FAQ
Sessions and Therapy Process
How long are sessions? Sessions are 50 minutes in length.
How long do I need to do therapy for? The answer to this question is complex and depends on what your goals are, your engagement level and capacity to engage with what we discuss outside of sessions, your life circumstances, and various other factors. Generally, the type of therapy I provide leans towards longer duration. Deeper inner work on self acceptance, identifying needs, attachment, etc. is slow work and the changes often happen slowly over months to years. More surface level work like learning skills and strategies or more solution-focused work tends to be quicker - for some clients 10 - 15 sessions may suffice. Duration of therapy is not something I can guarantee up front and is something that we collaboratively determine as we work together.
What is the intake process like? I always start with a free consult video call. This call is around 20 minutes to half an hour and gives us both a chance to meet each other. I will ask you a few questions to determine whether I am the right therapist to help you out, or whether I might know another therapist that could be better suited to help you. You will also get a chance to ask me any questions you would like in order to determine whether I am someone you are comfortable working with. If we determine we are a good match, we can then move forward with booking sessions. The first few sessions (generally 1-3) are used for intake and information gathering. Before your first session, I will send you a few forms to fill out. One will be a consent form, and another will gather some information from you. During the first session, we will spend some time going over the consent form together to make sure you understand what you are getting yourself into! You will have a chance to ask me any questions to ensure you understand and feel comfortable with what is outlined in the consent form. We will also spend some time verifying that the information you've included in the intake form has transferred to your client file correctly, we will set up your session reminder preferences and verify your payment information. Then, I will spend some time getting to know you better. I may ask you questions about your current life, relationships, symptoms and wellbeing. I may also ask you questions about your past, your childhood experiences, and your family of origin. We might talk about your current coping mechanisms or strategies, any diagnoses you have now or have received in the past, what medication you are taking, or how you think and feel about various aspects of your self and your life. This is to give me a better idea of who you are as a person, what your life is like, how your brain works, and what experiences have shaped you into the person you are now. This will help me better determine what might be helpful for you in therapy. Some people like to share more up front, and some people prefer to share things about themselves slowly over time. Both of these are okay and you are always welcome to decline to answer any question I ask. There may be certain pieces of information or topics you share that I will suggest we do not dive into right away - this is to ensure we explore these topics in a way that is safe for you. You are always welcome to ask me why I am asking about something or why I suggest we save something for later.
Do you assign therapy "homework"? I generally am not "homework" heavy. There may be times when I suggest a resource, book, worksheet, journal prompt, topic for reflection, or "side quest" to you - but these will never be mandatory or required and I will never shame you, punish you, or be disappointed if you do not engage with the material I suggest. You are always welcome to ask for more or fewer of these types of suggestions as well!
Can I ask you personal questions in session? If it is to your benefit, I generally do not mind answering questions about myself or my personal life. I may decline if answering would not be in your best interest. At times, I may ask for consent to self-disclose something about myself if I believe it would be beneficial for you. You are always welcome to decline - not everyone likes this type of thing in therapy and that is ok!
Can I eat in session? Absolutely! You are welcome to eat, drink, fidget, color, and stim in sessions. If you are attending in-person sessions, I do ask that any food brought into session be something with low mess and smell potential in order to respect the space and the other therapists and clients who use it.
Services Offered
Do you work with kids? I currently only see adults over 18. I may consider older teens (16-17) if the fit is appropriate. I only see clients who have the capacity and are legally able to consent for themselves.
Do you see families? Couples? I do not currently offer these services.
Do you diagnose ADHD? I do not provide any kind of diagnoses. In Ontario, Registered Psychotherapists are not qualified to diagnose. However, I do have the training to conduct various psychological assessments which can help provide a better understanding of yourself, signal areas where further assessment & diagnoses might be warranted, and spark conversations about which, if any, diagnostic criteria you might meet or relate to. Diagnosis of ADHD (or other mental health diagnoses) are generally provided by Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and in some cases, Family Doctors or Nurse Practitioners with appropriate training and experience. I am happy to discuss the various routes to diagnosis, the general costs associated with these routes, and the potential pro's and con's of receiving a formal diagnosis.
Fees and Payments
How much does a session cost? The cost is $175 per 50 minute session. There is no tax as Psychotherapy is HST-exempt in Ontario. I have limited sliding-scale availability for those who are low-income and struggle to access therapy. You can email me to inquire about whether I currently have any sliding scale spots open.
Are you covered by insurance? Psychotherapists are not covered by OHIP. Most private insurance companies will offer some level of coverage for psychotherapy - although some only offer coverage for psychotherapy offered by certain providers, such as social workers. Make sure to read through your coverage carefully to ensure psychotherapy provided by Registered Psychotherapists is offered if you want to make sure my services are covered.
What payment methods do you accept? I accept payment by credit card and e-transfer. A valid credit card is required on file as a backup when paying by e-transfer.
Do you direct bill to insurance? I do not. Sessions fees are due at the time of session and a receipt is sent to you via email, which you can then send to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Terminology
What does "neurodivergent" mean? "Neurodivergent" is not a medical term, but a community-driven term. It was coined in 2000 by Kassiane Asasumasu and refers to someone whose neurocognitive functioning differs from what society considers the "norm". While it is often used in the context of ADHD and Autism, it is an umbrella term that encompasses much, much more. It is often used as a way for people to identify themselves as having different needs than the social or cultural "norm" without limiting themselves by the diagnostic labels provided by the medical model. It stems from the neurodiversity movement, which was lead by autistic individuals in the 80's and 90's and focuses on framing differences in neurological and cognitive functioning as natural variations in human biodiversity. It is a model that uses a "differences" approach that contrasts the deficit-based medical model.
What does "AuDHD" mean? AuDHD is a community-driven term often used in online communities to refer to an individual with both Autism and ADHD.
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