Online EMDR Therapy in Calgary

You can work with an EMDR therapist from home, wherever you are in Calgary. KP Psychological offers EMDR and trauma-focused therapy by secure video to adults in Calgary and the surrounding area, including Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, Okotoks and Canmore.

Our psychologist Marissa Whalley, MC, R.Psych, is based in Calgary. Our founder, Kyle Poon, M.Ed., R.Psych, is based in Edmonton and is an EMDRIA Approved Trainer and Consultant who has delivered EMDR online for over 6 years. All our sessions are online, by secure video.

Book a free 15-minute consultation

How online EMDR works from Calgary

Your sessions take place over a secure video link. You join from home or another private space, and the session follows the same structured steps as EMDR in an office.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, which means something that alternates between your left and right sides while you briefly bring a memory to mind. Over video, that can be:

Eye movements. You follow a dot or your psychologist's fingers moving across the screen.
Tapping. You tap gently on your own body, left then right, as in the butterfly hug.
Tones. You listen through headphones to sounds that alternate between your ears.

To get ready, you'll want a quiet, private room, a stable internet connection, a computer or tablet, and headphones. We'll walk you through the set-up and agree on a safety plan before any memory work begins. Our online EMDR in Alberta page has the details.

What the research says

EMDR is recommended for PTSD by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD), NICE in the UK and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). The American Psychological Association conditionally recommends it.

Research on EMDR by video is newer, but it's growing. A 2024 review of 16 studies found online EMDR reduced PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms, and a 2026 randomized trial found video EMDR and video CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) worked about equally well. There are still fewer large trials than for in-person EMDR, and we're open about what isn't known yet.

Why online sessions can work well in Calgary

No traffic or parking. Skip the drive on Deerfoot or Stoney Trail, and the search for parking.
Time to settle afterwards. After a heavy session, you can stay where you are instead of getting straight into the car.
Privacy. There's no waiting room, and no one sees you walk into a psychologist's office.
Days that fit your week. Marissa sees clients on Mondays and Thursdays, and Kyle sees clients Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 6:30 pm.

In this video, Kyle shares three tips for finding an EMDR therapist who's the right fit for you.

Who we work with

We see adults across Calgary and area, including:

First responders and public safety personnel, such as police, firefighters, paramedics, peace officers, correctional officers and emergency dispatchers. Therapy for first responders
Nurses, physicians and other health care workers. Therapy for health care workers
Veterans and military members. Therapy for Veterans and military members
People affected by childhood or attachment trauma, or by dissociation. Attachment trauma · Dissociation
Couples, through Gottman Method couples therapy with Marissa. Couples therapy
People coping with anxiety and stress, depression or grief. Everything we help with

Our psychologists

Marissa Whalley, MC, R.Psych, is based in Calgary. She has completed EMDR Basic Training (Levels 1 and 2) and Level 2 training in the Gottman Method for couples. She sees individuals aged 16 and older, and couples, online on Mondays and Thursdays. Read Marissa's profile

Kyle Poon, M.Ed., R.Psych, founded KP Psychological and is based in Edmonton. He has used EMDR for over 10 years and has delivered it online for over 6 years. He's an EMDRIA Approved Trainer and Consultant who also trains other clinicians in EMDR. Kyle sees adults, including older adults (65+). Read Kyle's profile

We start by understanding where you are now, what you have been carrying, and what you want to feel different. Then we plan together.

Fees, insurance and direct billing

Sessions with Kyle are $250 for 50 minutes, and sessions with Marissa are $235 for 50 minutes. The 15-minute phone consultation for new clients is free.

Alberta Health Care (AHCIP) doesn't cover psychologists, but many extended health plans do. We can bill most insurance companies directly, so you only pay the part your plan doesn't cover. Check your annual maximum and whether your plan needs a doctor's referral.

For first responders and nurses. WCB-Alberta presumes that PTSD and other traumatic psychological injuries are work-related for firefighters, paramedics, police and peace officers, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, and registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. We bill WCB-Alberta directly for approved treatment.

We also bill Veterans Affairs Canada, the RCMP, Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) and the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program (IRS RHSP) directly, once your coverage is confirmed. See Fees and insurance for the details.

If you'd prefer in-person care

All our sessions are online. If you'd rather meet face to face in Calgary, that's a reasonable choice, and we're glad to help you find an appropriate referral. If you start online therapy and decide it's not for you, we'll help with that too.

Crisis and community supports in Calgary

KP Psychological is not an emergency service. If you need help now, these lines are open 24/7:

Emergency: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8.
Distress Centre Calgary: call or text 403-266-4357, or use their online chat.
Alberta Addiction and Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642.
211 Alberta: call or text 2-1-1 to find services in your community.

More options, including lines for Veterans and for Indigenous peoples, are on our crisis support page.

Common questions

Is one of your psychologists based in Calgary?

Yes. Marissa Whalley, MC, R.Psych, is based in Calgary. Like all our sessions, hers are online by secure video, on Mondays and Thursdays.

Will I need to travel to an office?

No. All our sessions are online, so you never need to travel. Marissa is based in Calgary and Kyle is based in Edmonton, and both work with clients across Alberta by secure video.

Is online EMDR as effective as in-person EMDR?

Studies that compare the two directly have mostly found similar results. In one large study of veterans, the in-person group improved a little more on average, and larger randomized trials are under way. We check in with you as we go and adjust if something isn't helping.

What if I travel outside Alberta for work?

Our psychologists are registered in Alberta, so you need to be physically in Alberta at the time of each session. If you'll be away, let us know at least 24 hours ahead so we can reschedule.

Can my partner and I do couples therapy online?

Yes. Marissa offers Gottman Method couples therapy by secure video. Couples sessions are $235 for 50 minutes. Learn about couples therapy

How do I get started?

Book a free 15-minute phone consultation. You can ask questions, talk about fees and coverage, and see whether we're a good fit, with no obligation.