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reaching out is the first step toward change — and the best hope of change is within a trusting therapeutic relationship. there, we each have a job to do:
“my job as a therapist is to be available as long as you need me. your job as a client is to make me obsolete as soon as possible” – (john cumming)
i hope that some of the questions you have will be answered here. if you’d like to learn more about me, or if there is a particular therapy or approach you’re curious about, do not hesitate to contact me. in your message, please let me know if i should not leave a message at the number/email you provide
frequently asked questions
what's the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
counselling is often focused on more practical solutions to life’s challenges while psychotherapy is focused more on gaining insight. in counselling, we might ask “how” questions, like: have you encountered this situation before? what worked then? what do we need to do to resolve this today? in psychotherapy, we might focus on “why” questions, like: why do you feel this way? is there something in your history that contributes to this situation? because i do both, you might find that we cycle back and forth between finding practical solutions and developing insight about your understanding of yourself and your world.
what should i expect at my first session?
we’ll spend time getting to know each other a little better: i’ll want to hear about what makes you special and unique – the knowledge, skills and abilities you have to “put up against the problem” and you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions about me, too. we’ll explore your concerns and talk about your goal(s) for therapy. and if you’re comfortable and feel you want “more”, we’ll create a plan for moving forward.
is counselling completely confidential?
what we talk about in therapy is strictly confidential, with the few exceptions listed under confidentiality in the fees and policies section. in the event that i am obliged to reveal any part of our conversation, i will do my best to be as transparent with you as possible.
what kind of therapy is going to be right for me?
in the heart and soul of change, hubble, duncan and miller point out that the best predictors of success in therapy are what you bring to therapy (your knowledge, life experiences, strengths and abilities and readiness to change) and the relationship between client and therapist. hope and treatment model/intervention are also important predictors of success – to a lesser extent.
do you see people of all ages?
yes. over the past 20+ years, i have worked with people of all ages, from many different backgrounds, on a variety of issues.
what if i can't afford counselling right now?
depending on your circumstances, counselling and psychotherapy services may be covered by your employee assistance programme or by private insurance. if you are a member or veteran of the canadian armed forces or the rcmp or if you identify as first nations, inuit or metis, your counselling or psychotherapy services may be covered by a federal programme. there may be services available in the community that you can access free of charge or who have a “sliding scale” for payment. finally, counselling and psychotherapy services may be claimed as a medical expense on your income tax return.
i’m ready to get in touch
no issue is too big to overcome. reach out to me today.