Virtual counselling services for children, youth, and adults in Ontario.

Some insurance plans cover costs associated with seeing a Registered Social Worker or Psychotherapist, however not all do. You will need to check with your particular insurance provider to determine your coverage.

If your plan does have social work or psychotherapy coverage, you will simply need to submit a receipt to them for reimbursement. Social workers/Psychotherapists do not typically do direct billing in Ontario.

E-transfer following session is the preferred method of payment. However, arrangements can be made to use cash, check or credit card.

I am a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist in Ontario. That means I have my master’s degree in social work and have been approved to practice psychotherapy by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. I have been practicing for 13 years, working in community mental health settings, supporting foster parents and children, leading assessment teams, as a school social worker, providing individual therapy to adults, and supervising other social workers in their practice. I’ve also provided extensive training for other social workers, families, and mental health agencies. 

If you want all the fancy social worky words for my experiences here you go: 

I’m trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused therapy for Individuals and Families (EFT, EFFT), Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Brief Therapy, Theraplay (parent-child) and Play Therapy (including using sand tray and art),  Marshak Interaction Method (MIM), Mediation, and Applied Suicide Intervention. I have in-depth training and experience in trauma and attachment-informed family work as well. 

I’ve facilitated formal training for other therapists and parents in the following areas: Family Systems, Neuroscience, Attachment and Trauma-informed Care, Anxiety, Transitioning from Foster Care to Adoption, Principles of Natural and Logical Consequences, Mandated Reporting, Loss in Foster Care and Adoption, Suicide Prevention, Psychotropic Medications, Kinship Care, Healthy Sexual Development in Children, Working with Birth Families and Maintaining Connection, Attention Deficit Disorder, Enuresis and Encorpresis, Domestic Violence and Child Welfare, and Learning Disorders and Exceptionalities. 

Talking about yourself always has the potential to feel uncomfortable. I’ve been doing this for a long time and although it's typical to feel nervous at first, and most people do,  I’ve never had someone still feel uncomfortable by the end of the session. We will do a lot of laughing and do our best to make the relationship what you need it to be. 

If you have been thinking of counselling,  take this as your sign from the universe. I have NEVER worked with someone who regretted putting in the time to care for themselves in this way. Therapy is work, but it is also often a relief and leaves you feeling better than when you began. Like most things that require work, the rewards far outweigh the work! Therapy can be for anyone, at any stage of life, with any struggles or hopes.

Clients often report that they begin to feel better after one session. This does not mean the issues are resolved, but speaking to a non-bias and supportive individual, like a therapist, often provides some relief immediately. 

Depending on the reasons you are seeking counselling services, effective therapy takes 5-12 sessions, and sometimes longer to complete. Therapy works best when its made a priority, just like most things in life. In the first session we collaboratively establish some goals for our work together, and these will give us a better idea of where you would like your sessions and therapy experience to go to feel your best!

Homework is for school, not therapy! Most of the things you will process in therapy will have to settle in over the next few weeks, months or years. Thats a lot of mental work already! If you like to be thinking and working outside of sessions I’m happy to suggest podcasts, books, or other easily accessible resources that apply to your work. I may also send you resources following session so you have them  to reference. You will never HAVE to do home work :) 

I provide options to fit the varied needs of my clients. I have the most session availability during the weekday, with limited evening and weekend session slots available. This means if you require a specific time, you may want to book your sessions a month or so in advance.

I practice virtually from Stouffville Ontario and provide services to anyone who resides in Ontario, specifically focusing on the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and York Region Municipalities of Richmond Hill, Markham, Newmarket, Aurora, Vaughan, King Township, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, and Georgina.