptoms. This is true regardless of the specific modality they use. Furthermore, many clients also benefit from a multidisciplinary treatment approach- your therapist may blend interventions from different models together to best suit your specific needs. With that, deep brain reorienting may be helpful if you: struggle with frequent feelings of emotional overwhelm or dissociation have been diagnosed or suspect you have PTSD, complex PTSD, or another trauma-related concern experience difficulties with attachment or emotional regulation struggle with depression or anxiety that feels connected to childhood trauma value processing trauma through a more body-based, bottom-up approach have not experienced significant relief or changes from other trauma therapies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/0f9f7529-019b-4248-960c-a3e336ea7477/Deep+Brain+Reorienting+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Deep Brain Reorienting - Deep Brain Reorienting in Fort McMurray How to Start Deep Brain Reorienting Beginning deep brain reorienting with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment with Samantha LeBlanc here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Your length of treatment will vary based on your goals and symptoms. Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cba0b4bf-26db-4c4f-994b-ad0ae834daca/Deep+Brain+Reorienting+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Deep Brain Reorienting - Deep Brain Reorienting at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/trauma daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/74cb082e-6fde-4d75-8ff5-572f0bd756e9/Trauma+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray Trauma - Trauma Trauma refers to the physical or emotional response to a deeply disturbing experience. Acute trauma results from single, concrete incidents like car accidents or assaults. Complex trauma or chronic trauma can occur due to ongoing neglect, abuse, or harm taking place over a prolonged period of time. Although there's now more societal recognition of the impact of trauma, it is still often misunderstood. For example, you may recognize that you’ve experienced trauma, but you might also downplay what happened or question whether it was “that bad.” Furthermore, many people with trauma histories struggle with uncertainty, unsure of how their past experiences have truly affected them. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we offer a variety of trauma-focused treatments, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioural therapy (trauma-focused CBT), deep brain reorienting (DBR), and accelerated resolution therapy (ART). Trauma-focused therapy offers compassion, hope, and healing, We are proud to provide services for people of all ages, including children, teens, and adults. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2fdd8dea-f901-47e9-b804-c68ee9b88143/Trauma+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Trauma - Common Trauma Symptoms No two people reconcile traumatic experiences quite the same, and trauma-related symptoms vary in type and intensity. They may ebb and flow based on life circumstances, but stress almost always heightens them. Unresolved trauma, in particular, can impact your quality of life and make relationships and everyday functioning quite challenging. Hypervigilance: Hypervigilance is one of the most common PTSD symptoms, and it refers to feeling overly anxious or alert in typical situations. This makes it hard to relax, as you may be constantly scanning for threats or harm. Avoidance behaviours: Avoidance may entail staying away from situations, places, or people that remind you of the traumatic event. This avoidance may be conscious or unconscious. Avoidance can also come in the form of emotional numbness, refusal to address traumatic experiences, or using mood-altering substances to cope with intense feelings. Mood swings: Traumatic experiences may correlate with mood swings, which refer to rapid shifts in emotions, including intense anger, sadness, fear, or anxiety. People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other trauma-related disorders often struggle to regulate their emotions. Dissociation: Dissociation happens when you feel disconnected from your own body or external surroundings. You may be dissociating if you resonate with having memory gaps or 'zoning out' for periods of time. This may be your body attempting to protect you from experiencing physical, emotional, or psychological harm. Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts: Traumatic memories may be relived through vivid memories, scary nightmares, or intense emotions. These often coincide with feelings of terror or panic, and they may reinforce negative beliefs about yourself or the world around you. Anxiety disorders or depression: Trauma is a risk factor for numerous mental health conditions, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, and more. It's also often an underlying factor of self-harm and suicide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2f644a48-da75-40fb-bea2-5ea9e574872f/Trauma+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Trauma - How Can Trauma Therapy Help? If you have experienced trauma, you may struggle with feeling "stuck" in parts of your past. You might find yourself repeating unwanted cycles or engaging in undesirable behaviours. Treating trauma doesn't necessarily entail going into depth about what happened - instead, it's