The Dragonfly Method | Iridescence Counselling

Founder & Creator

Terri Ward MA Counselling Psych, BSW, RSW, CCC, CT

Terri Ward is the founder of Iridescence Counselling and the creator of The Dragonfly Method — experienced in 25 years of clinical practice, deep study of evidence-based approaches, and a clear vision for what real transformation looks like.

What makes Terri's approach different is that she is fundamentally a teacher of psychology and human behaviour. Most counselling focuses on having a safe place to talk. Terri's goal goes further: she wants her clients to truly understand what is happening inside them, why it is happening, and what to do next — so they leave with a genuine roadmap for change, not just relief.

The Dragonfly Method is the result of that commitment — complex psychological theory made practical, plain, and meaningful for the people she works with.

Terri practices in St. Albert, Alberta and works with individuals and couples both in-person and online.

Meet Our Therapists Read more about Terri →

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Our Therapists

Trained in The Dragonfly Method

Every therapist at Iridescence Counselling is trained in the Dragonfly Method — bringing the same structured, compassionate approach to every client they work with.

Terri Ward

MA Counselling Psych, BSW, RSW, CCC, CT

Founder of Iridescence Counselling and creator of the Dragonfly Method, Terri brings 25 years of clinical practice and deep study of evidence-based approaches to every client relationship. She's fundamentally a teacher at heart — helping clients truly understand what's happening inside them, why, and what to do next, so they leave with a genuine roadmap for change.

Currently Not Accepting New Clients

Courtney MacDonald

MA Counselling Psych, B.Ed, CCC, CT

Courtney believes her clients are the experts in their own lives — her job is to put them in the driver's seat. Trained across all six evidence-based approaches woven into the Dragonfly Method, she takes a holistic, person-centred approach, meeting each client exactly where they are. Her focus: helping people move from reacting on autopilot to responding with real confidence and self-esteem, building a life they actually enjoy — and know they deserve.

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Holly (Jessica) Weir

MSW, RSW · Virtual Only

With over a decade of counselling experience, Holly creates a space where nothing is off-limits and nothing is judged. She's especially drawn to the moment a client's old patterns finally make sense, and just as committed to turning that insight into skills they use day to day. Holly sees clients entirely online, making it easy to fit support into a busy life.

Currently Not Accepting New Clients

The Method

A structured path to lasting change

The Dragonfly Method is a guided framework — an integration of six evidence-based theories — for understanding why we keep reacting the same way, in relationships, at work, and within yourself. It's about building the practical skills, alongside clinical guidance and expertise, to move you from reacting to responding.

Under every reaction is an unmet need.

Most of the patterns we carry weren't born from weakness — they were learned. Through past experiences and unmet emotional needs, we developed responses that made sense then but keep us stuck now. The Dragonfly Method gives you a clear framework to understand what you learned, discover what you actually need, and build practical tools to respond intentionally — with self-compassion, every day.

Step 1 Situation

Step 2 Learned Lens
Triggered

Step 3 Automatic
Reaction

Result Core Need
Unmet

The pattern the Dragonfly Method is designed to interrupt.

5 Elements of Growth

Every step is supported — your therapist walks beside you the whole way.

Self-Discovery

"I can see the pattern."

Gently and without judgement, you come to understand the pattern you have been living and where that view of yourself and the world came from.

Insight

"I understand why."

You trace the pattern to the needs that went unmet. This is where "why do I keep doing this?" finally makes sense.

Emotional Maturity

"I can steady myself."

You build practical skills to steady strong feelings — shifting from reacting automatically to responding intentionally.

Personal Power

"I can choose my response."

You learn to pause and choose a response that meets your real need, building genuine confidence in who you truly are.

Living in the Moment

"I live it."

You put it all into practice in real life, in real time — present, steady, and living from your authentic self.

The Symbol

Why the dragonfly?

The dragonfly is one of nature's most striking symbols of transformation. It spends most of its life below the surface — in the water, in the dark — and then one day, it emerges. Completely changed. Capable of something it never was before.

That's the journey this method is named for. Not a quick fix. Not a patch. A genuine emergence — from reacting on autopilot to living with intention, from old patterns to a life that actually fits the person you are now.

