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Carly Bruce

CounsellingOnyx Counselling and Psychologynear Strathmoor Industrial Park, Sherwood Park

About Carly

Their own words
###Clinical Counsellor| Sex Therapist | Relationship & Identity Specialist #####I work with individuals, couples, and diverse relationship structures, including ethically non-monogamous and polyamorous relationships, and I offer affirming therapy for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I am a Clinical Counsellor and Sex Therapist in Sherwood Park, providing individual therapy, couples counselling, and sex therapy for adults navigating relationship challenges, intimacy concerns, identity exploration, anxiety, stress, and life transitions. I support clients who feel disconnected from themselves or others, whether that shows up as relationship conflict, emotional distress, low self-esteem, sexual concerns, or difficulty navigating change. I offer a compassionate, collaborative approach to therapy, helping clients build insight, resilience, and meaningful connection in their lives and relationships. I also offer therapy to individuals, couples, and people in ethically non-monogamous and polyamorous relationships, and welcomes clients from all backgrounds who are seeking meaningful change, deeper connection, and greater self-understanding. I recognize that navigating life, relationships, and mental health can feel overwhelming—especially in a society that often sends contradictory, shaming, or unrealistic messages about who we should be, how we should feel, and how relationships “should” work. Against this backdrop, it can be difficult to access joy, clarity, or a strong sense of self. I provide a warm, supportive, and collaborative space where clients can explore both their struggles and their strengths, while building insight, resilience, and self-compassion. #####My Therapeutic Approach My approach to therapy is person-centered, relational, trauma-informed, and affirming. I believe that therapy works best when clients feel safe, understood, and actively involved in their own healing process. I take the time to learn about each client’s unique story, goals, concerns, and support systems. From there, I collaborate with clients to develop a personalized therapy plan that aligns with what they want their lives and relationships to look like. My work is informed by a blend of evidence-based and experiential modalities, including: - Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) - Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Narrative Therapy - Polyvagal Theory - Somatic Therapy techniques - Mindfulness-based approaches I frequently integrate psychoeducation to help clients better understand their nervous systems, emotional patterns, relationships, and lived experiences. Sessions may include practical tools, reflection, emotional processing, and—when appropriate—humour and warmth to help therapy feel approachable and human. #####Individual Therapy for Adults I provide individual counselling in Sherwood Park for adults seeking support with anxiety, stress, trauma, self-esteem, identity development, emotional regulation, grief, and major life transitions. My approach helps clients better understand their nervous systems, emotional patterns, and relational experiences. While I may be known for my work in sex therapy and intimacy, I support clients with a wide range of general mental health and life concerns, including: - Anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm - Self-esteem and self-worth - Life transitions and identity changes - Relationship challenges and communication difficulties - Grief and loss - Trauma and past experiences - Feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure of next steps - Repeating patterns in relationships or life I work with individuals who want to better understand themselves, improve emotional regulation, strengthen relationships, and create lives that feel more aligned and fulfilling. #####Sex Therapy in Sherwood Park I am a sex-positive, trauma-informed sex therapist in Sherwood Park, supporting individuals and couples with concerns related to intimacy, desire, sexual shame, performance anxiety, orgasm difficulties, sexual trauma, porn use, and exploring sexuality in a safe, non-judgmental space. Sex therapy is a core area of my practice and something I am deeply passionate about. I offer sex-positive, kink-informed, and trauma-informed sex therapy for individuals and couples, supporting a wide range of concerns related to sex, sexuality, and intimacy. I have dedicated extensive training and ongoing learning to areas including sexual health, sexual trauma, shame, desire discrepancies, performance anxiety, orgasm concerns, porn use, sex toys, kink, and ethical non-monogamy. I understand that many people have never spoken openly about sex before and that reaching out for support can feel vulnerable. I honour this by moving at a pace that feels safe and respectful for each client. Clients may seek sex therapy to address concerns such as: - Desire and libido differences - Sexual shame or guilt - Sexual trauma or past negative experiences - Performance anxiety or difficulty with arousal or orgasm - Navigating new phases of sexuality or identity - Feeling disconnected from pleasure or the body - Wanting to deepen intimacy and satisfaction I am not here to judge, prescribe, or dictate what clients “should” want or enjoy. Instead, I help clients explore what sexuality, pleasure, and intimacy mean to them, and how to build healthier, more authentic connections with themselves and their partners. #####Couples & Relationship Therapy in Sherwood Park I offer couples counselling in Sherwood Park for partners experiencing communication difficulties, intimacy challenges, infidelity, desire discrepancies, fertility-related stress, or