# Solasta Counselling
# https://solastacounselling.ca

> Solasta Counselling is a Calgary-based counselling and psychological assessment practice, founded in 2017 by two Registered Psychologists. A team of roughly 17 clinicians offers individual, couples, family, and specialty counselling; multiple therapy modalities; and psychological assessments for autism, ADHD, and psychoeducational concerns, in person in NW Calgary or virtually across Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. No physician referral required.

## About

"Solasta" is Scottish Gaelic for luminous, shining. Founded by Scott McKirdy and Dr. Gillian McKirdy, both Registered Psychologists with the College of Alberta Psychologists, who still run the practice hands-on. Their own path into this work began in Scotland, where they fostered and later adopted children starting in 2004 — an experience Gillian later turned into published, peer-reviewed research on the lived experience of adoptive parents in Alberta. Full story: https://solastacounselling.ca/about/

Solasta acknowledges it operates on the traditional territories of Treaty 7 in Southern Alberta, including the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani, Kainai), the Tsuut'ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda Nations (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney), and that Calgary is home to the Métis Nation within Alberta.

## Contact

Phone: (587) 487-7015
Email: admin@solastacounselling.ca
Address: 1716 16 Ave NW, Calgary, AB T2M 0L7
Hours: Monday–Thursday 9am–8pm, Friday 9am–6pm, Saturday 9am–5pm
Book online: https://solasta.janeapp.com/#/list
Find a matching therapist: https://solastacounselling.ca/find-therapist/

## Services — Counselling

- [Individual Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/individual-counselling-calgary/)
- [Couples Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/couples-counselling-calgary/)
- [Child and Play Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/child-therapy-calgary/)
- [Teen and Youth Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/teen-therapy-calgary/)
- [Family Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/family-counselling-calgary/)
- [ADHD Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/adhd-counselling-calgary/)
- [Online Counselling (Alberta)](https://solastacounselling.ca/online-counselling-alberta/)
- [Quebec Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/quebec-counselling/)
- [New Brunswick Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/new-brunswick-counselling/)
- [Nova Scotia Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/nova-scotia-counselling/)
- [Low Cost Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/low-cost-counselling-calgary/)

## Services — Psychological Assessments

- [Adult Autism Assessments](https://solastacounselling.ca/adult-autism-assessments-calgary/) — $3,250
- [Adult ADHD Assessments](https://solastacounselling.ca/adult-adhd-assessments-calgary/) — from $1,500
- [Child Autism Assessments](https://solastacounselling.ca/child-autism-assessments-calgary/) — $3,250
- [Child Psychoeducational Assessments](https://solastacounselling.ca/child-psychoeducational-assessments-calgary/) — $2,950 (combined with autism assessment: $3,750)
- Gifted Assessment (Westmount Charter and similar programs) — $1,100 if criteria met, $660 if not
- Disability Tax Credit (DTC) application support — standardized rate of $117.50 per 30 minutes

All assessments include multiple sessions, detailed scoring and interpretation, a comprehensive written report, and a feedback session. Typical turnaround is 1–4 weeks from the final appointment.

## What We Help With

- [Anxiety Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/anxiety-counselling-calgary/)
- [Depression Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/depression-counselling-calgary/)
- [Grief Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/grief-counselling-calgary/)
- [Trauma Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/trauma-therapy-calgary/)
- [Stress & Burnout Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/stress-and-burnout-counselling-calgary/)
- [OCD Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/ocd-therapy-calgary/)
- [2SLGBTQIA+ Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/2slgbtqia-counselling-calgary/)
- [Anger Management Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/anger-management-calgary/)
- [Car Accident Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/car-accident-counselling-calgary/)
- [Sports Psychology](https://solastacounselling.ca/sports-psychology-calgary/)
- [Adoption Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/adoption-counselling-calgary/)
- [Multilingual Counselling](https://solastacounselling.ca/multilingual-counselling-calgary/)
- [Men's Mental Health](https://solastacounselling.ca/mens-mental-health-therapy-calgary/)

