Will my information be kept confidential?

Absolutely. No information will be shared with any individual or group without your written consent.

What can I expect from counselling?

At the beginning of the first session, I will ask you to read and sign a consent form. Then, I carry out an assessment. This part of the session gives you a chance to describe your concerns, and allows me to ask questions about your lifestyle, medical and mental health, relationships, etc…

How the session proceeds depends on what is troubling you. If, for example, you are struggling with depression or anxiety, i may ask you about life factors, coping strategies, and personal beliefs that may be contributing to your difficulties. If trauma is a factor, we can review options for trauma therapy. Whereas grief counselling tends to be unstructured, therapy for stress management is more directive, and i could teach you relaxation techniques (e.g., deep breathing, muscle relaxation), meditation techniques, problem-solving strategies, and suggest readings. What this means is that my approach will vary depending on your needs.

By the end of the first session, both you and I will have a clearer sense of:

1.What’s bothering you

2. How you want therapy to help

3. Blind spots we can address.

4. How I can help.

Therapy can be profound, rewarding, silly, sad, meditative, comforting, surprising, educational. It is an interactive, objective, and collaborative process.

Taking part in therapy can be one of the more worthwhile things any person can do, and as a therapist it is my passion to be involved in such a meaningful and beneficial process.

What is the goal of counselling?

Some goals of counselling:

• Challenge negative, irrational thinking
• Improve relationships
• Live a more productive life
• Understand yourself and others
• Feeling that your needs are heard
• Learn healthy ways of communicating and interacting
• Past, present, or future-oriented
• Develop confidence and trust your instincts
• Feeling a sense of purpose and belonging
• Prevent problems before they become unmanageable
• Increase your sense of resilience and coping skills
• Begin or continue to process trauma, loss, or a difficult event at your own pace
• View transitions as positive challenges
• Increase your sense of hope for the future
• See your life from a new perspective
• Address “unfinished business”
• Avoid depression by staying connected with others