Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between counselling and trauma therapy?

Clinical counselling is the field I work in, but trauma therapy is my specialty.

All of the work that I do technically falls under “counselling” - but much of the work I do is trauma-specific. Trauma therapists have specialized skills and expertise in assessing, understanding, and treating the impacts of chronic stress and trauma on the brain and body. In addition to talk therapy, I integrate a number of neurobiologically based trauma therapy techniques that are particularly helpful for helping people who are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, or who are not satisfied with the progress they’ve made with other approaches.

Trauma therapy aims to address the roots of long-standing problem areas, leaving people with a greater sense of freedom and flexibility.

What’s a CCC?

What’s the difference from an RCC?

CCC stands for Canadian Certified Counsellor, and signifies professional membership with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (https://www.ccpa-accp.ca). RCC stands for Register Clinical Counsellor and signficies membership with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (https://bc-counsellors.org). Both titles and organizations function the same - however CCC is Canada-wide and RCC is specific to British Columbia. At this time, counselling is not a regulated profession in BC, but these membership organizations help inform the public that their members have verified education and professional experience in counselling and/or therapy.

What if I tried therapy before? What if it didn’t work?

Many of my clients have gone to therapy in the past, with mixed results. Some had good experiences, but don’t feel satisfied with their progress. Others had horrible experiences that horrify, disappoint, anger and sadden me. Some have even tried trauma therapy, but had a therapist that either jumped in too deep too quickly, or who never got beyond the surface and into the trauma processing. Either way, many find that my trauma-informed and focused approach is refreshingly helpful. Another thing that some of my clients appreciate is having a custom treatment plan from the beginning and knowing that we are regularly assessing whether therapy is achieving the desired outcomes.

How long does therapy take?

As short as possible but as long as it takes! Really it depends on the individual, their presenting problems, and their specific goals. Generally speaking, most people experience some improvement in a few sessions, and more meaningful change after a few months of weekly sessions (or one intensive). Some people find the benefits transformative, and choose to continue with regular therapy over a long period of time or benefit from therapy intensives in a condensed period of time.

How do I know you’re the right therapist for me?

Only you will be able to answer this - and it’s a question I encourage you to ask. The best predictor of successful therapy is the fit, or relationship between therapist and client, so it’s important you feel comfortable with, and confident in, the therapist you work with. 

In order to determine whether I’ll be the best fit for you, see how you feel as you browse my website. You’ll get a sense of the kind of practitioner I am and the people I’m passionate about working with. Then let’s talk. Contact me and we can have a free consultation over the phone - you can ask all the questions you want, and see what my voice and conversation style are really like.

What can I expect?

Many people feel nervous before meeting with a therapist for the first time. My goal is to make the process as comfortable and transparent as possible. 

Prior to meeting, I’ll send you an electronic intake form to fill out so I can start thinking about your treatment plan.

When we meet for the first time, we’ll discuss where you are in your life today, where you’ve been, and where’d you like to be in the future. I like to conduct a detailed history taking, because effective approaches can only be determined with accurate assessments. At the same time, you only have to tell me what you’re comfortable sharing. I may be the professional, but you get to make decisions about what happens in the therapy room. You also are invited to ask me questions at any time.

Together, we’ll decide on some goals for therapy and then I’ll formulate an individualized treatment plan with measurable goals and the strategies we’ll use to meet those goals.

Do I have to relive my trauma or tell you all the details in order to heal?

The idea that you have to relive every detail of your trauma in order to heal from it is misinformed, and potentially harmful. It’s true that the reconsolidation of trauma memories and/or nervous systems states is effective in alleviating symptoms, however, this does not necessarily mean that clients must relive every experience in detail. There are various therapies and techniques that can effectively address the impacts of stress and trauma in ways that are gentle and empowering for clients.

Do you see couples?

No, simply because I know many others who do a much better job than I could.  If you are seeking therapy as a couple, I’m happy to provide you with referrals for couples counsellors that I trust.

I only offer you what I’m exceptionally skilled at - trauma therapy, with a relational-existential foundation.

Do you work with kids?

Typically not in private practice. I’m also part of a nonprofit where I work closely with children, youth and families, but trauma therapy with youth and adults in private practice is a passion of mine. I carry a small caseload so that I can ensure quality of care to the individuals working closely with me.

Can we be friends on Facebook?

Although it can seem like a good idea to strengthen the connection we have in person by connecting online, I have an ethical mandate to protect our working relationship. That means I won’t take risks when it comes to the complications of interacting over social media. If there’s something online that you’d like me to see, let me know during an appointment and we can review it together. 

Still have questions? I’m happy to answer them- contact me for a free consultation.

Or if you’re ready, book an appointment today.