Richard (Ricky) Besney

Registered Provisional Psychologist

B.Sc. Honours Specialization in Psychology, Major in Medical Science - University of Western Ontario, M.Sc. School and Applied Child Psychology - University of Calgary

Virtual and In-Person Sessions Available

Richard is a registered provisional psychologist with specialized training and experience in completing comprehensive psychoeducational, cognitive, mood and anxiety, and ADHD assessments. He is also training to provide therapy and counseling services related to anxiety, mood, attention, and emotional regulation challenges, as well as life transitions, stress, and grief. Richard primarily draws from cognitive-behavioural, acceptance and commitment, and solution-focused therapies.

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 Richard’s Main Specializations

Assessments and Counselling

Richard works with children, youth, and adults who are dealing with stressors in their lives that may be causing them distress or difficulty functioning in their day-to-day activities. He emphasizes the importance of a strong and collaborative therapeutic relationship with his clients and believes that it sets the foundation for their growth and success. His goal is to empower you by helping you identify your strengths so that you can make changes that will improve your quality of life.

  • Assessments

    Richard has specialized training and experience in completing comprehensive psycho-educational, cognitive, mood and anxiety, and ADHD assessments.

  • ADHD

    Richard works with individuals who need help setting effective goals and implementing strategies to help manage the symptoms and challenges that come with having ADHD.

  • Anxiety Disorder

    Anxiety Disorders

    Richard works with individuals to challenge the unhelpful beliefs that lead to generalized anxiety, social anxiety, performance anxiety, phobias and panic disorders.

  • Grief and Loss

    When you're grieving the loss of a loved one, it can feel overwhelming. Richard will work with you to process your emotions, accept what happened, and begin to move on.

  • Life Transitions

    Whether you're about to have a child, getting a divorce, or experiencing any other major change in your life, Richard can help you develop the resilience to withstand any hurdle—no matter what happens.

  • Mood Disorders

    Richard can help you develop strategies to boost your mood, no matter what's causing you to feel down. He will tailor his approach to meet your needs and get you back on track.

  • Stress and Burnout

    Stress can impact every part of our lives: our relationships, our health, and our work. Richard can help you develop the skills to manage your time, set boundaries, and relax when you're feeling overwhelmed.

  • Emotional Regulation

    Richard will teach you how to recognize and manage the emotions that arise during the course of your day. Learn to identify what triggers certain emotions, and how to use mindfulness techniques to calm yourself down when those triggers occur.

More About Richard

Richard was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. To complete his undergraduate education, he moved out to London, Ontario; afterwards, he remained in the province for a few years to engage in autism research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. Richard returned home to Alberta to complete his graduate psychology training at the University of Calgary. He is passionate about all things related to psychology and mental health. Outside of work, Richard enjoys skiing, hiking, exploring the Calgary food scene, and cheering on his favourite hockey teams.