What can I expect in my First Therapy Session?
A:Your first session is a consultation that involves: Information gathering to better understand what brings you to therapy and what you would like so that you no longer need therapy. The risks and benefits of attending therapy are explored, and the session includes the signing of a confidentiality agreement and client contract indicating informed consent. Questions to help shed light on your concerns and hopes are asked within a safe and non-judgmental environment, with honest curiosity and empathy. In collaboration we will set out a path for our future conversations with themes to explore, patterns to untangle and hopes to envision. As therapy is an emotional process, and equally outcome focused, your Therapist is sensitive to the fact that you have come in wanting to see change. We create goals and a timeline so that we can measure the success of our work. Therapy is an investment; your Therapist respects that it takes courage, time, and finances. Let’s create a difference.
Are Therapy Fees Covered By Insurance?
A: Clients are encouraged to connect with their HR or insurance provider to determine compatibility with their particular extended health benefit package before they make an initial appointment. It is helpful to find out your coverage limit and duration. To assist in finding out if you are covered for our sessions clients can share the following information with their providers:
Your Therapist is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist with the Ontario and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Your Therapist is supervised by a Registered Associate Psychologist.
Is the information shared confidential?
A: As a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist they are professionally bound to maintain strict confidentiality regarding the personal health information that clients disclose. Your Therapist does not release any information to another person or organization without their clients’ written and signed permission. The rare exceptions to this policy are mandated by law or health care regulation, and are clearly spelled out in the document clients receive prior to beginning therapy. Your Therapist is governed by all legislation covering psychotherapy in Ontario. Your Therapist also holds themselves accountable to the Code of Ethics of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. A Copy of the AAMFT’s Code of Ethics is available at The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.What are your Areas of Specialization?
Individual Therapy
Loss/grief, goal setting and empowerment, struggles with anger, past hurts (abuse/trauma), turning fear and anxiety into action, pain management, examining patterns and choices, and relational issues (finding them, keeping them, being true in them).
Through confidential and strength-based conversations, explore where you are and envision where you would like to be, and create ways to embrace change. Engage in conversations around living authentically, balanced and with a sense of purpose. Your Therapist recognizes that we are complex; and so are our problems. Our stories are layered. Your Therapist believes this does not mean intensive work but, rather, it means intentional work.
Couple Therapy
Separation/divorce prevention, affair recovery, and improved communication and intimacy.
As a trained Couple Therapist, their approach focus is on strengthening the foundation of your relationship and rebuilding friendship when there has been conflict or estrangement. In sessions, you will learn to honour each other’s feelings of hurt and distance, step outside of the situation and witness each other’s compassion and strength. You will then be able to rejoin and revisit the issue from a place of understanding and clarity.
Family and Parent Therapy
Parent and teen conflict, addressing challenging child behavior, parenting after divorce and remarriage.
As an experienced Family Therapist, your Therapist thrives on bringing families together in a room. Your Therapist embraces a collaborative style which empowers families to harness their intrinsic resources to address conflict/power struggles, strengthen parenting techniques, and overcome new obstacles that present themselves at different stages of a family’s life. In the mapping of interactional patterns, and getting a rich picture of your values and goals, the goals is to realign boundaries and explore roles and rules. This is particularly helpful in co-parenting, parent-teen issues, blended family relationships and families going through a divorce.
Child Therapy
Identifying feelings (anxiety, fears, loss, grief), building self-esteem, divorce, adjustment issues, social inclusion, bullying and behavioral concerns.
With over a decade of experience, your Therapist specializes in working with children using play as a means of exploring and inviting dialogue. Your Therapist is successful in helping children to better identify, understand and express their feelings; deal with fears and anxiety; and heal trauma. In honouring their feelings children feel safe and heard. This process empowers children to find healthier ways of coping so they’ll no longer need to use the identified “ behavioral problem” as a means of communicating their request for help.
What Are The Differences Between Mental Health Practitioners
This is a general overview.
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrist services are covered by OHIP. A referral by your family doctor is required. Psychiatrists are medical doctors whose focus is on prescribing medication, although some also provide counselling.
Registered Psychologist
Psychologist services can be accessed through company benefits (see above) or paid privately. Registered Psychologists hold doctoral level degrees in psychology in the province of Ontario. They do not prescribe medication and primarily provide psychological assessment and treatment. They are governed by a regulatory body, The College of Psychologists of Ontario. The rates for Psychologists are set by the College but are at the discretion of the psychologist, currently ranging from approximately $160 to $200 per session depending on years of experience.
Registered Social Worker
Social Worker services can be accessed through company benefits (see above) or paid privately. They do not prescribe medication and primarily help people develop the skills and the ability to use their own and community resources to resolve problems. They are governed by a regulatory body, the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers of Ontario. The rates for Social Workers vary in the area of $100-140 per session depending on years of experience.
Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Marriage & Family Therapist
These Services can be accessed through some company benefits (see above) or paid privately. These practitioners do not prescribe medication and primarily provide a broad range of psychotherapeutic services for relief of symptoms and relationship difficulties. A regulatory body is currently being established, The College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists. The rates for these practitioners vary in the area of $100-140 per session depending on years of experience.