Curio Counselling vs. Calgary Therapy Institute: Comparing Assessment-Heavy vs. Therapy-First Practices
The Calgary Therapy Institute, founded by Dr. Patricia Miller PhD PsyD, offers comprehensive psychological assessments — psychoeducational, neuropsychological, ADHD, autism, and capacity assessments — alongside therapy. Curio Counselling is a therapy-first specialist practice. Here is how they compare.
The Calgary Therapy Institute is led by Dr. Patricia Miller, a Registered Psychologist in Alberta, BC, and Nova Scotia, holding credentials including a Master of Social Work, a Master of Counselling Psychology, a PhD in Behavioural and Social Sciences, and a PsyD. The Institute's assessment capabilities are among the most comprehensive in Calgary's private sector: psychoeducational, neuropsychological, ADHD, autism spectrum, and capacity assessments are all offered. Fees for Registered Psychologists start at $240 per hour for therapy and assessments, with assessments typically requiring two-hour appointments. Direct billing is available for NIHB, Veterans Affairs, and WCB clients. Weekend and evening appointments are noted as available.
Comprehensive Psychological Assessments: The Institute's Defining Strength
Psychological assessments — particularly neuropsychological and capacity assessments — are among the most specialized services in mental health, requiring advanced training, standardized testing instruments, and interpretive expertise that general therapy training does not provide. For clients who need:
- A neuropsychological assessment following an acquired brain injury, stroke, or cognitive concern
- A capacity assessment for legal, medical, or financial decision-making purposes
- A comprehensive psychoeducational assessment for school accommodations
- An ADHD or autism assessment for diagnostic clarity and documentation
The Calgary Therapy Institute's credentials and assessment range address these needs at a level that therapy-only practices cannot. This is a service category where the right referral matters significantly.
Curio Counselling does not provide formal psychological assessments. For clients who need assessment services, the Calgary Therapy Institute and Alberta Counselling Centre are appropriate starting points. For clients who need therapy following an assessment, or who do not require formal assessment documentation, Curio's specialist therapy range is the right destination.
Therapy Services: Where Curio Counselling Leads
The Calgary Therapy Institute's therapy offerings are broad but the practice's identity is built around its assessment capabilities and Dr. Miller's doctoral-level credentials. The therapy team covers a range of presentations, but specialist modalities such as play therapy, art therapy, EFT, and group therapy programs are not prominently featured service offerings.
Curio Counselling's specialist therapy range — EMDR, EFT, Gottman Method, ERP for OCD, play therapy, art therapy, DBT, ACT, somatic approaches, and group programs — is broader and more explicitly organized around matching clinical approach to presenting concern.
First Responder and Specialized Population Support
The Calgary Therapy Institute team includes practitioners with specific experience working with first responders, police services, and specialized populations. This is a meaningful differentiator for Calgary's significant first responder community — firefighters, EMS, police, and military personnel who benefit from therapists who understand occupational trauma and high-stress service culture without pathologizing it.
Who Each Clinic Serves Best
Choose Calgary Therapy Institute if:
- You need a neuropsychological, capacity, psychoeducational, ADHD, or autism assessment
- You are a first responder or military veteran seeking a practice with specific experience in that population
- NIHB, Veterans Affairs, or WCB direct billing is relevant to your situation
Choose Curio Counselling if:
- You need therapy — individual, couples, family, or child — with specialist modality matching
- You need EMDR, EFT, Gottman Method, ERP, play therapy, art therapy, or group programs
- You are in inner SW Calgary or want virtual specialist sessions across Alberta
Curio Counselling Calgary
Address: 1414 8 St SW, Suite 200, Calgary, AB T2R 1J6
Phone: 403-243-0303
Website: curiocounselling.ca
