Frequently Asked Questions

A free 15 minute consultation call is for  YOU. It is not mandatory. It's an opportunity for you to chat with your therapist to help determine if we feel like the right "fit" together. Research tells us that one of the largest predictors to therapy success is the relationship between the therapist and client. Let's discuss your goals, what treatment could look like together, scheduling and anything else you may want to ask. 

You have already taken the hardest step. You decided that therapy was something you wanted to look into. Let's take it slow and start with discussing what you would like to focus our time on, areas you may be struggling in, and those that are going well. We can keep it simple and walk through the whole journey together. This therapy is for you, and you get to design what you would like that to look like. 

Yes, phone support is available for some treatment plans. Chat with your therapist about this option. There are some treatment approaches that are best suited for video therapy, such as trauma treatments. 

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is talk therapy that is strongly evidence based. This means that there are decades of research to show that it can be successful in treating many mental health concerns including, but definitely not limited to: 

- Anxiety

- Depression

- Sleep disturbances

- Panic attacks/ panic disorders

- Trauma 

CBT is a goal focused therapy that aims to prioritize skill building, therefore, often providing long lasting benefits, well beyond therapy is complete. We will focus on what we can do now to make life a little more manageable.  CBT can help you identify and understand the interconnection of  your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and what is going on inside your body physically. 

Invoices will be provided after payment of your session.  You can then submit your invoice to your private insurance company or use it as a medical expense for your annual tax deductions. Please confirm with your private insurance company that therapy with a registered psychotherapist (RP) is covered. Sometimes a quick call or email to your insurance company is needed to confirm this. Unfortunately, we do not offer direct billing to insurance companies at this time.

Psychotherapy is a controlled act in Ontario, which means that it can only be provided by authorized regulated health professionals (same with dentistry or nursing). A registered psychotherapist (RP) has extensive training and supervision in mental health therapy to be able to register and maintain registry with the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario (CRPO). 

" Psychotherapy is primarily a talk-based therapy and is intended to help people improve and maintain their mental health and well-being. Registered Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples and families in individual and group settings. Psychotherapy occurs when the Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and client enter into a psychotherapeutic relationship where both work together to bring about positive change in the client’s thinking, feeling, behaviour and social functioning. Individuals usually seek psychotherapy when they have thoughts, feelings, moods and behaviours that are adversely affecting their day-to-day lives, relationships and the ability to enjoy life. " (CRPO website) 

You can visit www.crpo.ca for more information. 

In short-  a psychotherapists offers regulated mental health therapy.

The amount of sessions someone will require will depend on the client's own goals and progress in therapy. One of the benefits to receiving support in private therapy is that the client can design how often they will engage in therapy and for how long. The therapist and client may determine a recommended treatment plan, but ultimately, the decision is up to you. If the client's goals have been met and success in therapy has been maintained, the therapist will recommend that the client take the opportunity to use the skills learned in their own life and seek out support again  when needed. 

Booking a consultation call or your first session is easy. Simply follow the link below to go directly to my booking website. You can schedule and adjust your appointments directly online (no emailing or calling back and forth needed).

https://northernserenitytherapy.janeapp.com/#staff_member/1

 If none of the appointment times available work for you, then I would recommend reaching out by email so that we can see if there is a mutual time we can make work for us. I have greater flexibility to schedule in an initial consultation call, so don't hesitate to reach out to find a time that works for you.