Counselling services to empower making positive change on your journey to wellness.
SERVING CALGARY & AREA.
Individuals
Families
Couples
Indigenous
LGBTQIA2S+
Welcome to Awakening Change Counselling
At Awakening Change, we understand that each individual has a unique set of circumstances and challenges.
Our counsellors, social workers and registered psychologists are here to welcome you with empathy, understanding and hope.
We believe that you are the expert of what you need and we align our services with client-centered and trauma-informed approaches. We will work with you to become empowered, and develop new skills that will encourage long-lasting positive change in your life.
We will walk with you as you gain an understanding of some of the emotions and behaviours that may be standing in the way of achieving your goals.
From general therapy work, to more specialized interventions, we offer a wide range of therapies and services to support you on your way to achieving change.
Services
General Therapy
Trauma Work
Systems Navigation
About Awakening Change
Awakening Change co-founders, Jacqueline (Aja) Manning & Jennifer Odenyo met in graduate school, both completing Master level work in Clinical Social Work with specializations in Mental Health & Addiction.
Through this educational journey, they discovered a shared passion for working within systems to empower people to take back control of their lives for positive growth and change.
Over many, many cups of coffee, the idea of Awakening Change was born. Both Jennifer and Aja recognized the need for counselling services that would specialize in supporting individuals enmeshed in systems that are confusing and difficult to navigate.
Aja's background working with children as well as with youth intervention community programs, and Jennifer's background working within the Criminal Justice System and Corrections, provide a unique lens and expertise for supporting both adults and children with complex needs.
Awakening Change was created to walk with individuals to support their emotional well-being, while also mentoring clients to self-advocate, work on behavioural change, improve their relationships, and achieve their goals.
The vision for Awakening Change is to truly develop collaborative, caring, and engaging therapeutic relationships with people to inspire change.
“You can't go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
― C.S. Lewis
Our Approach
Coming from a generalist perspective, our approach focuses first on the relationship we can build as client and practitioner, so that individuals feel safe and supported to address their challenges.
We serve individuals from all walks of life and draw on multiple therapeutic techniques that best serve the client. We pride ourselves on an eclectic approach that is based on a client's unique needs and goals.
When you choose Awakening Change, you can expect that your therapist will be your partner on this journey and will follow where you lead. You are the expert of your own life and our job is to support you to develop the skills you need to thrive.
Our therapists are trained in multiple modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). We will work to draw on the best therapeutic technique to address your needs.
At Awakening Change, it is our mission to provide counselling services and system support for those facing challenges and working to build hope and resiliency to create change in their lives for long-term success.
Services
General Therapy Services
Life is full of day-to-day stressors, and it can feel overwhelming to try and make sense of your feelings.
Our general therapy services can help you to address issues such as anxiety, depression, addiction, relationships, parenting, burnout, emotion regulation, stress, divorce, grief & loss and work/life balance. We will work with you to build positive coping strategies to manage these challenges successfully.
Trauma Work
Experiences of trauma can have lifelong consequences and it can take specialized care to address the realities of surviving these events.
Awakening Change specializes in trauma therapies such as ART and EMDR. Our services can help clients to manage symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress (and PTSD), Complex Trauma, and the Vicarious Trauma exposure that individuals may face in the workplace.
Systems Navigation
Awakening Change understands that systemic barriers are challenging to face alone and it can be difficult to know how to advocate within systems.
Our goal is to provide mentorship and skill-building opportunities for dealing with challenges while involved with large government systems. Some examples of services that we provide include: court preparation, therapy for individuals having Children's Services involvement, mentorship for accessing resources, and psychoeducation programs.
Meet Our Team
Jacqueline (Aja) Manning
(she/her)
(BSW, MSc, MSW, RSW)
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Welcome to Awakening Change! I am excited to join you on your journey to overall wellness. At Awakening Change, we strive to provide both a safe and collaborative environment that fosters personal growth and hope for creating positive change.
As a Registered Social Worker and co-founder, I am here to provide the best possible experience for you and your loved ones. I have both a Master of Social Work with a clinical specialization in mental Health and addiction and a Master of Science with a focus on the criminal justice system. With over 20 years of experience working with children, youth and families, I am here to provide support, helping you and your family reach your therapy goals.
I have worked in various government and non-profit settings and have knowledge and experience to help you, and your loved ones, navigate the complexity of systems as needed. I offer therapeutic support for individuals, children, couples and families. During our therapeutic journey together, you will find a safe space for learning new skills, gaining self-awareness, exploring new ways to problem solve, process challenges and obtain connection to meaningful resources.
I have training in multiple modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). In addition, I utilize therapeutic resources and training from the Gottman Institute for couple’s counselling and the Coping Cat from Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorder Clinic for children struggling with anxiety.
Along this therapeutic journey we take together, I will always take a client-centered and trauma-informed approach, and I am dedicated to building a collaborative, caring and engaging therapeutic relationship with you and your loved ones. Together, let’s create positive change for today and the future.
Jennifer Odenyo
(she/her)
(BA, BSW, MSW, RSW)
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Hi and welcome to Awakening Change. I am so glad that you have taken this step to reach out. Our goal is to provide a safe and collaborative environment for you to work toward personal growth and change to achieve wellness.