## Therapy Models

- [EMDR Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/emdr-therapy-calgary/)
- [Somatic Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/somatic-therapy-calgary/)
- [CBT Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/cbt-therapy-calgary/)
- [DBT Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/dbt-therapy-calgary/)
- [Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)](https://solastacounselling.ca/accelerated-resolution-therapy-calgary/)
- [Gottman Couples Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/gottman-couples-therapy-calgary/)
- [Narrative Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/narrative-therapy-calgary/)
- [ACT Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/act-therapy-calgary/)
- [Emotionally Focused Therapy](https://solastacounselling.ca/emotionally-focused-therapy-calgary/)

## Team

Full team directory with individual credentials: https://solastacounselling.ca/our-calgary-counsellors/

Scott McKirdy, MC — Registered Psychologist, co-founder. Focus: adult psychological assessment (autism, ADHD, psychoeducational), including high-masking adult presentations.
Dr. Gillian McKirdy, PsyD — Registered Psychologist, co-founder. Certified EMDR Therapist (EMDR Canada), Canadian Certified Counsellor. Associate Faculty, City University in Canada. Trained in ADOS-2, ADI-R, MIGDAS-2, and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. Published peer-reviewed research on adoptive parenting.
Randi Sager — Registered Psychologist of First Nations descent (Dakota, Saulteaux, Nêhiyaw, Métis). Bridges Indigenous and Western psychological frameworks in assessment work. Faculty, City University in Canada.
Sabrina Minor — Winner, Psychological Association of Alberta Best Poster Award, 2024.
Jocelyn Simpson — 25 years of teaching experience prior to counselling.
David Tamagi — Former teacher prior to training as a psychologist.

Additional clinicians offer therapy in Urdu, Hindi, and Arabic, and bring lived experience as children of immigrants and as immigrant parents. Full credentials for all ~17 clinicians at the team directory link above.

## Rates and Booking

Full fee schedule: https://solastacounselling.ca/fees/
Book online: https://solasta.janeapp.com/#/list

Individual counselling (50 min / 80 min):
- Registered Psychologist: $235 / $352.50
- Registered Provisional Psychologist: $220 / $330
- Registered Social Worker: $220 / $330
- Canadian Certified Counsellor: $160 / varies
- Counselling Intern: $85 / $125
- Student Counselling Intern: Free for clients aged 16 and older

Rates are the same for online and in-person sessions. 24 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule; late cancellations are charged the full session fee. Payment accepted by credit card, e-transfer, or cash.

## Insurance and Direct Billing

Direct billing is available to most major Canadian insurers for sessions with Registered Psychologists and Registered Social Workers, including Alberta Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, and Greenshield among others. Approved for Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), and Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) claims. Provisional Psychologist sessions can be direct billed to Alberta Blue Cross, Greenshield, and Sun Life specifically; other plans typically reimburse via receipt.

## FAQ

Do you offer online therapy?
Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, at the same rate as in-person sessions.

Do I need a referral to book?
No, a physician referral is not required.

Can I choose which clinician I see?
Yes. The team directory lists each clinician's background, and a "Find Your Therapist" matching tool is also available at https://solastacounselling.ca/find-therapist/

Do you offer free or low-cost counselling?
Yes. Counselling Interns offer reduced-rate sessions ($85), Student Counselling Interns offer free sessions for clients aged 16 and older, and some Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, and Canadian Certified Counsellors can offer sliding-scale rates based on demonstrated need.

What ages do you work with?
Children, teens, adults, couples, and families.

Is the initial consultation really free?
Yes — a short call to determine fit, with no cost or obligation to book further sessions.

## What This Practice Does Not Offer

Solasta Counselling is not a distress centre and does not provide emergency mental health support. For a mental health crisis, contact the Calgary Distress Centre at 403-266-4357 (HELP) or visit your nearest emergency department.

## Resources

- [How Much Does Therapy Cost in Calgary? (2026 Guide)](https://solastacounselling.ca/blog/how-much-does-therapy-cost-in-calgary-2026-guide/)
- [Counselling in Calgary: A Complete Guide (2026)](https://solastacounselling.ca/blog/counselling-in-calgary-a-complete-guide-2026/)
- [Mental Health Blog](https://solastacounselling.ca/calgary-mental-health-blog/)
- [Contact](https://solastacounselling.ca/contact-us/)

## Social

- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/solasta_counselling/)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063500925608)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SolastaCounsellingPsychology)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/solasta-counselling)