Calgary Psychology Services for Children, Teens, Parents, and Adults

Before becoming a psychologist, Bobbi Jo worked as a teacher specializing in students with diverse needs, and that classroom experience still shapes how she works with families today. Her approach is relationship-focused first: good rapport, a bit of humour, and genuine care, long before any strategy comes into play. She draws on mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to build practical plans that fit real life, not just a textbook. Discovery Psychological Services also offers direct billing to most insurance companies, flexible in-person, virtual, and phone sessions, and the option to be waitlisted for an earlier appointment when something feels urgent.

A psychoeducational assessment in Calgary answers the questions that keep parents up at night: Is this ADHD? A learning disorder? Could my child benefit from a gifted program or specialized private school? Most families seek a psychoeducational assessment for exactly these reasons, and the goal is always the same: to understand your child so you can advocate for what they need, at school and at home.

The process starts with a parent interview and a review of report cards and past testing, followed by rating scales sent to parents and teachers. Your child then completes two assessment sessions of about 1.5 hours each. Once scoring, interpretation, and report writing are done, you will meet for a feedback session to review the results together, with a chance to see the draft report before it is finalized. Families are encouraged to share the report with their child’s school, and a free 15 to 30 minute consultation is always available afterward for follow-up questions.

Discovery Psychological Services offers therapy for children and teens in Calgary from about age 7 through the late teen years, focused on anxiety, emotional regulation, school stress, the parent-child relationship, and, for teens, depression and occasional OCD. A first session is rarely about diving into the hard stuff. It is about building trust, whether through a game for a younger child or simply talking things through, and walk-and-talk sessions are available for kids and teens who feel more at ease moving than sitting in an office.

How much parents are involved depends on age. Younger children typically have a parent in session or parent-only sessions focused on supporting them at home. Teens usually want more privacy, and Bobbi Jo respects that with separate parent sessions that share general strategies without breaking a teen’s trust.

Adult therapy at Discovery Psychological Services often starts in an unexpected place: parenting. Many adults first reach out because of parenting stress or family life challenges, and the work naturally expands into individual concerns like anxiety, stress management, and the pressures of a particular life stage, such as supporting aging parents while still raising teens. If you want practical, compassionate adult therapy, not just for your child but for yourself, this is a space built for that.

Parent coaching can run alongside therapy or stand on its own, with sessions tailored to your family. One of the most common challenges parents bring to coaching is screen time: how to set limits without triggering meltdowns and conflict. Bobbi Jo is also developing a six-session parenting group for parents of kids with ADHD, giving families even more focused tools.

Bobbi Jo Gaetz is a registered psychologist with more than 25 years of experience supporting children, teens, parents, and adults across Calgary. Her path started in the classroom, working with students with diverse needs, which sparked her decision to become a psychologist. She is passionate about identifying each client’s strengths, solving problems collaboratively, and helping parents advocate for their child or teen. Above all, she wants families to know this: as a parent, you have more influence on your child’s progress than any therapist ever will, and her job is to support you in using that influence well.