Frequently Asked Questions
Starting the Therapeutic Process
It’s important to feel comfortable with the therapist that you’re beginning your journey with. Whether that is experience/ expertise they have in a particular area, a vibe you get, a modality or therapeutic approach they use that resonates with you, or shared identity that it important to you. That being said, you are allowed to try out different therapists, have a few consultations until you find someone who you feel comfortable around to open up to.
You can start by seeing if a therapist works with your presenting concerns- do they have experience with anxiety/ depression/ life transitions/ relationship concerns etc.
If you want a therapist who understands your lived experience and/or racial identity then look for therapists who openly identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Colour, immigrant or openly talks about their cultural background and if it informs their view of therapy.
You might also be seeking lived experience in other ways- looking for a therapist who understands parenting, is the same gender as you, a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
This depends on a number of different factors that you can your therapist can review and establish a cadence based on that. These factors might include your goals for therapy, the type of support you’re seeking, ability to cover costs/ insurance coverage, and client and practitioner availability. I typically see clients at the onset once a week or once every two weeks.
My services
I am currently promoting in-person sessions at the Slow Medicine Co. (181 Carlaw Ave.). However, I am taking on a few virtual clients as well. Please reach out to inquire further.
I do not work with children and families, only adult individuals 18 years and older. However, I am happy to send you referrals.
Sessions like this vary between individuals. Usually we begin with talking and getting to know what you’re seeking support around, how these issues show up for you, and how your nervous system responds to stress. If you’re struggling with stress or anxiety, we might begin the session by doing some breathwork exercises and seeing which ones worked for you. We might also get on our yoga mats and move a bit to release surface tension in the body, or we might get into restorative yoga poses to calm the parasympathetic nervous system. If we set an intention for your therapeutic practice, I may bring some Reiki energy healing so that it sits in your body. My goal for these sessions is for you to leave feeling more aware of how your body carries emotions and stress, have some resources with the body and breath, as well as tools to practice at home.
Unfortunately, Reiki only sessions are not covered by health insurance plans. There may be some exceptions to this if you have a Health Spending Account or a Wellness/ Personal Spending Account. Check with your employer to see what can potentially be covered.
If you don’t have benefits and are paying for counselling, you can submit your receipts for clinical services provided by a social worker under the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC).
I do have a few limited spots for sliding scale. Please reach out to me to see if I am accepting sliding scale clients at the moment. If I’m not, I will refer you to the following resources:
Hard Feelings TO– Hard Feelings is an innovative mental health non-profit. We support a welcoming community of professional counsellors who provide low-cost services and support.
Affordable Therapy Network– A Directory Of Therapists Offering Low Cost And Sliding Scale Rates Across Canada.
Yes. I offer 4-week in person psychoeducation and skill building groups to support individual’s mental health. Groups can be a less isolating way to cope with difficult times, and also be a more affordable option than individual therapy.
Please visit my offerings page to review the current group offerings, or email me for the next start dates.