Finding the right therapist is a personal process, and it’s okay if it takes a little time. 

A good fit usually means you feel safe, respected, and understood during your sessions. You should feel comfortable being yourself without fear of judgment, and your therapist should have a communication style that works well for you—whether that’s more nurturing, structured, or direct.

Look for a therapist that will also welcome feedback and be open to adjusting their approach if something isn’t working for you. On the other hand, red flags include feeling dismissed, misunderstood, or consistently uncomfortable.

Trust your gut—if something feels off, it’s okay to explore other options. Many people try a few therapists before finding the right one, and most therapists understand and support that process.

Absolutely. This can be the first time coming to therapy, the first session with a new psychotherapist, or the 70th session, people feel nervous for all types of reasons.

The nature of therapy is deeply vulnerable that often requires going against your nervous system and mind encouraging you that there is a potential threat. 

Here are some truthful things you can speak to your anxiety about - “I’m excited to see what my therapist is like.", "I am in control of whether I see this therapist again.", "I am proud of myself to be stepping out of my zone of comfort."

Your information and what you share is kept between myself and you. However, there are legal requirements that I must follow that are often referred to as the Limits of Confidentiality. 

Limits to Confidentiality

The only thing that takes precedence over confidentiality is your safety and the safety of others. There are limits to confidentiality that I am legally (and ethically) obligated to report to the appropriate authorities:

1. There is an imminent danger to an identifiable third party or
to self; 

2. When a counsellor/therapist has reasonable cause to suspect
abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable person;

3. If you disclose abuse caused at the hands of a licensed professional (i.e. a doctor or counsellor);

4. If your therapist’s case notes are subpoenaed for court;

5. When a client files a complaint or claims professional
liability by the counsellor/therapist in a lawsuit or governing body. 

You never have to discuss anything you do not wish to discuss. You may not be ready, it may not feel like it's not worth revisiting, you are not comfortable or you are unsure about your current therapist etc. It is never up to others to decide what you share in therapy. 

If we ever get to a place in therapy where you do not want to go down, I whole heartedly want you to know I understand and hope you feel comfortable at that time to tell me we need to pause or move on. 

This is a very common question and there are layers to answering it. Therapy outcomes and lengths tend to vary based on these factors:

1. Complexity of issues 

2. Type of therapy

3. Individual personality and needs of the person

4. Therapist and client relationship

5. Individual motivation and committment 

6. External stressors and factors

Research is not completely on the same page with clinically significant improvement and length of time it took to acheive. Certain therapy types/modalities have been researched to describe outcomes and lengths of sessions for certain issues.

The APA has an interesting article that discusses this very question - How Long Will It Take for Treatment to Work?

There's no perfect timeline, but many people begin to feel lighter and more hopeful within a few weeks, and with steady effort, those changes tend to grow and last. It’s okay to take your time—healing isn’t a race, and you don’t have to do it alone.

You do not have to do anything you do not agree to, please know what pushing you to attend more than you want is an ethical and legal issue. You and your therapist discuss what you feel is right for you and that aspect will continue on through therapy. One month you may want to come 2 times a week, next it may be once a month. 

A good therapist will discuss this with you, where you can collaborate with your therapist about what feels right for you and the therapists availability.  

I issue detailed receipts once payment has been received for you to provide to your insurance provider. Reimbursement is often 3-5 days. I do not offer direct billing at this time, but please reach out to discuss should you have any other questions. 

Please Note: clients are responsible for looking into the requirements of their insurance coverage.