Now, that you know who I am and how I operate, we can look at how the actual sessions will work.
Where / How do we have sessions?
For New Clients, I am available via confidential online video or phone call.
For my previous clients, sorry to say but I have left my old office. I know – I loved it too! Let’s take a moment to mourn together.
The location was great; PATH underground accessible and directly across Nathan Philips Square. Did you know The Victory Building is a historical gem and the first office tower in Canada to be air conditioned and have wired certified goal internet? BUT paying for Rolex clocks and private elevators in a busy city sky rise, just didn’t make sense during the pandemic.
There is good news though. I have found that my clients who were reluctant to try Video Therapy at first, showed up and now they love it – so do I. You save the hassle of dressing up, driving, and paid parking. On my end, I can send you links to resources that we can use in session itself. It’s also super easy for you to take notes, use the restroom, and relax in your own space.
As one door closes – another one opens.
Our First Session
Speaking about your mental health, sex life, and relationships with a stranger can be hard. It’s totally normal to feel nervous. I am here to create a supportive environment for you (see section 2). Your comfort is my priority.
The first thing you will see on screen is me with a big (maybe even too big) SMILE. Also a cardigan. I love cardigans. You can expect me to have a welcoming energy and playfully saying ‘hello’ before your name.
From here, there are 2 ways we can go.
If there is something you want to get off your chest, or want practical help on immediately, can jump right in. For example, some people want to prepare for a deadline coming soon such as a conversation, anniversary, vacation, valentines day, etc.
OR
The first session is me understanding you (and your partner if applicable). We’ll dive into your history, goals, and challenges on a deep level. I pay attention to the words you use, how you say them, and the scenarios that seem disconnected but often are not. Formally, this is called a Bio-psych-social assessment. But basically, it’s an in depth and informal conversation between us.
It’s important that I understand you as a whole. Your difficulties and Strengths. We’ll tackle the information from multiple angles to make sure we have considered everything and I understand your Psychological and Sexual Blueprints.
There is no pressure to disclose or know where to start, I am here to guide the conversation at your own pace. You are welcome to ask questions any time and steer the session in any direction. I do recommend that you bring a notebook or be prepared to write in your phone. This will help you remember and guide future progress.
At the end of this session, I will better know the next steps and can set the stage for management and solutions going forward.
The Middle Part of Therapy
At the beginning of each session, I will follow up on homework and ask what you are interested in tackling today. The beginning of therapy involves a lot of information gathering but once I understand your blueprints, momentum will take over. Research shows that this middle part of therapy is the most effective because of this. It’s for the same reason, I recommend starting with 90 min sessions.
Custom Success Plans
This is an optional service I provide for people who want clarity FAST or who want to take a break from therapy / meet less often.
If you choose, I will design a simple road map that will help you, find focus, have an outlined trajectory, and be less overwhelmed. This is something tangible and custom, which you can refer back to anytime.
It’s not something I can do in a session with you because I need time to analyze your profile, see everything at once, then develop strategy.
Ending Therapy
There is never any commitment with therapy (which would be unethical) and I am very open to feedback.
At a certain point, you may decide to stop for any reason. Usually my clients experience a ton of progress and decide to book maintenance sessions with more space between them.
I LOVE this because it’s literally my job to put myself out of business
All good things come to an end, and we will have a conversation about winding things down. We will review your progress and I’ll give you tips for your independent success or make a custom success plan if you prefer.
Now that you understand how sessions will work, we can move on policies and billing.