Frequently Asked Questions

I specialize in helping people overcome depression, anxiety, stress and low self-esteem.

I approach counselling and therapy from a client-centred perspective that integrates elements from a number of different methods including cognitve therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapy, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. This allows me to provide the best combination of ideas and techniques for you, depending on your individual situation, your strengths, your goals, and your needs. For more information, please read about My Approach.

I am a counsellor and therapist who works primarily with people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Since many other therapists do not specialize to this extent, you'll benefit from my expertise in helping people deal with the issues that you are bringing to counselling and therapy.

I pride myself on my ability to build warm, caring and trusting collaborative relationships with my clients and honour their beliefs and values. My clients often tell me they appreciate my ability to connect with them, respect them, and empower them to make positive changes in their life.

I have a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology and have additional training in a number of approaches to counselling and therapy including cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, solution-focused therapy, and narrative therapy. I have experience providing counselling and therapy in a number of different settings, including family counselling and community centres, drop-in centres and shelters. For more information, please see the About Me page.

I am a member of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists. Currently in Ontario there is no government regulation of counselling or psychotherapy. Legislation has recently passed that will restrict the use of the terms psychotherapy and psychotherapist to members of the College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario, but this College has not been established yet. Once this College is established, I will be qualified to join.

The terms counselling and therapy, and counsellor and therapist are often used interchangeably. When the terms are used differently, counselling generally refers to a shorter-term approach that is focused on a very specific concern, whereas therapy is often longer in duration and can be more comprehensive and in-depth.

The length of counselling or therapy can depend on a number of factors including the issues that are bringing you to therapy and what your goals are. Often people find that they can accomplish what they want in 5 or 6 sessions of counselling. For other people in different circumstances, therapy might take 10-15 sessions, and sometimes people will want to come for longer periods. You are never under any obligation to come for a set number of sessions, and throughout your course of therapy, we will discuss the progress you have made and how much longer you might wish to continue.

My fee is $100 per session. Each session lasts approximately 50 minutes to an hour.

You can pay by cheque or cash, either before or immediately after every session.

I regret that the building my office is in is not accessible.

All information that you share with me is confidential and will not be communicated, directly or indirectly, to a third party without your informed and written consent. The only exceptions are when I have a legal, and/or ethical obligation to:

• Inform a potential victim of violence of a client's intention to harm them.
 
• Inform an appropriate family member, health care professional, or police if necessary of a client's intention to end his or her life.
 
• Release a client's file if it is subpoenaed by a court.
 
• Inform Child and Family Services if there is suspicion that a child under the age of 16 is at risk or in need of protection due to neglect, or physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
 
• Report a regulated health professional who has sexually abused a client to the professional's regulatory body.

Other than in these rare exceptions, any information that you disclose will be kept strictly confidential.For more information, please read my privacy policy.