Getting started with counselling

When you’re facing challenges in life, making the decision to seek therapy with a psychologist is an important step.

You might have uncertainties and wonder if a psychologist can really make a difference. In order to help you feel prepared and more at ease, I’ve outlined what you can expect from counselling sessions with me.

Counselling appointments

My counselling appointments currently all 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 appointments, booking every 2-3 weeks until our work concludes may be appropriate.

Office hours

My office hours are from 8:45 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. I make an effort to see new 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 will also allow you to discover how my psychology services can benefit 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.

My goal is to ensure that I have a good understanding of your situation so I will be best able to help you. We will talk about any expectations you have of counselling, and of me as your psychologist.

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 well together 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 large. I encourage people to consult me in the same way they consult their family physicians, coming in for a session whenever an issue arises. 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

Fees

My fee is $300 for a 50-minute session.

Insurance

My clinical fee may be covered in whole, or in part, by an extended benefits plan. Please check your policy to see what coverage you have in place.