Research shows that one of the biggest contributing factors to change in therapy is the relationship between the client and therapist. With that in mind, the first session is really about finding out if we’re a right fit— on both ends. I’ll ask you about what brought you to counselling (if you’re not sure, that’s ok!), what you hope to get out of counselling, and I’ll want to learn a little bit about you and your life. I’ll even ask you if there’s anything you want to know about me.

The word “trauma” can get used a lot— so much so that its meaning can become distorted. In the counselling world, we often refer to ‘big T’ and ‘little t’ trauma to distinguish between the two. ‘Big T’ traumas are the events most commonly associated with PTSD and can include serious injury, sexual violence, and life threatening events. ‘Little t’ traumas are highly distressing events or circumstances that affect us such as a lack of stability growing up, broken or absence of significant relationships, being bullied or left out, losing a pet, etc. Each of us has experienced ‘little t’ trauma to some degree. Repeated exposure to ‘little t’ traumas can cause significant emotional harm. For trauma therapists such as myself, acknowledging and safely processing both ‘little t’ and ‘big T’ traumas are important for the purpose of helping clients experience permanent healing.

Yes. Confidentiality within the counselling relationship is of high importance to counsellors. My goal is to establish safety and trust so that you feel free to share your experiences honestly, and perhaps speak about things you don’t feel comfortable disclosing to anyone else.

However, there are a few legal exceptions to confidentiality that you should be aware of, in which a counsellor is legally bound to break confidentiality:

If you are at imminent risk of harming yourself or another person.

If a child or vulnerable person may be at risk of harm (abuse or neglect).

If my clinical notes were subpoenaed by a court of law.

I don’t prescribe how often you should come to counselling. I trust that you know what you need and what will work best for you. That being said, the majority of my clients book weekly or bi-weekly and then later reassess if they want to start coming more or less frequently. It really depends on your specific needs and what you can afford.

No problem. Cancellations can be done through the online booking system or you can notify me directly (email, phone, text). If you do need to cancel, I require 48 hours notice so that I can give that appointment time slot to another person. All cancellations and no-shows under the 48 hour window are subject to a cancellation fee which is the full cost of the session.

Most insurance providers cover sessions by a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), which is what I am. However, you should check with your insurance provider to ensure they cover sessions with an RCC, as occasionally they only cover sessions with a psychologist (see next FAQ to learn the difference).

Counsellors/Therapists: have a Masters degree and are able to offer clinical counselling to those dealing with emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions (to name just a few!). They are trained in talk therapy and are not qualified to provide clinical diagnoses.

Psychologists: have a Doctoral degree and might be pursuing an academic career as a researcher or professor. However, psychologists are qualified to offer talk therapy as well as provide comprehensive assessments and diagnostic information that may help you understand your mental health issue in a way that a therapist cannot.

Psychiatrists: medical professionals who specialize in mental health and have gone to school for a whole lot longer! They are qualified to prescribe medication to help people cope with mental health struggles and have specialized knowledge in how psychotropic medications interact with the mind and body.