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Family Therapy

Family therapy session with a counselor explaining what is family therapy

What is Family Therapy?

Family Therapy is a collaborative form of counselling that focuses on improving relationships within the family unit. It recognizes that each member affects the others, and that real change often happens when everyone is involved.
In sessions, a trained therapist helps families identify recurring patterns of communication and behavior that may be creating tension or misunderstanding. By exploring these dynamics together, family members begin to see issues in a new light and develop more effective ways to connect and problem-solve.
Family Therapy can include parents, children, siblings, or extended family members. It is especially helpful during times of conflict, major life transitions, or when a family is coping with issues like mental health challenges, grief, or separation.

Why Family Therapy Matters ?

Healthy family relationships are essential for emotional well-being. When communication breaks down, it can lead to frustration, withdrawal, and resentment. Family Therapy helps restore balance by creating space for honest conversation and mutual understanding. Rather than focusing on blame, therapy encourages family members to explore their experiences and feelings with empathy. This process often leads to more compassion, less conflict, and stronger bonds. At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, we believe every family has the capacity to change and grow. Our goal is to help you rediscover your ability to listen, understand, and build meaningful relationships.
Family counselling session with therapist showing why family therapy matters
Therapist guiding family during family therapy Calgary session

Our Approach

Our clinicians use evidence-based models such as Structural, Bowenian, Emotionally Focused, and Narrative Family Therapy. These approaches help families strengthen boundaries, manage emotional reactivity, and reframe unhelpful stories that may be shaping their interactions. We begin by understanding your family’s unique needs, values, and dynamics. Sessions are collaborative and non-judgmental, allowing every member to be heard and respected. The therapist serves as a neutral guide, helping the family recognize patterns and develop new ways of communicating that encourage empathy and cooperation.

Who Can Benefit from Family Therapy

Family Therapy is helpful for families experiencing:

  • Frequent arguments or tension
  • Communication challenges
  • Blended family adjustments
  • Parenting disagreements
  • Grief, loss, or trauma
  • Mental health or behavioral concerns affecting the family

Even families not currently in crisis can benefit from therapy as a way to strengthen relationships and prevent future conflicts.

Family therapy session with counselor and family
Core Techniques in Family Therapy Calgary.

Core Techniques Used

During sessions, therapists often use active listening exercises, role-play, and communication coaching to help family members express themselves more effectively. Reframing techniques encourage families to view problems from different perspectives, while boundary work helps clarify roles and expectations.

These practical tools help families understand one another’s emotions and reactions, reducing blame and fostering empathy. Over time, these changes create healthier, more supportive patterns that continue beyond the therapy room.

What to Expect in Sessions

Family Therapy at Rocky Mountain Psychological Services begins with an initial session where the therapist learns about your family’s story and goals. Each member is invited to share their perspective in a respectful, guided conversation. Together, you’ll identify areas for change and set shared goals for future sessions.

Sessions typically last about an hour and are held weekly or bi-weekly. The therapist helps facilitate open discussion, teaches effective communication strategies, and provides tools to handle conflict in healthier ways.

While the process can feel challenging at first, many families notice positive changes as communication becomes clearer and relationships grow stronger. Over time, therapy helps families feel more connected, supported, and understood.

Family counselling calgary session, benefit of shared goals."

Benefits of Family Therapy

Family Therapy can help reduce conflict, improve communication, and strengthen emotional bonds. Families often leave therapy with greater empathy, patience, and understanding of one another’s needs. Parents feel more confident, children feel more heard, and the entire family experiences a renewed sense of connection and stability.

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, our experienced clinicians are committed to helping families rediscover their strengths and build lasting resilience. We provide a caring environment where each person feels valued and supported in the journey toward healing and growth.

Couple in family therapy session benefits

Begin Your Family’s Healing Journey

Taking the step to start Family Therapy shows courage and care for your loved ones. If your family is struggling to communicate, manage conflict, or navigate change, we are here to help.


Contact Rocky Mountain Psychological Services today to book your first session and begin building a stronger, more connected family—one conversation at a time

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Cassandra White

Cassandra has been the owner and Director of RMPS since 2013. She brings more than 20 years of experience in working with children and families to the practice. Her background and expertise in the areas of assessment and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD as well as her knowledge of neurofeedback therapy and play therapy give her the broad base of knowledge to direct this multi-faceted private psychology practice. In addition to her experience in assessment and treatment of learning disabilities and giftedness, Cassandra has training and expertise in Child Psychotherapy and Play Therapy. She has worked extensively with children and their families regarding treatment of anxiety, depression, behavioral issues and emotion regulation using play-based and expressive interventions. Cassandra is also a clinical supervisor who provides supervision and consultation to other practitioners specializing in working with children. Cassandra’s experience and knowledge is not only academic; she is the mother of four children. Her experience of being a parent of four children makes her a very practical and realistic therapist. She understands the demands of parenting and does not rely on “book knowledge” or recommendations that appear unattainable for parents. She prides herself in understanding both the needs of the parents and the child. She looks for ways to enhance family functioning so that parents can feel competent and successful in their difficult jobs of raising children with a variety of complex needs.
Rocky Mountain psychological services Calgary

MacKenzie Ebel

MacKenzie is a Psychometrist/Psychological Assistant at RMPS. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Princeton University, where she also played 4 years for the women’s ice hockey team. She recently completed her Masters in Counselling Psychology through City University of Seattle. MacKenzie has worked with children, youth, and their families in a number of settings, through coaching, as a behavioural aid, and counselling through her internship placement. She is excited to continue learning about assessment administration, neurofeedback, and play therapy practices at RMPS! Currently, she is part of the assessment and neurotherapy team, as she completes her final capstone assignment and intends to join our counselling team as a Registered Provisional Psychologist.

