Frequently Asked Questions

Your pain is absolutely real. This isn't about it being "in your head." What neuroscience shows is that most chronic pain is maintained by learned neural pathways in the brain, even after the original injury has healed. The brain has learned to produce pain signals, and it can learn to stop. This understanding is the foundation of Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and it's backed by published research including a landmark study in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Most pain treatments focus on the body: the muscles, joints, nerves, or inflammation. These approaches are important for acute injuries, but they often don't work for chronic pain because the problem isn't at the site of the pain. It's in the brain's learned pain response. My approach works directly with the neural pathways that maintain pain, using techniques like Pain Reprocessing Therapy and Brainspotting. Many of my clients have tried everything else before finding this approach.

No referral is needed to see a Registered Psychologist in Alberta. You can book directly. However, some insurance plans require a referral for reimbursement, so it's worth checking with your provider. I'm happy to coordinate with your family doctor or other healthcare providers as part of your care.

Yes. I see clients in-person in Calgary and via secure video across Alberta. Virtual sessions are just as effective for most of the work I do, including Pain Reprocessing Therapy, ACT, and Brainspotting. The only modality that works better in-person is clinical hypnosis, though it can still be done virtually.

This varies depending on what we're working on. For chronic pain with a PRT focus, many clients see meaningful shifts within 8 to 12 sessions. Trauma work depends on complexity. Some single-incident traumas resolve in a few sessions, while complex trauma may take longer. Anxiety typically shows changes within the first few sessions, with deeper shifts over 10 to 16 sessions. I don't believe in keeping people in therapy longer than they need to be.

Sessions are 50 minutes. What happens in a session depends on what we're working on and what you need that day. It might involve PRT exercises where we work with pain sensations directly, a Brainspotting session to process deeper patterns, ACT-based conversation about values and barriers, clinical hypnosis for relaxation and pain modulation, or mindfulness practices. I tailor the approach to you, and there's no rigid protocol.

No. Trauma therapy doesn't mean reliving your worst moments. The approaches I use, particularly Brainspotting, can process trauma without requiring you to narrate every detail. We work at a pace that feels safe, and I prioritize building stability and resources before approaching difficult material. Your nervous system's capacity is always the guide.

Brainspotting is a body-based therapy that uses specific eye positions to access deep brain processing. Where you look affects how you feel, and by finding the right "brainspot," we can access and process unresolved trauma, pain, and emotional distress that talk therapy alone can't reach. It's client-led, and most people find content processed with BSP eventually resolves in a state of deeper calm and security. I'm trained in Phase 1 and Phase 2 Brainspotting. Note: Brainspotting does require some adaptations for online therapy, but many clients have had great success doing BSP virtually.

Clinical hypnosis is completely safe. You remain fully conscious, aware, and in control throughout. It's nothing like stage hypnosis. Think of it more like a deeply focused meditation, a state of calm, heightened awareness where your mind is more open to shifting patterns. You can open your eyes and stop at any time. Clinical hypnosis is a well-researched intervention used in hospitals and pain clinics worldwide.

I offer direct billing to Alberta Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross, Sun Life Financial, TELUS Health, and First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). For other providers, I issue a receipt after each session that you can submit for reimbursement. Most extended health plans cover Registered Psychologist services.

I require 24 hours notice for cancellations. Late cancellations and no-shows are billed at the full session rate. I understand that things come up, and I try to be flexible when circumstances are genuinely unexpected.

The easiest way is to book online through Jane App. You can schedule a free 20-minute consultation or a full session directly. You can also call me at (587) 333-0740. I typically respond within one business day.