Many people come to therapy when life feels heavy, confusing, or “stuck.” You don’t need to be in crisis. They are struggling to make sense of things on their own and feel that they need some support. Sometimes therapy is simply a space to understand yourself more deeply or find new ways to relate to others. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure who you are anymore, that’s often a sign that therapy could help you reconnect with your sense of self.

The initial consult is simply a chance for us to meet, get a sense of each other, and begin understanding what brings you to therapy. This will help you feel out if we are a good fit with no pressure. We’ll discuss what’s been difficult, what you hope for, and what helps you feel safe. You don’t have to know exactly what to say — we’ll figure it out together.

It depends on what you’d like to work on. Some people come for short-term support around a specific challenge. Deep diving into trauma can take longer. Over the course of our work together, we will continually check in around pacing. Most people come more frequently to start (once a week or once every other week), and then move to scheduling sessions as needed.

I offer trauma-informed therapy grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and somatic approaches. These are what we call bottom-up modalities. Most of us are used to “intellectualizing”, or processing emotions and trauma through thinking. Bottom-up processing can be the missing piece for many people, especially those who have gone to therapy before and still experience symptoms. In our sessions, we’ll explore the different parts of you — including the ones that carry pain or protect you from it — with compassion and curiosity. We will also tune into what your body is communicating to you. Over time, this process helps people feel more whole, connected, confident, and at peace with themselves.

My current fee is $150 per session, in accordance with the BCACC’s recommended fee schedule. Most extended health benefits plans (i.e. through school or an employer) cover some counselling with a Registered Clinical Counsellor, but it’s best to check your individual policy. You will receive a receipt after each session, which you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Unfortunately, at this time, therapy isn’t covered under any provincial health plan in Canada. However, in BC, most health authorities do have programs that offer short-term counselling, such as Duncan Mental Health.

There is no real difference — practitioners who provide therapy just have different titles depending on the province. I know — confusing! Let’s break down some of the common acronyms you might see when looking for a therapist in BC. In British Columbia, we have two main professional associations for Masters-level counsellors: the BCACC and the CCPA. They are more or less equivalent and result in either a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) or Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) designation. Registration with a professional association is extremely important because it validates a practitioner’s credentials and ensures they are accountable to a code of ethics. Another acronym you might see is RSW, which stands for Registered Social Worker. These clinicians have either a Bachelor or Masters degree in Social Work.

Online therapy is held through a secure video platform that meets Canadian privacy standards (Jane). You can join on a computer or phone. This is a great option for people who prefer to be in their own space, who have mobility or health concerns that make it difficult to come in person, or who live outside the area. Many people have shared with me that they were surprised to find that online therapy doesn’t feel much different than in person. You’ll need a private space, a stable internet connection, and ideally headphones for comfort.

This is an incredibly common experience. Did you know that there are over 500 trademarked therapeutic approaches? There are endless possibilities for what therapy can look like based on a therapist’s personality, communication style, and preferred approaches. I encourage you to read therapist bios, ask questions, book multiple consults if possible, and trust your gut — therapy works best when you feel seen and safe with your therapist. It can also be helpful to research a little bit about the therapeutic approaches a clinician uses (i.e. CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, EMDR, CPT, just to name a few). These approaches are remarkably different and drastically change what therapy looks like.