RATES, COVERAGE, & FAQ

A registered clinical counsellor is a counsellor who is registered with the British Columbia Association of Clinical counsellors. An RCC has a minimum of a Masters degree from an accredited university and has met specific training criteria that provide assurance of experience, qualifications and stringent professional and ethical standards. See http://bc-counsellors.org for more details.

I am a client-centered therapist who comes from a strengths and solution-focused approach. I am also informed by various other approaches including, but not limited to, Sue Johnson's Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). See below for descriptions of each of these: Client-Centered Therapy: Client-Centered therapy, also known as person-centered therapy, is a non-directive form of talk therapy. It emphasizes the role of the client as an equal partner in the therapeutic process and allows for the client to guide the pace and direction of the work. ​ Strength-Based Therapy: Strength-based therapy is a type of positive psychotherapy and focuses on developing a positive mindset that helps you build on your strengths, unique abilities, resourcefulness, and resilience. ​ Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT): Similar to strength-based therapy, solution-focused therapy also focuses on an individual's strengths, resilience, and inner resources. SFT is focused on current and future goals and focuses on solution-building rather than problem-solving. SFT assumes that you have had past experiences which have given you the skills and resources to find potential solutions to your current problem(s). SFT focuses on what is already working in a client's life and looking for exceptions for when the problem does not occur. ​ Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Emotionally focused therapy focuses on the development of emotional intelligence and on the importance of attachment and secure relationships. EFT focuses on helping individuals become aware of and express their emotions, on learning to tolerate and regulate their emotions, and on reflecting on emotions in order to make sense of them and transform them. ​ Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT): One of the core messages of this mindfulness-based behavioural therapy is to accept what is out of your personal control and instead focus on actions that improve and enrich your life. In comparison to other modalities ACT does not attempt to try to reduce, change, avoid, suppress, or control undesirable symptoms or problems but rather encourages clients to open up to uncomfortable thoughts or feelings - to make room for them, and allow them to come and go without a struggle.

Sessions are typically 50 minutes in duration although longer sessions may be useful especially for relationship counselling sessions.

This is something we can establish during our first few sessions together but there really is no set timeframe. It will depend on your preferences, your time and financial constraints, and the reason you chose to come to therapy in the first place (are you coming in to deal with a specific problem or are you taking a deeper look at some long held beliefs and behaviours?). Often times individuals begin with weekly sessions and then they move to biweekly or to an as- needed basis.

Absolutely. As an RCC I am required to keep everything that is shared during our sessions in confidence and confidentiality is paramount to the success of our therapeutic relationship. However, below you will find the 3 situations in which it is my ethical and legal obligation to break confidence: 1. If there is threat of harm to yourself or others 2. If your counsellor, or your counselling file is subpoenaed in a court case 3. If there is information of current child or elder abuse

Yes. I offer a complementary 15 minute phone consultation which gives you the opportunity to ask me any questions you may have about me and my practice. You can let me know a little bit about what has you seeking counselling at this particular stage in your life. If we decide that we are a fit, we can then book a session.

Yes. I do in home visits for expectant mothers and new parents who would like to have a session in the comfort of their own home where they are able to tend to their young child(ren). Please note that a travel fee applies for this service. Please contact me to book.

Counselling services are a "must pay" benefit. Claimants will be pre-approved for 12 sessions with an RCC or CCC as long as there is collaboration with a physician. ICBC will cover up to $120/session.

You must let me know at least 48 hours prior to your session, otherwise you will be charged the full amount for the session. This is in place to respect my time and because there are a limited number of appointment spaces available in a week and there are likely others who would like to use your appointment time.