I don’t really like the term psychotherapy because it sometimes comes with a lot of baggage and stigma, but simply put: It  is the process of meeting with a therapist to work on problematic behaviours, beliefs, feelings, relationship issues, and/or somatic responses (sensations in the body).

Psychotherapy is primarily a talk-based therapy and is intended to help people improve and maintain their mental health and well-being.  Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples and families in individual and group settings. Psychotherapy occurs when the Psychotherapist and client enter into a therapeutic 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.

Seeking out and starting therapy can be the first step toward being the healthiest version of yourself and living your best life. No matter what you’re going through, therapy can help  change self-destructive behaviours and habits, help you process painful feelings, improve your relationships, and help you live a life worth living

 In Ontario, Psychotherapy is a “controlled act,” which means it may only be performed by authorized health care professionals. Professionals that provide the controlled act of psychotherapy are called psychotherapists. Registered Psychotherapists (RPs) are registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). In Ontario, members of six regulatory colleges are authorized to provide the controlled act of psychotherapy provided they do so in compliance with the regulations and the bylaws established by their regulatory colleges.

There are many different professionals that can work in the field of mental health and have multiple titles: Case Managers, Mental Health Counsellors, Mental Health Workers, etc. It can hard to differentiate between these titles and what they do because there is no set definition, and there is also no regulation around them. Those professionals cannot provide the controlled act of psychotherapy.

These regulations were created to protect the public so it is wise to choose a therapist who is a member of a credible professional body and who is insured to practice. 

As I mentioned,  members of six regulatory colleges are authorized to provide the controlled act of
psychotherapy In addition to Registered Psychotherapists, these are: practitioners who are
registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, Ontario College of Social Workers and Social
Service Workers, College of Nurses of Ontario, College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, and
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Which is why as a social worker I can also be a psychotherapist ! 

Different than the other colleges above, social workers are also trained to look at your problems at a more systemic level and their training is often based in Anti-Oppressive Practice! 

* Keep in mind often times insurance plans will only cover Social Workers or Psychologists for psychotherapy services

I provide 20 min complimentary phone consult to help you learn more about what therapy with me looks like, consult on how to help a family member or friend access therapy, or ask me questions before deciding to book a session. A consult is about me and sharing my knowledge and skill set. 

An Individual Session is where the magic happens (okay less magic, more hard work). It’s where I start getting to know you better and we start working on the the reasons you came here to begin with. You can still ask me all the questions you want, but this is more about you and less about me. 

If you’ve never been to therapy before, you might wonder what it is you should expect from your first session. Simply put, the first session is all about getting to know you ! 

I usually ask you what has brought you to therapy, what are your present pains and struggles, but also about your interests, your relationships and goals. Think of it like a free-flowing conversation with some questions thrown in. The only difference is that I usually take notes so I remember everything we talked about. 

During the first session we usually also talk about expectations from therapy and develop some sort of plan. Depending on our plan you might have “homework” or an activity or exercise to do between this session and the next.

After your session, you should reflect on your experience and check in with yourself! How did you feel your first session went? How would you feel about going to another one with me? You might feel better or a little relieved, but you might also feel a little bit of anxiety after sharing your life with a stranger. 

It is also really important to ask yourself how you felt about your therapist specifically. Did you feel comfortable talking with me? Did you feel like we could work together over the long-term? I am always open to your feedback and would love to chat about how I could make you more comfortable, but, if you feel uncomfortable for any reason, it might be a good idea to find someone else. Therapy is a very personal process,  and it is important to find the right fit! 

How long therapy lasts depends on you specific circumstances and needs. Some people come to therapy with a very specific issue or concern, that can be addressed in 4-6 sessions. Other people come in with issues that run a little deeper and may choose to be in therapy for months or maybe even years. 

Usually I like to discuss your expectations and make a plan early on. I usually like to start with one session a week for a month then move to every other week if you feel comfortable doing so. Clients sometimes come back for “booster” sessions or will come back for a few weeks in a row to discuss a specific issue that has come up. 

Factors such as time and financial factors often also play a big role in how long you engage in therapy. 

Long answer short: It’s different for everyone!

My fee is $120/session.

I provide a student rate and sliding scale in some circumstances.