Relational Therapy (Attachment-Based Therapy) in Calgary & Across Alberta
Understanding Yourself Through Relationship
Many of the struggles people bring to therapy did not develop in isolation, they developed in relationship.
Through our early experiences with caregivers, family, friendships, and intimate relationships, we learn important things about ourselves and others:
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Is it safe to need people?
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Can I trust others to be there for me?
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Do my feelings matter?
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Am I too much, not enough, or somehow different?
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Do I have to take care of others to stay connected?
Over time, these experiences shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we move through the world.
Relational therapy recognizes that many of our current struggles make sense within the context of these experiences.
I offer virtual relational and attachment-based therapy for adults across Alberta, including Calgary, Edmonton, and surrounding communities.
What is relational (attachment-based) therapy?
Relational therapy focuses on understanding how your relationships have shaped your sense of self, your nervous system, and your ways of connecting with others.
Sometimes these patterns are obvious. Other times they show up in subtle ways, such as:
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feeling responsible for everyone else's emotions
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struggling to trust others or yourself
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fearing rejection, abandonment, or conflict
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losing yourself in relationships
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feeling emotionally disconnected or alone, even around people you care about
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having difficulty expressing needs or setting boundaries
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repeating relationship dynamics that leave you feeling hurt or misunderstood
These patterns are not signs that something is wrong with you.
They are often intelligent adaptations, ways your system learned to protect connection, safety, or belonging.
How relational therapy can help
Relational therapy is not about blaming the past or analyzing every relationship you've ever had.
It is about creating new experiences that allow old patterns to soften.
Together, we may work toward:
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understanding why certain relationships feel difficult or emotionally intense
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recognizing patterns that no longer support you
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building greater self-trust and emotional awareness
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feeling more secure in expressing needs and boundaries
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developing relationships that feel more authentic and reciprocal
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increasing your capacity for closeness without losing yourself
Over time, therapy can support a greater sense of ease, choice, and connection in your relationships, with others and with yourself.
Why relationship matters in therapy
Research consistently shows that the therapeutic relationship itself is one of the strongest predictors of meaningful change in therapy.
Relational wounds often do not shift through insight alone.
They begin to soften through new experiences.
Experiences such as:
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being met with consistency instead of unpredictability
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having emotions welcomed rather than dismissed
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feeling understood rather than judged
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moving at a pace that respects your capacity
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discovering that you do not have to earn care or connection
In this way, therapy becomes more than a place to talk about relationships, it becomes a place to experience something different.
What working together looks like
Sessions are collaborative, relational, and paced with care.
There is no pressure to have the right words or to revisit experiences before you are ready.
Together, we may:
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notice relationship patterns as they arise in everyday life
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explore how your nervous system responds to closeness, conflict, or disconnection
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increase awareness of protective strategies such as people-pleasing, perfectionism, withdrawal, or over-functioning
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create new ways of relating that feel more grounded, authentic, and sustainable
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support greater connection with yourself and others
The work unfolds gradually and honours the pace your system can genuinely support.
What makes my approach different
Many therapy approaches focus primarily on symptom reduction or skill building.
While these approaches can be helpful, I also pay attention to something deeper: how your experiences in relationship have shaped the ways you protect yourself, connect with others, and understand who you are.
My work is grounded in relational and attachment-based therapy and supported by somatic and integrative approaches, including:
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Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy
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EMDR-informed therapy
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mindfulness and nervous system awareness
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evidence-based trauma therapies
This means we don't only talk about your relationships, we also pay attention to how those experiences continue to live in your body, your emotions, and your current patterns.
Over time, being met with consistency, curiosity, and care can create new experiences of safety, connection, and trust that extend beyond the therapy room.
Online relational therapy across Alberta
All sessions are offered virtually.
Many people find that engaging in relational work from their own environment helps them feel more comfortable, grounded, and able to access vulnerable experiences.
I provide secure online relational therapy for adults across Calgary, Edmonton, and communities throughout Alberta.
Common questions
Is relational therapy different from other types of therapy?
Yes.
While many therapies focus primarily on symptoms or thoughts, relational therapy pays particular attention to how your relationships have shaped your sense of self, emotional patterns, and ways of coping.
For example, anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, difficulty trusting others, or fear of conflict often make more sense when understood through a relational lens.
Can relational therapy help with trauma or anxiety?
Absolutely.
Many experiences of anxiety, chronic stress, or emotional overwhelm are connected to relational experiences such as:
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growing up feeling responsible for others
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experiencing inconsistency or unpredictability in relationships
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feeling unseen, misunderstood, or emotionally alone
learning to suppress needs in order to maintain connection -
experiencing relational trauma, attachment wounds, or difficult relationship experiences
When these patterns are understood with compassion rather than judgment, new possibilities for healing can emerge.
Do you incorporate somatic or trauma-informed approaches?
Yes.
My work integrates relational and attachment-based therapy with Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy and EMDR-informed approaches.
This allows us to work not only with insight and understanding, but also with how your nervous system carries and responds to relational experiences.
How do I get started?
The first step is a complimentary 20-minute consultation.
This gives us an opportunity to connect, discuss what brings you to therapy, answer any questions you may have, and explore whether working together feels like the right fit.