Overview



Online Therapy is still a great choice for many people. For some it is just more convenient, for others it feels comfortable to be at your own home when you meet with a therapist. Many professionals continue to find that online therapy makes their lives easier as they can schedule therapy during a break from work meetings and still have all their time to enjoy at home.

Loretta Della Mora is a long time Registered Psychologist who is passionate about online therapy. Due to her many years of work supporting adults, couples and parents, she finds that her and her clients have good success and reach their therapy goals though online therapy. She is our lead online therapist on our team and is a great choice for you.

Call Our Intake Team Today for a free consult & more details on Online Therapy: 780-449-1196

Online therapy is a great choice for adults, couples, parents and teens. We recommend children therapy is done in person.





Counselling Topics


Boundaries

Setting boundaries is an important part of any relationship. To have the healthiest relationship, both partners should know each other’s wants, goals, fears and limits. You should feel comfortable communicating your honest needs to your partner without being afraid of what they might do in response.

Boundaries are rooted in respect for ourselves and others and allow everyone to feel safe.  

Do you have questions about setting boundaries in your own relationships? One of our psychologists will be a great resource for you.


Childhood Mental Health Concerns

Sometimes a school or a doctor suggests to a parent that psychological counselling could benefit their child.

We have excellent childrens’ psychologists with a great deal of training and experience.  Our psychologists will help your child to gain understanding and coping tools, as well, the psychologists will help the parent(s) to develop strategies to come along side of their child.

Some concerns that children may face:

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Autism/Asperger’s
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Giftedness
  • Infant Disorders
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Nonverbal Learning Disability
  • OCD
  • ODD
  • PTSD
  • Suicidal Thoughts
  • Separation Anxiety

One of our child psychologists can help you and your child make sense of their mental health concerns and help to find positive coping strategies.  Call today to book an appointment: 780-449-1196


Communication and Conflict

Communication and Conflict are common stressors for people. We may feel very powerless when conversations go wrong, however it feels very affirming when we learn new skills and apply them in our communication with others.

Some communication themes you may face:

  • Anger Management
  • Assertiveness
  • Balancing Relationships
  • Boundary Setting
  • Broken Relationships
  • Communication Skills
  • Compromise
  • Conflict Management
  • Dealing with Difficult People
  • Empathy
  • Extended Family
  • Forgiveness
  • Listening Skills
  • Love Languages
  • Partner
  • Kids
  • Social Skills
  • Work

It is possible to gain psychological support to overcome difficulties with communication and conflict.


Couples Divorce and Separation

Couples experience separation and divorce.  Psychological counselling can help you to understand the changes that are happening and to process through your thoughts and feelings alongside one another:

  • Anxiety
  • Balancing Relationships
  • Balancing Time
  • Communication
  • Conflict
  • Dating Again
  • Depression
  • Family System/Roles
  • Feeling Misunderstood
  • Financial Pressure
  • Grief and Loss
  • Guidelines and Expectations
  • Impact On Work
  • Lack Of Support
  • Co-parenting Issues
  • Sibling Rivalry

Separation and divorce counselling may require splitting the family up into dyads, sibling groups, parents alone, or parent/child.

Feel free to give us a call to see if we can support you as your family goes through this process.


Depression

Are you tired and irritable all the time? Have you lost interest in your work, family, or hobbies? Are you having trouble sleeping and feeling angry or aggressive, sad, or worthless? Have you been feeling like this for weeks or months?

Both men and women get depression. Common markers of depression for men are:

  •   More likely to feel very tired
  •   Lose interest in their work, family, or hobbies
  •   more likely to have difficulty sleeping

Women typically notice: 

  •   Appetite and weight changes
  •   Depressed mood
  •   Difficulty concentrating
  •   Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness
  •   Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
  •   Lack of energy and fatigue
  •   Sleep disturbance (sleeping more or sleeping less)
  •   Suicidal thoughts or recurrent thoughts of death

But most individuals will notice a variety of any of the above symptoms.

No matter what you may be facing it is important to consider finding psychological support if any of the above concerns are showing up.  One of our therapists is here to support you.


Divorce and Separation

Families experience separation and divorce.These changes impact family members in different ways. Psychological counselling is beneficial for families to help each family member to understand the changes that are happening. 

Counselling will help with processing through individual thoughts and feelings. It is so important that children feel supported to love both their mom and their dad.

There are many issues that could arise with parental separation or divorce:

  •   Balancing Relationships
  •   Balancing Time
  •   Communication
  •   Family Conflict
  •   Family System/Roles
  •   Grief and Loss
  •   Guidelines and Expectations
  •   Co-parenting Issues
  •   Sibling Rivalry

Sojourn Psychology does not offer high conflict mediation or custody and access services. 


