Bernard Counselling Inc.
“If not for the magic and mysteries of the forest, splendid mountain hikes and the loving presence of my horses, my life would have been mediocre; poor, boring and mundane."
Erica
ABOUT US
Erica Bernard MSW RSW
Founder
Erica Bernard is a Registered Social Worker. She has over 28 years of experience and began her social work career in 1992, and has been a psychotherapist since 2008 after completing her Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work at the University of Calgary.
Erica has worked successfully within the field of child, adolescent and adult mental health as clinician and consultant within the health and education community and has been in private practice since 2014. Her strength is to find the hidden potential and resiliency that occupies each individual, relationship and support system. For her, life is all about finding what works for each individual and family system, having balance, simplicity and exploring multiple perspectives. She helps adults and children to deal with distressing events and the challenges that create frustration, discomfort or pain. Like so many things in life, it requires effort to deal with difficulties. Relationships are intricately complex and our closest relationships often suffer the most as they reveal our sensitivities and personal challenges
Although comfortable in a traditional in-office setting, she is grounded in a deep understanding of our connectedness to and interdependence with the natural world, and also offers therapeutic sessions to individual clients, families and groups in a non-traditional setting that includes nature based therapeutic healing, animal-assisted therapy, guided self-discovery and introspection for personal empowerment.
Erica draws from cognitive-behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, interpersonal therapy, attachment theory, play and expressive/art therapy, mindfulness, trauma focussed therapy and mind-body practices. For couples and families she draws from training in the Gottman method and family systems theory.
Since reconnecting to my innermost being during times in nature, my energy has become limitless, my compassion for myself and others without judgment and expectation and my life meaningful beyond measure. I have come to love more deeply than I ever could have imagined possible. I have learned that if I am connected, I am the earth and I am the heavens. What more can I ever ask for? When I am connected, life flows easily and joyously and days are endlessly creative and full of vitality. When I work with clients, beautiful things happen all the time. - Erica
Claire Malcolm
Psychologist
Claire Malcolm is a Registered Psychologist with a specialization in counselling. She has supported children, teens, and their families for over 25 years. In this time she has had the privilege of developing an understanding of how loss, divorce, mental health, interpersonal relationships, trauma, learning disabilities, low self esteem, and systems impact the people we love. With this knowledge she has assisted many individuals find their way back to their desired level of ‘health’ or re-discover their health that had gone unnoticed. The use of narrative, trauma resolution, attachment, systemic, and bereavement theories have influenced her practice. Recently she has incorporated Animal Assisted Therapy theory to augment her skill base further.
“I have witnessed the successful and powerful impact this approach facilitates when working with children experiencing severe behavioural, social, emotional, and mental health issues. Where other therapies were unsuccessful, the inclusion of my companion animal “Beans” succeeded. I am excited to introduce Beans as my companion animal and together provide AAT to the Calgary community. Currently I am obtaining certification in this area from the Animal Assisted Therapy Program of Colorado” - Claire.
To book an appointment with Claire, please call her at 403 990 7523 or email her (Claire.crc@gmail.com) to set it up.
Krista West
MSW RSW
Krista West earned her Masters of Social Work with a Clinical Specialization at the University of Calgary.
Krista has specialized in youth and family work for the last 15 years and has extensive experience in community services and school based mental health. Her work has included supporting youth and families within their home environment, skill building within the school environment, and successful transitioning to adulthood.
Krista’s passion is supporting youth and families to identify their difficulties and develop improved coping and communication skills. Krista focuses on building a therapeutic relationship that fosters curiosity and empathy to create space for clients to discover more positive patterns that promote health and wellness.
Krista believes that engaging in a collaborative, therapeutic process can encourage new ways of framing and dealing with difficulties or challenges. She utilizes a family-centered, holistic approach that can include elements of Family Therapy, Attachment Theory, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.
