Frequently Asked Questions
It can take a lot to get to the point where you even feel ready to try therapy. Then, when you finally take that step and type “therapist near me” into google you end up flooded with so many options and just as my questions to go with it. I’m here to make things a bit easier.
Looking for Therapy in BC
What can I gain from therapy?
One of my favourite ways to explain therapy is to harken back to the classic thought experiment that asks “if a tree falls in a forest but no-one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” I believe that we will naturally relate to and understand our inner world differently when we invite another person to explore it with us out loud, rather than simply in our own heads. Part of my job as a therapist is to be a compassionate witness, intent listener, and provoking question-asker — in other words, to be there to hear whatever trees may be falling in your inner forest — and this ultimately creates space for people to increase their self-awareness, get curious about their life patterns, reflect on and explore their history, and deepen their relationship with themselves. These inner changes can then often lead to outer changes, such as relating with others differently, managing distress in new ways, pivoting our life direction, and overall living in more accordance with our values. I could go on about the potential benefits from therapy forever, but be mindful that these are all just possibilities. Ultimately, your experience will be your own and we won’t be able to know what exactly you will gain until you try it!
How do I know the difference between a counsellor, social worker, psychologist, and psychiatrist in BC?
This is a very common question with a bit of a lengthy answer! Click here for my blog post that dives deeper into the topic.
How do I find the right therapist for me?
This is another common question with a detailed answer! The good news with this is that there is likely way more than one therapist out there who could be very helpful for any one person, but the hard part is it can be very overwhelming. My number one tip for finding a therapist who is a good fit for you is to utilize lots of those free 15 minute consultations and pay close attention to how you feel during the process — remember that talking to a lot of different therapists to see who feels like a fit is completely normal and encouraged! If you want more suggestions you can read my blog post about it here.
About Tiny Sanctuary Counselling
How long are counselling sessions?
We will start with the traditional 50 minute counselling appointment to see how that fits for you. If you find you need more time, I also offer 80 minute appointments which we can schedule in advance or tack on in the moment if my schedule allows. There is always an extra ten minutes on the hour for us to wind down, schedule our next sessions, recommend good TV shows, and for me to write notes.
What happens during the first counselling session?
First off, I want to normalize that you may feel nervous leading up to and during your first session. This is completely understandable - you’re doing something new and bravely sharing parts of yourself with a new person! I encourage you to feel free to open up about these nerves and to remember that this feeling should typically subside pretty quickly.
During our first counselling appointment we will review an informed consent process and then focus on getting to know each other. Some of the questions I may ask you include what brought you to therapy, what you hope will change over time, and what has helped you up until now. Most importantly, this is a time for you to also get to know how it feels to be supported by me a bit more. If you would like to get a brief sense of how a first appointment might feel with me, I encourage you to book a 15 minute free consultation here.
How often will I need to come to counselling?
Everyone is unique, so what works best for you is what we will focus on figuring out together. There is evidence that regular therapy appointments often lead to quicker and greater improvement, so I usually encourage some consistency such as weekly or biweekly appointments to start. However, I understand that you probably don’t want to be in therapy forever, so over time we can evaluate and change our pacing as needed. Eventually, you’ll graduate!
How long will I need to come to counselling?
The length of therapy will vary greatly depending on the person and their unique needs and goals. I have experience providing short-term therapy (which has ranged from as few as 6-12 appointments) and long-term therapy (which can vary greatly depending on the person’s goals, needs, and resources). Both can be beneficial, although our focus will be different depending on how much time we have.
I encourage you to be mindful that deeper therapy work takes much more than a few sessions for a number of reasons, including the process of building a trusting relationship with me. Our life difficulties typically don’t emerge overnight, thus it also takes some time to start noticing and changing our patterns too.
How much do sessions cost?
My hourly rate is $140/hour (this includes an approximately 50 minute session + 10 minutes for wind-down and writing notes), based on guidelines created by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors, and is subject to GST. I also offer prorated hour and a half appointments for those who need a bit more time.
Are sessions covered by my insurance?
Registered Clinical Counsellors are covered by many extended benefit plans. I do not provide direct billing, but I will provide you with a my RCC number and a receipt after each session so that you can submit for reimbursement to your respective extended benefit plan.
Do you have evening and weekend appointments available?
I regularly provide early and later evening appointments. I don’t consistently provide weekend appointments, but if this is an issue for you I encourage you to bring it up with me to discuss.
Where do sessions take place?
Because I provide online therapy, practically anywhere for BC residents! As long as you have a private, quiet space with a good, secure internet connection, we should be good to go. I use a secure, PIPEDA compliant platform called Jane for all of my practice management, including hosting video therapy. I have some suggestions for how to set yourself up for the best virtual therapy possible here.
Who do you work with?
I typically work with people aged 15 and up. Some of my specialties include anxiety, grief, loss, life transitions, and suicide prevention; while these are some of my areas of focus, I was trained as a generalist. In other words, much of my training focuses on HOW I help you approach challenges, not what your specific “problem” is. Ultimately, one of the strongest predictors for improvement is that we build a therapeutic relationship that feels comfortable, open, and trusting. If you aren’t sure whether we would be a good fit, schedule a free 15 minute consultation here and I’ll make it easy to figure out!
What if counselling isn't working?
It can take a little while to notice the benefits of counselling. However, counselling is not always a fit for every person or every problem. Nor is any one counsellor the right fit for any client. I don’t want you to waste your valuable time or money, which means that I will continuously check in about how counselling is going. I also encourage you to provide me with feedback at any time. During our check-ins we will discuss any changes you have noticed and how you feel about how things are going with me, including anything that isn’t working so well. If things aren’t improving, I will either switch things up, help you find a therapist that is better for you, or help you find a different type of support.
It can feel like a big step to call a counsellor, but I’ll make it easy. We’ll spend 15-minutes meeting in my virtual office and I’ll let you know how or if I can help. If I am not the right person, I’ll do my best to get you to the right person.
Contact me here to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation for online therapy in B.C.
Email me here if there are any questions I didn’t get to above!
