Compassionate, Practical Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Relationships & Emotional Regulation
Accepting New Clients | Adults & Couples | In-Person & Virtual Therapy
Avriel Alexander is a Provisional Psychologist at Can’t We Just Get Along Counselling Inc. in Calgary, providing individual and couples counselling in person and virtually.
Avriel believes meaningful change begins when people feel safe enough to be understood, explore what they are experiencing, and develop practical tools to move forward. Her approach is warm, collaborative and client-centered while also being practical and goal-oriented.
Before becoming a Provisional Psychologist, Avriel gained experience through community support work and a practicum in community mental health. Working with people experiencing a range of mental health and life challenges helped shape her belief that therapy should provide both emotional safety and useful strategies for change.
Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, overwhelming emotions, relationship difficulties, self-esteem or a significant life transition, Avriel works collaboratively with you to better understand what is happening and develop healthier ways of coping, communicating and connecting.
Who Avriel Works With
Adults
Avriel works primarily with adults experiencing a variety of emotional, behavioural, and relationship concerns, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- OCD
- ADHD
- Autism-related concerns
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Self-esteem
- Stress and burnout
- Perfectionism
- Anger
- Grief and loss
- Life transitions
- Identity concerns
- Relationship difficulties
- Previous experiences of trauma or abuse
- Personality-related concerns
Her goal is not simply to focus on symptoms, but to help clients better understand themselves, recognize their strengths and develop practical skills that support meaningful change.
Couples
Avriel also provides couples counselling in Calgary for partners who want to understand their relationship patterns better and create healthier ways to communicate and respond to one another.
She can assist couples with experiences:
- Communication difficulties
- Recurring conflict
- Trust concerns
- Emotional disconnection
- Difficulty regulating emotions during conflict
- Life transitions
- Anxiety or depression affecting the relationship
- Unhelpful learned relationship patterns
Avriel draws upon training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy Levels 1 and 2 to help couples identify destructive conflict patterns, strengthen friendship and understanding, and develop healthier relationship skills.
She welcomes couples from diverse backgrounds and is committed to providing respectful, inclusive counselling to LGBTQ+ clients and relationships.
Areas of Clinical Focus
Anxiety & Stress
Anxiety can affect thoughts, relationships, sleep, confidence and everyday decision-making. Avriel helps clients understand patterns contributing to anxiety while developing strategies for managing thoughts, emotions and physiological stress.
Depression
Depression can leave people feeling disconnected from themselves, their relationships and the parts of life that once mattered. Avriel works collaboratively with clients to understand their experiences, develop coping strategies and gradually reconnect with meaningful activities, relationships and goals.
Emotional Regulation
Strong emotions can sometimes feel difficult to understand or manage. Avriel has a particular interest in helping clients develop skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness and interpersonal effectiveness.
Self-Esteem & Identity
Therapy can provide a space to explore the beliefs people hold about themselves and where those beliefs originated. Avriel helps clients identify patterns of self-criticism, strengthen self-understanding and develop a healthier relationship with themselves.
Relationship & Communication Concerns
Relationship difficulties are not limited to romantic partnerships. Avriel helps clients explore challenges involving partners, family members, friendships and other important relationships, including communication patterns, boundaries, conflict and emotional regulation.
Therapeutic Approaches
Avriel integrates several evidence-informed therapeutic approaches according to each client’s needs and goals.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps clients explore connections between thoughts, emotions and behaviours. Avriel may use CBT strategies to help clients recognize unhelpful thinking patterns, consider alternative perspectives and develop healthier responses.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Skills
DBT-informed strategies are an important component of Avriel’s work. She incorporates skills related to emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness to help clients navigate difficult emotions and relationships more effectively.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT can help people develop a different relationship with uncomfortable thoughts and emotions rather than spending their energy trying to eliminate them. Avriel incorporates strategies such as thought labelling, visualization and acceptance-based exercises.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes strengths, achievable goals and identifying what is already helping. Avriel uses goal setting, scaling questions and collaborative exploration to help clients identify realistic steps toward change.
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
With training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy Levels 1 and 2, Avriel incorporates Gottman-informed strategies when working with couples. This may include identifying problematic conflict patterns, strengthening friendship and understanding, and developing healthier communication.
Mindfulness
Avriel may incorporate grounding, breathing exercises, meditation, body awareness and visualization to help clients strengthen emotional awareness and regulation.
What Is Therapy Like With Avriel?
Avriel describes her therapeutic style as:
Warm • Direct • Practical • Compassionate • Collaborative • Curious • Goal-Oriented • Reflective • Structured • Flexible • Calm • Encouraging
She understands that beginning therapy can feel vulnerable. Her priority is creating an environment where clients can speak openly without feeling judged while still receiving practical support and guidance.
Avriel is also an active listener who pays close attention to the details clients share. When thoughts or emotions feel hard to organize, she can slow the conversation down, reflect important themes, and bring the pieces together.
Clients can expect therapy to be collaborative rather than something that is “done to” them.
Your First Session
The first appointment provides an opportunity for Avriel to begin understanding you and what has brought you to counselling.
She will review confidentiality and the therapy process, learn about your history and current concerns, and begin discussing what you would like to accomplish through therapy.
Avriel intentionally leaves space for questions, reflection and regulation so clients do not feel rushed out of difficult conversations.
She hopes that clients leave sessions feeling heard, understood, hopeful and increasingly empowered to make meaningful changes.
Education & Professional Training
Master of Counselling
City University of Seattle, 2026
Professional Registration
Provisional Psychologist
College of Alberta Psychologists
Professional Training Includes:
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy — Level 1
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy — Level 2
- Depression-focused training
- Trauma-informed training
- Suicide risk prevention training
- Crisis De-Escalation
- Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: Assessment and Risk Management
- Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness
Professional Affiliations
- College of Alberta Psychologists
- Psychologists' Association of Alberta
Avriel's Philosophy of Therapy
Avriel believes people heal and grow best when they feel safe, supported, autonomous, and genuinely collaborated with. Rather than assuming the therapist has all the answers, she views therapy as a collaborative process. Clients bring knowledge of their own lives and experiences, while therapy can provide perspective, structure and evidence-informed tools for creating change. Her goal is to help clients develop skills they can carry beyond the therapy room.
A Little About Avriel
Outside of her work as a therapist, Avriel enjoys live music, karaoke, travelling, exploring Calgary, visiting small-town museums and spending time with her cat. She believes that being human involves curiosity, connection and continuing to discover new things about us and the world around us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Avriel offer in-person counselling in Calgary?
Yes. Avriel provides both in-person counselling in Calgary and virtual therapy.
Does Avriel work with adults?
Yes. Adults are the primary population Avriel works with.
Does Avriel provide couples counselling?
Yes. Avriel provides couples counselling and has completed Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Method Couples Therapy training.
Does Avriel provide EMDR therapy?
No. Avriel does not currently provide EMDR therapy.
How long does therapy take?
No single timeline applies to everyone. The length of therapy depends upon your concerns, goals, circumstances and the type of work you and Avriel decide to undertake together.
How will I know whether therapy is helping?
Progress can look different for different people. You may begin noticing changes in your mood, behaviours, coping strategies, relationships, emotional regulation or ability to respond differently to situations that previously felt overwhelming.
Quick Facts
- Therapist: Avriel Alexander
- Designation: Provisional Psychologist
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
- Clients: Primarily Adults & Couples
- Sessions: In-Person & Virtual
- Language: English
- Evening Appointments: Available
- Accepting New Clients: Yes
Begin Counselling With Avriel
You do not need to have everything figured out before beginning therapy.
Avriel provides a supportive and collaborative space where you can better understand what you are experiencing, develop practical tools and begin working toward meaningful change.
“I would be honoured to help you build a sense of safety and reconnect with your desired sense of self.”
Book an appointment with Avriel Alexander, Provisional Psychologist, at Can’t We Just Get Along Counselling in Calgary.
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