Emotion Management

It is common to struggle with emotional management. It’s good to reach out to a psychologist to help you make sense of  your emotions. You may not fit the criteria for a mental health issue,, but your feelings and emotional well-being matter.

Emotional concerns you may face:

  • Aggression
  • Aloneness
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Belittled
  • Embarrassment
  • Excessive Tearfulness
  • Fear
  • Guilt
  • Helplessness
  • Hopelessness
  • Life Changes
  • Loss of Job
  • Feeling misunderstood
  • No Direction
  • Overwhelmed
  • Passiveness
  • Rigidity
  • Sadness
  • Self-Pity
  • Shame
  • Work

Many people seek out support for normal day to day emotional struggles.  Our psychologists are a great resource to help you sort out your emotions, no matter what you may be facing.


Family of Origin

Our early relationships with our parents, caregivers and siblings are at the core of who we are and how we attach to the people around us. These early relationships also influence our ability to bond with our children.

Understanding our family of origin is not about blaming ourselves or other family members.  It is useful to have a psychologist can come along side of you and help you see your experiences for what they are and help you balance any reactions of shame, guilt or embarrassment over your past.


Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Understanding and balancing multiple relationships is difficult.  It is hard to balance our own role in relationships and it is also hard to watch as others try to balance their relationships.

Whether you are interested in understanding a current relationship or a past one understanding forgiveness, reconciliation and attachment systems is very healing.

Topics may include:

  •   Abuse(s)
  •   Anger
  •   Attachment (insecure, disorganized, avoidant, anxious, and secure) (Indent)
  •   Apologizes
  •   Boundaries
  •   Communication
  •   Crisis
  •   Decision Making
  •   Earned Security
  •   Estranged Family Member(s)
  •   Family Roles
  •   Family History
  •   Grief and Loss
  •   Grudges
  •   Guidelines and Expectations
  •   Hurt feelings
  •   Recovery
  •   Sibling Rivalry
  •   Understanding

 

We have Registered Psychologists on our team that have experience in supporting people like you on your journey to understand these things.


Friendship

Some friendship themes your child may face:

  • Being Bullied
  • Boundary Setting
  • Communication Skills
  • Conflict Management
  • Fitting In
  • Making Friends
  • Social Skills

One of our psychologists can help you and your child make sense of their friendship successes and difficulties, and help to find positive coping strategies. 


Goal Setting

Teens want to do their best, just like everyone else.  And like the rest of us it is difficult to make plans to be successful, or to set goals on our own.

We see a variety of teens who struggle with success in many different ways.  Our psychologists are great support whether your teen’s goal is to pass math or to make it to the Olympics.


Grief and Loss

When we go through difficulties we often feel utterly alone. It is good to reach out and ask for support if you feel you are unable to explain your pain, grief and loss,  to a friend or loved one, you should consider psychological therapy. 

Difficulties you may face:

  • Abuse(s)
  • Child Transitions
  • Illness of a Loved One
  • Illness of a Family Member
  • Loss of a Loved One
  • Loss of a Family Member
  • Loss of a Friend
  • Moving
  • Parental Separation and Divorce
  • Parent Transition
  • Personal
  • Trauma
  • Unsure

Counselling will help you explore your situation and also support you as you gain understanding and how to reach out to loved ones.  Feel free to call our office for personal support to help you through your time of loss and adjustment to a new normal.


Life Changes and Transition

We all go through life transitions. These times can be marked by: anxiety, stress, fear, powerlessness, guilt, shame, or possibly other emotions. 

Psychological counselling will benefit you to understand the changes that are happening and to process through your thoughts and feelings. 

Types of transitions you may be experiencing:

  •   Abuse(s)
  •   Balancing Relationships
  •   Balancing Time
  •   Child Transitions
  •   Communication
  •   Divorce
  •   Elderly Parents
  •   Family Conflict
  •   Family System/Roles Illness of a Loved One
  •   Illness of a family Member
  •   Job Loss
  •   Job Promotion
  •   Goal Changes
  •   Grief and Loss
  •   Guidelines and Expectations
  •   Loss of a Loved One
  •   Loss of a Family Member
  •   Moving
  •   Parental Separation and Divorce
  •   Retirement
  •   Sibling Rivalry
  •   Separation
  •   Trauma

Our team of counselling psychologists are here to support you.


Life Transition

There are a variety of transitions that can impact you, your children and your entire system.  Sometimes as parents it is difficult to remember how big of an impact change has on children and adolescents. 

