How much does this cost?

My fee is $150 per hour, plus GST. You should call your insurance company and ask if they cover counselling from a CCC. You’ll pay me and get a receipt to submit to them for reimbursement.

What if I’m Indigenous?

The First Nations Health Authority should pay for your sessions with me if you have Indian Status. I’ve served Indigenous clients and organizations on and off reserve, and I’m a Mental Health Service Provider for the FNHA. Specifically, I’m approved to work with the Mental Wellness and Counselling Program, the Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program, the Indian Day School Health Support Services, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Program. Look here.

What if I have a child with autism?

Autism Funding might pay for counselling or family counselling sessions. I’m approved as a service provider with them. I’ve had years of success connecting with amazing children and youth on the spectrum—including training and experience as a special education teacher. Look here!!

Can we talk or meet before I decide to book an appointment?

Sure. I offer a short, free consultation for new clients by phone, online, or in person. I understand that you might want to know what I’m like before you sit down and spend money on my services.

You charge GST?

The GST is controversial, since psychotherapists are the only healthcare professionals who are required to charge sales tax. Our professional organizations are lobbying the government about this. I’ll keep you posted.

What is a CCC?

That stands for Canadian Certified Counsellor. Counselling and psychotherapy are not regulated professions here in BC (which means anybody can call themself one), but there are organizations like the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) who support and govern their members. My designation means

1. I have a Masters degree and the required courses to do this work,

2. I keep my training up to date year after year,

3. I follow the CCPA code of ethics,

4. Many insurance plans will reimburse for our sessions.

Counselling, therapy, psychotherapy. What’s the difference?

Not too much. In fact, we could use any of those words to mean the same thing. When we talk about counselling, we sometimes mean working on solutions to practical problems. And when we talk about therapy, we often mean going a little deeper to look at the roots of what we’re going through. I use both words to describe my work because it includes both of those processes.

When we say psychotherapy, we’re either differentiating it from other kinds of therapy (physio, occupational, hormone, chemo, retail), or we’re trying to sound smart.

You don’t have many Google reviews. Why?

That’s an ethical matter. The CCPA Standards of Practice state that “Counsellors/therapists do not use testimonials by clients, or by relatives or friends of clients.” The confidentiality I provide includes not revealing the fact that you’re a client at all. If I ask you for a review, I’m telling the internet that you’re a client. That’s nobody’s business.

Also, my relationship with a client needs to be simple: I get paid and you get the absolute best therapy I can provide. It’s not an Uber ride, where we give each other 5 stars at the end.