What are your rates?
My rates are $95 per 50 min session
Do you direct bill Insurance?
I do not submit directly to insurance providers, I will email or print your invoice at the end of our session for you to submit if your coverage allows or to use for income tax purposes. Please feel free to ask any questions you have about your coverage.
I’d recommend asking these questions to your insurance provider to help determine your benefits:
- Does my health insurance plan include Mental Health Benefits?
- Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet?
- Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit?
- Do I need written approval from my primary care physician in order for services to be covered?
- Does your provider cover Clinical Counsellors under your policy?
How does Play Therapy work?
How long will counselling take when working with my family or child?
The number of session I have with each child and their family is different for each situation. I work closely with the child and family to determine the specific needs of the child and what may be needed to meet those needs. My standard approach is to start with 6 initial sessions, which would include:
Session 1 parent/caregiver (please do not bring your child this will be an adult only session):
In this session we would discuss family history, why you came to see me, how it is affecting you and your family, and what you would like to see improved while we work together. We will set a goal for moving forward and if we have time we may discuss a few things you could start doing right now to help with your situation 
Session 2-5 child:
In these sessions your child and I will work on building a trusting relationship through play. It will be a getting to know you time for both of us. We will use this time to assess strengths, resiliency and developmental levels of your child. During this time your family may be given some things to do in between sessions, such as reading a relevant book, using a technique or keeping records to track certain behaviours. (*The number of sessions may be reduced through the active participation of both the parents/caregivers and the child in session and at home.*)
Session 6 parent feedback (please do not bring your child to this session, it is for adults only):
In this session we will discuss progress, resources, recommendations and if required, outside referrals. This is the time when we will decide if further sessions are needed. Sometimes we will have more parent only session if needed or wanted.
Will my child and I be seen together or individually?
This again is determined by what has brought your family in to see me. Normally parents will be given 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the session to discuss concerns or progress made during the week, after which your child will work with their counsellor for the rest of the session time. During the last part of the session the counselor may also provide homework for the week and/or strategies and recommendations to experiment with at home.
There also may be times the counselor requests to see the family as a whole or see particular members of the family together to work on specific issues. This will be determined during the course of treatment.
What if my child does not want to come?
Typically children are anxious to meet somebody new, especially if that somebody is there specifically for them. This is normal for many children, so expect this to happen. After the first session however many children will be requesting to go back.
At times children will require the parent/caregiver to attend the first five minutes (sometimes more) of the session until they get comfortable. Again this is normal and the parents/caregivers are welcome to stay until the child feels comfortable enough to have the parent leave.
Individual Counseling
Is Counseling Right for Me?
Seeking out counseling is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to see a counsellor. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one’s life such as transitions or family problems. Many seek support as they pursue their own personal growth. Working with a counsellor can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Counseling can help many types of issues including depression, anxiety, burnout, grief, stress management, children’s behaviours and general life transitions. Counseling is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by learning strategies to improve their unique situation, creating greater self-awareness and making changes in their lives that they feel good about.
Do I really need counseling? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully worked through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, counselling is for people who recognize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking action by accepting where you are at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking counseling. Counseling can be a can create opportunities for making long-lasting changes, getting the support you need, for changing unhealthy patterns and giving new perspectives to old problems, learning strategies you need to avoid triggers and overcoming whatever challenges you face. Together we can make the changes you want to see in your life.
How can counseling help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in counseling. Counsellors can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, and stress management. Many people also find that counsellors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Counsellors can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or support you in finding a solution. The benefits you obtain from counseling depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from counseling include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek counseling
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behaviour patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
What is Counselling like?
Every session is unique, but we would start with going over why you came to see me, how this is affecting you and those around you, and some background history. We would set up a series of weekly sessions, as I prefer to work intensely with my clients to get them where they need to be as quickly as possible. Sometimes counselling can be short-term, focusing on a specific problem, or more long-term, working on more complex problems or ongoing personal growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviours. It is important to process what has been discussed and put it into action between sessions. If you are an active participant both during and between sessions you may accelerate your progress towards your goals working towards self-change and create greater awareness in your life.
How long will it take if I do individual counseling?
This is difficult to determine in a FAQ’s page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time counselling can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek counselling in the first place.