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1377 — 22 Street SE Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7V3
Safe & Confidential Environment

Support.Healing.Growth

Compassionate, evidence-based counselling to help you navigate life’s challenges with confidence and support.

  • ✔ In-person, virtual, or phone sessions
  • ✔ Free 15-minute consultation
  • ✔ New referrals within one week

100% Client Focus

Tailored Therapy Plans

Marilyn Emmelkamp
Clinical Social Work Practitioner

Marilyn Emmelkamp

BSW (Hons), MSW, RSW EMDR Therapist – Advanced Counselling Inc.

In private practice since 2019, Marilyn brings decades of experience across medical, legal, and community support systems. She provides compassionate, ethical, and research-based counselling tailored to each individual.

Master of Social Work — Clinical Practice University of Calgary (2011), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Certified (Sept 2025), eligible for Psychosocial Restricted Activities with ACSW. Former roles with AHS, RCMP, Justice of the Peace, and Victims Assistance.

Approach

Kind, attentive, practical, and solution-focused — helping clients feel supported, understood, and empowered.

Upcoming

Events

Couples Retreat

Reconnect Retreat — at Historic Reesor Ranch

A great way to invest in your relationship. Join us May 1–3, 2026 for an immersive couples retreat at the beautiful Historic Reesor Ranch. Over three days you’ll get to know and understand your partner on a deeper level, learn to communicate more effectively, explore your differences, and enjoy fun interactive activities — all in a warm, supportive environment. All accommodations and meals are included, with some special diets accommodated. Investment: $599 per person. Only 10 couples — limited availability.

May 1 – 3, 2026 Historic Reesor Ranch Only 10 Couples 403-633-7338
My Expertise

Who I Help

Individual Counselling

A safe, confidential space to explore concerns, develop coping strategies, and build resilience.

Couples Counselling

Reconnect, improve communication, and resolve conflict in a non-judgmental environment.

Family Counselling

Strengthen relationships and navigate challenging family situations together.

Adults

A supportive and empathetic environment where adults can openly discuss personal challenges, gain insights, and develop practical strategies to enhance emotional well-being and resilience.

Seniors

A compassionate and trusting space where seniors can share their experiences, address emotional and mental health concerns, and explore ways to maintain independence, foster connections, and improve overall quality of life.

Children & Teens

A welcoming and engaging space where children and teens can freely express their feelings, build self-esteem, and develop healthy coping skills to navigate life’s challenges in a safe and supportive environment.

Couples & Families

A collaborative and respectful space where couples and families can communicate openly, strengthen their relationships, address conflicts, and work together to foster understanding, support, and emotional connection.

Managers / Supervisors / Business Owners

A professional and strategic space where managers, supervisors, and business owners can explore leadership challenges, enhance management skills, and develop effective strategies to foster team productivity, improve communication, and achieve organizational goals.

Trauma & Crisis Intervention

A compassionate and secure environment where individuals can process traumatic experiences, receive immediate support during crises, and develop coping strategies to promote healing, resilience, and emotional stability.

Veterans/First Responders

A respectful and understanding space where veterans and first responders can openly share their experiences, address emotional and mental health challenges, and access support to foster recovery, resilience, and overall well-being.

Therapies Offered

Evidence-based methodologies tailored to your healing journey.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

is a structured, goal-oriented psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. It is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected, and by modifying dysfunctional thoughts, we can improve emotional well-being and develop healthier behaviors. CBT is commonly used to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress, and typically involves techniques like cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and exposure therapy.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a psychotherapy technique designed to help individuals process and recover from traumatic memories and distressing experiences. It involves guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation while the person recalls traumatic events, which helps to reduce the emotional intensity and facilitate natural healing. EMDR is particularly effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions, enabling individuals to reframe negative thoughts and integrate traumatic memories into their broader life narrative in a healthier way.

Grief and Loss

Grief and loss can come in many forms – it can be the loss of a loved one, loss of a pet, loss of a job, relationship, or anything that changes in our lives. Grief and loss is never one size fits all, it is unique, and can happen at any time.

Trauma & Mental Health Support

Support for trauma-related concerns including PTSD, critical incidents, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, burnout, addictions, workplace and financial stress, motor vehicle accidents, and support for first responders and veterans.

Crisis & Stress Support

Immediate and short-term support for individuals experiencing acute stress, burnout, emotional overwhelm, or critical life events, with a focus on stabilization, coping, and recovery.

Solution Focused and Narrative Therapy

Solution-Focused Therapy:
Brief, goal-oriented therapy that builds on the client’s strengths while focusing on practical solutions rather than problems. It is a positive approach that emphasizes present and future goals, hopes, resilience, while using the client’s existing internal/external strengths.

Narrative Therapy:
Specialized therapy in which the client is the expert and will tell their stories through discussing their identities and experiences. The person is NOT the problem, the problem is the problem.

Additional Areas of Care

Specialized Support

Targeted support for individuals, families, and organizations navigating complex life, work, and care transitions.

Professional & Organizational Support

Caregiver Support & Burnout
Aging & Care Transitions
Return-to-Work Planning
Workplace Assessment Support
Employee Family Assistance Programs
Critical Incident Support for Organizations
Reconnect Retreat for Couples

Caregiver & Life Transition Support

Helping families navigate complex situations including:

Elder care and “sandwich generation” stress
Home to long-term care transitions
Hospital to community transitions
Access to municipal, provincial, and federal programs

Client Feedback

What Clients Say

Marilyn provided a safe, compassionate space during one of the most difficult periods of my life. Her guidance helped me regain clarity and confidence.

Adult Client Individual Counselling

The support we received as a couple was respectful, practical, and incredibly effective. Communication and trust improved significantly.

Couples Client Relationship Counselling

Marilyn’s experience and calm approach made a real difference during a high-stress work transition.

Professional Client Workplace Support

I felt heard, supported, and respected throughout the counselling process.

Senior Client Senior Client

Calm, practical, and deeply knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

Caregiver Burnout Support

Insurance & Direct Billing

Direct billing available for:

Alberta Blue Cross Alberta Blue Cross Alberta Blue Cross Alberta Blue Cross Alberta Blue Cross Alberta Blue Cross
+ More

💻 Appointment Options

✔ In Person — Medicine Hat
✔ Virtual Sessions
✔ Phone Sessions

Free 15-Minute Assessment Available

Ready to Start Your Healing Journey?

You don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. Compassionate support is available.

Book Your Consultation Today
Contact ME

Let’s Start Together.

Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

Advanced Counselling Inc.

1377 — 22 Street SE Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7V3

Location

Find Us

1377 — 22 Street SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7V3

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