You may be asking who I am...
Valerie M. Sipos , M.C. , CCC
…born in The Pas, Manitoba and raised in Canada’s North, the Indigenous world-view is something that I hold close and continues to guide me in everything I encounter. Third in a line of nine children and socialized in small isolated communities, I learned very young, the value of simple basic truths. Aligned with cultural teachings, I define myself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and attend to each of these parts of myself daily. When life gets complicated, as it often does, I have learned to simplify by returning to these core values.
At the age of 16, I moved from the north with my family to southern Alberta and completed my high school in Lethbridge, Alberta. I married, had, and raised two beautiful children before studying at the Post-Secondary level. I am grandmother to one beautiful granddaughter and just recently received news of twins due to join us in May. I was granted a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology by the University of Lethbridge, the first in my family to do so.
After relocating to Calgary and changing careers mid-stream, I began employment with Mount Royal University early in 2003. I embraced the chance to share my learning and worked as a life coach to Aboriginal students, on their own journey pursuing an undergraduate degree. Along with my life experience, I brought with me a strong background in large corporation and strengths in HR functioning and project management. I loved the opportunity that Mount Royal offered me to work with Aboriginal people from a diverse range of backgrounds each rich with their own belief systems and cultures. My personal theory for therapeutic change began to develop, which led to my embarking on a graduate degree in counselling where I continued to see it evolve. I am excited to move on to the next chapter of my counselling career in private practice.
I make my home in Calgary’s SE and consider family and community to be a priority. The mountains and some great hiking and snow shoeing is only a short drive away. I love music and live theatre and enjoy living in Calgary for its rich offerings of both.
" I felt instantly comfortable...she just made me feel so normal and I felt I could just trust her immediately." ~ B.A.
"...it was no time at all we before got right down to business. I have been to counselling before but it never seemed to go anywhere." ~ W.P.
" She has a way of focusing on positive things and I leave feeling good about myself!" ~ H.G.
"Sitting with her has me feeling so safe. It's like the space is all mine and she's got my back." ~ J.W.
"I found that Valerie was a very approachable person and gave feedback that was very relaxing. ~ D.W.
" Valerie has a way about her that has me leaving her office with renewed hope. I always look forward to the time with her." ~C.P.