Welcome to Mike Davies Counselling Services - MDCS

COUNSELLING/PSYCHOTHERAPY

“You can’t change the world, but you can change how you walk through it.”

Hi I'm Mike,

I have years of education and work experience, but more importantly... life experience. I'm a person in long term recovery from my own mental health and addiction issues.

My clients routinely tell me how important it is to work with someone who understands what they’re going through, not just because they’ve studied it, but because they’ve lived it.

I practice from a holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework.

Whether you’re curious to talk about yourself, or someone you care about, or if you just need someone to talk to, I can help. I’ve helped hundreds of people find the change, healing, and growth they were looking for.

Admitting we need help, and asking for help can be scary. However, suffering in silence is also scary. Healing begins with revealing, feeling, and dealing with what we’ve been avoiding.

I work hard to create and maintain a safe and supportive space, earn trust, build a safe and supportive relationship, model change, and create hope. I am a walking talking example that change is possible. With help, you can change too.

Asking for help is the hardest part. I’m here to help you through the rest.

Credentials

I've worked in addiction mental health since 2010. Over the years I've been with AHS adult addiction services, AHS Calgary eating disorder clinic, Apsen/Trelus, Alpha house, Sunrise healing lodge, Calgary counselling centre, an associate and affiliate with Health Upwardly Mobile (HUM). I've been in private practice “Mike Davies Counselling Services” since 2018.

I’m a registered social worker (RSW) with the Alberta College of Social Work (ACSW), a member of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), the Social Work Association of Alberta (SWAA), and a Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor (CCAC) with the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF). 

I have a Master’s degree in Social Work, clinical specialization (MSW) from the University of Calgary, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from University of Calgary, a Diploma in Social Work (DSW) from Mount Royal University, and certifications in Supportive Counselling and Addiction Studies from Mount Royal University.

Services

    • substance and behavioral manifestations of addiction including sex, work, technology, gambling, spending, food (eating disorders), relationships, etc. 

    • shame, guilt

    • Fear

    • self-harm

    • Suicidal ideations

    • anger/rage/resentment/rumination

    • Stress management

    • Emotional avoidance

    • low self-worth or self-esteem,

    • anxiety, depression

    • Mood disorders

    • ADHD

    • personality disorders 

    • unhealthy beliefs

    • Body image, dysmorphia

    • Imposter syndrome

    • control issues

    • Co-dependency & enmeshment

    • domestic/family violence

    • Physical, emotional, mental, sexual, financial, elder and child abuse

    • family or relationship problems

    • Infidelity

    • Trust issues

    • trauma, PTSD

    • grief & loss

  • Nothing fancy here, just good old fashioned collaborative talk therapy with someone who gets it. 

    Talk therapy includes focusing on feelings, psycho-education, learning skills, building willingness and awareness, all with the goal of promoting self-care, personal growth, and healing, aka... recovery.

    I use a collaborative approach. I have expertise, and you are an expert on yourself and your journey. 

    I use an an eclectic approach, utilizing elements of various techniques, styles, and frameworks including, but not limited to the following:

    Addiction is Addiction framework

    Positive Psychology framework

    Relational framework

    Humanistic Perspectives

    Strength based Perspectives

    Trauma Focused Perspectives

    Feminist Perspectives

    Life & Recovery Coaching

    Psychological Testing and Evaluation

    Motivational Interviewing

    Self-help/peer support program advocacy

    Compassion Focused Therapy

    Emotionally Focused Therapy

    Experiential Therapy

    Narrative Therapy

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

    Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

    Solution Focused Therapy

    Music Therapy

Booking

I do both virtual and in-person appointments based on your preference.

To book/schedule a free 15min phone or virtual consultation, please phone, text, or email me.

Or, you can click the link to go ahead and book your first session/initial assessment.

Book now

Contact

Safe, private, discreet location. I work Tuesday through Friday, every other Saturday. I offer in person and online/virtual services.

(587) 439-6453

mike@mdcs.ca

6029 – 4 street SE, Calgary, AB, T2H 2A5

 

Policies & Fees

I aim to make therapy as accessible as possible, and we can discuss payment options prior to your first session. I can offer direct billing for some insurance plans and for others can provide you with a receipt for reimbursement.

  • We accept cash, cheque, major credit cards, e-transfers.

    Fee for counselling/psychotherapy is currently $235 per 50-minute appointment.

    Counselling/psychotherapy fees in the province of Alberta are set/suggested by the Alberta Psychological Association. The fee is the same for individual, couples, and/or family counselling.

    If clients require any email or phone consultations, or require any reports or letters, the counsellor’s time will be billed in 15-minute increments (15 mins = a quarter of the counselling rate).

    Fees are payable by cash, check, credit card, or email INTERAC e-transfer using mike@mdcs.ca. Upon receipt of payment, clients will receive a receipt for taxation and/or insurance reimbursement. 

    When possible, MDCS can directly bill your insurance provider. All fees are due the same day of your session.

    Please note that if a third party is paying for your treatment, they will have access to information regarding your attendance (though not the content) of individual sessions. Again, this would only include the date you attended, or in the event that you missed an appointment, and the third party was invoiced for the missed appointment, the date of the missed appointment.

    Please note under certain circumstances, MDCS may require a deposit for the price of one session. The deposit will be used to cover the cost of short notice cancellations, appointment no shows, or if payment has not been received for an attended/invoiced session after a period of 2 weeks. If the deposit is unused, it will be refunded to the client at the completion of the therapeutic relationship or can be used as payment for the final session at the completion of the therapeutic relationship.

  • Please note MDCS has a 36-hour cancellation policy. If the client cancels their session with less than 36 hours’ notice the client may be charged the full cost of the missed session. 

    While unpopular with clients, charging for late cancellations, or missed appointments is standard practice in any/all counselling/psychotherapeutic settings. 

    MDCS is fully committed to supporting clients in their therapeutic journey, however MDCS is a business with overhead expenses. Allowing clients to cancel/reschedule outside of the 36-hour window allows enough time for MDCS to fill the vacated appointment time.

     MDCS understands and appreciates that “life happens” and will work with clients to be flexible with this policy when/wherever possible on a case by case basis.

  • All sessions are 50 minutes. 

    Sessions start at the beginning of the hour and end 10 minutes prior to the end of the hour. 

    If a client is running late, the session will not run beyond the beginning of the next hour. This 10 mins allows the counsellor time to summarize/write session notes and prepare for the next appointment.

  • Please check with your insurance provider to ensure they cover “MSW’s (Master of Social Work)”. 

    Where/whenever possible MDCS can directly bill your insurance provider. If unable to direct bill, a receipt will be provided upon payment, that you can submit to your provider to be reimbursed.

  • All information disclosed to your counsellor/therapist is protected under the Alberta Health Information Act/Health Information Protection Act (HIPA) and is treated as confidential unless:

    A) the client indicates there is imminent risk of harm to self or others

    B) the client discloses that somehow a child or senior is at risk of harm or abuse

    C) the client counselling records are subpoenaed in a legal proceeding

    Please note the therapist would only ever share your confidential information as a last resort and would always first try to sort out/solve issues with the client first in the therapeutic setting. If legally-ethically compelled to disclose information, where/whenever possible, a brief summary would be provided in place of the actual confidential client file.