Affordable Child & Family Counselling in Calgary
High-Quality Care at an Affordable Price
We believe every family deserves access to quality mental health care. Our low-cost counselling program provides children, teens, parents, and families with affordable therapy delivered by carefully selected Master’s and Doctoral student therapists who are completing their clinical training.
Every student therapist works under the close supervision of an experienced licensed therapist, ensuring your family receives compassionate, evidence-informed care every step of the way.
Program Details
- Fee: $50 per 50-minute session
- Who it’s for: Children (ages 3+), teens, parents, and families
- Therapists: Master’s and Doctoral practicum students completing advanced clinical training
- Supervision: Every student therapist receives ongoing supervision from a senior licensed therapist throughout their placement
The Benefits of Working with a Student Therapist
Our student therapists bring current clinical knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to every session. Because they are still in training, they also receive regular supervision and consultation from an experienced clinician.
This means your family benefits from both the care of your therapist and the guidance of a senior licensed therapist who supports treatment planning and clinical decision-making throughout your care.
How Clinical Supervision Works
Your family’s care is supported through regular clinical supervision. Depending on the needs of your case, supervision may include:
Weekly Case Consultation
Student therapists meet regularly with their clinical supervisor to review progress, discuss challenges, refine treatment plans, and ensure you are receiving the highest quality care.
Session Review
With your written consent, sessions may occasionally be securely recorded or discreetly observed for educational and supervision purposes. This allows supervisors to provide specific feedback and guidance to your therapist.
Participation in session recording or observation is completely voluntary. Your comfort and privacy are always our priority, and you may withdraw your consent at any time.
Services We Offer
Areas We Can Help With
Our student therapists provide specialized support for children, teens, and families experiencing a wide variety of emotional, behavioural, and developmental concerns.
Young Children (Ages 3+)
- Emotional regulation
- Big feelings and tantrums
- Difficulty with transitions
- Starting daycare or kindergarten
- Sleep challenges
Neurodiversity & Behaviour
- ADHD
- Attention and focus difficulties
- Impulsivity
- Emotional regulation
- Behavioural concerns
Anxiety & Emotional Wellbeing
- General anxiety
- Social anxiety
- School avoidance
- Excessive worries
- Low mood
- Building confidence and resilience
Family & Relationships
- Separation and divorce
- Blended families
- Sibling conflict
- Parent-child relationship challenges
- Family communication
Parent Support
- Parent burnout
- Parenting strategies
- Co-parenting
- Building confidence as a parent
- Understanding your child’s emotional needs
Complex Mental Health Concerns
Our student therapists, under close clinical supervision, can support children and teens experiencing self-harming behaviours or passive suicidal thoughts when appropriate for outpatient counselling.
If a child or teen is experiencing an immediate safety concern, is actively suicidal, or requires crisis intervention, we will help connect your family with emergency or community mental health services that can provide the level of support they need.
How We Select Our Student Therapists
Your family’s safety, comfort, and care are our highest priorities. We are highly selective about the clinicians we accept into our practicum program.
Every student therapist has successfully completed a rigorous selection process before beginning to see clients.
Advanced Clinical Training
All student therapists are completing a Master’s or Doctoral degree in counselling or psychotherapy and have already completed their foundational clinical coursework.
Experience Working with Children and Families
We do not accept beginner clinicians. Every student therapist joins our team with previous professional experience supporting children, youth, families, or related populations.
Comprehensive Interview Process
Applicants participate in an extensive interview process where we evaluate their clinical judgment, interpersonal skills, empathy, professionalism, and readiness to work with children and families.
Safety Screening
Every student therapist must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check before seeing clients.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Our low-cost counselling program is part of our commitment to making mental health care more accessible while training the next generation of exceptional therapists. The reduced fee reflects the therapist’s practicum status, not the quality of care or supervision you receive.
Coverage varies between insurance providers. Some plans reimburse services provided by practicum students under supervision, while others require the therapist to be fully registered.
We recommend contacting your insurance provider before your first appointment to ask whether they cover services provided by a Master’s or Doctoral practicum student under the supervision of a licensed therapist.
Student placements typically run from September through March. For many families, this provides ample time to achieve meaningful goals and develop lasting skills.
If ongoing support is needed beyond the placement, your therapist will work with you well in advance to ensure a smooth transition to another clinician.
Only with your written consent. Occasionally, sessions may be securely recorded or observed for supervision purposes. Participation is entirely voluntary and will never affect your access to services if you choose not to participate.
Yes. Every student therapist is completing advanced graduate training, has prior experience working with children or families, has been carefully selected through a rigorous hiring process, and receives ongoing supervision from an experienced licensed therapist throughout their placement.