Frequently Asked Questions
Please don’t hesitate to send me an email if you have any other questions; I am happy to answer.
Do you offer sessions online or in-person?
My practice is currently entirely online, as many clients tend to find it easier to fit into their day when sessions are held virtually. This also allows you to find a comfortable space, or to call in from work if needed. If you’re home, pyjamas are welcome. 🙂
Is online counselling effective?
Yes, extensive research has found online counselling to be just as effective as in-person for many issues; in a counselling context and for the issues I work with, online is certainly just as effective – choosing online or in-person will come down to a personal preference.
When working with high risk/crisis cases or in couples/family/group work, I would typically recommend in-person.
How do I know if counselling is right for me?
You don’t need to be in crisis to start counselling. Many people seek support because something is taking up more space in their lives than they would like: things like sadness, sleep issues, anxiety, and self-doubt, or unhealthy behavioural patterns.
Counselling can help you better understand what’s happening before you hit the crisis stage – and this is typically when we can make the biggest strides in therapy.
What kinds of issues do you help with?
I primarily offer therapy for adults dealing with anxiety and/or it’s related challenges, including:
Chronic worry or overthinking
Difficulty sleeping
Relationship stress (intimate, familial, and friendship) or communication challenges
Grief and loss
Unexplained physical pain
Low self-esteem or persistent self-doubt
Because anxiety often shows up in multiple ways, our work may address more than one of these concerns at the same time.
What is your approach?
My approach is warm, collaborative, honest – and some have said fun! My primary goal is to get to know you and understand you as a person, while also working honestly with patterns that may be contributing to anxiety or emotional distress.
My style is first and foremost person-centered, meaning I respect you as the expert on your own life. I don’t see my clients as needing fixing, but as whole people with complex and unique lived experiences. The interventions I use and the way I make sense of our work is through a cognitive-behavioural and mindfulness-based lens.
What does a typical online counselling session look like?
At our scheduled appointment time, we will log into our virtual meeting via Jane, a Canadian-based PIPEDA & HIPAA-compliant platform built for tele-healthcare. This program does not require a download, and it is free to use with a Jane account on any computer or laptop, Android, or iOSÂ device.
Initial sessions explore what your challenges are, what you are hoping to get out of the process, and help me to build a more comprehensive understanding of your life. Once we set goals together, these will act as our guiding compass to ensure we are making progress and staying aligned. However, some weeks you might come in and want tpo discuss something in particular that feels off-agenda, and that is totally okay. Often, these are rich and informative discussions that help our progress in the long run!
How long does a session last?
A standard session is 50-minutes in duration, but I always ask my clients to block off the full hour. I care deeply about my clients and about closing off our session properly, so that 10 minute buffer is important.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can ask questions, share what’s bringing you to seek support, and get a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit. This is also important for me to understand if I can help you. If the fit isn’t right, I can connect with my network to see if there might be a better one.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes, counselling services are usually covered by private insurance, but I always ask that you check with your insurance provider before booking a consultation. You want to be sure that your insurance plan covers services provided by counsellors through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, or guidance counsellors through the Orde des Conseillers et Conseillères d’Orientation du Québec.
After our session, I will send you the invoice and you can use this to submit to your insurance provider via their online portal.
No – in Quebec, “psychotherapist” is a protected title held by psychologists, physicians and holders of a psychotherapy permit. While psychotherapy is engaged in in order to treat mental disorders, counselling focuses on adjustment, improving mental health, and solving specific problems.