Frequently Asked Questions

 Therapy is a collaborative process focused on gaining insight into your thought processes and how past events might be influencing problems in the present, learning how to cope with any mental and emotional challenges you’re experiencing right now, and finding solutions that address the root cause of the problem and create lasting change. 

If you’re asking this question because you’ve been feeling stressed, anxious, or just generally “off” lately and you’re not sure why, or maybe because someone in your life encouraged you to look into therapy, there’s a good chance therapy could be helpful for you.

Whether you already know exactly what you want to work on or have no idea where to start, your needs are valid, and you deserve support. I believe everyone can benefit from talking to a trained psychotherapist, whether your problems feel big or small. 

I offer virtual therapy sessions exclusively, either by phone or video call. Virtual therapy has many benefits and has been shown to be just as effective as in-person therapy. By connecting online, virtual therapy removes some barriers to in-person therapy such as commuting time and costs, scheduling issues, discomfort of being in an unfamiliar space, and a lack of accessible services in your area. 

However, virtual therapy is not without its faults - technology issues sometimes happen, and it requires you to find a private space to join your virtual appointments where you won’t be interrupted or overheard. If you’re unsure if online sessions would be a good fit for you, or if you’re apprehensive about the technology side of things, I’d be happy to answer any questions you have – you can reach out using the contact form at the bottom of this page to schedule a free consultation.

It’s important to note that some issues are not well suited to online services. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others, or if you are experiencing domestic violence, psychosis, or mania, virtual therapy may not be the best fit for you as these experiences often require more immediate and a greater level of care than virtual therapy can provide. 

Virtual sessions are both secure and confidential. I offer my sessions using a platform called Jane, which is compliant with Canadian Data Protection regulations, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). To learn more about Jane’s security and privacy click here.

In compliance with PHIPA, your personal health information is kept confidential, within legal limitations. This means that everything we talk about in sessions is confidential but there are certain legal limits to confidentiality which I describe in detail in my informed consent form.

Once your first session is booked, you’ll receive a link to complete an intake form which includes an informed consent form to read through and sign. During your first session, we’ll review the consent form, and I’ll answer any questions you might have. 

Then we’ll spend time getting to know you and the concerns that are bringing you into therapy before moving into setting goals for your time in therapy and coming up with a plan to meet those goals.  

I get this question a lot, and it’s a tough one to answer since it depends on so many factors. Sometimes people accomplish their therapy goals in just few weekly sessions, while others come in less frequently over months or years. There is no set number of sessions you must attend, you can choose to stop whenever you want, and you can return whenever you want if you decide to take a break. 

I typically recommend starting with weekly sessions if this is accessible to you, and then once we start to see progress being made, we can start gradually extending the time between sessions. This way you have more time between sessions to practice the new skills and strategies you’re learning about.  

I offer direct billing with select insurance companies – for a complete list of eligible insurers please check out my services page. While psychotherapy is covered by many extended health benefit insurance plans, I always recommend double checking the wording in your policy to make sure you have coverage for a Registered Psychotherapist since some policies only cover Social Workers or Psychologists, and some require a doctor’s note.

I also accept payment by e-transfer or credit card at the end of the session. Once payment is received, I’ll issue you a receipt with the required information for you to submit to your insurer for reimbursement. 

Yes, I’m passionate about keeping mental healthcare accessible. I offer a sliding scale for clients who meet the requirements for reduced rate therapy to ensure financial constraints are not a barrier to accessing the help they need. 

If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out using the contact form at the bottom of this page. 

While I have worked with couples in the past, I currently focus my practice solely on individual adults, aged 18+.  My experience working with couples helps inform my approach with adults who are struggling with various relationships in their life. 

Sometimes life happens, I get it. If something comes up and you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, I ask that you let me know at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments rescheduled or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice are billed at half the session rate, and missed appointments with no notice (no-shows) are billed at the full session rate.