 Types of life transitions:

  • changing schools
  • change of friends
  • divorce/separation
  • grief and loss
  • illness of a loved one
  • loss of hobbies/interests
  • loss of job/career
  • loss of a pet
  • moving
  • new hobbies/interests
  • new job/career
  • one child graduates

Symptoms that a family member is having a difficult time with transition:

  • anger
  • change in appearance
  • change in peer group
  • character shift
  • substance use
  • irritability
  • isolation
  • reckless behaviour
  • sadness
  • sneaky behaviour

Our team is passionate about helping families, and one of our psychologists is here to support you during this time.


Mental Health

At times it is important to consider: Does my partner or I have a mental health concern?  Some concerns that you may face:

  • Abuse(s)
  • Attachment Injuries
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Asperger’s
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Giftedness
  • Intimacy Concerns
  • Learning Disabilities
  • OCD
  • Personality Disorder
  • Phobias
  • PTSD
  • Pornography
  • Self-Harm
  • Sexual Identity
  • Social Isolation
  • Suicidal Thoughts
  • Trouble with the Law
  • Recovery

No matter what you or your partner may be facing it is important to consider finding psychological support if any of the above concerns are showing up.  

One of our therapists is here to support you and your partner.


Midlife Issues

Midlife crisis can occur in both men and women, and may be marked by:

  •   Acute awareness of time passing
  •   Desperately grasping at a chance for vitality and pleasure
  •   Fear of the future
  •   Fearing the “passing of youth”
  •   Feeling hopelessly trapped
  •   Feeling pressure to break out of the norm
  •   Identity crises
  •   Life feels empty and inauthentic
  •   A Sense of failure
  •   Spilling into family life
  •   Struggling to find life balance

No matter what you may be facing it is important to consider finding psychological support. If you are struggling, it is good to find a qualified psychologist who will be able to help you make sense of this season of life.


Parenting and Co-Parenting

There are many versions of “family” today, and without a doubt you have some version of “modern family” yourself.  It is important that parenting issues are considered case by case for this very reason. 

Many parents may choose to touch base with a psychologist to explain the complicated dynamics of your family system and to evaluate what parenting strategies and supports your specific family needs.

Our psychologists approve of parents.  We want parents to feel encouraged to ask for help and to feel safe to let their guard down.  It is difficult parenting, especially as family roles continue to grow and change. We believe parents are people like everybody else and parents deserve grace, empathy and encouragement like everybody else.  As well, we understand that parents want their children to trust that they are cared for and understood.

We do not do high conflict mediation or custody and access.  If you are unsure what this means feel free to call our office and ask.


Parenting and Family Issues

There are many versions of “family” today, and without a doubt you have some version of “modern family” yourself.  It is important that parenting issues are considered case by case for this very reason. 

Many parents may choose to touch base with a psychologist to explain the complicated dynamics of your family system and to evaluate what parenting strategies and supports your specific family needs.

Our psychologists approve of parents.  We want parents to feel encouraged to ask for help and to feel safe to let their guard down.  It is difficult parenting, especially as family roles continue to grow and change. We believe parents are people like everybody else and parents deserve grace, empathy and encouragement like everybody else.  As well, we understand that parents want their children to trust that they are cared for and understood.

We do not do high conflict mediation or custody and access.  If you are unsure what this means feel free to call our office and ask.


Relationship Improvement

Relationships change and evolve over time.  The longer we are in a relationship the more aware we become of the good and bad moments we share with our partner.  Bad habits can build up over time and as this happens our relationship satisfaction can continue to decrease.

The Benefits of Couples Therapy:

  • Evaluate the negative patterns of interactions/Conflict cycle/Conflict styles
  • Empathy
  • Tools to change/manage reactions
  • Understand underlying relationship yearnings
  • Awareness if different points of view
  • Communication skills
  • 5 love languages
  • Emotion management and regulation
  • Active listening
  • Trust
  • Respect
  • Acceptance
  • Tolerance

Sojourn Psychology has many well trained couples therapists.


Relationships

The Benefits of Couples Therapy:

  •   Accept yourself and your partner for who you are
  •   Differentiate how your partner perceives you from how you perceive yourself
  •   Discover how gender differences in perspective can help you understand each other
  •   Eliminate faulty assumptions that create distance in your relationship
  •   Know the negative patterns of interactions in your relationship and how to stop them
  •   Learn why your intentions matter less than the impact of your actions
  •   Learn to communicate with composure
  •   Learn to listen with compassion
  •   Learn what can change and what can’t in each other and the relationship
  •   Make permanent change that strengthens trust and partnership and enhances affection and intimacy
  •   Master a problem solving method that will turn the negative pattern into a positive pattern that will enhance your connection now and for years to come
  •   Pinpoint your vulnerabilities
  •   Take responsibility for your reactive behaviour

If you looking for couples or marriage therapy we have psychologists that are specialized to meet this need.


