Brenda Duncan, MSW RSW
Calgary, Alberta
VerifiedFeaturedTelehealth Available
My Approach to Therapy
Therapy is my work but it's also my joy. As a curious, open-hearted person, I want to understand what motivates, scares and fulfills you. Your imperfections and quirks are welcome in my office, as are your values and beliefs, and all that makes you unique. I don't reach for perfection, rather seek a fuller, truer experience of life and will work with you to find what that means for you. I work with people from a belief that mental health and healing develop from within, accessing strengths and internal resources which may have become obscured in the ways we adapt to life circumstances. The strength that I bring to you is a combination of compassion, empowerment, acceptance, and a belief that with help, you can develop new perspectives and grow into the life that you want.
My Practice & Services
If you're uncertain about therapy or choosing a therapist, have questions for me, please feel free to call me at 403-874-7690. You can also check my website using the link at the top right of my profile.
My office is located centrally, in Hillhurst, off 14th Street NW, with easy access by car or transit, and street parking.
My Therapy Focus
My work with you in therapy is focused on exploring, understanding and challenging negative and persistent patterns of emotional responses, thinking and behaviour, which get in the way of a healthy and emotionally fulfilling life. I will ask you to stretch your comfort zone and examine how your current responses to circumstances, past and present, are serving you. We will seek to re-imagine what you believe to be possible, and bring new perspectives to the challenges you're facing now.
On the Fence About Going to Therapy?
Therapy is often perceived as a "last ditch" effort, when all else fails, but in my experience, it is a wise use of personal resources to enhance your current life, get unstuck, and move forward. It doesn't replace the capacity you have for change, but supplements it. This is an opportunity to examine some issues. Therapy doesn't require change, but may make it possible. I will be happy to work with you, whether your problems are just a whisper of discomfort in your mind or you are dealing with "major issues". Keep in mind that it's easier to make changes now, and move closer to the life that you want.
Expertise & Specialties
Age Groups I Work With
Adults
Therapy Services & Specialties
Concerns & Challenges Addressed
Adjusting to Change / Life TransitionsAnxietyAttachment IssuesBreakupCaregiver Issues / StressChronic Illness / DisabilityCommunication ProblemsDepression
Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Contemplative PsychotherapyEmotion Focused TherapyHumanistic Psychology (humanism)Integration of different therapy modelsInterpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)Mindfulness-Based Interventions