Adult therapy at Patterson Counselling Services in Red Deer is for people who know something needs to shift but may not be sure what it is or where to start. Maybe you are dealing with a relationship that is falling apart, stress that has gone past the point of manageable, grief that will not ease, or a persistent feeling of being stuck. You do not need a crisis to start therapy. You just need to be willing to look at what is going on and do something about it.
What Brings Adults Into Therapy
Adults come to therapy for a wide range of reasons, and most of them do not look like what you see in the movies. There is no couch, no being asked how that makes you feel for an hour. The reality is much more practical.
You might be here because your relationship is in trouble. Not necessarily on the edge of ending, but strained in ways that you cannot seem to fix on your own. Communication has broken down, or the same argument keeps happening, or you have started feeling more like roommates than partners.
Or maybe the issue is work. You are burned out, dragging yourself through each day, snapping at coworkers or coming home with nothing left. The job you used to care about now feels like something you are just enduring.
Some adults come in because they are going through a transition, a divorce, a career change, becoming a parent, losing a parent, and the emotional weight of it is more than they expected. Others come in because they have noticed patterns in their lives that keep repeating. They keep choosing the wrong people, they keep shutting down when things get close, or they keep sabotaging things that are going well.
In Red Deer, plenty of adults push through these kinds of struggles for years before considering therapy. The oil and gas culture, the emphasis on being tough, the long hours and demanding schedules, all of it makes it easy to put yourself last. If you have reached the point where pushing through is not working anymore, that is not weakness. That is honesty.
How Adult Therapy Works at Our Practice
We start with a conversation about where you are and what brought you in. There is no script and no pressure to talk about anything you are not ready for. The first session is about building a picture of your situation and figuring out what we are working toward together.
From there, sessions are tailored to your specific needs. Some clients benefit from structured approaches that target specific patterns of thinking and behaviour. Others need more space to process what they are carrying emotionally. Our Registered Psychologist is trained in multiple evidence-based modalities and will adapt the approach to what actually works for you, not force you into a one-size-fits-all model.
One thing that makes our practice different is that we are trained to recognize when present-day struggles are connected to earlier life experiences. Many adults are surprised to discover that the anxiety, the relationship difficulties, or the emotional reactivity they have been dealing with have roots in childhood experiences they thought they had moved past. When that connection exists, we have the tools to address it directly, including Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for processing difficult memories efficiently.
Sessions are 50 minutes. We typically start weekly and adjust based on your progress and preferences. In-person and online sessions are both available.
The American Psychological Association explains how therapy works, noting that psychotherapy helps people learn more effective ways to deal with problems that may have been in place for years.
Adult Therapy Cost in Red Deer
We are transparent about fees and discuss costs before your first appointment. Patterson Counselling Services accepts most major insurance and benefits plans, including Alberta Blue Cross, Manulife, Sun Life, and most employer-sponsored plans. As a Registered Psychologist, our services are typically covered under psychology benefits.
Not sure what your plan covers? Call 587-457-7101 and we will help you sort it out before you commit to anything.
Why Choose Patterson Counselling Services
Our practice is based in Red Deer and serves adults from Sylvan Lake, Lacombe, Innisfail, Ponoka, Blackfalds, and the surrounding area. Secure online sessions are available across Alberta for clients in Leduc, Edmonton, Calgary, and beyond.
If you have been going back and forth about whether to start therapy, consider this your sign. Call 587-457-7101 or email pattersoncounselling@outlook.com and we will help you take the next step.
Research shows how childhood experiences affect adult functioning, with studies revealing that early life events can shape patterns of thinking and relating that persist for decades.