Resolving Fear and Hurt

We all struggle with emotions from time to time.  It can be very confusing to struggle with sadness, fears, or even embarrassment.  Emotional Pain is a common human experience and yet it is a struggle to understand and to overcome.

Emotional concerns you may face:

  • Aggression
  • Alone
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Belittled
  • Embarrassment
  • Excessive Tearfulness
  • Fear
  • Guilt
  • Helplessness
  • Hopelessness
  • Isolation
  • Life Changes
  • Loss of Job
  • Misunderstood
  • No Direction
  • Overwhelmed
  • Passiveness
  • Rigidity
  • Sadness
  • Self-Pity
  • Shame
  • Work/Life Balance

Our Registered Psychologists can support you as you seek resolution.


School

School is a common source of complaint for teens, after all, teens spend most of their time at school where they are daily pushed to work harder and to learn new and different things.

Some reasons teens may act out at school are:

  • Bad sleeping habits
  • Bullied
  • Feeling the need to please friends or other students
  • Feeling misunderstood
  • Lack of motivation
  • Misunderstanding authority figures
  • Peer pressure to act a certain way
  • Personal issues with a teacher or another student
  • Problems at home
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Stress

Common complaints schools will make about teens:

  • Arguing with a teacher or talking back
  • Getting into fights with other students
  • Refusing to do homework
  • Skipping classes
  • Sleeping during class periods or lectures
  • Teasing or bullying peers
  • Vandalizing school property

 This is a time for you and your teen to have support, one of our psychologists can help your teen to feel understood and better communicate what is going on for them.


Self Esteem

Self Esteem is a common concern and varies in each individual: It  is very evident in our daily life. Many of us would benefit by working  with a psychologist on improving our self esteem which will improve our life and entire wellbeing.

Common self esteem concerns: 

  • Procrastination
  • School Performance
  • Self-Esteem
  • Sexuality
  • Sports
  • Distractibility
  • Goal Setting
  • Identity
  • Motivation
  • Personality

Give our office a call to enquire about seeing one of our psychologists to discuss your concerns.


Sibling Dynamics

Wrestling with sibling relationships is a normal part of childhood, adolescence and adulthood.  One of our psychologists can come along side of you and your siblings no matter what life stage you are in. 

Our psychologists understand the importance of considering the age, gender, life experiences, and hurts between siblings.

It is possible for siblings to be supported to find solutions.  Finding a method for siblings to communicate, establish guidelines and expectations, as well as to repair hurts and have hope to continue repair where needed. 

Our therapists enjoy working with siblings and family relationships.


Social Skills

Some kids seem to learn social skills very easily, but others can benefit from some extra coaching.  Social skills help children to enjoy the benefits of friendship and social settings.

Social Skills include:

  • Empathy
  • Understanding personal space
  • Understanding social cues and norms
  • Reciprocal relationships and taking turns

Children who struggle with social skills do for a variety of reasons.  Call for more information or to book an appointment with one of our cchildrens’ psychologists.


Trauma

Traumas are overwhelming experiences for families, whether the whole family has gone through the experience or only one family member.  

Some examples of trauma that families may face:

  •   accidents
  •   abuse
  •   assault
  •   bullying
  •   conflict
  •   divorce
  •   global disaster
  •   grief/loss
  •   life transition
  •   local disaster
  •   neglect
  •   threats

During these times families need extra support to manage the complicated emotions and easily misunderstood feelings that can arise.

Examples of common reactions to trauma are:

  • A state of ‘high alert’ and are ‘on watch’ for anything else that might happen
  • Feeling emotionally numb, as if in a state of ‘shock’
  • Becoming emotional and upset
  • Extreme fatigue  and tiredness
  • Feeling very stressed and/or anxious
  • Being very protective of others including family and friends
  • Not wanting to leave a particular place for fear of ‘what might happen’.

Trauma is important to get support for, let one of our team come alongside you and your family in this process.


Work/Life Balance

There are so many pressures each of us face as adults.  Each individual juggles multiple roles and jobs on a continued basis.  As our lives become imbalanced our stress can pile up.

Stress is normal. A moderate amount of stress improves our efficiency and our mental sharpness. 

Here are some signs motivation has turned from helpful to stressful:

  •   You feel like you’ve lost control of your life
  •   You frequently find it difficult to concentrate on the task at hand (indent)
  •   You often feel guilty about neglecting your different roles
  •   You’re always tired

It is good to consult a psychologist if these signs are showing up for you.

Our Therapists Specializing in Online Counselling