Tammy Thomson

Tammy is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) program at Yorkville University and is trained at the master’s level in art therapy as a professional art psychotherapist and member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. She brings more than 20 years of experience working with children, teens, and families in child development settings, children’s hospitals, and schools as an early childhood educator and elementary teacher. She completed a Bachelor of Applied Science specializing in Child Development Studies at the University of Guelph, Ontario and holds a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Tammy is a member of the Canadian Counsellor and Psychotherapy Association and College of Alberta Psychologists while pursuing her next goal of registration as a provisional psychologist. Tammy values a client-centered approach using play therapy and the expressive arts to support those who may find it difficult to articulate their thoughts and feelings with words. Children and families do not need any skill or prior art experience and the art studio is a safe place where children can gain a sense of independence, greater emotional regulation, and confidence through self-exploration. Expressive interventions in art therapy can treat behavioural issues, anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, physical and developmental disabilities, and attachment difficulties. As a parent of three young children herself, Tammy understands the complexities of family life using compassion to help parents feel more confident in their role of raising a successful family.

Raquel Freitas

Raquel is an Office Administrator at RMPS. Back in Brazil, her home country, she graduated as a Psychologist and worked as a clinician for the past 5 years. Although she loved working with children and adults, she discovered a new passion: manage the administrative tasks that keep the business running. 

As someone who is passionate about learning new things and developing new skills, with the career transition also came the decision to live abroad and explore a new culture. To serve empathetically and connect with people is Raquel’s main personal and professional goal.

Emma Donnelly

Emma is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in her hometown at Brandon University, after which she moved to Calgary to earn her Master’s of Science in School and Applied Child Psychology at the University of Calgary. Emma has a passion for working with children and families and has experience doing so in a number of settings, including schools, homes, early intervention programs, and within the community. She specializes in assessment, including psychoeduational, social-emotional-behavioural, and autism assessment. Emma uses a client centred approach to counselling, supported by cognitive behavioural therapy, as well as play-based and attachment-based techniques. She believes in meeting clients where they are at and prides herself in working together with her clients to achieve their goals, improve their functioning, and enjoy their daily life.

Amanda Stoner

Amanda is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Amanda earned her doctoral degree in Psychology at Brock University in Ontario in 2017, with a specialization in developmental psychology. Amanda provides formal assessment services at RMPS. 

Since 2009, Amanda has received formal training and work experience in private practice settings in conducting psycho-educational assessments for students ranging from preschool through university. Amanda is skilled at test administration, interpretation of data, and report writing for various referral questions including ADHD, Learning Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Giftedness, and Intellectual Disabilities. Amanda enjoys working with people of all ages from diverse backgrounds, and she tries to make the testing environment feel relaxed and comfortable while maintaining integrity in testing protocol.

Denise Riewe

Denise has completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences through the University of Lethbridge and a Master of Counselling with Athabasca University. She is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists and a member of the Psychological Association of Alberta. Denise has over 9 years of experience supporting children, youth and their families in both residential and community-based practices. Denise is experienced in working with high and at-risk youth, supporting children and their families with strength-based approaches. She practices from a client-center approach supported by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Theraplay, and other play and art-based modalities.

John Pynn

John is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. He completed his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. He brings more than 20 years of experience working with children, teens, and families in a variety of settings. He brings a relaxed and collaborative atmosphere to sessions. John uses an integrated counselling approach including client-centred, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focussed therapy (SFT) to find the best-fit for clients. He has experience with a variety of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, anger, self-
esteem, relationships, parenting, ADHD, grief/loss, addictions, and trauma. This broad experience comes from working in schools, social service agencies, group-care, and clinical settings. He also draws from the practical experience of being a parent to two teenagers as well as a husband. Supporting and empowering clients with mental health concerns is something John genuinely enjoys. John also provides counselling for adults and holds a Gottman level 1 certification for couples therapy.

Zara Crasto

Zara is a Psychometrist/Psychological Assistant at RMPS. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Calgary and her Graduate Diploma in Psychological Assessment at Concordia University of Edmonton. 

Zara has spent over five years working alongside children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of settings. These include public and private schools, in-home support, residential programs, early-intervention programs, and non-profit organizations. Currently, Zara is part of the assessment and neurotherapy team. As a lifelong learner, Zara plans to go back to graduate school and eventually become a psychologist one day.

Kellie Lanktree

Kellie is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She completed a Bachelor of Child and Youth Care with the University of Victoria and a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology through the University of Lethbridge. Kellie has over 10 years experience supporting children and youth with developmental disorders/delays and their families. Kellie has experience working in schools, clinical settings, and within homes to provide support and therapeutic interventions. Through her time at RMPS, Kellie has also gained experience in helping individuals affected by trauma, grief/loss, separations, emotional dysregulation, depression, and anxiety. Kellie practices through developmental, attachment-based and trauma-informed lenses, and draws from a variety of play-based approaches such as Synergetic Play Therapy, Child-centered play therapy, DIR/Floortime, art-based mediums, and mindfulness-based practices. Kellie also provides Neurofeedback therapy, and is working on receiving her certification through BCIA. Kellie believes in meeting children and their families where they are at and that there is no “one size fits all” for therapy.