Frequently Asked Questions

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Individual sessions are $85 and couples sessions are $165.  This is a lower fee than most mental health professionals, because as an Australian-trained therapist, I am not covered by RAMQ.

Because my French is not of sufficient standard, I'm not able to be accredited as a licensed therapist in Quebec.  Unfortunately this also means that my services aren't covered by RAMQ or employer insurance cover.  This is why I charge less for my services than usual therapists.

Sessions with adults are 50 minutes.  Sessions with kids are usually 40 minutes.  Couples sessions are 70 minutes.

I am what's called and "integrative" therapist. This means I draw from a variety of modalities to create a therapeutic plan that best caters to your individual needs. I am trained in acceptance commitment therapy (ACT); cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); internal family systems (IFS); and narrative therapy. Each of these approaches has a strong evidence base for its effectiveness in treating personal and interpersonal challenges.

I offer a free 15-minute intro session so you can get to know a little about me and my approach.  Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with is essential to establishing an open and effective therapeutic relationship.  Once we "get started" our first full-length session is spent getting to know you - why you've come to see me, a little about your background, what you want to get out of our sessions together.  We will collaborate on a set of goals that we will check in with periodically - my favourite feedback from clients if that I provide "therapy that goes somewhere"!

This depends on your goals.  Often I see folks on an ongoing basis but sometimes I see them for just a few months.  This is entirely your decision.  In the same way, sometimes I meet clients weekly or twice-weekly; others I meet monthly; and others on an as-needed basis.   

Well, there is often quite a bit of laughter!  Therapy does not have to be a terribly serious business the whole time - I am a big believer in the power of levity, even in very stressful or upsetting circumstances.  I work in a similar way to a psychologist but with some key differences. Occupational therapy has a more practical focus than traditional psychotherapy, with a strong emphasis on practical tools that you can practice at home.  There's often "homework" - we're building skills or new ways of thinking that need to be practised :)  If I am seeing a child or adolescent, I always provide parents or carers with a summary after each session.  This provides a broad overview of the topics discussed in the session and also provides important guidelines for techniques and tools to practice at home.  And for young people, encouragement and engagement from parents are carers is usually a critical part of this process. Lastly, I often employ nature and animals in my therapeutic process.  Both animal-assisted therapy and nature-based therapy have strong bodies of evidence for the effective treatment of anxiety and depression, in particular.      

I encourage parental/carer involvement but it's also very important that the young person feels that the sessions meet their goals and that they are able to express themselves openly.  Sometimes young people find it easier to confide in an adult who is not a parent or carer, such as a therapist.  Usually, I ask parents or carers to come in for the first 15 minutes of the first session to put everyone at ease and ask any questions.  If your child/teen is then happy for you to leave, this is what I advise.  If your young person would prefer you to stay, you are welcome to stay in the session.   One of the key differences with traditional psychotherapy is that I provide a brief session report for the family/carer following each session.  This report gives a broad overview of what was discussed and also recommends "home practice" of various techniques.  I strongly encourage family/carer involvement int the therapeutic process - young people often need encouragement to practice the strategies and tools we learn.    

I have a lovely (and quirky) office in an old theatre in the village of Wakefield, Quebec. I am also happy to do virtual sessions, or to come to your home if you prefer (this is often preferred by children or teens).

Alas, no.  I am taking French classes but as an Australian, I have a lot of catching up to do.  I would describe my current French capacity as "intermediate conversational" :)

Yes, I am happy to offer virtual sessions through either Google Meet or Skype. Just let me know if that is your preference.

Yes, I do.  Couples or relationship counselling is $165 per session which lasts for 70 minutes.  Initially I meet with each partner for a single individual session before we come together, as partners are often coming from quite different emotional places. Together we develop a number of mutual goals and discuss different desired outcomes before we get stuck into the work. My approach to relationship work is based on meeting your goals and making real progress - not simply re-enacting the conflicts you may have at home :) And yes, there is homework - but it's more "play with a purpose" rather than "hard work".