Question 1

Where are you located?

Accepted Answer

Finding me: I’m located at 864 Queens Ave on the 2nd floor. Enter on the west side of the building and head up the stairs to a glass-front door. It’s locked, so I’ll come by and let you in right at your scheduled appointment time.Parking: Easy to find free street parking throughout the neighbourhood, plus additional parking at Crystal Pool. Bike lockups are available at both the front (Queens side) and back of the building. You can reach the back of the building either via the pathway off Quadra or the driveway on the west side.One note: There’s no waiting room on-site, so I’d ask that you arrive right at your appointment time rather than early. Thanks so much for understanding!

Question 2

How much do sessions cost?

Accepted Answer

Individual counselling/art therapy sessions are $170 per 50 minutes. Couples sessions are $292.50 per 75 minutes. Longer sessions are prorated accordingly. Sessions are exempt from provincial and federal taxes.

Question 3

Do you offer a sliding scale?

Accepted Answer

A limited number of sliding scales spots are available for clients in financial need who do not have extended health coverage. Fee-reduced sessions are limited to 10 sessions. Please don't hesitate to inquire.

Question 4

Are services covered by extended health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Counselling coverage is often determined by the extended health plan your organization has purchased. Please check with your insurance provider that your plan covers clinical counsellors. A receipt will be issued with all information needed for reimbursement.

Question 5

Do you offer third-party direct billing?

Accepted Answer

I can directly bill Autism Funding, Canada Life, ClaimSecure, Desjardins Insurance, FNHA, iA Financial Group, ICBC, Medavie Blue Cross (Veterans Affairs), Manulife, Métis Nation BC, Pacific Blue Cross, and Sun Life.

Question 6

Are services covered by ICBC?

Accepted Answer

According to ICBC, "Since May 2021, Enhanced Care covers everyone for 12 weeks after their  crash no matter who was responsible. That means you don’t have to wait  to start your pre-approved treatments. All you need is your ICBC claim number, which is created when you submit your claim." (https://www.icbc.com/claims/injury/accessing-treatment-during-your-first-12-weeks-of-recovery)ICBC currently offers pre-approved coverage for 12, 50-minute counselling sessions at $160/session. A physician or nurse practitioner referral isn't needed, nor approval from ICBC, but I will require your Personal Health Number (PHN) and ICBC claim number.

Question 7

How long before I can expect to feel better/see results?

Accepted Answer

Many clients  feel better within 1-2 sessions by virtue of being heard and  understood. By 6 to 8 sessions, clients often develop insight into  issues and experience measurable shifts in key focus areas. After 6  months to a year of regular (eg. biweekly) sessions, clients tend to  report meaningful, sustained change. So, while the attainment of  therapeutic goals varies from client to client, a timeframe one would  ideally commit to is 6-12 (or more) months.

Question 8

What is your clinic schedule?

Accepted Answer

Counselling  sessions are offered Tuesday through Friday, 1:00pm to 8:00pm, in-person and online.

Question 9

Do you offer in-person and/or virtual counselling?

Accepted Answer

Yes and yes! Virtual counselling is delivered via Jane app video. Meeting invitation links are emailed approximately 30 minutes before session. I also offer telephone counselling upon request.

Question 10

What is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)?

Accepted Answer

Registered  Clinical Counsellors (RCC) have completed a minimum of a master’s degree. We are recognized by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors as qualified to  provide counselling services. We can assess but not formally diagnose nor  prescribe medication to clients. To learn more about RCCs, visit https://bcacc.ca/about-us/.

Registered  Social Workers (RSW) hold a bachelor’s degree, connect clients to  resources, provide counselling and support services, mediate conflict,  advocate for services. They cannot formally diagnose nor prescribe  medication to clients.

Registered  Psychologists (R.Psych) have completed a PhD; assess, diagnose and treat  behavioural, emotional, cognitive and mental disorders; typically practice in specific areas such as clinical counselling, forensic,  health, rehabilitation, or school psychology.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD) with specialized training in treating mental illness. They can prescribe medication and may use talk therapy and medication therapy in tandem or exclusively. Psychiatric services are covered under BC's  provincial Medical Services Plan (MSP).

Question 11

Do I need to have an art background to do art therapy?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not! Art therapy requires no prior artistic experience - stick figures are always welcome. To this I'll add that there are no right or wrongs to creative self-expression.  Art therapy is not about the product, but the process.  And art is for everyone, it does not (or should not) discriminate.

Art making and creative expression have immediate therapeutic value owing to their power to help individuals gain insight, heal, and cope with life's challenges. As a fully trained and qualified art therapist, I am excited to facilitate art making and creative self-expression to help clients grow and heal.

My clinical approach to working with art is to sensitively acknowledge the subjectivity and relativity of experience embedded in each client's work. Critical to understanding what significance art holds for its creator is witnessing the artwork with respect, curiosity, intelligence, and an open mind. With this, I challenge and invite clients to discover, explore, and realize the therapeutic benefits of art therapy.

Counselling Fees & Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions