Getting Started with Counselling
Making the decision to seek therapy with a psychologist is an important step when you’re facing challenges in life. You might have uncertainties and wonder if a psychologist can really help. In order to help you feel prepared and more at ease, I’ve outlined below what you can expect from counselling sessions with me.
Counselling Appointments
My counselling appointments currently take place online, using Zoom. To benefit most from your sessions it is usually best if you initially attend on a regular basis. After a period of weekly visits, booking every 2-3 weeks until our work concludes may be appropriate.
Office Hours
My office hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. I make an effort to see clients within 3 working days of initial contact with me.
Goals of the First Session
Our first meeting will be structured to allow me to learn about your personal history and your goals for therapy. It also allows you to discover how my psychology services can help you.
We will take a few minutes to discuss some of my policies and procedures, including confidentiality and informed consent.
I will invite you to tell me about yourself and what brought you to therapy. I will encourage you to discuss your background, current circumstances and the issues you are facing, as well as your strengths.
The goal is to ensure that I have a good understanding of you so I will be best able to help you. We will talk about your goals and any expectations you have of counselling, and of me as your therapist.
I will offer some thoughts on your situation and we will discuss how our therapy sessions can help you. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and raise any concerns you may have.
Upon the closing of our first session, I anticipate you will feel that you have talked to someone who listens and will support you. My goal is for you to leave our first session anticipating that we will work together successfully and that you will be able to reach your goals and improve your life.
Subsequent Therapy Sessions
After our first appointment, ongoing sessions will run 50 minutes in length, ideally on a regular basis until our work concludes. This regularity of sessions will allow us to build a relationship as we get to know one another, and work together to overcome the challenges that you are facing.
After you have met your goals in therapy, I will invite you to contact me in the future whenever the need arises, so that you can address issues before they become too big. I encourage people to consult with me in the same way they consult their family physicians, coming in for a session whenever an issue comes up. Since we will have already established a trusting relationship, you will be able to rely on me as a resource whenever you need to.
Clinical Psychology Fees
Fee
$285 for a 50-minute session.
Insurance
My clinical fee may be covered in whole, or in part, by an extended health care plan. Please check your policy to see what coverage you have in place.