Our Calgary Psychologists
Rod Mitchell, MC, MSc, Registered Psychologist
“Stop fighting your emotions. Start leading them.”
Anger that leaves you regretting your words. Anxiety that hijacks your sleep. Stress that makes every decision feel impossible. If you’re here, it’s not because you’re “too emotional” - it’s because you’re ready to rewrite the script.
Hi, I’m Rod. For over a decade, I’ve partnered with Calgarians to transform overwhelming feelings into clarity, resilience, and the quiet confidence to live life on your terms.
Why Fighting Emotions Only Fuels the Fire
Anger isn’t a flaw - it’s a signal. Anxiety isn’t weakness - it’s a call to action. My approach isn’t about silencing what you feel, but learning its language. Whether you're seeking anger management therapy or struggling with emotional overwhelm, we'll uncover what your emotions are trying to tell you and how to respond in ways that align with your values. Clients often tell me they leave sessions not just with strategies, but with a renewed sense of agency.
A Pragmatic Path Forward
I blend evidence-based methods with practical, day-to-day tools. We’ll explore how your nervous system responds to stress, reframe unhelpful thought patterns, and identify the unmet needs behind intense reactions. This approach is particularly effective for those seeking ADHD counselling, as we address both emotional regulation and the unique challenges of focus and decision-making.
No platitudes. No judgment. Just grounded strategies that help you navigate conflict with calm assertiveness and make decisions without second-guessing - skills that become second nature over time.
Experience That Honors Your Story
As a Registered Psychologist and the founder of Emotions Therapy Calgary, I’ve supported survivors of family violence, professionals battling burnout, and those rebuilding trust in relationships. My work is rooted in respect for your unique journey - whether you’re recovering from trauma, navigating a career crossroads, or simply tired of feeling controlled by emotions.
You don’t have to “figure it out” alone anymore. Start with a free 20-minute consultation and let’s turn frustration into focus, and anxiety into action.
More About Rod
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Whether it's hiking or camping, I find my peace in the Alberta wilderness. The Rockwall in the Rockies holds a special place in my heart as my favorite backpacking hike. There's nothing like the crisp mountain air and the views from the peaks to clear the mind.
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We met online, and blending our lives has been like mixing two different puzzles into one picture. She's from India, where family and social rules are totally different from my own upbringing. Navigating these differences was tough at first - misunderstandings and all. But figuring it out didn't just make us a couple, it made us a solid team that respects and values what makes each of us unique.
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With two young children at home, I'm not just a psychologist in Calgary but a parent who understands the hustle and bustle of daily life. The joys, the stresses, the ups and downs - I live them too. This allows me to approach therapy from a genuine and empathetic standpoint. Your life isn't textbook, and neither is my approach. Together, we'll navigate the real world.
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I've felt the gut punch of anxiety, the weight of sadness, and heat of anger. I've seen how destructive these emotions can be and how real the struggle with them is. But it's this raw, personal experience that drives me, making my work more than just a job. It's a heartfelt mission to lead people through the emotional labyrinth and into a place of calm beyond the chaos of emotional turmoil.
Alexis (Alya) Serghanuk, MSc, Registered Provisional Psychologist
“You’re not broken - you’re healing”
Hi, I’m Alya. If you’ve found your way here, I imagine you’re tired of feeling trapped by memories, exhausted from battling anxiety, or aching to feel safe in your own body again. Maybe you’ve even wondered, “Will I ever feel like me again?” Let me say this: What you’re feeling isn’t your fault - and it doesn’t have to be your future.
As a Registered Provisional Psychologist specializing in PTSD and trauma therapy, I guide people like you from merely surviving to fully thriving. My clients often come to me feeling shattered by trauma, disconnected from their emotions, or paralyzed by fear. Together, we don’t just “manage symptoms” - we rebuild lives.
Why Work With Me?
Your healing deserves more than generic advice or temporary fixes. I believe trauma isn’t one-size-fits-all, which is why every session is tailored to your unique needs. We’ll honor what feels safe and empowering for you, moving at a pace that respects your journey.
Trauma and anxiety don’t just live in your mind - they’re stored in your body. Drawing on body-oriented techniques like polyvagal theory, we’ll work to release tension, calm your nervous system, and help you reclaim control. We'll also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to gently process painful memories, and Somatic Therapy to heal the mind-body connection and help you feel safe in your body.
What Healing Looks Like
I know how vulnerable it feels to ask for help. Your courage will always be met with compassion here - never judgment. In our sessions, you can cry, rage, sit in silence, or even laugh. All of you is welcome.
With a Master’s in Psychology & Neuroscience from King’s College London and specialized training in trauma-focused CBT, ACT, and somatic therapies, I blend science with deep empathy. My work is grounded in collaboration - I’ve partnered with physicians to address trauma compounded by chronic illness, ensuring care that honors both mind and body.
You deserve more than survival. Let’s begin your path to peace - start with a free 20-minute consultation.
More About Alya
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Writing has always been a powerful outlet for me, both personally and professionally. I believe in the healing power of self-expression, and my poetry reflects that. My anthology, Tracing Stardust: An Inward Odyssey, blends themes of trauma, growth, innocence, and the beauty of life.