about reconnecting with yourself, learning how to regulate when you feel activated, and building a foundation of resilience. Process traumatic memories safely: The therapy process within trauma-informed therapy honors safety above all else. A trauma therapist understands and works with trauma symptoms, including anger, avoidance, dissociation, or anxiety right within the therapy session. You will have a safe and supportive environment to work through your trauma at a manageable pace. Recognize your trauma triggers: Some trauma reminders are obvious, but others are more insidious or covert. For example, you may not recognize that someone slightly raising their voice is reminiscent of a parent yelling at you when you were younger. But your body may automatically tighten, and you might find yourself engaging in people-pleasing tendencies the same way you did as a child. Learning about your triggers can help you recognize when you're activated. That increases your ability to pause and change how you react. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cc10cb7e-7742-4c0a-b69b-7f6c3f4b4d81/Trauma+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Trauma - How Can Trauma Therapy Help? Learn better emotional regulation skills: Because trauma can make people quick to anger, guilt, fear, sadness, or other strong emotions, improving the capacity to regulate emotions is paramount. Trauma treatment reinforces various coping skills, including grounding techniques, somatic awareness, positive affirmations, and other methods to support a calmer nervous system. Reduce unwanted coping strategies: It's not uncommon for trauma survivors to struggle with compulsive behaviours or interpersonal difficulties. These behaviours aren't "bad" or "wrong"- they are adaptive strategies intended to help you survive. However, they may be exacerbating unwanted stress. In therapy, you will learn new ways to manage distress to replace unwanted responses with more proactive ones. Strengthen your self-esteem: Many people with histories of trauma struggle with their self-esteem or self-worth. You may be holding onto a deep sense of shame, making it difficult to stay present in life or enjoy your relationships. Therapy may help you increase your self-esteem by helping you focus on your inner strengths, practice healthy coping skills, and set needed boundaries in daily life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/876a429b-c921-4dcf-b3de-9d5b2ae2a3fe/Trauma+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Trauma - Trauma Therapy in Fort McMurray How to Start Trauma Therapy Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to better manage your symptoms. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/e581fee1-022e-4414-901a-46a4a34ac332/Trauma+Therapy+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Trauma - Trauma Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png https://www.borealtherapycollective.ca/parents daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/90337697-4e26-4958-be97-96a46db1af1e/Parent+Counselling+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Parents - Parents No matter your child's age, parenting can be as rewarding as it is challenging. Many parents will say it is the hardest job they've ever done. Sometimes, you may feel like you're failing yourself or your child. That feeling can be very scary and disheartening. Whether you're navigating big tantrums, trying to make better sense of your child's mental health, or seeking to strengthen your communication skills within the entire family, therapy can be an invaluable source of support. Parent counselling offers a safe and non-judgmental space to explore these tender concerns and gain new tools to strengthen your family dynamics. For parent counselling, book with: D’Arcy Arseneau Darleen Davis Dayirai Kapfunde (virtual only) Kenneth Guye (virtual only) Kim Cardinal Leah Jans Lyndsy Stevenson Samantha LeBlanc Sarah Callin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/cdfa085b-7721-46e5-b287-07e67dbd9389/Parent+Counselling+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Parents - What is Parent Counselling? Parent counselling focuses on helping parents understand their child's development and build stronger emotional bonds within the home. Sessions are typically attended by parents without their child present, allowing space to reflect openly on your difficulties and what you would like to see change. Depending on your specific circumstances, your therapist may want to focus on helping you: Strengthen communication and conflict resolution skills Support your child’s emotional regulation and independence Establish healthy boundaries and family routines Understand developmental stages and age-appropriate expectations Reduce parental stress, guilt, or burnout Clarify and honour the values embedded within your parenting styles Manage your own mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, or trauma As you collaborate on particular goals, your therapist may also recommend family therapy or child therapy to support the broader family system. These types of therapy sessions are intended to better understand each person's needs and feelings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/2d277026-161e-48d5-8634-8c9465b94ed1/Parent+Counselling+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Parents - When to Consider Parent Counselling Raising children doesn't come with a one-size-fits-all training