Claire Goddard

About Me as a Human…

When I am not in therapy-land, you can find me:

In the mountains hiking, horseback riding, swimming or doing anything fun with my family. I am absolutely obsessed with horses, and I spend as much time as I can with my two horses grooming them, riding or just generally hanging around. I enjoy watching show jumping at Spruce Meadows or Rocky Mountain Show Jumping. I also love spending time my two dogs and cat, or doing some work at the acreage.

For Self-Care:

I prioritize my self-care and mental wellness by walking my dogs, engaging in meditation with scented candles, journaling and spending time outside at the acreage. I find listening to the calming sounds of birds chirping, insects buzzing and deer grazing really restores me. I also recharge my mental batteries by spending time with my parents and sisters in the Okanagan as much as I can.

For Fun:

I love going for picnics with my husband in Kananaskis Country, especially in the summer, listening to self-improvement and business podcasts for inspiration and entertainment, and watching rom-com movies. I also enjoy participating the occasional shopping spree with my daughter, even if it’s just window shopping.

For Growth:

I am absolutely obsessed continuous development, growing and learning, whether it's reading articles and books on aspects of psychology, business, leadership or self-development. I'm always looking for ways to evolve. Right now, I'm prepping for the EPPP, refreshing my skills in CBT, DBT, Attachment Theory, and the Shift protocol, and gearing up for further training in my field. Staying curious and open to new tools keeps me energized in both my personal and professional life.

Something unique about me is:

I am an entrepreneur, and my husband and I have owned a machine shop in Calgary since 2010, where we produce metal parts for a variety of clients in diverse industries. We also manufacture and sell our own angled stirrup irons for the show jumping, dressage and eventing industries, and we are currently developing other products for the show jumping industry. As I make the career shift to provisional psychologist, I’ll always remain a company shareholder and involved on the periphery.

What are your academic credentials?

I completed my Masters of Counselling from City University of Seattle, and hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Concordia University in Montreal, and a minor in Psychology from Mount Royal University in Calgary. I am registered as a Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists.

Before I Was in the Mental Health Field…

I was working in:

Before I started working in the mental health field, I worked in partnership with my husband to grow our machine shop business and build our own product line for the English horseback riding industry. I was responsible for business development, marketing, sales, accounting, front office administration and more, while my husband worked in the back shop, managing our employees, leading the strategic growth of the company, in addition to machining the projects for our clients.

The most impactful thing about my experience here was:

Co-owning a small business in Alberta for over a decade has taught me a tremendous amount about myself, including how tough and resilient I really am. Over the past six years, Alberta’s economy has taken many hits. Changes in federal legislation limited the production of Alberta’s greatest resources, COVID-19 shutdowns and other factors caused our small business to undergo a great amount of stress and struggle, like many, many other businesses in the province. Fortunately, our machine shop is continuing to recover. This turbulent time in our business taught me how to be strong, resilient, flexible and scrappy, because we had to weather many storms and fight many battles.

Three Things I’m Currently Obsessed With and Why:

1. Orange Pekoe Tea – I have been absolutely obsessed with orange pekoe tea my whole life. I think it’s my British heritage. My mother used to drink afternoon tea and one day when I was about 8 years old, she made the mistake of putting a tiny bit of tea in my milk because I wanted to be “all grown up.” And now, I can’t live without it!
2. Horses – I have always been absolutely horse crazy! When I was a child, I would get excited by the mere appearance of hoof prints in the dirt, when we were on hiking trails, because I knew that horses passed by. I also used to pretend that I my bike was a horse!
3. Yellowstone – I have recently been binge watching Yellowstone and I am already on Season 4. I don’t want it to end. It’s such a good show, with amazing acting and incredible writing. It pretty accurately depicts the cowboy life as well, as much as a drama series can recreate real life.

Books & Podcasts

The Most Helpful Book I’ve Read Is:

"How to Do the Work" by Dr. Nicole LePera
Biggest Takeaway: Dr. LePera takes a holistic view of mental health, believing that healing is the result of focusing on the mind, body and soul. Her easy-to-understand explanations of our limiting beliefs and maladaptive behaviors stemming from childhood can wreak havoc with our current lives, and how we can, with the help of some very practical exercises, develop self-awareness to overcome obstacles.

