Individual Therapy

You might be yearning for a shift in your life, hoping to reshape your outlook, or trying to break free from a pattern that keeps coming back. Or maybe you're dealing with anxiety, low mood or restlessness that makes it hard to enjoy your life. At Vital Mind Psychology in downtown Cochrane, individual therapy gives you one-on-one time with a therapist to look at what's going on, explore what you're feeling and build coping skills that fit your life.

You can see us in person at our office on 1 Avenue West in Cochrane, by phone, or by secure video from anywhere in Alberta.

What we can help with

People come to individual therapy for all kinds of reasons, and you don't need a clear "problem" to start. Some of the things our team works with:

  • Anxiety, stress and feeling overwhelmed

  • Depression and low mood

  • Feeling stuck, unmotivated or like you're going through the motions

  • Trauma and PTSD, including complex and childhood trauma (see trauma therapy)

  • Grief and loss

  • Self-esteem and body image

  • Life transitions, parenting stress and caregiver burnout

  • Men's issues

  • Substance use and addictions

  • Family estrangement

  • ADHD, autism and late diagnosis (see autism and ADHD counselling)

  • Pure-O OCD and being a highly sensitive person

By gaining insight into your patterns, exploring your emotions and learning practical skills, we work toward understanding yourself better and making the changes that matter to you, at whatever stage you're at.

Illustration of a counsellor and client talking one-on-one in a cozy counselling office in Cochrane

In person, virtual or outdoors

  • In person: our office is on the 2nd floor at 127 1 Avenue West in downtown Cochrane.

  • Virtual and phone: secure video or phone sessions, from anywhere in Alberta.

  • Walk and talk: prefer to talk while you move? All our clinicians offer walk and talk sessions around Cochrane. You can book Julia’s directly online, and the rest of the team can arrange one on request. Sessions run when the weather allows.

Prefer working through things with a partner? See couples counselling.

Who you'd see

Our team includes a Registered Psychologist, Canadian Certified Counsellors and a Counselling Intern. Each has their own focus, so you can pick the person who feels like a good fit, or ask us during your free consultation.

  • Eric Kang, Registered Psychologist: teens and adults. Trauma and PTSD, men's issues, anxiety, and substance addictions and dual diagnoses. Eric has Level II training in Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT) for trauma treatment and uses a person-centred approach.

  • Julia Sokulski, Canadian Certified Counsellor: teens and adults. Complex and childhood trauma, grief and loss, self-esteem and image issues, highly sensitive people, and Pure-O OCD.

  • Alyssa Lightfoot, Canadian Certified Counsellor: adolescents, teens and adults. Neuro-affirming counselling for ADHD, autism and late diagnosis, and support for young adults.

  • Ben Hofs, Canadian Certified Counsellor: adults. Feeling "stuck" and family estrangement. Ben also sees couples.

  • Nancy Russell, Counselling Intern, supervised by Eric: children, adolescents, teens and adults. Anxiety, depression, parenting, caregiver burnout, life transitions, stress and self-esteem.

Our clinicians draw on approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems, somatic work and relational therapy, depending on what fits you. Meet the whole team.

What it costs

Fees vary by clinician and are listed on our team page and our booking site. Many extended health plans cover counselling or psychology services, but coverage varies, so it’s worth checking your plan. Where direct billing is available, we can bill your provider for you. See rates and policies for the details.

Cost a concern? Sessions with Nancy Russell, our Counselling Intern supervised by Eric, are $60, or $50 with a Cochrane Connect Card. You don’t need to share any financial details to book. Learn about affordable counselling.

How to get started

  1. Book a free 30-minute consultation online. It can be in person, by phone or virtual, and it’s a chance to ask questions and see who might be a good fit.

  2. Or book a session directly with the clinician you’d like to see through our online booking.

  3. Have a question first? Call us at (403) 972-0091 or email hello@vitalmindpsychology.com.

A common question

Will I see a psychologist or a counsellor?

It’s your choice. Eric Kang is our Registered Psychologist, and Julia, Alyssa and Ben are Canadian Certified Counsellors. Nancy is a Counselling Intern supervised by Eric. Some insurance plans only cover certain types of practitioners, so check your plan if that matters to you. If you’re not sure who to choose, a free consultation can help.

More questions? See our full FAQ.