manual, and it's normal to feel uncertain or stretched thin at times. All children have unique strengths and difficulties, which means there isn't a universal answer for navigating each specific challenge. The good news is that parent counselling offers professional guidance when things feel too overwhelming. We can offer you support with insight, tools, and compassion to help you feel more grounded. You feel like you're constantly having power struggles: Parents are responsible for setting the tone when it comes to structure and safety. However, from moderating screen time to stating expectations around homework, children can be quite expressive when they don't agree with a rule. When daily routines feel like a battle, it may signify that communication patterns need adjusting. Therapy can help you identify triggers and develop practical tools to reduce tension. Over time, this can cultivate more respect and cooperation throughout the home. You frequently second-guess your parenting skills: Parenting requires constant decision-making (often on a whim), and it's so easy to doubt yourself or feel overwhelmed by all the potential options. This anxiety tends to be exacerbated by the conflicting advice available to parents. We're all susceptible to outside influence, but therapy offers space to explore your worries and clarify your values so that your parenting choices feel intentional and aligned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/58ef7bb2-bdce-4409-9908-d1958786d932/Parent+Counselling+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Parents - When to Consider Parent Counselling You're struggling to know how to intervene with your child's behavioural or emotional concerns: When children 'act out,' it can leave parents feeling confused, helpless, or angry. The whole family system becomes impacted when one person is struggling. Therapy helps you better understand your child's behaviour with respect and dignity. You will learn how to validate the feelings without enabling problematic concerns. Parent-focused treatment also focuses on how to support your child's well-being at home and in collaboration with others, including teachers and different caregivers. You're experiencing co-parenting challenges: Parents often have different opinions about discipline, routines, or even how to offer emotional support. It's easy for seemingly benign differences to turn into tense conflict, and unresolved problems between parents can impact your relationship and your child's sense of stability. Issues can feel especially heightened during high-conflict separations or divorces. Therapy offers a more neutral place to process these challenges and develop strategies that support unity and respect. You want to break intergenerational cycles or trauma patterns: Many parents wish to raise their children differently from how they were raised. That said, old habits can run deep, and it's not uncommon to find yourself doing the very things you promised you'd never do. Therapy offers a compassionate space for reflecting on your past experiences and developing a better understanding of how they impacted you. This, in turn, can help you focus on creating a nurturing environment for your child (and for yourself). You feel like you’ve lost yourself outside of parenting: Your role as a parent is so important, but solely dedicating all your time and energy to your children comes with steep consequences. If you are neglecting your own physical or emotional well-being, you may be more prone to burnout or resentment. Overlooking other relationships or priorities can result in “feeling lost,” and therapy offers support in helping you become more balanced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/c08d96d9-6605-448c-a5a3-536aea37a4b9/Parent+Counselling+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Parents - Parent Counselling in Fort McMurray How to Start Parent Counselling Beginning parent counselling with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your appointment here. Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment Parent counselling can be booked for 60 or 90 minute appointments. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand your parenting struggles. This appointment will help you and your therapist understand your goals, and will help your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals. After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement. Most people will have a session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal support. Once you are confident in your skills, you can choose to end service or return on an as-needed basis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/a03e2dba-ec11-4141-bc51-d5c34018e23b/Parent+Counselling+Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Fort+McMurray.png Parents - Parent Counselling at Boreal Therapy Collective Where We Are Located We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here. Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here. Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you! Rates & Benefit Coverage 60-minute appointments are billed at a rate of $220.00 and 90-minute appointments are billed at a rate of $330.00 (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking). Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing. If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62071779e958676fbd04591c/76f2b4a1-a0c1-4fab-8e31-f1e08b586019/Boreal+Therapy+Collective+Foliage.png