Robert Hammel, Counselor in Calgary, T3A 2V7

Robert Hammel, MA

Profession(s):
Counseling Psychology, Psychotherapy, Marriage & Family Therapy
License Status:
I'm a registered professional.
Primary License:
Registered Provisional Psychologist - 850p

My Approach to Helping

I feel comfortable working with a wide range of psychological, emotional and behavioural issues as outlined below and on my website.

Through the professional skills and abilities I have developed in my education and in my work -- I feel that I can successfully help many people in many different areas of their lives. I truly believe that respect for each individual client and their own unique situation is the key to understanding and helping my clients. Perhaps, most importantly, I very much enjoy developing empathetic, compassionate relationships with my clients -- this is truly the strongest foundation from which personal growth and individual change are built from. I also find it crucial to be flexible and open to accepting the client's own views on incepting change in their lives.

As a solution-focused therapist, my goal is to help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behaviour patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

In my marriage counselling I try to find a balance; valuing the marriage commitment itself and at the same time valuing the individual interests involved.

More Info About My Practice

Fees are based on a sliding scale. Clients with employer health insurance or other extended health care are welcome.

My Role as a Therapist

To provide a kind ear, assistance, guidance and unconditional acceptance in valuing each individual as a separate and unique person. Secondly, providing positive encouragement, honesty and proven interventions & strategies that help individuals to change and grow towards achieving their full potential. The role is one of helping and assisting clients to value themselves and look to their own strengths to prevail in their own unique circumstances. Respecting the client’s worldviews and expertise in their own lives is also a large part of my role. Respecting that each client is ultimately the expert on their own lives; I can then help them to be resilient and take control of authoring their own life. I also believe that I learn from each and every client I work with and I can use this knowledge with other clients and even in my own life. Quite fortuitously I often learn as much from a client as they learn from me.

How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist

My own struggles in my journey through life has made me a better therapist. My own life with all of its joys and achievements, all of its pains and trials has certainly made me better at understanding the human condition. Just like anyone, I have experienced many things in my life, good, bad, and ugly. Without a doubt this helps me to understand my clients in a deeper more meaningful way. For example when I’ve been very low and feeling quite defeated in my life I can begin to understand what my depressed clients might feel and in doing so gain further respect for them in their lives and be able to more honour their courage. Like anyone I have struggled at various times in my own life with individual or relationship problems it helps me to further understand what my client discuss with me about their lives. I am by no means perfect or untainted by the challenges and pains that life sometimes puts in our path.