The Dragonfly Method is for people who are ready to come up for air.

Your Journey

What to expect, step by step

This is a specialty clinic supporting emotional and social wellness — and here's how we do it, step by step. Your assessment session is critical: it's how we see exactly where you're at, so we can build a clear path forward from there. Every step is supported — your therapist walks beside you the whole way.

Free · 15 Minutes

Discovery Consult — Is This the Right Fit for You?

This free 15-minute call is a relaxed, no-pressure conversation with the therapist you're considering, to see whether the Dragonfly Method is right for your situation. Its real purpose is therapist compatibility — a chance to get a feel for how they work and make sure it feels right before you commit to anything further. No assessments, nothing to prepare, zero obligation to continue.

Book a Free Consult

50 Minutes

Clinical Assessment

This is where your work begins. Your first full session is a chance to be truly heard — not measured, not labelled, just understood. Your therapist's first job is to help you feel safe enough to speak honestly, listening closely to your story, your patterns, and what you most want to change. Near the end, you'll be invited to complete a short set of confidential questionnaires at home, so your next session can be genuinely tailored to you.

Book Your First Session

50 Minutes

Treatment Plan Session

This is the session where everything comes together. Between appointments, your therapist takes everything you've shared — along with your questionnaire results — and translates it into your Individualized Treatment Plan: a clear, compassionate map of your patterns, where they came from, and how we'll work with them. Many clients describe this as the first time their experience has truly made sense.

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50 or 80 Minutes

Individual Psychotherapy

This is the heart of the work — where transformation actually happens. Through psychotherapy, each session builds the skills, knowledge, confidence, and support to respond to what you need in life rather than react from old patterns. Just as the dragonfly leaves the water and takes flight, this stage is about emerging: moving from surviving to living more freely, more like yourself.

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The Assessment

Your full picture

Your first session is about being seen and heard — not measured, not labelled. Your therapist listens closely, gets to know your story, and helps you feel safe enough to speak honestly about what's really going on and where it came from. Afterward, you'll complete a short set of confidential questionnaires at home, deepening that picture beyond what a single conversation can capture.

What the questionnaires reveal

The patterns and learned lenses shaping your thoughts and reactions
Your core unmet emotional needs — in plain language
A baseline measure of how you're doing right now
A shared starting point between you and your therapist
The foundation for your Personalized Treatment Plan

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Why this matters

Most therapy starts with you explaining yourself from scratch, session after session. The Dragonfly Method starts differently: your first session is about being truly seen and heard, so your therapist already understands your story before the questionnaires ever arrive.

Those questionnaires then add a clearer view of the patterns and unmet needs underneath. Together, what your therapist learns in session and what the questionnaires reveal become the foundation of your Treatment Plan Session, where it all comes together into one clear, personalized path forward.

That tailored process — from session one through your treatment plan — is what makes The Dragonfly Method different as a specialty clinic. Nothing generic, no guesswork, just a path built specifically for you.

Who This Is For

You might be exactly who this is for

The Dragonfly Method is for anyone ready to understand themselves more deeply — whether you're managing anxiety, navigating recurring relationship patterns, or simply wanting to live with more intention and less reactivity.

Stuck in a pattern

You keep finding yourself in the same situations — different people, different circumstances, same feeling. You know something needs to change but you don't know where to start.

Anxious or overwhelmed

Anxiety feels like a constant companion. You manage it, you cope — but it never really goes away. You want to understand it, not just survive it.

Living with depression

Some days feel heavier than others, and getting through them takes more than it should. You want to understand what's underneath the low periods — not just manage the symptoms.

Ready to go deeper

You notice something isn't working — you're ready to grow. You want to understand yourself better, improve your relationships, and live with more intention.

Tried therapy before

You've done some work and found it helpful, but you want something more structured — a clear map, real tools, and a defined path rather than open-ended conversations.

Struggling in relationships or dating

Whether it's dating, romantic partners, family, or friendships — you notice patterns in how you connect, disconnect, or shut down. You want to understand why and respond differently.

"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."

— Carl Jung

Why The Dragonfly Method

What you can count on

The Dragonfly Method is different from open-ended therapy. Here's what every client receives.

✦

A clear structure — you always know where you are

No open-ended drifting. Real momentum, session by session.
✦

Your full picture, built from session one

Session one is about being truly seen and heard. Confidential questionnaires after that deepen the picture even further, so nothing is left to guesswork.
✦

Six evidence-based modalities, not guesswork

Every session draws on Schema Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — six clinically recognized approaches woven into one clear framework, not trial and error.
✦

Real skills, not just insight

Practical tools from six evidence-based approaches you can use in daily life between sessions and beyond.
✦

Plain language — no jargon

Complex psychological theory made practical, in language you can actually use in everyday life.
✦

A personalized treatment plan that's yours to keep

Your roadmap is built specifically for you — not a generic template, but a clear picture of your patterns, where they came from, and how you'll work with them.
✦

Compassion-first, always

You're not broken. You're reacting from what you learned. The question is always "what do I need?" — not "what's wrong with me?"

Expanding Soon

More ways to work together — coming soon

The Dragonfly Method is growing. In addition to individual sessions, our clinic will be offering:

Couples Sessions

The Dragonfly Method applied to relationships — understanding the patterns each partner brings and building a new way of responding to each other. At its heart, it's about building a safe, secure connection you can both rely on.

Parenting Sessions

Helping parents build the five core needs for healthy emotional and social development in their children — practical, intentional parenting rooted in what kids actually need to thrive.

Group Sessions

Work through the Dragonfly Method alongside others on a similar journey — the shared experience of a small, supported group can deepen the process in a unique way.

Common Questions

What people ask before starting

What exactly is the Dragonfly Method?

The Dragonfly Method is a structured therapeutic approach that integrates six evidence-based theories to help you understand the patterns driving your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors — and gives you practical tools to work with them. It's built around five elements: Self-Discovery, Insight, Emotional Maturity, Personal Power, and Living in the Moment — each building toward your Authentic Self.

Whatever your symptoms are, we go deeper instead of masking them — we deal with the roots.

Unlike traditional open-ended therapy, it follows a clear structure with a defined path — so you always know where you are and where you're headed.

Is this therapy, or something else?

Yes — the Dragonfly Method is delivered by Licensed and Registered Professionals with years of clinical experience, and draws on six evidence-based theories. What makes it distinct is the structure: rather than open-ended sessions, you follow a clear path designed to build understanding and skills progressively. You always know where you are and what comes next.

Sessions are one-on-one with a Licensed and Registered Professional — your therapist tailors the pace and focus to you at your assessment session.

How long does this take?

It depends on what you're working on and the pace that's right for you. Individual sessions move at your own pace, and your therapist will give you a personal recommendation at your Treatment Plan Session, so you start in a way that actually fits where you are.

Do I need a mental health diagnosis to participate?

No. The Dragonfly Method is designed for anyone who wants to understand their patterns more deeply — whether you're managing anxiety, working through past experiences, navigating relationship challenges, or simply wanting to live more intentionally. You do not need a diagnosis to benefit.

Is this covered by benefits or insurance?

Individual sessions with a Licensed and Registered Professional may be covered under your extended health benefits — this depends on your specific plan. We recommend checking with your provider to confirm. We're happy to provide receipts and documentation for your benefits submission.

Can I do this online?

Yes. Sessions are available both in-person (St. Albert, Alberta) and online via secure video.

I've tried therapy before. How is this different?

Many people who come to the Dragonfly Method have done therapy before and found it helpful — but they want something with more structure and direction. If you've done personal growth work before, that's often an asset. The Dragonfly Method gives existing insight a clear framework and practical tools so it can translate into lasting change.

What if I'm not sure this is right for me?

Book a free 15-minute Discovery Consult — a relaxed, no-pressure call to see if we're a good fit. There's no commitment required. You're welcome to also call or email us directly: iridescencecounselling@outlook.com · 587-986-2739.

How do I get started?

Book a free Discovery Consult or go straight to booking your Clinical Assessment. Both are available online at any time. If you'd prefer to talk first: 587-986-2739 · iridescencecounselling@outlook.com

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The DragonflyMethod