Dr. Cathryn Hanssen

Be Your True Self

Live Your Best Life

I am a Registered Psychologist in the province of Alberta. I am married, and am extremely fond of animals – I have three rescue dogs, two bunnies and a horse, and I love meeting new animals anywhere I go! I enjoy hiking and being in the mountains, and also volunteering with animal rescue.

I will help you achieve a better understanding of yourself and increase your sense of personal happiness. Together we can remove the blocks that keep you from living the best life you can. It’s like if you can imagine a world that appears grey, and then suddenly someone turns up the colour. I will not only listen to your concerns, but I will also offer tools and solutions to help you move forward.

My education began with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Winnipeg. I then went on to complete a Bachelor of Human Ecology, major in Family Studies from the University of Manitoba. Needing a break, I decided to take 10 or so years off from studying, before deciding that I wanted to fulfill my dream of becoming a Psychologist. I returned to school and completed a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology. Upon completing this degree, a year and a half of training followed and finally, I was a Registered Psychologist! After that, I also completed a Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) in 2018.

In my work with clients, I help them to gain insight into their concerns, and also the skills to manage them. My hope is that the variety of my education and life experience will help me to assist others to reach their own goals.
I chose the name Trio Psychology as it represents my original trio of dogs, all of whom had unique personalities and were a large part of my life.

Photo of Cathryn Hanssen and her three dogs
International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals Logo

International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals

International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals Logo

Psychologists’ Association of Alberta

International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals Logo

College of Alberta Psychologists

Meet Cathryn’s Four-Legged Co‑therapist, Macy!

Bringing Comfort and Support to the Office, Macy the Therapy Dog is often Here to Share Unconditional Love and Gentle Cuddles.

Dr. Cathryn Hanssen's dog Macy relaxing on a couch.

Questions on Counselling

How do I know if I need counselling?

Sometimes we need to seek help from a trained professional to work through problems that we are encountering. You may need counselling if:

  • you are feeling overwhelmed, and your problems do not seem to improve despite your best efforts
  • you are having difficulties in your relationships
  • it is difficult to carry out your daily routine, performance at work is affected, relationships are strained, or you are not feeling like you are coping effectively
  • You are using alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, or other means that are negatively affecting your life
  • You feel unhappy or hopeless
What can I expect in a first session?

During the first session, paperwork is completed as well as a functional assessment. I will ask about your concerns and what has brought you to therapy. Once all information has been gathered, goals for therapy and a treatment plan can be discussed.

How do I know if it’s the right fit for me?

You should feel comfortable with your psychologist and be able to discuss personal information. It is important to have a good rapport with your psychologist and feel at ease with him/her.

In order to determine if we are a good fit for each other, I offer a free 20 minute consultation.

How long are sessions?

Sessions are 60 minutes in length, which includes admin time (i.e. payment, booking next appointments, etc). Longer sessions may be arranged in 15 minute segments.

How many sessions are required?

Therapy is individual to each person and the amount of time required is dependant on several factors. Some of these factors include the nature of the concerns brought to therapy, complexity of the issues, amount of work completed outside of sessions, and motivation to change.

What is the cost?

The Fee Schedule recommended by the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta is a guideline for setting fees for services. My fees are set using this schedule as a guideline. You can access this fee schedule on the Psychologists’ Association website at www.psychologistsassociation.ab.ca.

My fee for individual sessions is $220/hour.

Alberta Health Care does not cover the cost of psychological services. However, I will issue a receipt for fees paid, and if you have an insurance plan, this may be submitted to your insurance company for full or partial re-imbursement.

Live Your Best Life

I can support you in finding the path to health and healing.