Maria Schmid & Partners, Psychologists and Mental Health Services

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Maria Schmid & Partners, Psychologists and Mental Health Services

As a Calgary psychologists, we're passionate and committed to the health and wholeness of individuals

03/05/2023

What are the two sure things in life that everyone wishes to avoid?
But as your therapist I invite you to speak of?
That’s right: death and taxes.

Today let's talk about taxes.
It’s tax season again (due April 30th). I want to be sure that everyone who doesn't have benefits paying for all or some of their counselling expenses knows that you can claim our session fees as a tax credit on your personal income tax returns. While I am not an accountant or tax attorney and cannot give financial or legal advice, according to the Canadian Revenue Service, Psychologists and Social Workers are authorized medical practitioners for the purposes of the medical expense tax credit in most provinces and territories.

The medical expense tax credit is a “non-refundable tax credit that you can use to reduce the tax that you paid or may have to pay. If you paid for healthcare expenses, you may be able to claim them as eligible medical expenses on your tax return.”

Look for Line 33099 or 33199 on your or your dependent’s claim forms.

Should you require more information regarding the medical expense tax credit, I would recommend speaking with your accountant, www.accountants calgary.com or referring to the information on the CRA website.

Thank you,
Maria.

12/01/2022

Hello Friends. We have recently learned just how scarce housing is for recently arrived Afghan and Ukrainian evacuees. In one conversation with the Centre for Newcomers, we heard that only 120 homes (in all of Calgary!) have hosted over 900 families until they find permanent accommodation (and jobs). There are new families arriving daily. I hope we can assist by spreading the word that many families are without options at the end of their two week government supported hotel stay.

If you have any space in your home to host an individual or a family (for an interim of time up to two months approximately), please contact the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society or the Centre for Newcomers. Reach out to them if you have any questions and please also help spread the word to friends and neighbours (and post on social media if you can).
Thank you.

Kateryna Bryzh
Housing Liaison for Ukrainian Project Initiative
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society
403-991-7081
kbryzh@ccisab.ca
www.ccisab.ca

Nataliia Shen
Housing Coordinator for Vulnerable Populations
Centre for Newcomers
403-542-6169
n.shen@centrefornewcomers.ca
www.centrefornewcomers.ca

11/07/2022

This year's Halloween allowed me a new glimpse into my children’s worlds.

I always appreciated Halloween as a time to reflect on death as part of life in our modern-day culture that doesn't have many rituals left. The spectacle of gore and horror, however, did little to amuse or impress me, not to mention the equally horrifying nature of a ritual being saturated with consumerism and sugar. Begrudgingly we went trick or treating with our children. But this year was different.

It started out as the community walk that I always idealised from places like Spain or Italy. Children gleefully gathering together in natural formations; some fast and competitive, some slow and awestruck, the old helping the young as they all ran from house to house, weaving in between the community of trusted adults they have come to know. It was perfect. Once the small ones had more than enough grams (pounds) of sugar, parents slowly returned to what might be described as an excited power struggle over what gets to be eaten before bed. The older kids, now more closely connected in age groups; showing personality and preferences through such creative costume choices, continued on their trick or treating mission through the community, receiving acceptance, delight and enjoyment in their loaded bags and pillowcases.

Returning home, the math skills of elementary school prove indispensable as kids sort and count what my son calls a “kids currency”. Candy is the commodity and the wheeling and dealing begin. First, a promise that we don't siphon off treats without permission. This is their hard-earned capital, and they want to do with it as they see fit. Again, I was impressed. After the sorting, occasional consuming and exclaimed delight of their diverse treasure and bounty, a pile of favorites was gathered and guarded, the “saving pile”. Next several mounds were made to share with friends who were sick and unable to trick or treat and for the preschool who collects for the food bank.

What followed was true “horse-trading” as they bartered treat for treat, accounting for differences in perceived value and quantity, the spending. When satisfied with their haul, the generosity of gift piles and the satisfaction of their work and negotiations, it appeared to me that Halloween is not just a consumer event, but a true lesson in what the real commodity is: the safety of community that collects our children and connects them to individual preferences and communal wealth.

07/19/2022

You might have heard me say that a secret to life's happiness is in the anticipation. Let me share what this means and a valuable idea of how to generate this in your life!

As we are shifting and optimistically emerging from the COVID pandemic, many of us are setting our minds to planning summer holidays or the next big trip. One of the many lessons I’ve learned from travelling is the importance of anticipation. Most of the buzz about a holiday happens in the weeks and months leading up to the vacation, and in the weeks and months after the vacation; more so than during the trip itself.

While that last minute spontaneous getaway may seem exciting, romantic and adventurous, studies have shown that “consumers derive value from anticipation” and that “people derive more happiness from the anticipation of experiential purchases" and that "waiting for an experience tends to be more pleasurable and exciting than waiting to receive a material good.”

Beyond the mental health benefits of early holiday planning, there is also a financial upside. Most travel deals for flights and accommodations are found three or even six months in advance of departure. For example, google.com/flights is a powerful tool that can be used to track flights and prices, set alerts for when prices change, plan vacations using a price calendar and map and research if the price you are seeing is historically high, low or average.

Planning in advance of your next trip is not at all dull or boring, rather it can be one of the most beneficial and gratifying aspects of the whole travel experience.
There’s the secret... pass it on!

Address

1111 Olympic Way SE # 226
Calgary, AB
T2G0E6

Telephone

+14038014839

Website

http://www.mariaschmid.ca/

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Personal Background

I encourage you to ask me any question about myself because successful mental health therapy is often determined by the trust between a counsellor and a client. Let me share briefly some of my background so that you have a better understanding about me as a counsellor: Growing up in small town Saskatchewan helped me appreciate the community unity that still defines my desire for strong family and neighbourhood connections. Sadly, my family dealt with many big losses early in my life, but with the help of a strong community, I learned much in the way of living through pain, change and loss. I completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Saskatchewan, majoring in Sociology and Psychology, and completed a Masters Degree in Applied Psychology at the University of Calgary. Before becoming a registered psychologist, I worked with numerous non-for-profit agencies in Saskatchewan, Alberta and West Africa. At each of these positions, I worked tirelessly with the goal of improving the lives of individuals, families and communities by integrating common needs and promoting collaboration, health and preventative strategies. I have been a psychologist in Calgary focused in private practice since 2008. ~ Maria