The intake process typically spans the first few sessions. Prior to beginning therapy, I will send you consent forms as well as an optional background history form and for sex therapy clients, an optional sexual history form; this background information can help inform proper treatment planning. During the first few sessions, we spend time collaboratively forming an understanding of the main problems that have brought you to therapy as well as your goals for our work together; this can dovetail into treatment planning for the work together.

Therapy can look very different from person-to-person depending on the presenting concern and needs of the client. If you are primarily needing a place to unpack your experiences, therapy may initially take a more supportive role. If there are more specific goals you are hoping to work on, we may add more structure for you to target this. I have a number of modalities and competencies at my disposal to help with this, a list of which you can see here.

The investment

Financial: my 50-minute session fee is $225 for individual sessions and $250 for couples sessions

Time: change is most possible when therapy is regularly attended, especially in the beginning. Scheduling sessions more sporadically can be a helpful approach if you are simply needing support. I often advise clients who are wanting to do deeper work in therapy to start with a weekly or bi-weekly cadence in the beginning. While therapy can be supportive when it occurs monthly or sporadically, it is harder to gain traction on deeper work when it is done this way.

Emotional: therapy can be emotionally intense. It is not unusual for clients to feel a sense of increased emotionality at the beginning of therapy. Sometimes this shows up as an enthusiasm from the catharsis of getting going with therapy and other times it comes through as a more depressive sense of heaviness. When shining a light on the most sensitive parts of yourself and your life, the reasons that we may have been avoiding doing so may feel exposed. While all this is normal, I encourage us both to stay present throughout this process.

No. At this time, I am only offering virtual sessions, via a Canadian-run secure video-conferencing platform called Jane App.

Research has shown that virtual and in-Person therapy are both effective forms of treatment.

I personally had doubts about virtual therapy when it became more popularized throughout 2020 and onward. However, I have come to realize that there are a number of benefits for clients and here are some that I have noticed:

• Increased accessibility of therapy for people living outside of urban areas (increased access like this is especially important for specializations such as sex therapy)

• Minimizing the impact on people’s schedules by eliminating a commute

I always aim to have discussions with clients about setting up their therapy container — this can be through scheduling a bit of time before and after appointments to transition in an out of therapy (this can also be done within the therapy hour), minimizing distractions, and communicating to family or roommates about the needed privacy. I have also had clients who enjoy a private spot in an outdoor space while attending appointments.

When virtual care might not be a fit:

• You do not have a private space to access therapy

• You do not have stable internet access

No.

In Ontario, Registered Psychotherapists (RP) such as myself are not able to provide diagnoses, assess, or provide prescriptions for medications. Rather, RPs tend to focus on providing quality therapy. Clinical Psychologists are legally able to diagnose and assess, while doctors are able to do both as well as prescribe medications if needed.

Ontario’s healthcare system is currently in significant crisis resulting in an observable impact on quality and accessibility of care, including adequate psychological care; this can manifest in clients not being allotted enough time at doctor’s appointments to have proper conversations about concerns, diagnoses, and medication which can lead to prolonged delays in receiving assessments and treatment, improper adherence to treatment plans due to miscommunications and lack of understanding, lack of clarity about diagnoses and prognoses, and increased medical anxiety.

While I am not legally able to assess, diagnose, or provide medications, I do my best to stay educated and connected to better assist my clients within this context. Should you need a referral for private assessments or wish to discuss your feelings about your own challenges in this area or develop skills in patient self-advocacy or simply receive support navigating this, I am here to help.

48 hour’s notice of appointment change or cancellation. Cancellations made within 48 hours will incur a full session fee barring an emergency.

Once a session has been completed and payment received, a receipt will be sent to you, which will contain all necessary information for insurance claim submissions. I do not offer direct billing at this time.

Psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP, but often is covered by health insurance plans (e.g., student/employee healthcare plans). Please call your provider or check your plan to see if they cover services provided by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP).