Arcadia Counselling

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Calgary, AB
Arcadia Counselling

Canadian Certified Counsellor, providing in-person sessions in Calgary and virtual sessions for those in AB, BC, SK, MB, & NU. Hello and welcome!

Visit the booking website to book a free complimentary consultation call to ask any questions and see if we are a good fit. It takes courage to seek help, so I commend you for taking this first step. Although therapy can seem intimidating, I view it as just like any other health service, such as the dentist or chiropractor. Just like how we visit the dentist if we have severe tooth pain or need a regular routine cleaning, I am here for both your traumatic life experiences as well as maintenance sessions. No issue is too small when working with me and my practice, Arcadia Counselling. No one is meant to struggle alone, which is where I come in. Therapy looks different for everyone so whether you are looking for a place to unload, want me to challenge you to uncover the ‘nitty-gritty’, desire at home virtual sessions, want to learn some new coping techniques, or improve your quality of life, I strive to help you feel supported, validated, and heard. Here to accompany you on your healing journey, my approach comes from a place of compassion, warmth, and sometimes lighthearted conversation (so that our time together is more fun than going to the dentist!). My passion for supporting others is longstanding and genuine. With over a decade spent in the field of psychology, I bring experience, education, and a warm welcoming aura to my practice. I hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Lethbridge in psychology and a master’s degree from Yorkville University in counselling psychology. I have worked in both the public and private sectors, working alongside those with varying mental health concerns. As a generalist, I support children, adults, couples, and families with a wide range of presenting concerns. My counselling style takes a holistic, client-centered, and trauma-informed approach while providing a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space. I draw from a number of therapeutic approaches including, but not limited to, cognitive behavioural therapy, solution-focused therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. I offer a 15-minute complimentary meet and greet call for any further questions or to chat about how I can support you. I am also open to discussing benefits coverage and sliding-scale questions.

02/23/2026

Pregnancy, birth, postpartum - it's one of the biggest transformations a person goes through. And we don't talk enough about how disorienting that actually is.

Your body changes. Your relationship changes. Your sense of self changes. Parts of who you were get left behind, and you're supposed to just... be fine with it? While also keeping a tiny human alive?

You finally feel like you've got a rhythm going, like maybe you're figuring this out - and then everything shifts again. New stage, new challenge, new version of yourself to navigate. This is normal.

The grief that comes with becoming a parent - mourning parts of your old life, your old body, your old freedom - that's real. It can coexist with the love and the joy and the moments that take your breath away. You're allowed to hold both.

Hard doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. It doesn't mean you're failing or not grateful enough or not cut out for this. It just means you're human, going through something massive, while everyone around you acts like it should come naturally.

At Arcadia, I specialize in perinatal support - not just the clinical stuff, but the actual messy, complicated, beautiful, exhausting reality of it. I've worked in this field for years and I've also lived it personally.

If you need someone who gets it - someone who won't just tell you to enjoy every moment or that it goes by so fast - reach out. Let's talk about the challenges and celebrate the wins, because life is never linear and you don't have to pretend it is.

Link in bio to book a FREE 15 min consultation or appointment for returning clients.

02/18/2026

I've been watching the Olympics and noticing something: the way we talk about athletes versus the way we talk about ourselves.

An Olympian finishes in last place and we think "incredible that they even made it there." We don't finish our to-do list and call ourselves lazy.

An athlete falls and gets back up: "What resilience! What heart!" We make a mistake at work: "I can't believe I did that, I'm such an idiot."

Someone doesn't medal after years of training: "They should be so proud of what they accomplished." We don't get the promotion: "I'm clearly not good enough."

What would it sound like to narrate your own week with the same generosity you give to strangers on a screen?

This isn't about forcing positivity or celebrating everything you do. It's about noticing where you've decided you don't deserve basic kindness - the same kindness you automatically extend to people you've never met.

You don't need to earn your own compassion. You don't need to perform perfectly to deserve your own kindness.

The Olympics will end in a few days. But the way you speak to yourself? That's the commentary that plays every single day. Maybe it's worth noticing what you're saying!

02/13/2026

Why I chose to build my practice here 🏔️

I’m Calgary born and raised. I left for university, I travelled, and in the end, I chose to come back.

There’s something about this city that shaped who I am as a counsellor. Maybe it’s growing up with the mountains in our backyard, a constant reminder to pause and breathe. Maybe it’s the diversity of people and stories here: folks from all over who’ve made Calgary home, each bringing their own experiences and perspectives that make this place what it is. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with several organizations across Calgary, supporting people through some of their most difficult moments. That work, and this community, have deeply influenced how I show up as a therapist today.

This city has given me so much: a sense of belonging, a community that values authenticity, and connections that truly matter. I get to support people navigating life in a place I deeply understand, the pace, the culture, and what it actually feels like to live here.

If you’re in southern Alberta and looking for a therapist, I’d be honoured to work with you.

Calgary, you’re home. Always have been. 💙

02/08/2026

A quick note about AI and mental health support 💭

I've noticed more clients mentioning they've turned to ChatGPT or other AI tools with questions about their mental health. I get it, it's accessible, immediate, and can provide general information about symptoms, coping strategies, or psychological concepts.

But here's what's important to understand: AI should not be used as your therapist.

As counsellors, we spend years in specialized education and training learning to read the subtle cues that reveal what's really going on. The pause before you answer, the shift in your posture, the way your voice changes when you talk about certain topics. We notice what you don't say as much as what you do. AI receives only your words on a screen, missing the full picture of your human experience.

More importantly, therapy is a relational process. The connection between counsellor and client, the safety of being truly seen and heard by another person, the experience of having someone witness your pain with genuine empathy, these aren't things technology can replicate. There's no personalized clinical judgment, no ability to adapt in real-time to your unique needs and context.

If you're in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, this is especially the time that you need to please reach out to a real person, call 988, go to your nearest emergency department, or contact a crisis line. AI cannot provide the immediate, human support you need and deserve in those moments.

Technology has its place, and I'm not opposed to people seeking information. But please proceed with caution when it comes to your mental health. You deserve the full experience of being human with another human, someone trained to hold space for all of it.

Your mental health matters. You matter. And you deserve real connection. 🤍

02/02/2026

In therapy, we explore two powerful skills that can transform your relationship with yourself: awareness and openness.

Awareness is like becoming a curious observer of your own experience - noticing what thoughts pop up, what emotions surface, and how your body responds in each moment. Once you develop this skill, you can intentionally focus your energy where it matters most.

Openness is the practice of allowing difficult thoughts and feelings to exist without fighting them. This might sound counterintuitive, but here's the thing: the old approach of trying to 'fix' or eliminate our struggles often leaves us feeling like we're failing. The reality? These experiences are part of being human.

When we stop the internal battle and simply allow our thoughts and feelings to be what they are - without letting them control us - something interesting happens. They often become less intense and overwhelming.

The therapy journey isn't about 'curing' yourself - it's about understanding yourself. It's a beautiful cycle: Notice what's happening → Allow it to exist → Learn from the experience → Grow through understanding. And then the cycle continues, each time with greater wisdom and self-compassion. 💙

01/30/2026

A space designed to help you exhale. Soft light, cozy corners, and room for real conversations 🤍

01/24/2026

✨ Rethinking Discipline: Time-In vs. Time-Out ✨

When big emotions show up, our instinct is often to send kids away to “calm down.” But what if the most effective thing we could do is actually stay with them?

I love the concept of time-in. Instead of isolating a child during dysregulation, we focus on connection, presence, and co-regulation. This approach reminds us that kids don’t learn emotional regulation by being alone with overwhelming feelings, they learn it through safe, supportive relationships.

