Taking the first step is often the hardest part to do when you are considering starting counselling. Once you reach out and schedule a 10 minute no-fee phone consultation, we will decide if working together would be a good fit.
Family sessions typically run 50 minutes. The first session however may be 1.5 hours in order to gather history, answer questions, and find our direction to move forward.
Depending on your benefit plan a portion of the therapy may be covered. I will do my best to assist you in determining what portion of the therapy may be covered through your benefit plan and will provide you with information you may need to submit to your benefit plan for coverage.
Your confidentiality is very important to us. We are bound by the ethical codes of psychologists and counsellors, which require us to maintain strict practices to ensure that your information is never shared with others without your permission, except under rare and very specific circumstances (for example, when ordered by a court). We will discuss confidentiality and our ethical practices with you so that you can make the most informed decision possible, both at the beginning of therapy and at any time in the future that it is necessary.
In the first session, the reasons that you have decided to come for counselling will be discussed, as well as background information and setting of some initial goals. In subsequent sessions, the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that continue to be problematic will be discussed. Ways to cope better, feel better and deal with problems more effectively over the long-term will be addressed, and your goals will continue to be reviewed and changed as needed over time.
