6 Calgary Narrative Therapists [No Waitlist]
Narrative Therapy
You've been telling yourself the same story for a long time: that you're the problem, that things won't change, that you're too much or not enough. At Shelly Qualtieri and Associates, our Calgary therapists offer narrative therapy, an approach that offers a different way of understanding those patterns. Our team works with you to separate yourself from the problem and begin shaping a story that feels more aligned with who you want to be and how you want to feel.
Jump to a therapist
Smyrna Gonzalez: Good fit for men navigating grief or low self-worth
Laura Laidlaw: Good fit for eating disorder recovery and narcissistic abuse
Puja Patel: Good fit for immigrant clients and couples healing from relational trauma
Kim Noll: Good fit for women facing infertility, pregnancy loss, or postpartum struggles
Lorena Koenig: Good fit for women managing perimenopause and chronic illness
Hannah Wilson: Good fit for people healing from toxic or abusive relationships
Meet our narrative therapy counsellors
Smyrna Gonzalez
Good fit for men navigating grief or low self-worth
Smyrna is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who specialises in men’s mental health and grief, including often-overlooked experiences like pet loss. She brings a culturally responsive, bilingual (English and Spanish) approach to narrative therapy, offering a space to explore identity, culture, and self-worth with nuance. For clients seeking narrative therapy in Calgary that honours both personal and cultural context, Smyrna offers a grounded, strengths-based approach that helps separate who you are from what you’ve been through.
Credentials: Registered Provisional Psychologist
Specialty Areas: Men's mental health, grief and loss (including pet loss), self-esteem and confidence, depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD
Laura Laidlaw
Good fit for eating disorder recovery and narcissistic abuse
Laura specialises in eating disorder recovery, narcissistic abuse, and complex trauma, supporting clients whose sense of self has been shaped by shame, control, or self-erasure. She integrates narrative therapy with trauma-informed, somatic approaches and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), helping clients separate from these internalised stories while also building practical, sustainable tools for change. For those seeking narrative therapy that moves beyond insight into meaningful, embodied shifts, Laura offers a depth of expertise that is rare in the local therapy landscape.
Credentials: Registered professional counsellor (CCC)
Specialty Areas: Eating disorders and disordered eating, narcissistic and emotional abuse recovery, substance use and co-occurring illnesses, childhood and complex trauma (PTSD), self-worth and identity, First Responders, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals
Puja Patel
Good fit for immigrant clients and couples healing from relational trauma
Puja is a trauma-informed counsellor who specializes in relational trauma and codependency, working with both individuals and couples. She offers culturally responsive narrative therapy in Calgary in English, Hindi, and Gujarati, creating space for clients navigating identity across cultures to explore their experiences with depth and clarity. For those seeking narrative therapy that meaningfully integrates culture, relationships, and healing, Puja provides a nuanced, validating approach that supports lasting change grounded in self-trust.
Credentials: Registered professional counsellor (CCC), Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario, CRPO
Specialty Areas: Narcissistic and emotional abuse recovery, childhood and relational trauma, immigrant counselling, premarital and couples therapy, codependency, OCD, sleep disturbances
Kim Noll
Good fit for women facing infertility, pregnancy loss, or postpartum struggles
Kim is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who specialises in fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, and postpartum mental health, supporting women and couples through experiences that often feel isolating and difficult to name. She integrates narrative therapy with CBT and Motivational Interviewing to help clients separate their identity from grief, shame, and anxiety while building practical ways to cope day to day. For those looking for narrative therapy that is both compassionate and structured, Kim offers a steady, informed approach to navigating reproductive and early parenting transitions.
Credentials: Registered Provisional Psychologist
Specialty Areas: Infertility counselling, pregnancy and miscarriage loss, postpartum depression and anxiety, parenting stress, trauma, OCD, post-concussion therapy
Lorena Koenig
Good fit for women managing perimenopause and chronic illness
Lorena specialises in supporting women navigating perimenopause, chronic pain, and invisible illness; areas that are often overlooked in traditional mental health care. She offers narrative therapy Calgary alongside integrative approaches like CBT, DBT, and ART, helping clients make sense of symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and emotional overwhelm without reducing them to a diagnosis. For those seeking support that validates complex health experiences while building a more sustainable relationship with their body, Lorena brings both clinical depth and a steady, understanding approach.
Credentials: MSW, RSW (registered in Alberta, BC, and Ontario)
Specialty Areas: Perimenopause and menopause mental health, chronic pain and invisible illness, emotional burnout, medical trauma, couples therapy, body image, and chronic dieting
Hannah Wilson
Good fit for people healing from toxic or abusive relationships
Hannah specialises in working with adults and teens (16+) recovering from toxic, abusive, or high-conflict relationships. Her background in sexual abuse and domestic violence support informs a trauma-focused approach to narrative therapy in Calgary, helping clients separate their identity from the harmful beliefs these experiences often leave behind. If you’re looking for narrative therapy that prioritises safety, trust, and steady reconnection with self, Hannah offers a grounded, person-centred space to begin that work.
Credentials: Registered provisional psychologist
Specialty Areas: Intimate partner violence recovery, healthy relationship skills, boundaries and conflict resolution, self-worth and identity, trauma, anxiety, depression
What sets our practice apart from other Calgary narrative therapy providers
01 No waitlist
You can book a free 30-minute consultation and begin working with a therapist without long delays.
02 A multidisciplinary team
Each therapist brings focused experience, allowing us to match you with someone who understands your specific concerns.
03 In-person and virtual options
Sessions are available in Calgary and virtually across Alberta (and Ontario for select therapists).
04 Evening and weekend availability
Appointments are offered outside standard work hours to support consistency.
05 Multilingual support
Therapy is available in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Polish, Romanian, Hindi, and Gujarati.
06 Integrated, evidence-based care
Narrative therapy is thoughtfully combined with approaches like CBT, somatic therapy, DBT, and ART.
FAQs about narrative therapy
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Narrative therapy is a collaborative approach to counselling that views problems as separate from you, rather than as something that defines who you are. Instead of focusing on what’s “wrong,” it helps you explore the stories shaping your experiences and begin shifting them in ways that feel more aligned with your values, strengths, and direction.
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While approaches can vary, narrative therapy is generally grounded in four core ideas: that people are separate from their problems; that identity is shaped through stories; that these stories are influenced by social and cultural context; and that people have the capacity to re-author their experiences in more helpful ways.
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In narrative therapy, you and your therapist work together to examine how certain patterns or “stories” have taken hold over time. This often includes externalising the problem, noticing its influence, and identifying moments that don’t fit that story. From there, you begin building a narrative that reflects a broader, more accurate sense of who you are.
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Narrative therapy can be helpful for individuals, couples, and families navigating concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, identity questions, and relationship challenges. It’s often a good fit for people who feel defined by a difficult experience or who are looking for an approach that is non-pathologising and meaning-focused.
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CBT tends to focus on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns in a structured, skills-based way. Narrative therapy takes a wider view, exploring how your sense of identity and meaning has been shaped over time. Many therapists integrate both, using CBT for practical coping and narrative therapy for deeper reflection and long-term change.
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There isn’t a fixed timeline. Some people notice shifts within a few sessions, while others choose to engage in longer-term work. Your therapist will collaborate with you to set goals and adjust the pace based on what feels useful and sustainable.