What Does Therapy Look Like?

We meet. One-on-one. In-person or Online.

Talk Therapy: I’ll ask you questions so we can expand our awareness and understanding of your situation. I’ll listen and actively engage in a two-way dialogue with you.

Somatic-Focus: Depending on your comfort level, I will also guide you to notice what your body is communicating to you through your posture, body language, and physical sensations as we dialogue.

Keep scrolling to learn more about what therapy entails.

Psychosocial

Existential

Identity

Spirituality

What happens in session?

Exploring

I’ll be asking you lots of questions about yourself with the aim of understanding who you are, your relationships, what you value, how your mind and body processes your experiences, what you are struggling with, and more.

listening

I’ll be listening to what you are saying, what you are really saying, and what you are not saying–if you get my drift. My aim is to fully understand your experience and what you’re describing. My personal style is that there isn’t a clipboard and a notepad–just me! I’m fully focused on you in session.

attuning

Attunement is listening in an embodied way. I’ll be attuning to what you say, as well as how you say it: your body language, posture, tone of voice, facial expressions and other cues that communicate your emotional experience. Attunement allows us to set the pace and direction of therapy so that the process is in alignment with you.

Dialoguing

Although listening is anything but passive, it can sometimes feel that way to clients. At times I take a more receptive stance in session, but often I’ll be actively participating in the dialogue: asking questions, sharing my impressions, offering information, and challenging ways of thinking/being so we can expand your understanding of yourself.

Educating

I will provide information, research, and resources that may be helpful to enhance your understanding of yourself and your suffering and that would provide support for your healing and recovery. I will also teach helpful techniques and tools to use outside of session.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for session?

Before upcoming sessions, it is helpful to set an intention by thinking about what you’d like us to focus on. This helps to ensure you are getting the most of your session. Some clients like to take notes during session and will bring notebooks/journals.

It can also be helpful to schedule/factor in time to rest and decompress after your session.

Do you offer sliding scale rates?

Therapy isn’t always the most accessible, especially if you don’t have coverage. I do offer some sliding scale options in special circumstances. If you cannot afford the full fee, I encourage you to inquire about this during the intake call and we can discuss possible options further.

How do I know if you can help me?

How long/how often do people usually go to therapy for?

There is no set amount of sessions you have to attend, and everyone is different in terms of what they need. This is the same for frequency – you get to decide how often you would like to come. You also have no obligation to continue coming for therapy and you can stop at any time.

Are there specific areas of focus or types of approaches you do not work with or specialize in?

Yes – if the following concern(s) are your main concern that you want to focus on, then I recommend seeking a therapist who specializes in these areas:

  • OCD
  • Psychosis and related conditions
  • BPD (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is most often recommended)
  • Eating disorders (active)
  • Addiction

    Approaches I don’t specialize in:
  • Child & adolescent therapy
  • Couples & family counselling
  • EMDR
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)