FAQ

You don’t have to be in a crisis to benefit from counselling. Counselling can certainly help with emotional regulation and easing of distress, but in fact, sometimes it is easier to see new perspectives and gain insight during calmer periods. Clinical counselling is helpful for issues that have been stewing in the background and affecting your work, relationships, health, behaviour or mood, as well as for resolving conflict and communication issues, and can help in preparing for or recovering from a big life transition. Perhaps you are ready to process some past trauma that continues to hang around, or perhaps you are seeking clarity or insight into certain behaviours.

Still unsure? Book a consultation to see if counselling feels like it would be helpful for you.

It’s normal to feel a bit apprehensive and hesitant about seeing a new counsellor for the first time, so we will take some time to get settled and comfortable with each other, while also going over what is most important or urgent for you.

The first session will be a little bit different in that we will go over the counselling process, review consent and confidentiality and take some time to connect and feel safe, before gathering an understanding of your goals and background. I will be guiding the conversation more at the beginning, making space for any questions that you have, and from there we can collaboratively decide what to dig into and explore.

As we get deeper into the relationship and healing processes, we will work together, with you being the expert of your lived experience and I recommending a therapeutic direction. Depending on the situation, I may provide tools or resources, ask questions that work towards increased insight or clarity, suggest some work to do in between sessions, and/or hold space for where you’re at with your emotions.

You may not see results right away. Sometimes there is resistance to going in a certain direction and that may need to be explored, or day to day distress may lead the healing process along a non-linear path. Also, the emotions and ideas uncovered in therapy can take a while to mesh with our real-world situations, or to become integrated with other views and values.

This is a difficult question to answer because each person’s therapeutic journey is unique, and our work together depends on several factors. Sometimes issues that seem to be cut-and-dried on the surface can be connected to deep, lifelong experiences while in other cases a key insight or critical tool may feel complete.

I believe that healing is not linear and that we come up to the same situations multiple times with new perspectives and new knowledge – allowing us to go a little bit deeper each time. However, sometimes it is necessary to take a pause for these learnings to integrate.

If you have a constraint on the number of sessions available, please let me know when we meet so we can take that into account.

Yes, I currently have availability both in-person and online. You can book a complementary consultation directly, or email me to discuss.

In keeping with the guidelines outlined by BC’s Clinical Counselling regulatory board (BCACC), counselling rates are:

50min Individual Counselling (Including EMDR)- $150 + tax ($157.50) 
80min Individual Counselling – $225 + tax ($236.25)

50min Relationship Counselling – $176 + tax ($184.80)
80min Relationship Counselling – $265 + tax ($278.25)

Sliding scale sessions are available to those in need – contact me for details.

Most benefits packages accept treatment from Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) but check with your insurance company to be certain.

Yes, in fact I recommend it. A free, 20-minute consultation is available to any potential clients, to answer any questions and determine if we are a good fit.

Each time slot is reserved just for you and time is taken to prepare for your session. As such, I ask that you provide 24 hours’ notice for any cancellations or changes to the appointment. 

For any changes made to scheduling with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missing the appointment entirely, there is a charge 50% of the session fee. Multiple late cancels and missed appointments will result in increased charges and / or discontinuation of services.