Depression is often described through a list of symptoms: low mood, exhaustion, loss of interest, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal, hopelessness. These These descriptions can be useful. They can help you recognize that something important is happening and that support may be needed. But a list of symptoms tells us very little about why this particular low has come into your life. At the Calgary Narrative Collective, we begin with the belief that suffering should not be as

People-pleasing can look a lot like kindness. Saying yes. Being accommodating. Avoiding disagreement. Trying not to disappoint people. Taking responsibility for keeping relationships comfortable. But there can be an important difference between caring for other people and becoming preoccupied with what we imagine other people think about us. People-pleasing often turns our attention inward: Are you upset with me?Do you still like me?Have I disappointed you?What do I need to d

When couples begin looking for couples counselling in Calgary, they often believe the problem is communication. Perhaps conversations keep ending in arguments. One partner feels unheard. The other feels criticized. The same disagreements seem to happen over and over again. Communication certainly matters. But in our experience, communication is rarely the deepest issue. In much of couples counselling, communication is treated as the central problem. Couples are encouraged

One of the questions we are often asked is, "What is a sliding scale fee?" Simply put, a sliding scale fee means that the cost of therapy is adjusted according to a person's financial circumstances. Rather than charging the same fee to every client, a sliding fee scale program recognizes that people come to therapy with different financial realities. At the Calgary Narrative Collective, however, a sliding scale is more than a pricing model. It is part of our mission. As a non