Q&A about Counselling
Questions and Answers on the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How about Counselling...
WHO
Who are counselling services for?
Types of Clients We Serve:
Our counselling services are for young adults (ages 19-34) and middle age adults (ages 36-55) who experience difficulty with adjusting to the medical, psychosocial, or vocational aspects of disabilities. We focus on empowering people to achieve their personal, career, and independent living goals.
Examples of mild to moderate mental health and psychosocial issues we address are anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma (such as developmental or relational trauma as a result of emotional or psychological abuse and/or neglect in a close relationship, usually with a caregiver).
We provide a safe and confidential space for individuals to explore their perceptions, thoughts, beliefs, feelings, emotions, and behaviours. Together, we develop strategies for meeting needs and reaching goals to create the change people seek in their life.
Clients we serve will appreciate best practice approaches that are intended to be culturally safe, evidence-informed, holistic (biopsychosocial-spiritual), person-centred, solution-focused, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. We aim to ensure that our clients receive individualized care tailored to their unique needs and circumstances.
WHAT
What is counselling therapy?
Counselling Therapy can be described as:
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A therapeutic relationship to assist people experiencing difficulties in relationships or within themselves, to enhance their self-knowledge, emotional acceptance, growth, and well-being.
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Making use of relational, conversational, somatic, expressive, or educational methods and techniques with a focus on wellness and adaptation to the stressors of life.
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A practice informed by established counselling and psychotherapeutic theories, research, ethical standards, human diversity, and the range of human traditions.
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Assessment, treatment, and evaluation of individuals using a variety of therapeutic counselling methods and interventions to facilitate optimum growth and functioning in a person's life.
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An opportunity to explore a variety of topics including: developmental issues; personal and interpersonal problems; strengths and weaknesses; decision making; coping with crisis; personal insights and knowledge; feelings of inner conflicts; restructuring of feelings, beliefs, and concepts; needs and goals; relationships; and living a more satisfying and resourceful life.
WHEN
When are counselling services available?
Scheduling and Booking Appointments:
Counselling services are available on most weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays) between 10am and 4pm, and on most weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) between 10am to 2pm. Exceptions to this availability may include holidays and time off for sick leave or vacation.
Scheduling an appointment with us is intended to be simple and convenient. You can book your session online through our user-friendly platform, selecting a time slot that suits your schedule. We do our best to ensure a smooth and efficient booking process to make your counselling experience feel welcoming and inclusive.
WHERE
Where do Counselling Services Take Place?
Location and Benefits:
We currently offer virtual counselling services using digital technology and tools. Counselling may take place online through a secure video conferencing platform such as Google Meet, Zoom, or others. In some cases, we may make special arrangements for in-person counselling services at a community location that works for both the counsellor and client.
WHY
Why Would I Use Your Counselling Services?
The benefits of counselling are unique to the individual involved, and may include (but are not limited to) the following:
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Increased self-knowledge, emotional acceptance, and growth.
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Exploring possible solutions to personal and interpersonal problems, including resolving conflicts.
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Defining and working toward achieving goals.
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Making decisions and moving toward living a more satisfying and resourceful life.
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Addressing developmental issues, specific problems, understanding strengths and weaknesses, making decisions, coping with crisis, developing personal insights and knowledge, working through inner conflict; restructuring feelings or beliefs or concepts, and improving relationships.
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Adjusting to the medical, psychosocial, and vocational aspects of disabilities.
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Achieving personal, career, and independent living goals for quality of life.
HOW
How do I pay for and start counselling services?
Rates and Insurance:
We understand the importance of affordability and accessibility when it comes to mental health care and psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery. We offer competitive rates at $120 per session (10-20% below the cost per session charged by many practitioners) for our counselling services.
We accept various private health insurance plans for reimbursement to help cover the costs. Please check your insurance policy to verify if it covers counselling or psychotherapy services provided by a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists (ACCT) of Canada. Our goal is to ensure that quality counselling is within reach for all individuals seeking support.
Initial Consultation and New Client Forms:
New prospective clients can start counselling services by booking a 15-minute free initial consultation. During this phone call, the counsellor will ask you some questions and you will have the opportunity to ask the counsellor some questions. This is a necessary first step so the counsellor can decide if they are the right fit to support you based on matching your needs and expectations, with their qualifications and competencies. If you decide to move forward and work together, you will need to sign new client forms (intake, informed consent, statement of understanding, and professional disclosure statement) before booking the first counselling session online.