Question 1

What types of training do you have?

Accepted Answer

I have a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of Alberta and a Masters of Counseling from City University of Seattle. All psychologists in the province of Alberta are at minimum required to have a master’s degree and undergo a minimum of 1600 hours of supervised practice, two exams, and ongoing professional development.

In addition, I am EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) trained. This is a treatment which uses bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements or tapping) to focus briefly on trauma memories. This treatment often reduces distress associated with trauma memories.

I am trained as a Circle of Security facilitator. This program helps parents provide emotional support to children aged 0-6 assist in the development of secure attachment and resilience.

I complete ongoing professional development courses in my various areas of interest including in therapeutic modalities, advanced EMDR trainings, trauma, attachment, and substance abuse (addictions).

Question 2

What are your areas of expertise?

Accepted Answer

My primary areas of practice are trauma and substance use disorders. Specifically, I enjoy working with relationship and attachment trauma, including childhood trauma, domestic violence, and sexual violence. I also enjoy doing work with parents who are struggling. When working with substance use disorders, I believe strongly in harm reduction and will work with clients at any point in their recovery – from clients who are not ready for sobriety but would like to explore reducing the hazards associated with substance use to clients who have several months or years of sobriety under their belts and would like to do maintenance work. The only caveat is that you must be sober at the time of your appointment in order to properly consent to the session and to process information in a meaningful way.

Question 3

Can you prescribe medications?

Accepted Answer

No. While psychologists have general knowledge around the different medications prescribed to help manage mental health conditions, we cannot prescribe or adjust medications. To get a prescription and for ongoing management of mental health medications, you must visit a medical doctor such as a family doctor or a psychiatrist.

Question 4

Tell me about you as a person

Accepted Answer

Generally speaking, I consider myself to be an extroverted introvert. I love seeing people one on one or in small groups and in small doses, but at the end of the day I like to go home to unwind by myself and feel more anxious in bigger groups. When I’m not busy chasing after a tiny human, I enjoy reading, doing puzzles, and sewing. I love thrift shopping and about half of what you see me wearing has probably been thrifted. I’ve recently returned to running after a multiple year hiatus and am learning to focus on running for the love of running rather than outcomes in terms of times, distance, and races. I’m a pretty big Harry Potter nerd (Hufflepuff for life) and my favorite superhero would have to be Iron Man or Spiderman. I enjoy traveling, and am planning some international trips in the coming yeras. In the meantime, I have focused on exploring the local beauty of Alberta and BC through road trips, tenting, and visiting my family in BC.

Question 5

What can I expect from my first session?

Accepted Answer

In your first session we will review the informed consent forms that you were sent before your session. If you have any questions, I will answer them before we move forward. We will then explore what brought you into counseling and what you are hoping to get out of the process. Generally the first session is spent with me asking a lot more questions and taking a lot more notes than usual so that I can get a good grasp of what is going on for you. After this, we will work together to come up with a plan for moving forward including different treatment approaches and frequency of therapy. If at any time you have questions about the process or are unsure about approaches I propose, please let me know and we will work to find something that is a good fit for you.

Question 6

How much do you charge? How do I go about payment?

Accepted Answer

The Psychologists’ Association of Alberta fee schedule recommends a rate of $235 per therapeutic hour of counselling services. One therapeutic hour consists of 50 minutes. I provide individual 50-minute counselling sessions for $220. I accept payment via credit card or eTransfer and will provide you with a receipt via email that you can submit for reimbursement through your insurance or for tax purposes (if applicable). A sliding fee scale may be available on a case-by-case basis - if we have discussed this, the rate we agreed upon will be used as your session rate.

I offer direct billing to Alberta Blue Cross, Telus Health, Green Shield and NIHB (first nations).

Question 7

What if I decide you aren't the right therapist for me?

Accepted Answer

Short answer: No worries!

Long answer: Just like any other relationship in your life, no one person is the right fit for everyone. This is why I am happy to provide free 15-minute consultations before you come on as a client so that we can both make sure we are a good fit for each other. If we’re past that point and you do a few sessions with me or your treatment goals and needs change after doing some work together, that is okay. My job is to help you get the best mental health care for you and that might not be me. If this is the case, I am happy to provide referrals to someone or a service that might be a better fit with no judgment or consequence to your treatment. I also welcome feedback if something about my style or something I said doesn’t quite jive with you and I will do my best to improve with all feedback.

Question 8

Do you give homework or reading to do between sessions?

Accepted Answer

Much like going to school or to visit a personal trainer, the work you put in outside of your time spent in the session will help determine the level of progress you make. While your therapy sessions are a great resource, they are only one tool and you will need to apply the skills you learn in a real world setting. Work outside a session may include reading, tracking things such as mood or alcohol intake, connecting with other health professionals, or making changes to your day-to-day routine and interactions. We will discuss the way you learn and process information best and I will try my best to adjust your homework to your individual learning style. I will provide rationale for all work provided outside of sessions and we will discuss it at the onset of your next session to see what works and what does not work for you.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions