What is your cancellation policy?
I often have a running cancellation and/or waitlist. As such, I require at least 48 hours notice should you need to cancel your appointment. This allows me enough time to contact individuals wanting to fill your spot. If less than 48 hours is given, your credit card on file will be charged the full session fee.
What does your availability look like?
I offer face to face counselling in my private practice based in beautiful Squamish, BC, Canada. I also offer video conferencing via Zoom for individuals outside of the Sea to Sky corridor. E-counselling, done over email, is available to individuals interested in connecting in more of a therapeutic ‘penpal style’ relationship. I’m available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays off. Morning, afternoon and evening sessions are available throughout the week. Periodically, I intentionally pause from my private practice to prioritize my self-care. This could be anywhere from one week to one month at a time. This ensures that I offer the best services possible to my clients, and equally allows my clients an opportunity to reflect on and integrate the work we’ve been doing together. Counselling is hard work, and taking pause allows for healthy insights to emerge and skills integration to take place.
Do you accept insurance?
There are some insurance companies that do cover counselling services that are provided by professionals holding the CCC designation. However, coverage is not consistent within or across insurance companies. Some plans with a company might cover counselling services provided by a CCC, while another plan by the same company may not cover CCCs. Coverage may be possible with the following insurance companies depending on the plan: Pacific Blue Cross, Equitable Life, Greenshield, and Sun Life. Coverage is not automatic and it is the client’s responsibility to contact their insurance company to determine if counselling services are included in their plan and to verify the service providers approved under the plan. Please note: I do not offer direct billing.
Can I follow you on social media?
Social Media is a fantastic tool that helps people get engaged and stay informed. When used intentionally, it can offer inspiration and insights that might supplement your therapeutic process. I use Facebook and Instagram for this purpose. I invite you to follow along on my social media for a dose of inspiration, but before doing so, I’d encourage you to consider a couple of points. As a Professional Member of the CCPA possessing a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) designation, it’s my responsibility to keep our relationship confidential. That said, you’re welcome to engage with my posts but please note that I don’t engage back with my clients on social media, not because I’m not interested in what you have to say, but because I have a duty to keep our relationship confidential. As such, I don’t follow, friend or interact with my clients through this avenue. I limit our interaction to emailing, Zoom and in person appointments. Another thing to be aware of is that some people prefer to only interact with their therapist in session. Please know that when you follow my social media accounts, you might be given a window into my lifestyle outside of our therapeutic relationship. Some clients appreciate this, whereas others prefer to keep a boundary here. This is your choice and I’d encourage you to consider what might create the best therapeutic outcome for you.
Will our sessions be confidential?
Before, during and after the process of counselling you can be ensured of the highest level of confidentiality possible. As a standing rule, I’ll never share with anyone the contents of your counselling sessions without your consent. I’ll also not reveal to anyone whether or not you are a client without your consent. The limits of this confidentiality are specific and defined within my CCPA professional code of ethics. Except in exceptional circumstances, I’d contact you before taking any of the actions described below that limit confidentiality:
• When disclosure is required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the client or others
• When legal requirements demand that confidential material be revealed
• When a child/elder is in need of protection