Curio Counselling vs. One Life Counselling Calgary: Comparing Two Full-Spectrum Practices

One Life Counselling and Coaching is a NW Calgary practice offering CBT, EMDR, ACT, Gottman Method, and EFT across individuals, couples, and families. Curio Counselling serves a comparable range from its inner SW location. Here is a direct comparison of what each practice actually offers and who each serves best.

When two Calgary practices both claim to offer EMDR, Gottman Method, EFT, and CBT, the meaningful comparison shifts from what they list to how deep each goes — in terms of therapist training, team composition, services beyond standard counselling, and which client populations each genuinely specializes in. One Life Counselling and Coaching and Curio Counselling both occupy the full-spectrum private practice space. They are worth comparing directly.

Location and Access

One Life Counselling and Coaching is based in NW Calgary and serves clients across Alberta virtually. For Calgary residents in the NW — including communities like Crowfoot, Royal Oak, Tuscany, and Kensington — One Life's location removes the commute to inner SW Calgary for in-person sessions. Virtual services are available province-wide.

Curio Counselling is located at 1414 8 St SW in Calgary's inner SW. In-person sessions are accessible for clients in Mission, Beltline, Marda Loop, Altadore, and downtown. Virtual sessions serve clients across Alberta. For clients in SW Calgary or downtown, Curio's location is the more practical in-person option.

Modality Range: What Both Practices Share

One Life explicitly lists CBT, EMDR, ACT, Gottman Method, and Emotionally Focused Therapy as part of their clinical toolkit. This is a substantive range and matches the core modality coverage at Curio Counselling. Both practices describe themselves as evidence-based with therapist matching to client needs rather than a single imposed protocol.

When two practices share the same modality list, the differentiating factors become the depth of training within each approach and the range of services beyond standard adult individual and couples therapy.

Services Beyond Standard Counselling: Where Curio Leads

Curio Counselling offers services that One Life does not prominently feature:

  • Play therapy — a clinically distinct intervention for children that uses structured play as the therapeutic medium. Not interchangeable with child counselling using talk therapy approaches
  • Art therapy — a creative modality for clients who process better non-verbally, and an evidence-based intervention for trauma, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation
  • Group therapy programs — structured group work that research consistently shows produces better long-term outcomes for many presentations when combined with individual therapy

For families whose children need play therapy specifically, or for clients whose presentations are served by art therapy or group work, Curio's extended service range is the stronger clinical match.

Coaching vs. Therapy: An Important Distinction at One Life

One Life Counselling includes coaching as part of its practice name and service offering. It is worth being clear on the distinction: therapy is regulated, delivered by credentialed clinicians, and addresses mental health concerns through evidence-based clinical approaches. Coaching is unregulated in Alberta, has no mandatory training requirements, and is not covered by extended health benefits. If your extended health plan covers psychological services and you intend to claim sessions, confirm with One Life which services are delivered by registered clinicians and which are coaching — the distinction affects both clinical appropriateness and financial coverage.

Curio Counselling is a therapy practice. All services are delivered by clinically trained registered practitioners. There is no coaching component that could create ambiguity around insurance coverage.

Free Consultation

Both practices offer a free consultation before committing to paid sessions. Use it to assess therapist fit, confirm their specific training in the modality relevant to your concern, and clarify credential type and insurance eligibility.

Who Each Clinic Serves Best

Choose One Life Counselling if:

  • You are in NW Calgary and prefer in-person sessions without travelling to inner SW
  • You want CBT, EMDR, ACT, Gottman Method, or EFT from a NW-located practice
  • You are interested in integrating coaching with therapy as a combined service

Choose Curio Counselling if:

  • You need play therapy, art therapy, or group therapy programs specifically
  • You want a purely clinical therapy practice with no coaching ambiguity for insurance purposes
  • You are in inner SW Calgary or want virtual sessions with a specialist multi-disciplinary team
  • You need individual, couples, family, and child therapy under one practice

Curio Counselling Calgary

Address: 1414 8 St SW, Suite 200, Calgary, AB T2R 1J6

Phone: 403-243-0303

Website: curiocounselling.ca

Booking: curiocounselling.janeapp.com