I am a Registered Social Worker and co-founder of Awakening Change. I hold a Master of Social Work with a clinical specialization in mental health and addiction. I work from a generalist perspective and utilize modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and I am a certified trauma specialist. My areas of focus include trauma work, addiction, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, stress management, emotion regulation, grief, work/life balance, family issues and more.
I have worked for many years in non-profit and public health, both with Alberta Health Services and within primary care, supporting clients that have faced immense challenges and have struggled with severe mental illness, addiction and complex trauma.
My approach is client-centered, strengths-based and trauma-informed, emphasizing the development of skills that promote long-term positive change. I truly believe that wellness comes from within, and that positive change comes from developing an authentic sense of self. I am passionate about working with individuals to regain control of their own circumstances and empowering people to use their own voice within complex systems. I strive to build collaborative and engaging therapeutic relationships to inspire transformation and look forward to taking this journey to wellness alongside you.
Kevin Jung
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Hi, my name is Kevin I’m a 2nd generation Chinese Canadian and I’m a Registered Social Worker holding a Master of Social Work, a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, and I am currently a capacity assessor for the Office of the Public Guardian. My approach to therapy is centered on creating a safe, collaborative space where we can explore your experiences with empathy and curiosity.
Whether you’re dealing with difficult emotions, relationships, or life transitions, we will work together to identify your strengths, develop effective strategies, and build the confidence that can help you move forward. I operate from a strengths-based, client-centered, and trauma-informed perspective utilizing a variety of different therapeutic modalities ranging from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, and ACT-informed techniques. I have a wide variety of experiences working with individuals struggling with various mental health difficulties such as: ADHD, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationships, and more.
I believe that collaboratively we can identify your strengths, develop new skills, and incorporate new strategies that help you work towards a life that feels fulfilling and meaningful to you. Life is full of unexpected twists, and I’m here to offer the support you need to navigate them. Let's connect and start your journey today.
Julie Parkinson
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Welcome! I am so glad you a looking at taking this first step to Awakening Change within yourself. I am so excited to work with children, youth and their families.
I have been working with children since 1999. I was a teacher for 18 years working with kids ages 4-18 and in 2019 I began my journey to becoming a counsellor. I have a Master of Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, graduating with Honors with Distinction and currently work as a school counsellor.
I have always had a passion for youth mental health and wellness. My goal is to work with today’s youth to build self-confidence and increase self-esteem. I believe that youth today are faced with so many more issues and obstacles than ever before.
I have taken advanced training to support children with self-harm and suicidal ideation and have a wealth of knowledge as to why teens self-harm and strategies on how to help. I focus on areas such as emotion regulation, stress management, trauma work and ADHD. I am passionate about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) as I believe these modalities resonate well with youth clients. Helping teens see positives in their lives and finding hope is my main goal and I want to see kids thrive in their daily lives.
Let's take this next step together in Awakening Change! I look forward to walking this journey with you.
Monique Greenwood
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Available Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English
Hello! I work alongside people and communities with diverse needs and lived experiences. I connect through a person-centered, strengths-based, trauma and resilience-informed lens, guided by a holistic approach to healing and wellbeing. I strive to understand and respect your unique goals, needs and intersecting identities, while supporting change through co-creation and a person-in-environment perspective.
I am a registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work and a Master of Arts in Spanish. I integrate various modalities such as Somatic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy to explore a wide range of topics such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, work dynamics, relationships and more. With experience in community healthcare, non-profit, newcomer sectors, refugee health, crisis intervention, group facilitation, and international settings, I am passionate about understanding what shapes our unique experiences of wellbeing, connection and mental health.
For nourishment, I enjoy daily meditation practices (individual and group), communing with nature as often as I can, joyful movement (preferably with music!), and learning about our spiritual and cultural practices, perspectives and connections in which we find meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Coming to therapy for the first time can be scary and uncomfortable. Be proud of yourself for taking the first step.
Come with an open mind and a willingness to try something new.
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Therapy is a bit like dating - it can take time to find out if it is the right fit. The best thing you can do is be open and honest with your therapist and address anything that might get in the way of building a good, solid therapeutic relationship.
Not every therapist is right for every person and we can work with you to find the best fit for you.
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Sessions are generally 50 minutes.
The cost per session is between $220.00 - $350.00 per hour.
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Our office is located in the neighbourhood of Fairview in southeast Calgary. Our address is 6753 Fairmount Dr SE and we are located on the 2nd floor of the building.
We also have a satellite office in the downtown area that is accessible for those that are differently Abled.
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There is free parking available right out front at our main site.
Our satellite office offers low-rate parking on evenings and weekends.
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We require 24 hours notice for cancellations. A 50% fee will be charged for missed appointments without proper notice.
We do understand that emergencies and illnesses happen. We will do our best to work with you to reschedule your appointment in these situations.
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Our business hours are by appointment only.
We offer in-person and virtual appointments.
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Some of our practitioners direct bill to Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), however at this time we are unable to direct bill to other insurers. We will provide a receipt that can be submitted for reimbursement.
Still Have Questions?
At Awakening Change, your comfort is our priority. If you have additional questions about our services, team, or location, please do not hesitate to reach out to us!
Get in Touch
We know that taking the first steps can be intimidating. Please reach out with any questions you have and one of our practitioners will get back to you within two business days.
info@awakeningchangecounselling.com
6753 Fairmount Drive SE, Calgary, Alberta