Therapy begins with an intake, a few sessions spent getting to know each other and exploring what you need and want. During the intake, you will be asked about your family, your social life, your education and your work, as well as your family history and what you want to work on. Based on the intake, we will work together to identify what you want to work on or change. Each treatment plan is customized to the client with the center being what the client wants to change.

The therapeutic relationship is extremely important for the work we do. Our goal is to provide you with a safe and secure space that will allow you to explore those things that are troubling you, because if you are not comfortable or don’t feel that you can talk about anything then it will be very difficult to make change. Part of that therapeutic relationship is confidentiality. Anything we speak about is confidential, except if a child is being hurt, or if you are threatening to hurt yourself or someone else. If I meet you in the community, I will not acknowledge you unless you speak to me first. If someone referred you that was a client, I will not acknowledge that either. It is important for you to be comfortable with your therapist's style of counseling and if you aren't, that is okay. If you are struggling for any reason, please let us know and we will help you find someone else who may be the right fit. The most important thing is that you get the help you are looking for.

Therapy is about you, the role of the therapist is to ask the questions that help you explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Whether this is the first time you are seeking help or have been working with others before; you will find our approach to be different. We will not keep quiet or only ask you “how does that make you feel”; nor will we tell you what you should do or think. We give suggestions based on what has worked for other clients and then you decide if it fits. You are the only one who lives your life; therefore only you know what feels right or what will work. We will ask you questions and help you explore, but will not tell you what you should do.

The length of therapy depends on you and what you want to work on. For example, using EMDR can shorten the time we work together, but it depends on your motivation for change and the goals you are working on. Some clients will work on a few issues, stop for a while, and then come back. Others are able to affect change in a short period of time. It all depends on you, and what you want.