feeling stuck in recurring patterns. I work with couples and diverse relationship structures using Gottman Method and Emotion-Focused Therapy to improve communication, rebuild trust, strengthen emotional connection, and support repair. I help partners move out of stuck cycles and “the same old arguments” by identifying underlying emotional needs, patterns, and nervous system responses. Common relationship concerns I support include: - Communication breakdowns - Intimacy and sexual concerns - Infidelity and trust repair - Desire discrepancies - Life transitions and stress - Fertility, infertility, and reproductive mental health - Grief and loss within relationships I offer tools and guidance to help partners reconnect with one another, rebuild trust, and rediscover joy and closeness. I also support people navigating ethically non-monogamous or polyamorous relationships and larger relational dynamics. #####Identity, Gender & Reproductive Mental Health As an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist in Sherwood Park, I provide inclusive counselling for individuals and couples exploring sexual orientation, gender identity, and relationship dynamics. I have extensive experience supporting clients across the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum and I am committed to providing therapy that is affirming, respectful, and identity-affirming. Identity is fluid, evolving, and often deeply shaped by family, culture, relationships, and life events. My experience working with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community provides affirming support for clients exploring sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. I am also trained in supporting individuals and couples through identity shifts related to: - Pregnancy and postpartum - Hormonal changes across the lifespan - Infertility and reproductive challenges I acknowledge the unique pressures placed on people of all genders and identities—whether that involves expectations around masculinity, femininity, sexuality, emotional expression, or societal value. I offer a compassionate space to unpack these pressures and reconnect with an authentic sense of self. #####Outside the Therapy Room I deeply value the dedication, strength, and resilience I witness in my clients. Walking alongside people as they grow into more confident, connected, and grounded versions of themselves is a privilege I hold close to my heart. While therapy can involve deep and vulnerable work, I also welcome moments of humour, joy, and laughter as part of the healing process. Outside of therapy, I can often be found dancing, learning, enjoying meals with friends, or spending time with my cat, Norra. I am a proud member and advocate of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and I describe myself as an ambivert - equally appreciative of meaningful connection and cozy time at home. ####Educational Background - Master of Arts in Counselling (MC) - City University of Seattle - Bachelor of Arts (BA) with Psychology Major - MacEwan University - Kink Informed Certified (KIC) - Sexual Health Alliance ####Presenting Concerns - 2SLGBTQIA+ identities - Abandonment - Abortion - Abuse - Academic Concerns - Adult Issues - Affair Recovery - Anxiety - Attachment Issues - Body Image - Boundaries - Breakup - Bullying - Career Counselling - Codependency - Commitment Issues - Communication - Comparison - Conflict Resolution - Connection - Consent - Coping - Creative Blocks - Depression - Desire Discrepancy - Diet Culture & Exercise - Disconnection - Divorce/Divorce Adjustment - Dysregulation - Emotional Abuse - Emotional Intelligence - Emotional Overwhelm - Emotional Regulation - Emptiness - Ethical Nonmonogamy - Forgiveness - Gender Identity - Guilt - Helplessness - Identity - Inadequacy - Infidelity/Affair Recovery - Infertility - Intimacy - Isolation - Jealousy - Kink - Life Transitions - Low Libido - Marriage Issues - Neglect - Panic and Panic Attacks - Personal Development - Polyamory/Non-Monogamy - Porn Use - Posttraumatic Stress (PTSD) - Power/Control- Premarital Counselling - Premarital Counselling - Relationship Concerns - Religious Trauma - Seasonal Depression - Self-Actualization - Self-Care - Self-Compassion - Self-Criticism - Self-Doubt - Self-Esteem - Self-Harm - Self-Love - Self-Worth - Sensitivity to Criticism - Separation - Sexuality - Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse/Sexual Trauma - Sexual Orientation - Sexual Dysfunction - Shame - Sexual Dysfunction - Social Anxiety - Spirituality - Stress - Suicide/Suicidal Ideation - Transitions - Trauma - Trust Issues - Values Clarification - Women's Issues - Worry - Worthlessness ####Approaches Used - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Attachment Based - Brief Therapy - Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) - Eclectic Counselling - Emotionally Focussed Therapy (EFT) - Gottman Method - Humanistic - Integrative Counselling - Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) - Mindfully-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) - Mindfulness - Motivational Interviewing - Narrative Therapy - Person Centered Therapy - Polyvagal Theory - Relational Therapy - Sensate Focus - Somatic Informed - Strength Based - Trauma Informed ####Professional Associations/Regulatory Board - The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
Trained at
Master of Arts in Counselling (MAC) - City University of Seattle · Bachelor of Arts (BA) with Psychology Major - MacEwan University · Kink Informed Certified (KIC) - Sexual Health Alliance
Member of
The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)

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Onyx Counselling and Psychology

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(587) 745-2662

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