The Most Interesting Book I’ve Read Is:

"Through the Glass" by Shannon Moroney
Why: it’s a powerful memoir about what it’s like to be the family of someone who commits a violent crime. Shannon shares her shocking story of finding out her new husband had been arrested for assault and kidnapping. She opens up about the pain, loss, and judgment she faced, from losing her job to being shunned by people around her. Despite everything, she found a path toward healing through forgiveness and restorative justice. It’s a moving story of resilience and finding peace after trauma.

The Most Interesting Podcast I’ve Listened to is:

The Crime Analyst hosted by Laura Richards
Why: Criminal behavioural analyst Laura Richards. explores real-life criminal cases with a focus on victim advocacy and systemic reform. I am fascinated how Laura delves into the psychological and behavioural aspects of crimes, emphasizing patterns such as coercive control, stalking, and domestic abuse, which are often over-looked, but systemic issues in our society. Her work not only informs, but also empowers, providing tools and insights that contribute to the prevention of future crimes.

Specialty & Specific Interest Areas

Client Populations:

I have a special interest in working with adolescents (16+), adults, seniors, and couples because it allows me to support a diverse group of individuals and couples as they navigate the various life stages and challenges. Witnessing growth, resilience, and meaningful change in my clients is deeply rewarding for me, and I value the opportunity to help them build healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Clinical Concerns:

I have a special interest in working with a variety of clinical concerns, including Trauma/PTSD, financial trauma/stress, burnout, interpersonal violence, sexual assault and abuse, grief & loss, anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and self-sabotage. I also work with couples who are experiencing relationship issues such as infidelity, trust and fighting.

Non-Clinical Concerns:

I am passionate about working with individuals seeking to improve their mental well-being and reach their true potential, whether it’s navigating life transitions, engaging in self-exploration and self-awareness, overcoming imposter syndrome, managing uncertainty and risk in their entrepreneurial journey. I also work with couples looking to improve their relationship by getting closer to one another, resolving conflicts, setting boundaries and seeking compromise.

Expertise & Additional Areas of Study

I have the following additional courses, workshops, and training:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Gottman Couples Therapy - Level 1

Additional Areas: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Transactional Analysis (TA), Motivational Interviewing, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Crisis Training

I have expertise and experience working with:

• Anxiety, Depression and Emotional Regulation - Using evidence-based interventions to help clients identify, examine and evaluate the accuracy of unhelpful thought patterns, and commit to replacing them with more balanced, accurate and reflective thought patterns that serve them more effectively, and using specific techniques to regulate and change thoughts, emotions and behaviours that promote well-being.
• Trauma/PTSD - Supporting individuals to process and integrate traumatic, distressing experiences, build resilience, and develop emotional regulation strategies that promote healing.
• Entrepreneurs/Professionals – Help business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals manage worry, burnout, financial and organizational stress, and build resilience.
• Couples – working with couples to improve communication, intimacy, conflict resolution and rebuilding trust and friendship.

Some of the Clinical Orientations, Methods, and Theories I Integrate with ShiftGrit’s Core Method:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): I use this approach in conjunction with the Shift Protocol, to help clients identify, challenge and evaluate negative, unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviours that no longer serve them, and to use specific strategies to replace them with more balanced, accurate and appropriate thoughts, feelings and behaviours for optimum well-being.
2. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): This approach works well for people who struggle with difficult thoughts and emotions and want to stop avoiding or fighting them. It blends mindfulness with practical tools to help my clients stay grounded and make choices that line up with their values, even when things get uncomfortable.
3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): I use this approach to help clients handle strong emotions, deal with stress, and improve their relationships. It mixes practical coping skills with mindfulness and focuses on finding a balance between accepting things as they are and making positive changes. It’s especially helpful for anyone who feels overwhelmed by their emotions or struggles with impulsive behaviours.
4. Gottman Method for Couples Therapy: I like using this approach to couples therapy because it uses a structured, planned approach to help partners build stronger, healthier relationships by improving communication and deepening connection. It focuses on things like managing conflict better, showing appreciation, and creating shared goals. I find this approach effective because it gives couples practical tools to strengthen their bond and handle challenges together.

People Like Working with Me Because…

I bring a compassionate, energetic, empathetic and friendly approach to therapy. Clients appreciate that they can see how much I care about them, and that I provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where they can explore their thoughts, emotions and behaviors, while making meaningful and lasting progress.