Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately I’m not taking on old or new clients at this time and I do not keep a waiting list.

I am a registered pscyhotherapist in good standing with the Ontario College of Psychotherapists, as well as a Certified Canadian Counselor.

I have a masters degree in Counselling and Spirituality from St. Paul University, and post graduate certificate in Couple and Family Counselling.  

Being a strong believer in professional development, I have completed training in Somatic Experiencing, Level 2 trained PACT therapist, Neurobiogical Impact of Trauma, Shame & Self Loathing in trauma resolution, Advanced Object Relations Therapy &  Self Psychology, EMDR Level 1 trained.  

Currently, I am completing a post-masters training in developmental trauma and am a NARM certified therapist.

Finding the right therapist is crucial for success.  Research has consistently shown that the fit between a client and practitioner is an essential ingredient in the change process.  “The Right Fit” can be seen as feeling comfortable and understood by your therapist, and when they don’t understand they make strides to ‘get it’.  You feel respected and the therapist works hard to keep things at your pace and helps you see things in a different light.  

Figuring these things out can take some time.  My hope is that you browse the content of my website to get a feel for who I am and how I work.  

I welcome you to request a free 15-minute telephone consult so that we can chat over the phone in order to help you arrive at your decision.  

My services as a psychotherapist are covered by some insurance plans. It is important that you check with your service provider to avoid any surprises.  My practice is also supervised by a clinical psychologist, a fact which may assist in you accessing insurance benefits.  I am happy to help answer any additional questions about this.  You will be given a receipt at the end of each session which you can use for reimbursement.  

My office is at 301 Metcalfe Street, on the 3rd floor at Metcalfe and Lewis.  The office is also easily accessible by OC Transport.

My office is located on the third floor, which requires using two flight of stairs.  There are gender neutral washrooms in the hallway.  The office has a waiting room on each floor, and we ask that clients respect the quiet of the space by making telephone calls in the hallway and using headphones to listen to music/videos/games.

Individual sessions are 50 minutes in length. Couples sessions are between 1.5-2 hrs in length. Couples sessions are longer to ensure we have adequate time to address your needs.  

There is always a little bit of flexibility, but my office hours are typically 

Tuesday to Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm

Everything you say to me is kept strictly confidential; however, there are limits to confidentiality that will be explained to you during our first session.  If I ever need to break confidentiality; I will always do my utmost to inform you before doing so.

As a trauma therapist, I am trained in understanding how both your brain and your body respond to trauma.  That means that my interventions are informed by the science behind trauma and its legacy on the brain and relationships, as well as your own individual capacity to tolerate strong emotions.

I wish there were a straight forward answer to this, but individual experiences vary.  Most people tend to feel an improvement within 4-5 sessions.  It is important to me that we are reaching your goals, so I will frequently ask for feedback about the process and how you are doing.

I’m not taking on new clients at this time. 

There is no straightforward answer to this question.  There are many various factors that a person should consider when deciding how often they want to attend sessions.  Ultimately, the choice is yours.  This choice will be informed by how intense things may be happening in your life at the moment, which might mean coming more often. It will also be informed by schedule, financial resources, and a thousand other variables.  

As a general rule, clients attend appointments more frequently at the beginning and space out appointments as momentum for our work together builds.  Although this isn’t a rule, in my experience, sessions that are spaced out in excess of three weeks can feel like too much of the session is spent playing catch-up as opposed to addressing your goals for the appointment.

Somatic Experiencing (SE), developed by Peter Levine, is  a body oriented, nervous system informed approach to  trauma resolution. SE is a gentle non-pathologizing approach that looks at how the body responds to overwhelm, and how your natural threat response cycle of fight/flight/freeze can get stuck in the body.  When you experience trauma, it impairs your ability to be fully present and responsive to life. As a holistic, strength-based approach, SE helps to bring balance back to your nervous system, enabling you to be fully present to life

Check out this article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-intelligent-divorce/201503/somatic-experiencing

Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute: https://traumahealing.org/about-us/#about

Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT), it is a cutting edge approach that integrates neuroscience, attachment theory, and human biology to help couples overcome the challenges they face.  In this approach, the therapist’s interventions are informed by understanding how the brain works and the physiological basis for how people act and react within relationships.  The therapist also understands the biological need for others and how early relationships establish a blueprint that informs the safety and security you bring into adult relationships.  This approach is also informed by the biology of human arousal — the moment-to-moment availability to manage your energy, alertness, and readiness to engage. 

The PACT therapist will help you and your partner to discover ways to stay connected, how to fight well, and how to manage each other’s emotional states.  

In this style of therapy, the therapist focuses on moment-to-moment shifts in your face, body and voice, and will ask you to pay attention to those of your partner.  The therapist will also create experiences similar to those troubling your relationship and help you to work through them in real time during the session.  (Content adapted from www.thepactinstitute.com).

Check out creator Stan Tatkin’s Ted talk.