Abrielle (Abby) Heck

MSW / Registered Clinical Social Worker

Hi, I’m Abby

Therapy for Children, Teens, Young Adults & Families in Calgary

And I want you to know—you’re not alone in this.

Maybe your child is struggling and nothing you’ve tried seems to be helping. Maybe you’re overwhelmed, burnt out, or stuck in that exhausting loop of second-guessing every parenting decision. Maybe you’ve reached the point of thinking, “Something has to change… I just don’t know how.”

I see this all the time: loving, thoughtful parents doing everything they can—reading the books, listening to the podcasts, trying to stay patient—and still feeling like they’re white-knuckling it through the day.

We created Connected Family Counselling for you.

For parents and whole families trying to hold it all together while healing what they were never taught. For teens who don’t know how to ask for help. For kids whose big feelings feel too big—for them and for you.

I’m a Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) with a Master of Clinical Social Work from the University of Calgary. I’ve spent more than 16 years supporting children, teens, young adults, and families, with a particular focus on relationships, attachment, emotional regulation, anxiety, neurodiversity, and the challenges that can come with growing up and parenting.

Beyond the Therapy Room

When I’m not in session, you can usually find me doing all the things that fill my cup—and sometimes spill it a little in the best ways.

I’m often on a yoga mat, out for a run, or crafting something with far more enthusiasm than skill. I love camping and spending time outdoors, even when it means coming home with tangled hair and a car full of sand.

Like many parents, I also spend a lot of time driving kids from one activity to the next, sipping very necessary coffee, and cheering loudly from the sidelines.

If you’re ready for support, I’m here. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

Let’s figure this out together.

— Abby

My Therapeutic Approach

Therapy should feel like a place where you can exhale, feel understood, and make sense of what’s going on. My approach is warm, honest, relationship-centred, and free of judgment.

I believe behaviour has meaning and that connection comes before growth. Whether you’re a parent trying to understand your child, a teen feeling overwhelmed, or a young adult navigating a difficult transition, we’ll work together to understand what’s underneath the struggle—not just focus on changing the behaviour.

My work is attachment-based, trauma-informed, and strengths-focused, with an emphasis on practical tools you can actually use in everyday life. I draw from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Circle of Security Parenting, play and art-based interventions, and somatic approaches.

Most importantly, therapy is tailored to you. There’s no perfect way to do therapy and no one-size-fits-all plan. We’ll start where you are, build on your strengths, and find what helps you and your family feel more connected, capable, and supported.

Areas I Support

I support children, teens, young adults, and families navigating:

  • Anxiety and emotional regulation

  • ADHD and neurodiversity

  • School avoidance, bullying, and self-esteem

  • Teen mental health and family dynamics

  • Parenting challenges and burnout

  • Divorce, grief, and major life transitions

  • Parent-child relationships and attachment

  • Family function

  • Difficult behaviours and big emotions

  • Trauma and difficult life experiences