Of course, people parent in many different ways, and this isn’t about saying there’s one right approach. It’s simply one way of supporting children through big feelings, and one I wanted to share because of the conversations I often have in my work.

This doesn’t mean there are no boundaries or consequences; it means they are held with empathy, not distance. Connection becomes the foundation for change.

I learned this approach from “Using Time-In Instead of Time-Out” by Dr. Karyn Purvis. You can find the link to the video in my Resources story highlight if you’d like to explore it further.

💬 What are your thoughts on this approach?

01/18/2026

Grief doesn’t follow a map.
It isn’t linear.
And it looks different for every person. 🤍

This “Packing for the Journey” grief exercise invites us to think about grief as something we walk with, not something we rush through. Some losses we see coming, others arrive suddenly. Along the way, we carry lessons, values, nourishment, coping tools, routines, memories — and sometimes we pick things up as we go.

Grief can come from many places:
• anticipatory grief
• loss of a partner or loved one
• death
• job loss
• identity shifts
• & lots more

You may have heard of the "5 stages of grief" — and for some, that model resonates. For others, it doesn’t at all. And that’s okay. Not every model fits every person.

Grief is a part of life - and it is one of the hardest parts. You don’t have to “do it right.” You just have to do it your way.

If you’re in it right now, be gentle with yourself and try out this exercise that comes from 'Counselling Insights: Practical Strategies for Helping Others with Anxiety, Trauma, Grief, and More © Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute'

01/14/2026

We're not meant to be perfect, we're meant to be human.

If you've worked with me, you've heard this before: You have feelings. You make mistakes. You're learning as you go. That's not a flaw, it's the whole point.

Next time that inner critic starts up, try this: Instead of "I messed up," say "I'm learning." Instead of "I should know better," say "I'm human."

This isn't just something I tell clients, it's my own daily reminder too. We're all figuring it out together. 💛

01/07/2026

🕐 Still waiting for the "right" moment to access therapy?

The reality is, that "perfect" moment may not exist.

Life will always be happening. There will always be something—work stress, family dynamics, financial worries, relationship challenges. But that's exactly WHY therapy matters.

You don't need to have it all figured out to begin. You just need to take that first courageous step.

✨Investing in your mental health through therapy could be one of the most transformative commitments you can make for 2026.

Today is the day. This is your sign. Book that appointment.

Your future self will thank you for starting now instead of waiting for someday. And hey—I'm already proud of you for even considering it. That takes guts. 💛

01/01/2026

💫 A letter for you as we welcome 2026.

As counsellors, we hold space for so many stories of resilience, growth, and humanity. Today, I wanted to share some reflections with all of you—my clients, colleagues, and anyone who needs to hear this message.

You've made it this far. That matters more than you know.

12/29/2025

January 1st: That magical date when
people say they are going to transform into entirely new
people overnight. 🎆

Sound exhausting? Unattainable? That's because it
typically is.

Between winter blues and post-holiday fatigue, January
can be a hard time for some to set new goals. Yet here
we are, setting ourselves up for false hope - those
sky-high expectations that crash by week two.

Consider this: What if you spent January-March just...
observing? Notice what actually needs changing. Think
about your real values. Let the pressure settle.

Then welcome spring with April Resolutions🌸 When
energy rises, and you've had three months to plan
something sustainable.

If you do still want to set January intentions, try this:
✨ Start with your values - knowing your "why" creates
lasting motivation.
✨ Make goals realistic and smaller.
✨ Expect setbacks - they're part of the process, not
failures. Challenge that all-or-nothing thinking - if you
are feeling too tired one day that's okay! It does not
mean you need to "give up" on your goals, just try
again another day.

Remember: Change happens in small, sustainable
steps (over time & not overnight when the clock strikes
midnight on the 31st). Be gentle with yourself this
January. 💙 And start when you're ready, not when
you're "supposed to."

Address

1219 14 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
T3C0W1

Telephone

+15872873387

Website

https://www.kulaholisticservices.com/christine-gilman

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