Do I need a referral to start counselling?

A referral is not needed! You are welcome to reach out at any time and we can get you started.

What are your rates?

1. Individual - $180/hr

2. Couples - $200/hr

3. Families - $250/hr

4. Autism Parent Coaching - $190/hr

5. Autism Support and Parent Coaching - $220/hr

Some sliding scale options are available for those who qualify; please ask about this area during your complimentary first meeting.

Does my insurance cover for counselling?

If you have an extended benefits plan or Autism Funding, your plan may cover counselling. It would be best to contact your provider yourself to make sure of this. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (registered with the BCACC) should this be helpful information when you’re checking what is covered under your plan. 

Please note that the basic MSP does not cover registered counsellors. I am also unable to do direct billing, so you will be paying the cost upfront and you will be sent an official receipt that you can use to get reimbursed by your provider if you have the coverage. 

Is counselling productive when it’s online / over the phone? 

Yes! In this challenging time we live in, we are fortunate that counselling, can take place effectively and safely on online platforms and/or over the phone. I’m aware it can feel uncomfortable at first for some people, so you are welcome to book a consultation with me to see how and which platform might feel most comfortable for you. 

I use a secure online platform that takes confidentiality and security very seriously, so our online counselling sessions can take place safely. 

It’s my first time trying counselling and I don’t know what to expect… 

Starting counselling can be daunting…and you are not alone in this! I commend you on your bravery as you take this first step and to support you here, I offer a free consultation for us to have a brief introductory chat for you to get a better sense of what counselling would look like for you. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions! 

What does a session look like usually?

A counselling session is usually 50 minutes long, and the content will be based on what you are looking for. My client-centered counselling approach does not believe there is a “one size fits all” in counselling, so we collaborate on finding what works best for your therapeutic journey. In terms of frequency and number of sessions, this is totally up to you but I will give you some suggestions. 

Is counselling going to be hard (what if I cry)?

Counselling is not always easy and although I would love to tell you that you will leave each session feeling “so much better”, sometimes you may feel worse. In a session, we are going to talk about things that are giving you trouble and that can be hard sometimes. You might cry (and you don’t have to apologize or feel weird about that) and you might have “aha” moments too. No matter what, we’re going to figure it out!

I have lots of questions about sex and intimacy, can you help me?

Of course! It is not uncommon to have lots of questions about sex and intimacy and it can also feel like an uncomfortable topic to bring up. I am well-versed in this area and very comfortable having conversations of this nature but I also understand that you may not be. We can work together to figure out what you are looking for and how to help you.

My partner and I are in a non-monogamous relationship and we are more than two. Who should come to counselling?

The answer to this question is sometimes related to the structuring of your non-monogamous relationship as well as the dynamics of the relationship on the whole. Typically, I would suggest meeting with the individuals in the relationship that are having trouble or want to address some concerns. From there, we can discuss what changes may need to be made in terms of who attends counselling.

I am a youth and I don't want my parents/caregivers to know everything I say in counselling, will you keep my information confidential?

The short answer here is yes, most of the time. The long answer here is that it depends on the information and the situation. For the most part, what you say in counselling is kept confidential unless there is a safety risk (this will be explained in the complimentary conversation). However, there are times where it may be helpful to have parents/caregivers involved in therapy to help with the system that is in place. This process is always managed in a collaborative way with the youth and can definitely be discussed in the first session.

We are considering opening up our monogamous relationship, can you help?

Yes, this can be a difficult and scary topic to explore while also being exciting and informative. I will be here to help you discuss both the difficult and exciting pieces and support you in creating a healthy non-monogamous relationship or a monogamous one, depending on what you decide.