Dr. Charl is a Registered Clinical Psychologist (R. Psych.) with the College of Alberta Psychologists. He holds a doctorate in Literature and Philosophy from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a Masters Degree from the University of Potchefstroom. He has been practicing for more than 25 years. He is experienced in dealing with children, adults and couples. Psychology differs from the other social sciences — anthropology, economics, political science and sociology — in seeking to explain the thinking, emotion and behaviour of individuals, couples, families and other social groups .
Psychology differs from biology and neuroscience in that it is primarily concerned with mind rather than brain, in other words experience, cognitions and behaviour rather than brain structure or chemistry. However, the subfield of neuropsychology studies the actual neural processes and how these relate to the mental and experiential phenomena. It is clear that our life experience influences our brain states and vice-versa in complex ways. Recent studies in brain health and its holistic implications on the individual is a recent passion of Charl.
Dr. Charl provided psychological services in the northern war torn South West Africa (now Namibia) in the late eighties for four years. Subsequently he worked in remote northern communities in Manitoba and Alberta. These postings required an objective, generalist approach to a wide variety of problems in very isolated environments. He worked with individuals, couples, families, groups and organizational structures. For the last 13 years he has been practicing in Canmore and Calgary in southern Alberta.
Dr. Charl’s approach is no nonsense, objective and solution focused. He is kind and considerate of the unique individual issues that patients present with, accommodating of their idiosyncracies and belief systems. He listens intently and has the ability to focus on the underlying issues. Within this framework he tends to use a variety of therapeutic techniques and strategies to accomplish forward moving progress in a pragmatic, yet respectful, manner. His basic belief about therapy is that he is working with an N of 1 (population group of one, the person or couple he is dealing with in front of him). There are no pre-decided answers or solutions to problems.
The benefits of working with Dr. Charl is the assurance that you are dealt with on your terms, you are really listened to, and he is trying to understand your frame of reference, your motivations, and working with you to help in the best possible way. He really understands that healing is a journey and he is willing to either be a road marker, pointing the best direction, or a travel companion.
Assessment is ongoing for individuals and couples, to determine whether treatment goals are met and also to look at the subjective experience of his patients. He generally works on a short term therapy format, anywhere from one to ten sessions, although, when required he sees patients over a period of years, either continuously or intermittently, as life unfolds.
Areas of specialty include: Abuse issues, adult assessment and adult problems, ADHD, anxiety, bereavement and grief work, brain health and a holistic psychological integration to your problems, burnout, cross-cultural and aboriginal issues, the treatment of depression, chronic pain syndrome, marital therapy which included training as an Imago therapist and Emotionally Focused Couple therapist, PTSD and critical incident stress debriefing, parenting issues, organizational development work with individuals and groups, weight loss and brain health, and contracted service provider for various Employment Assistance Programs.
The areas that he has worked in may read like a lot of different things and may look overwhelming. But that is the reality of practicing for more than 25 years.