Available on Amazon, this work allows me to share my journey of healing and self-discovery with others. Poetry and fiction not only serve as a therapeutic tool but also as a way to connect with others who may be on a similar path of transformation and creative expansion.
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I believe that mental health is influenced by a multitude of factors, and no two individuals experience it the same way. Demographic factors such as immigration, socioeconomic status, bodily health, access to resources, and family dynamics all play a role in shaping one’s mental well-being.
This understanding fuels my commitment to providing sensitive, inclusive care that respects each person’s unique background and challenges. I aim to create an environment where all individuals, regardless of their circumstances, feel seen, heard, and supported in their mental health journey.
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Like many of my clients, I’ve experienced my own struggles with mental and physical health. From grappling with gut issues like colitis to dealing with social anxiety, panic attacks, and body image concerns, I understand firsthand how deeply the body and mind are interconnected.
These challenges introduced me to bodily-focused trauma work, inspired by those who recognize the profound effects of cortisol and how stress and trauma are stored in the body. This personal experience gives me a deeper empathy for my clients and enables me to approach therapy with a more delicate, compassionate touch.
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One of my core beliefs is that everyone possesses the potential to grow and heal, but sometimes they need the right support to activate this change. In my work with clients, I’ve come to appreciate the uniqueness of each patient's journey.
My role isn’t to direct or control that path, but to serve as a guide, offering the scaffolding and belief that allows clients to find their own way. I strive to be the facilitator who points you in the right direction, helping you realize the strength and resilience already within you. With the right resources and support, transformation is possible for everyone.
Yuchen Zhong, MC, Registered Provisional Psychologist
“Your pain makes sense - and so does your path forward.”
Hi, I'm Yuchen. If you're here, something feels broken that you can't quite fix. Maybe it's the anxiety that grips your throat during normal conversations, leaving you dizzy and desperate for air. The depression that turns your bed into quicksand. Or that moment when your partner reaches for you and every cell in your body screams danger - even though your mind knows they're safe. These reactions aren't random. Your body is trying to protect you from something it hasn't forgotten.
As a Registered Provisional Psychologist, I help people understand why their nervous system stays on high alert and how to finally find peace. Whether you're battling anxiety that seems to come from nowhere, relationships that keep hitting the same painful walls, or memories that won't stay in the past, we'll work together to calm the storm inside.
Your Body's Wisdom, Reimagined
That pit in your stomach during conflict? The way you go numb when emotions get intense? Your body learned these responses for good reasons - they kept you safe once. But now they're keeping you stuck. Using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), we'll help your nervous system update its programming, so you stop reacting to today's relationships with yesterday's defenses.
This is where my training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples and the Gottman Method becomes essential. Trauma doesn't just affect individuals - it shapes how we connect. I work with both individuals and couples to heal these patterns. You'll learn to stay present during difficult conversations instead of shutting down. To trust your partner's love instead of testing it. To ask for comfort instead of suffering alone.
Real Change, Real Relief
I work with the understanding that your symptoms aren't flaws - they're survival strategies that no longer serve you. Whether you come seeking trauma therapy, relationship support, or relief from anxiety that won't quit, we'll uncover what your nervous system needs to finally rest.
In our sessions, there's room for all of it - the tears you've been holding back, the anger you're afraid to feel, the hope you're scared to trust. We move at your pace, with deep respect for your courage in showing up.
You weren't meant to white-knuckle through life. Let's talk about how therapy can help - start with a free 20-minute consultation to see if we're the right fit.
More About Yuchen
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Quiet, awkward, maybe a little bit boring, those were the stories I told myself for a long time. I saw my introversion as something to fix or hide, especially in a world that rewards being loud, fast, and always "on."
But over the years, I started to see it differently. Listening deeply, finding joy in slow mornings, and laughing hardest in small circles are perks of being introverted.
I've learned that personality isn't a flaw to sand down, it's a mosaic, made of all the odd, tender, and wonderful parts. That understanding shapes how I work: with curiosity, with compassion, and with space for the pieces still learning how to belong.
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I'm fascinated with morpho butterflies and started my own collection of them. Their luminous blues, their quiet symbolism, what fascinates me most is that their color isn't from pigment, but from the microscopic structures on their wings that scatter light.
And before they shine, they go through a strange, tender transformation, one that requires shedding old forms to make space for something new.
That feels close to how I understand change. It's not about erasing who we are, but uncovering what's already within while also allowing something new to take shape. In therapy, I see growth as both a return and an unfolding, rooted in self-acceptance, shaped by courage.
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In my own life, I’ve felt the pressure to hide parts of myself, to seem put-together, to push through discomfort. That’s why I care so deeply about creating a space where masks can come off.
A space that feels calm, steady, and safe enough for honesty. You don’t have to impress or even know what to say. You can show up messy, uncertain, awkward, and real. I believe the magic happens when we stop performing and start being. Therapy with me is a soft landing place for your truest self.
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Like when someone says, "I've never said that out loud before," or pauses mid-sentence and quietly adds, "I think I'm starting to see myself differently."
These are small moments on the surface, but they carry so much weight. They remind me how powerful it is to be heard without judgment, to feel safe enough to go deeper.
I'm often humbled by the ways people shift, not just in what they say, but in how they begin to see themselves, with a little more softness, a little more possibility. It's in those moments that I'm reminded why I do this work.