FAQs
Do you work with people of all ages?
I currently work with adults of all ages. If you are over 19 and want to work together, please reach out! Children and Youth can usually access services specific to their age groups.
Where are you located?
I am based in Nanaimo, BC and in-person sessions are available locally as well as in Hinton, AB for several weeks of the year for intensive work. Online sessions are currently available to clients throughout BC and Alberta. This may change as regulation of psychotherapy moves forward through provincial colleges.
What are your qualifications?
I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and Supervisor (CCC-S). I have a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology. I am a level 3 (advanced) AEDP practitioner and will soon apply for certification in both Hakomi and AEDP after many years of training. I am also trained in ecotherapy/nature-based therapy and am continuing professional development in this and other areas. Also, I will mention my “dirt time” – thousands of hours of outdoor time hiking, paddling, biking, camping, and learning from the natural ecosystems around me.
BC will soon be regulating the practice of psychotherapy and I will be qualified to register with the College once that transition happens.
What are your rates?
- Brief initial phone consultations (~ 15 minutes): Free of charge
- Individual psychotherapy
- online 50 minute session: $160
- outdoor 60 minute session: $180
- outdoor 75 minute session: $210
- outdoor 90 minute session: $240
- Clinical consultation for therapists
- online 50 minute session: $160
- outdoor 60 minute session: $180
Do extended health benefits cover your services?
Yes, potentially! Some extended health providers offer partial or full coverage for counselling/psychotherapy. If you have insurance coverage for extended health (e.g. Blue Cross, Manulife, Canada Life, etc.), I encourage you to contact your provider directly to ensure coverage for services for Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC). BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) and Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) do not cover private counselling services (but we can advocate for this)!
I’m experiencing some financial hardship. Do you offer sliding scale rates?
Yes, given that folks experience differing access to income and wealth due to systemic inequities and levels of privilege, I offer sliding scale rates. A portion of my sessions are offered at reduced rates for clients who are paying for therapy themselves (i.e. who do not have extended health benefits), who face systemic barriers, and who experience financial hardship. Please discuss this with me if a sliding scale rate is necessary for you to access counselling/therapy.
What is your availability? When and how often can we meet?
I am currently taking new clients; if you’re ready start working with me we will likely be able to book a first visit within the next week or two.
How often we meet depends on your needs. Some clients want to do focused work in an area that is very present for them and may choose to meet weekly or even more frequently for a period of time. Some clients want regular opportunities to work through things that come up over time and may want bi-weekly or monthly sessions. We can discuss your needs and schedule our sessions as fits for you.
I’ve decided to book… what should I expect from our first session?
Prior to our first appointment you will receive an intake and consent form to complete. All first appointments will be conducted online (50 mins) as an opportunity to begin to get to know each other, and to get a sense of your experience and needs. If you would like to work together outdoors, we can discuss this and shift to outdoor locations for later sessions if this is a fit. My intention is that even in the very first session, you will develop some new insights and begin to find relief.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
Many people use these terms interchangeably. I think of counselling as being more short-term work that is focused on immediate concerns, while psychotherapy may be longer-term work delving into more deep and enduring patterns. We can decide together how deep to go, and you can choose to work with me for as short or as long as feels right to meet your goals.
Is your practice inclusive of all genders and sexualities? How about of neurodivergent folks? Differing abilities? Other cultural backgrounds?
Yes! You are welcome here.
I strive to create an inclusive and accepting space. I regularly invest in building awareness and capacity so that I can support a diversity of folks to feel a sense of safety, comfort, and belonging. If there are unique needs that you have, let’s discuss them in a consultation and I will do my best to meet them. With that said, my perceptions, priorities, and understanding will be shaped by my lived experience, sometimes in unconscious ways that are limiting. You may find it helpful to work with someone who shares some of the same lived experiences and identities as you. If there are services that I’m aware of that may be well-suited, I am happy to share suggestions and to support you to connect with them.
What is your cancellation policy?
Your session time is reserved just for you and requires advance preparation. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves space in your therapist’s day that could have been offered to another client. As such, I require 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Clients who provide less than 24 hours notice or who miss their appointment will be charged 50% of the session fee (not covered by insurance). This fee must be paid before or at the time of your next appointment. Exceptions may be made for emergencies or unexpected illness at the therapist’s discretion.
Do you work with couples? Families?
At this time, I am offering individual sessions only. Counselling and therapy with couples or families requires specific training that I have not pursued and is therefore outside of my scope of practice.
How can I make the most of our sessions?
Great question! You don’t need to have anything prepared for our sessions – you can come as you are! With that said, it can be beneficial to create some additional time before and after our meetings for you to reflect and integrate your experiences. Between sessions, you are encouraged to pay attention to your emotions and habits; slow down when you can and bring a little bit of curiosity to your inside world, and notice where you’re suffering. This can help clarify where we can focus together. If you like to journal, this may be supportive in your process, and/or you might choose to share any new experiences or insights with other trusted people in your life, which can deepen and build on changes.
If you really want to dive in, this video offers an excellent summary that describes a bit about how therapy works and how you can best benefit.
