Counselling & Consulting Services
Dr. amanda stillar
Registered Psychologist
Clinical Experience
Amanda's clinical experience and training enables her to offer individualized outpatient psychological care. She treats a number of mental health concerns, and provides a safe and open space for individuals, families, and couples to work through their concerns.
Treatment Focus
Amanda's focus is to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. She achieves this by providing a safe space, listening to your concerns, and customizing a treatment plan that feels like a good fit for you.
Intentions
Amanda's intentions are to help you grow from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your life.
What is a Psychologist?
A psychologist is a registered health professional who specializes in mental health.
The term psychologist is a regulated title, which means that it can only be used by individuals who have successfully completed the minimum education and training requirements. In Alberta, psychologists are required to have:
- A minimum of six years of university education.
- A minimum of a Masters degree.
- One year of practice while being supervised by a psychologist.
- Successful completion of two examinations:
- The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology
- An oral examination
To learn more about the education and training requirements for psychologists in Alberta, please visit the Psychologists Association of Alberta website.
What do psychologists do?
"A psychologist studies how we think, feel and behave from a scientific viewpoint and applies this knowledge to help people understand, explain and change their behaviour." Canadian Psychological Association, 2018
"Psychologists have expertise in all aspects of psychological functioning, including cognitive, emotional, behavioural, spiritual and intellectual dimensions. Psychologists assess, advise and assist people to improve their life adjustment and functioning." College of Alberta Psychologists, 2018
When you have a concern about your physical health, you turn to a medical doctor to assess and treat your condition. Psychologists are qualified professionals who are trained to assess and treat concerns related to mental health.
What concerns can psychologists help with?
There is a wide range of mental health concerns that psychologists are trained to address. These can include:
Emotional issues, such as difficulty tolerating, experiencing, or regulating emotions, anger outbursts, stress management.
Family or relationship issues, such as communication problems, conflict resolution issues, unproductive cycles, abuse or violence, adjusting to separation or divorce; parenting struggles.
Psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addictions, OCD, personality disorders.
Psychologists can also help individuals who are looking to improve their personal growth and development.
This is not an exhaustive list of the concerns a psychologist may be able to help you with. If you are unsure whether a psychologist is the appropriate professional to help you, please feel free to contact us for a brief consultation or to ask any questions you may have.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
"In Canada, the professionals who most commonly treat people with mental health problems are psychologists and psychiatrists.
A psychologist holds a master’s and/or doctoral degree in psychology that involves from 6 to 10 years of university study of how people think, feel and behave. A practicing psychologist is trained to assess and diagnose problems in thinking, feeling and behaviour as well to help people overcome or manage these problems. A psychologist is uniquely trained to use psychological tests to help with assessment and diagnosis. Psychologists help people to overcome or manage their problems using a variety of treatments or psychotherapies.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who go on to specialize in mental health and mental disorders. Psychiatrists often use medication to help their clients manage their mental disorders and there are some disorders for which medications are very necessary (schizophrenia and some depressions for examples). Some psychiatrists also do psychotherapy much like psychologists do. For more information on the study and practice of psychiatry, please visit the website of the Canadian Psychiatric Association at http://www.cpa-apc.org. "
Canadian Psychological Association, 2018
Frequently asked questions
If you have additional questions about psychologists or psychological services please visit our FAQ page.
If you cannot find the answer to your question please feel free to contact us through the Contact Us page.