The first session is a bit different than subsequent sessions - we'll spend some time discussing consent and confidentiality as well as the counselling process itself. I will likely ask you more questions than I would in later sessions to get to a sense of what your challenges are, your background, and what your goals are for counselling. First sessions are about getting to know each other and forming a plan for our work together. 

Firstly, you’re not broken! Though it’s understandable that you may sometimes feel this way. 

There is seldom a quick fix or cure to feeling better, but over time, the challenges you may be facing should start to feel easier as you learn new skills, gain new perspectives, and move forward with more confidence. Counselling is a collaborative process between client and the counsellor that takes time and commitment. Setting realistic goals and expectations combined with having the desire to work towards change helps create lasting shifts. 

Clinical counsellors help individuals with a wide range of concerns related to mental health. To become a clinical counsellor requires a master's degree in counselling (or a related field) from an accredited post-secondary institution, required counselling coursework, and at least 100 hours of clinical supervision (typically accomplished through a clinical practicum). Clinical counsellors are those who have the education and experience to become registered with either the BCACC (to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor (or RCC) in BC) or with the CCPA (to become a Certified Clinical Counsellor (or CCC) in Canada). 

In BC psychologists require a doctorate degree such as a PhD or PsyD. In addition to providing therapy, they can also provide assessments to diagnose individuals with mental health disorders (per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders). Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health; they can provide therapy, diagnose, and write prescriptions. 

At this time I don't do direct billing, but you will be issued an invoice that can be submitted to be claimed through extended health benefits through work or post-secondary. The dollar amount or number of sessions differs depending on what type of insurance or benefits you have, so it's good to check to clarify what is covered for you. 

I also am a provider for WorkBC through the Career Centre in Parksville as well as the Metis Nation of British Columbia.

To help reduce financial barriers to accessing counselling, I offer reduced rates for post-secondary students. If you are not a student but experiencing financial hardship that may make it more difficult to access psychotherapy, please contact me to learn more. 

Part of what makes counselling work is that it is confidential, so everything we discuss will be kept between us. However, there are a few exceptions in which confidentiality may need to be broken: 

1) If there is imminent risk of self-harm, or risk of harm to someone else. 

2) If there is suspicion or known harm to child or vulnerable adult. 

3) If there is information requested by court subpoena or third party such as an insurance company

Otherwise, you can request to have your information shared to a third party with written consent. 

I require 48 hours notice to cancel sessions (unless there's an extenuating event such as illness). This allows for a greater probability for me to fill the space in my schedule that was reserved for the session. 

At this time I do not, as my current liability insurance only applies to work with residents of BC.