FAQs
What is a Certified Canadian Counsellor?
The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association is a nationally recognized regulatory body that ensures its members meet a high level of education, training and supervision to ensure that their practitioners are equipped to provide a high level of service to their clients.
As someone with this certification, I must follow their code of ethics, continue my education to ensure that I am providing the most current and evidence-based practice, and collaborate with other professionals in the field to ensure that this continued education benefits my clients.
What is ACTA?
The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA) is a provincial body that regulates the therapy and counselling profession within Alberta. ACTA ensures that all of their members obtain certain levels of education, abide by certain ethical codes of conduct and also continue their education yearly to ensure the best practices are being implemented with clients.
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This regulatory body also protects our clients! They operate in the best interest of the client and ensure that practitioners are doing no harm.
What can I expect at the first visit?
Our first session generally is about 90 minutes, however I bill only for an hour. During this time, we will review the consent form that you completed, and I will complete an intake form. I approach counselling from a holistic perspective as often our internal struggles can be expressed externally, so I like to understand how you are doing as a whole. We will also explore what brought you to therapy and what you would like to work on.
What experience do you have?
Major Life transitions Military culture & lifestyle Front line health care workers Workplace Bullying & Harassment
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Career Exploration Sandwich Generation Feminist Theory Mental/Emotional Load Autism ADHD Au/ADHD
Personality Disorders Addictions Anxiety Depression Trauma C-PTSD PTSD Chronic Pain Exhaustion Burnout
Chronic Worry/Stress Terminal Illness Greif/Loss Chronic Illness Gender Identity Sexuality Childhood Abuse & Trauma
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Intimate Partner Violence Parenting Strategies
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Fees, insurance, sliding scale, free sessions
Intake sessions are approximately 90 minutes but regular sessions are 50 minutes long and are charged at $75/per hour. Our first intake session is a flate rate of $90/for 90 minutes.
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Many insurance companies will accept a receipt for a "counsellor or therapist" that is certified by a regulatory body such as the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Please check your extended benefits for more information.
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If you are facing financial hardship, please contact me. I take on a limited number of sliding-scale and no-charge clients.
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What age groups do you work with?
Adults (over 18 years old)
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My Education & Experience
Bachelor in Psychology & Anthropology
Understanding what drives people and how they move within their family systems, how they are affected by their experiences to shape who they are now is important in understanding ourselves on a deeper level.
I worked in behavioral consulting, educating families and care home staff as well as developing and implementing behavioral programs.
Bachelor of Social Work
For the last ten years I have worked as a medical social worker. I worked with adults and their families who were facing many chronic illnesses, traumatic life transitions, PTSD, mental health conditions, personality disorders, family estrangement, addictions, grief, terminal illness, and dementia.
Masters in Counselling Psychology
Many people I worked with in the health care system were experiencing the effects of a lifetime of trauma, unmet needs and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
I truly believe that we all want to live with purpose and authenticity. Helping people explore who they are and how their experiences have shaped their lives frees them to move toward the life that they want and deserve.