Frequently Asked Questions

“How often do you meet with clients?”
Individual clients usually attend sessions once weekly at the start. Couples usually attend biweekly sessions to increase the likelihood they will experience challenges useful for discussion in therapy and to allow time for trying out new ways of interacting. Some clients choose to decrease the frequency of visits as their functioning improves.

“How long is it going to take before I feel better and/or my problem goes away?”
Length of counselling depends on the nature of the problem and how much work an individual is interested in doing. I mainly provide longer term counselling but also see clients who are interested in dealing with very specific issues such that their needs may be met by brief, solution-focussed counselling.

“What is Sex Therapy?”
Individuals and couples discuss relationship issues and problems of sexual functioning in a supportive atmosphere with someone who is knowledgeable and comfortable with human sexuality. Clients are asked to identify their concerns, how and when they developed, how their concerns are affecting them, and what changes they would like to make. Personal histories are taken, exploring sexual feelings, behaviours, and influences on sexual development. Clients are asked to actively participate in their therapy by doing exercises at home to improve communication and comfort with sexual intimacy. These exercises might include the use of books or videos designed for sex therapy treatment. Clients are never asked to engage in any form of sexual activity with the therapist present.

“Do you provide nutrition counselling or psychotherapeutic counselling to individuals with eating disorders?"
Both. As a registered dietitian, I am able to incorporate nutrition counselling whereby I help clients to normalize their eating, while also dealing with underlying emotional issues.. I believe that everyone has the potential to make positive changes and learn more productive ways of dealing with their environment. I do not routinely provide meal plans, nor do I focus a lot on body weights or other measures since generally these approaches are counterproductive.

“Are your fees covered by insurance?”
Some extended health care plans do cover fees for registered dietitians and/or psychotherapists with their MEd (Couns Psych). Clients are provided with paid receipts which they may then submit to their insurance companies for possible reimbursement.

 

Links

http://www.something-fishy.org

http://www.hopesgarden.org

www.oamft.on.ca

Family Services London - www.familyservicethamesvalley.ca

www.Counselling.com 

Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy in Ontario website (BESTCO)