The journey to becoming a psychologist and offering counselling support is being boosted by the Calgary Counselling Centre. It has a dual role in mental health care—providing support to thousands of clients while helping train the next generation of counsellors.
Saveena Tiwanna did her practicum at the Calgary Counselling Centre. She is now a registered provisional psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and works in Edmonton.
“I did a practicum there for about eight months. It has given me the necessary skills to move on with my career. I learned from a lot of good supervisors and international psychologists – Dr. Scott Miller and Dr. Michael Yapko. I was able to do consultations with them monthly.”
Saveena did a master of counselling with City University before starting her practicum. Miller and Yapko provided specialty consultations for particular cases that arose during the practicum training.
Training structure
The Centre has about 150 counsellors, including permanent staff, interns, and residents who are gaining hands-on experience in psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy. The large and diverse team allows clients to find a counsellor suited to their needs without facing long wait times.
Calgary Counselling Centre operates the largest counselling training program in Western Canada, supporting roughly 90 graduate and postgraduate students each year through its Haskayne Learning Centre. These interns complete eight-month practicums throughout the year, building real-world experience in a clinical setting.
Pursuing a counselling career
Saveena identifies as a person of colour with South Asian heritage. She shares why she wanted to pursue her career path. She says in the South Asian community mental health has been stigmatized.
“Mental health is not openly accepted. It’s not something that members of our (South Asian) community talk about. I saw that gap and that pushed me to pursue a master of counselling degree and become a psychologist.”
Advanced practicum at the Centre
About a dozen residents—those in the final stages of their training—work with clients annually as part of their advanced practicum placements.
The Centre sees its support in education as strengthening the mental health workforce, while also ensuring clients receive care informed by the latest research and best practices.
Increasing counselling options
Accessibility is another key part of the Centre’s model. Clients can choose between in-person and online counselling, with virtual appointments now making up nearly 70 per cent of sessions.
Saveena points out the diverse nature of the clients that come to the Calgary Counselling Centre and the importance of the non-profit’s role in providing counselling services.
“I think it increases accessibility to clients, and they are allowed to pay however much they can afford, and that stands out to me. I know mental health therapy can be very pricey,” says Saveena, who notes her willingness to offer reduced fees in her practice.
Officials say that flexibility is crucial for people in rural or remote communities, as well as those with mobility challenges or busy schedules, allowing them to access support wherever they are.
Outcomes
The Centre also points to strong outcomes. About 95 per cent of clients experience improvement, recovery, or stabilization during their counselling journey—significantly higher than the industry benchmark.
That success is linked to a data-driven approach known as Feedback Informed Treatment. The method uses client feedback collected before and after sessions to help counsellors track progress and adjust treatment in real time.
“They place the client first and foremost. So, everything is client-centred. They make sure we are taking feedback from the client at every step of the way possible. We are making sure that the client’s voice is heard,” says Saveena, who values feedback from clients in her private practice.
“I make sure that clients are able to say what they feel about the session and if anything needs to change or be altered, that they have the safe space to do so.”
With a combination of accessible services, strong clinical results, and a focus on training new professionals, the Calgary Counselling Centre continues to serve as both a key support system for clients and a learning hub for future counsellors.
Available resources
More support is available online or in person via Counselling Alberta and the Calgary Counselling Centre.
In Lloydminster, mental health resources are available also online and in-person.
