All of our therapy services are conducted online, via private Zoom chats.

Not at all. Everyone needs help now and then. Reaching out for help takes courage and shows great strength. In our work together, we’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.

A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, psychotherapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of intense emotion, and you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.

Medication can be effective but it alone cannot solve all issues. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with psychotherapy. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths to help you accomplish your personal goals. You might even find that with effective therapy you no longer need the same doses or medications to keep you healthy – this is an important conversation to have with your doctor if you feel it is right for you.

Because each person has different issues and goals for psychotherapy, it will be different depending on the individual. We tailor our therapeutic approach to your specific needs. Together we come up with a plan, and regularly check in to see if we need to adjust or add anything. There may be skills you practice throughout the week between sessions to help get the most out of your experience.

Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time it takes to accomplish your goals depends on so many complex factors. That said, the type of therapy we offer takes time to go deep. Chances are, you’ve been impacted by hard things for years, if not decades – that level of complexity and pain is not going to be healed in a few weeks. We will check in as you go to ensure you’re getting the support you need and are feeling like our work is valuable. Some clients see us for a few months, some clients stay for years – we’re happy to support you at the level that works best for you.

Here is an idea of whether weekly, biweekly, or more periodic session might work for you.

Weekly sessions: these are the most cost effective over the long run, as you can get to where you want with less sessions overall, due to the sessions being closer together (feel free to ask me how). Weekly sessions are good for folks who know they will be going through a difficult time, who are dealing with complex mental health issues, who like to have a regular weekly support in place, who are just starting therapy with me, or who want to get feeling better quickly.

Biweekly sessions: these are every two weeks and are great for folks who want consistent support but cannot afford weekly sessions, who are working through issues still and wanting improvement in their mental health (but whose lives are calmer overall, or whose support needs are less complex), or who are wanting a bit more space between sessions to practice skills while still having a regular support.

Monthly, or anything longer than biweekly: this is considered a “maintenance dose” for the type of therapy I provide. It is great for folks who have achieved their goals (or mostly achieved them) and are wanting a top-up to maintain what they’ve achieved, or who want a check-in appointment when life is going well. This is not a great option for those still wanting to increase their coping skills, emotion management, or who are going through tough times, as the time between sessions is too long to be able to do the deeper work required for change to happen and can lead to frustration in the process.

If you have any questions or concerns about anything related to scheduling, pacing of sessions for you, etc. please reach out to your therapist and they will do what they can to support you.

We are so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success. Some things that help the process along include booking regular sessions and showing up on time; following through with practicing skills throughout the week; and communicating regularly with your therapist what is working and what is not.

In a world that reminds us so often that our emotions and thoughts are somehow “wrong”, it makes sense that there is a nervousness to sharing more vulnerable parts of ourselves, especially when you haven’t known us for very long (or even met us yet). Trust and safety are something that we build with you slowly, and we move at a pace that feels okay for you. Most of the time, we are our own biggest critics.

Our team comes from a compassionate and sensitive perspective, and we can help you build your own self-compassion. Many clients are surprised at how relieved they are after opening up about their own personal issues, and hearing that we understand, and that they aren’t alone. At the same time, we go at a pace that you set, and you get to decide what to share and how much. You will never be expected to share something that doesn’t feel okay for you – in fact, we might help you slow down at times so that you’re not getting too triggered while telling us overwhelming or vulnerable things.

We are here to support you with the emotional side of your chronic illness, which can make it easier to manage, and increase your quality of life, energy, and mood. For physical treatment and medical advice, it is important to see a doctor or qualified healthcare professional that you trust. We can work alongside them and be a member of your team, which can often help lead to more positive results.