Frequently Asked Questions

When starting therapy, it's very common to feel nervous. It can be difficult to have faith that therapy will bring you relief. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Taking steps to seek help for the challenges we face is a huge step. It takes courage to realize we can’t face our issues alone.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and bring up whatever is going on for you, including feeling nervous or unsure.

I’m here if you want to talk about it during a free phone consultation.

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can schedule yourself in my online scheduler.

During a free phone consultation, you can ask me about how I have helped other people like you before, what a typical session with me is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific to you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and I can share my ideas around how I can help you.

My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

Many people enjoy being able to do therapy from the comfort of their home. For video sessions, it’s important to have a stable Internet connection and access to a space that is quiet and confidential.

Early research has shown that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional, in-person therapy. However, there are circumstances (e.g., acute psychiatric emergencies) where online therapy is not suitable.

If you’re not sure whether virtual therapy is right for you, we can discuss this during our free phone consultation.

The cost of therapy is $150 per 60 minute session (no HST).

I do offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for those without insurance and who face financial barriers. I provide this through the Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, which requires you to register and pay a one-time fee of $65 USD. This gives you access to a roster of therapists who offer sessions between $40 and $70.

If you are interested in working with me on a sliding scale basis, please visit my Open Path profile to see if there are any spots currently available.

Overall, you can think of the first session as a structured assessment that helps me get to know you and the challenges that brought you into treatment. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

• What brought you to therapy?

• Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?

• What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about about my experience or how future sessions work.

The most important part of a first session is to notice how you feel during and after the session. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

Therapy consists of 50-minute, one-on-one sessions that help you work through your concerns. In addition to listening, I will ask questions and guide you towards solutions, I play an active role. Here’s how it will work step-by-step:

1. First, I provide a safe, accepting space so that you will feel comfortable sharing your struggles with me.

2. Through hearing your story, and asking questions, I will start to get a picture of what your challenges are. Based on this, I will propose a possible treatment approach and get your feedback to make sure it feels right.

3. We will also work to discover what is important to you in life, what your goals are, and what is needed to meet them.

4. Keeping your unique goals in mind, and based on my assessment, I will propose a treatment approach and get your feedback to make sure it feels right.

5. Over the course of our sessions, you will start making progress on your goals.

Research shows that therapy for anxiety can positively change your thinking, beliefs, emotions, and behaviours. It can help you let go of what’s holding you back.

On average, my new clients often start seeing improvements after the first few sessions. By that point, they feel like they have learned some ways to manage challenging stuff in their lives a bit better.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 6 weeks to be enough to reach their goals. Other clients feel more supported by a longer term approach.

I typically recommend that we aim for a set number of weekly sessions, at least at the beginning. This gives you the best chance to see positive outcomes and build momentum.

We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

I'm here to talk during a free 15-minute phone call where you can share what’s going on for you and I can share my ideas around how I can help you.

I respond in 24 hours, Monday through Friday, to all calls and emails

You can view my calendar and schedule a call by clicking the “Let’s Chat” button below.