A counselling practice grounded in connection, curiosity, and compassion.
Panthera Counselling in Calgary supports children, teens, adults, parents, and families through counselling grounded in connection, curiosity, and compassion. With an attachment-focused, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming approach, support is centred on understanding what’s happening beneath emotions and behaviour while creating space to feel seen, understood, and accepted.
The Heart of Panthera
At Panthera, counselling is about more than managing symptoms or changing behaviour. It’s about creating space to understand yourself or your child more deeply, strengthen connection, and approach challenges with curiosity rather than judgment.
Connection
Relationships are at the heart of the work. Feeling safe, understood, and accepted can create space to explore difficult experiences, emotions, and patterns.
Understanding
Behaviour and emotions often communicate something important. Together, we can look beneath what’s happening on the surface with curiosity and compassion.
Individuality
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to counselling. Support is adapted to each person’s needs, strengths, experiences, and ways of engaging with the world.
Why Panthera?
The name Panthera comes from the scientific genus that includes some of the world’s big cats—and from the much smaller cats who have been part of my own family. Each has brought a very different personality: playful, curious, cautious, independent, affectionate, and completely themselves.
They became an unexpected inspiration for a counselling practice built around a similar idea: there is strength in being understood and accepted for who you are. Panthera represents courage, connection, individuality, and the space to grow without needing to become someone you’re not.
Toewser (a.k.a. the lion)
Toewser was the courageous, wise, noble leader of the pack. He was the only cat I know to meow back when spoken to, as if he wanted to engage in deep conversation. We earned his trust slowly, and he became our “trusty Toewser” — until his death in August 2024.
Washington (a.k.a. the tiger)
Washington was loyal and playful – he was the only cat I knew that would play fetch like a dog. At times, he could be a little anxious and literally had 9 lives, but now he is safe and sound, resting in peace since his death in May 2025.
Idaho (a.k.a. the black jaguar/leopard)
Idaho represents power and transformation – much like his ‘big cat’ counterparts. Although black cats are said to bring bad luck, he has been a steady presence in our family, only adding to the love and strength of the pack.
Kentucky – honourable mention
Kentucky is the newest edition to the pack, coming to our family a couple of years ago. Although he is not part of the original crew, we think his “big cat” personality would be a cougar – displaying independence and curiosity.
Counselling That Starts With Understanding
At Panthera Counselling, the goal isn’t to simply change behaviour or tell you what you “should” do. Counselling begins with curiosity—taking time to understand what may be happening beneath the surface and what you or your child may need.
Attachment-Focused
Relationships matter. An attachment-focused approach considers how connection, relationships, and experiences can shape the way we understand ourselves, others, and the world around us.
Trauma-Informed
Support is offered with an awareness that past and present experiences can influence emotions, behaviour, relationships, and our sense of safety. Counselling moves at a pace that respects each person’s needs.
Neurodiversity-Affirming
Differences in how people think, communicate, feel, learn, and experience the world are approached with curiosity and respect. The focus isn’t on making someone fit a particular mould, but on understanding and supporting the person in front of us.
There is no one-size-fits-all way to do counselling. The approach is adapted to the person, family, and circumstances—not the other way around.
Panthera Counselling in Calgary: Who We Support
Panthera Counselling offers support for children, teens, adults, parents, and families in Calgary, with online counselling available for clients across Alberta. Explore the options below to find the type of support that best fits you or your family.
Children & Teens
Support for children and teens experiencing big emotions, anxiety, behavioural challenges, relationship difficulties, life changes, or other concerns. Counselling is adapted to each child or teen’s age, needs, and way of communicating.
Adults
A supportive space to explore anxiety, stress, relationships, life transitions, emotional patterns, and the experiences that may be affecting how you feel and function day to day.
Parents & Families
Support for parents who want to better understand their child’s behaviour, strengthen connection, navigate challenging moments, and feel more confident in how they respond.
Meet Carissa
Hi, I’m Carissa, the counsellor behind Panthera Counselling.
I work with children, teens, adults, parents, and families, with a particular interest in helping people better understand the emotions, experiences, and needs beneath what’s happening on the surface.
My approach is warm, curious, and collaborative. I believe counselling works best when you feel comfortable being yourself—without pressure to have the right words, respond a certain way, or have everything figured out.
Ready to Find the Right Support?
Finding the right counsellor or type of support can take time. You’re welcome to explore Panthera Counselling’s services or book a free consultation to ask questions and see what might be a good fit for you or your family.