How does counselling help?
For emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, grief, stress, shame, and reactions to trauma or abuse, counselling can help you understand why you feel and react the way you do and explore more effective ways of expressing and coping with your feelings.
It can also help you to find alternatives for change and a context where you can free yourself to move on with your life. You can stop re-living old memories and put them in the past where they belong.
For relationship difficulties, counselling can help individuals or couples to clarify the source of conflict or misunderstanding, improve communication and problem solving skills, learn to understand and forgive each other, and lay a foundation for reconnecting.
Alternately, some couples find counselling helpful as they bring a relationship to an end in a way which reduces the conflict and allows both partners to move on.
Counselling can also help you if you are facing a difficult decision. It will not tell you what to do but can provide a more objective perspective, and sometimes the use of tools such to assist in exploring and evaluating options.
How long does counselling take?
Some people find that one or two sessions may be enough to help them clarify specific questions. Others, with more complex issues or long lasting emotional pain, may benefit from longer term counselling. You are free to stop counselling at any time. My goal as a counsellor is to help people reach a place where they do not need me.
How long and frequent are sessions?
Most sessions are 50 minutes long.
Some people come weekly while others come on alternate weeks. Occasionally other session lengths or frequencies may better fit your specific needs. TIR sessions, for example, usually take more than an hour.
Who pays for counselling and how much does it cost?
B.C.’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) does not cover counselling. However, you may have access to other sources of full or partial coverage. For example, extended medical insurance through work often reimburses a certain amount toward a psychologist’s services. ICBC funds counselling for individuals who have recently been impacted by a motor vehicle incident. Victims of crime and people with First Nations status may also be eligible for coverage for counselling. There are often limits to what these sources of funding cover or how much they reimburse.
If you do not have outside coverage for your counselling, you will need to pay directly. My basic fee is $195 per 50 minute session but I am willing to apply a sliding scale for clients with limited financial resources. My current minimum fee is $70 per 50 minute session. Psychologist’s fees can usually be claimed as a health care expense on your tax return – ask your tax advisor.
How do I pay?
Payment is by credit or debit card, e-Transfer, cash or cheque. I can direct bill ICBC, First Nations Health, Crime Victims Assistance and some insurance companies on your behalf.
Is counselling confidential?
Yes! I do not reveal confidential information to anyone without clients’ permission except under specific rare situations where it is required by law or the ethics of my profession such as: if a child is being abused, if someone’s life is in danger, or if I receive a subpoena.