Virtuous Circle Counselling Reviews: The Good, The Bad, and What to Expect

Rod Mitchell, MSc, MC, Registered Psychologist

What 100+ Reviews Reveal About Virtuous Circle Counselling

Choosing a counselor in Calgary can feel overwhelming. We analyzed 100+ reviews of Virtuous Circle Counselling to help you understand what actual clients experienced - from breakthrough moments to billing frustrations.

This unbiased analysis comes from Emotions Therapy Calgary. While we offer our own approach to counselling, we believe informed choice benefits everyone. Transparency about what different clinics offer helps you find the right fit for your specific needs.

What you'll find below: real client experiences organized into clear themes. We've included direct quotes about what worked, what didn't, and critical details like treatment timelines and counselor specialties. Whether you're comparing options or have already shortlisted Virtuous Circle Counselling, this analysis provides insights their website won't tell you.

For those still exploring Calgary counselling options, you may also find our companion articles helpful:

Virtuous Circle Counselling Alternatives: 9 Best Calgary Clinics Reviewed & Compared

Virtuous Circle Counselling vs Emotions Therapy Calgary: Which Clinic Fits Your Mental Health Needs?

Table of Contents Hide

Individual Counselor Profiles

Six Virtuous Circle Counselling counselors received three or more positive reviews. The table below summarizes their specialties and unique approaches based on client feedback.

Counselor	Specialties & Approach	What Clients Said
Tiffany Petite	Anxiety, EMDR, exposure therapy, CBT. Known for homework assignments between sessions. Offers free 30-min consultations.	"She poses the questions you need to hear... very gentle yet unyielding with her approach" - Multiple clients praised her direct, honest style.
Beatrice Crocker	First-time therapy clients. Creates comfortable environment for those new to counselling.	"She strives to understand where you're coming from and how best she can help" - Consistently recommended for therapy beginners.
Jennifer Rauckman	Couples counselling and individual therapy. Adapts approach based on immediate needs. Helps navigate major life changes.	"Gained an abundance of knowledge on how to better navigate our relationship with big life changes in a short amount of time"
Christine Molohon	Agoraphobia, anxiety. Provides specific tools for anxiety management.	"The knowledge and tools that she has given me to help with my Agoraphobia has been amazing"
Lynda Burgess	Anxiety management for professionals. Helped clients with workplace burnout. Focus on rebuilding confidence.	"Helped me to rethink about my situation to rebuild my strength and confidence" - Client moved provinces but kept seeing her virtually.
Angeline Murwisi	Trauma specialist, particularly long-standing issues. Described as patient and understanding.	"Therapy with Angeline was life changing. Trauma from many years fixed within months"

Treatment Effectiveness & Timelines

Reviews from Virtuous Circle Counselling show varied timeframes for improvement, with most clients reporting changes between 2-3 months.

Reported Treatment Durations

Timeframe	What Clients Reported
6-8 Sessions	"After just 6 sessions, I finally had tools to manage my anxiety." Early improvements focused on symptom management.
2-3 Months	Most common timeframe for significant change. One person with 4 years of trauma reported: "I finally feel like I have my life back."
3-4 Months	Several clients saw continued improvement. One stated their "only regret is not contacting them sooner."
1+ Years	"Over a year later, my whole mindset and approach to difficult life events changed for the better."

Factors Affecting Treatment Speed

Reviews suggest weekly sessions produced faster results than sporadic appointments. Clients who completed homework between sessions reported feeling the treatment was "much more comprehensive."

Some clients tried multiple counselling practices before finding success here. Treatment duration appeared to depend heavily on the specific issue and individual circumstances.

Specialized Treatment Approaches

Virtuous Circle Counselling offers several therapeutic methods. Reviews provide specific feedback on four approaches.

EMDR (Eye Movement Therapy for Trauma)

EMDR uses guided eye movements to help process traumatic memories. Reviews consistently called this approach "life changing" for trauma recovery.

One client reported EMDR helped them reprocess experiences that were "unknowingly affecting the way I respond to new events." Another experienced "an overwhelming feeling of happiness" that continued after treatment ended, with dramatically decreased life conflict.

Best for: Based on reviews, EMDR worked well for long-standing trauma, past experiences affecting current reactions, and PTSD.

DBT Skills Group (Emotional Regulation Training)

DBT teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions through group therapy. The clinic's 12-week virtual program received extensive praise.

Participants met weekly for 2-hour Zoom sessions with 8+ members. One reviewer noted it helped them "recover from periods of overwhelm quicker." Multiple participants stayed connected after the program ended to continue practicing together.

Best for: Reviews mentioned success for people with emotional regulation difficulties, BPD, ADHD, and those who wanted peer support alongside skill-building.

CBT (Changing Thought Patterns)

CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns. Clients appreciated the practical homework assignments and worksheets they could reference between sessions.

One reviewer seeking CBT specifically noted they got "that plus much more." The structured approach with tangible tools between sessions made therapy feel comprehensive.

Best for: Reviews indicated CBT helped primarily with anxiety and depression.

Exposure Therapy (Facing Fears Gradually)

Exposure therapy involves gradually confronting feared situations in a controlled way. Reviews came with honest warnings about difficulty.

A client who lived with trauma for 4 years wrote: "The exposure therapy process is not an easy one, but trust me it's worth it." Therapists reportedly prepared clients well for the challenging aspects.

Best for: Reviews showed success with specific phobias, trauma triggers, and anxiety disorders.

First-Time Therapy Experiences

Multiple reviewers described starting therapy for the first time at Virtuous Circle Counselling. Their experiences address common beginner concerns.

Initial Fears

First-timers shared similar worries. One feared "that I wouldn't have anything to say or that I'd have too much to say." Another felt "nervous to finally take the leap" after a challenging year. An older male hesitated about group therapy because he "felt uncomfortable sharing."

These concerns proved unfounded - all three reviewers quickly felt at ease.

The First-Timer Experience

The free 30-minute consultation helped reduce commitment anxiety. One reviewer specifically appreciated being able to "decide if it was a good fit before fully committing."

Beatrice received multiple recommendations for therapy beginners, with reviewers noting she "strives to understand where you're coming from." First-timers consistently emphasized the non-judgmental environment made it "easy to be open and transparent."

Results came quicker than expected. One person's first session "felt so natural" that they immediately looked forward to continuing. After four months, another stated: "My only regret is not contacting them sooner."

The older male who initially resisted group therapy later called it "the best choice I ever made," noting he "never once felt judged" despite sharing with 8+ people.

Lasting Impact

Several first-timers who had hesitated for years reported that success here gave them "renewed faith in counselling." Initial positive experiences appeared to predict continued engagement and progress.

Reviews didn't specify intake procedures, first appointment length, or insurance setup for new clients. The focus remained on emotional experience rather than logistics.

Virtual/Online Counselling Success

Virtual therapy at Virtuous Circle Counselling worked particularly well for specific groups, with no reviews expressing preference for in-person sessions.

Who Used Virtual Sessions Successfully

Hockey families and teen athletes found virtual counselling essential for maintaining consistency. One parent described how their goalie could talk to a counselor about "the mental struggles of this position" without disrupting hockey and school schedules. They specifically valued that the counselor "worked with high level athletes."

Working professionals maintained regular therapy despite packed schedules. The flexibility of virtual sessions meant no missed appointments due to travel time or work conflicts.

Relocated clients kept their therapeutic relationships intact. One reviewer moved provinces but continued virtually with their Calgary therapist, stating they "would not change my therapist" despite the distance.

Group Therapy Online

The 12-week DBT skills group ran successfully via Zoom with 8+ participants. Despite 2-hour sessions, reviewers reported "no major technical issues" and found online groups "more convenient than meeting in a physical location."

Participants noted that virtual format actually helped with attendance consistency. One mentioned that while being on Zoom for 2 hours after work "wasn't the best," the convenience outweighed any drawbacks.

Overall Virtual Experience

Clients found virtual sessions as effective as in-person therapy. One reviewer stated: "I was surprised how comfortable and easy it was." Several continued with online sessions even after in-person became available again.

Red Flags & Concerns

While most reviews were positive, several Virtuous Circle Counselling clients reported consistent issues worth considering. Notably, no reviews mentioned problems with actual therapy quality or counselor professionalism - concerns focused entirely on administrative and billing processes.

Billing & Reception Problems

One detailed review described a serious billing incident where the wrong credit card was charged multiple times. When requesting a correction, the client reported receiving "belittling and condescending" treatment from reception staff who questioned why they needed financial help and eventually hung up on them.

Another reviewer called the owner "rude to their core" and "insensitive to their patients" regarding billing issues, warning others to avoid sharing payment credentials due to unexpected charges.

The clinic apologized in their response to the first incident, acknowledging the situation wasn't handled properly.

Communication & Accessibility Issues

Phone access: One reviewer stated: "Not once was I able to get through to them via phone, called maybe three different times on three different days and it's always going to VM." The clinic acknowledged they have "light phone coverage from time to time" but offer 24/7 online booking.

Follow-up concerns: A reviewer felt disappointed that "if you don't follow up or make appointments no one will call, message, or follow up with you anymore." While the clinic explained they don't solicit services to respect client self-determination, this approach left some feeling uncared for.

Cancellation Policy Disputes

References to late cancellation fees appeared in negative reviews. One reviewer mentioned frustration with policies around missed appointments, suggesting these weren't clearly communicated upfront.

Conclusion

Virtuous Circle Counselling demonstrates specific strengths: specialized treatments like EMDR and DBT groups, experienced counselors (particularly Tiffany and Beatrice), and successful virtual therapy options. Most therapeutic outcomes were positive.

However, the administrative challenges raise concerns. Billing disputes that led to clients being hung up on, consistent phone accessibility problems, and limited follow-up between sessions suggest difficulties beyond the therapy room. While these issues affected a minority of reviewers, they could prove particularly frustrating for clients already managing mental health challenges.

The reviews suggest Virtuous Circle works best for clients who: already know what type of therapy they need, can navigate administrative issues independently, and don't require frequent check-ins or easy phone access. Their strengths lie in the actual therapy sessions rather than the overall client care experience.

If you value responsive communication, need help determining the right therapeutic approach, or prefer a clinic where you can easily reach someone by phone, consider whether their model aligns with your needs. The contrast between excellent therapists and problematic administration suggests you should be prepared to advocate for yourself outside of sessions.

At Emotions Therapy Calgary, we prioritize accessible communication and offer free 20-minute consultations to help you explore what approach might work best. Whether you choose Virtuous Circle Counselling, our clinic, or another option entirely, taking the step to seek support is what truly matters.