What are your areas of expertise?

We are a practice that tends to support diverse range of people with a wide range of presenting concerns.

Johanna has worked with youth (ages 13 to 18), adults, couples and families. Her areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-esteem issues, addictions, and significant life changes and events. She has supported many in their journeys of self discovery and she is honoured to do this work. 

How is counselling different than talking with a friend?

This is a question that gets asked a lot. There are two main answers. Firstly, our responsibiliy is to facilitate a process that supports wanted change. A lot of times people say to themselves “where do I even start?”. We have the experience to help map this process out.

Secondly, unlike a friend, family member, or colleague, we have no vested interest in what you might ultimately choose for yourself. People who love and support can sometimes be tied up in our choices. In counselling, the counsellor is disconnected from those choices, leaving you the autonomy to make your own informed decisions in a supported counselling environment. 

How can counselling help me?

Counselling tends to help people derive a different perspective than those that have become familiar. We tend to get stuck in ideas or “rules” that guide our day to day and in making our important decisions.

Counselling can help explore situations from different angles which then can lead us to different ideas and answers for ourselves. The counselling process also can help us to take away the anxiety, expectations, blame and shame that can sometimes permeate our lives and our decision-making.

So even when a problem or situation feels well-worn and “hopeless”, counselling provides the structure and support to look at a situation from a fresh perspective. Part art and part science, counselling is an evidence-based way of creating meaningful and wanted change in a person’s life. 

What happens during a counselling session?

A counselling session is usually one hour in duration, with talk therapy taking place in the first 50 minutes. There is then some administration time to cover off a few items and lastly we have a few minutes to complete clinical notes.

Each session will be tailored to what you would like to work on, and our approach will be tailored to you. We will determine or confirm the goals for a particular session and typically will cover off one to two items in a given counselling session. We will endeavour to check in with you and determine if we are having helpful conversations.

It is important to ensure your time and effort is valued, and our goal is that you leave the session with at least one take-away or idea to consider from your time. At times, that means “homework” or specific take-aways are discussed so that the value of the counselling work can be translated into your day-to-day of life.

What’s the difference between a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Psychologist, and Psychiatrist?

While all three professions share a similarity in that we work to support people and their mental health, these are different professions with specific roles and designations in the mental health and wellness field.

We are Registered Clinical Counsellors, who are registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. Our role is to provide counselling and advocacy based support through the vehicle of talk therapy. A Registered Clinical Counsellor may not diagnose but they are able to assess.

A Registered Psychologist is registered with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia. They can provide talk therapy, diagnostic testing and some are involved in research around mental health and wellness. Psychiatrists are registered with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of British Columbia and who have specialized in mental health. They diagnose mental illness and are able to prescribe medication for treatment. All three professions built a network of support for wellness and well-being.

How many sessions will it take before I feel better?

The length of time one takes to “feel better” can vary but there are some guidelines that can be helpful to know. Most people should feel within one to two sessions that their counsellor is able to both listen and understand them. This is key in the process of effective counselling and many clients feel better even through the simple act of being understood.

With six to eight sessions, clients should feel like they are gaining insight on their concerns and even starting to feel small measures of change or progress in one or two areas of the counselling goals. Beyond this, the length of time can vary greatly, but as a general guideline we encourage people to consider committing six months to counselling in order to derive the true benefit of this investment.

Would this be covered under my insurance?

The good news is that more and more employers and insurance providers are recognizing the need and benefit of counselling. If you have an extended benefit plan, counselling may or may not be covered depending on the plan that you have.

To find out more, please contact your insurance provider and check if your plan covers for counselling provided by a Registered Clinical Counsellor registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. In addition, Johanna is registered as a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

We are not yet able to arrange for direct-billing, but we will make sure to provide you with an official receipt that you can use to claim your sessions for reimbursement. Please note that the British Columbia Medical Services Plan currently does not cover counselling services.

How much are your fees? Is there a sliding scale or discount available?

Johanna's hourly rate for individual counselling is $180 plus GST and her rate for relationship and family counselling is $200 plus GST.

Carrie's hourly rate for indivudal counselling as our Graduate Intern Therapist is $80 plus GST.

In our consultation, we can speak to our session rates and any concerns you may have about the costs of counselling and how we might be able to address this for you.

How do you offer counselling?

It is important for us to provide options to our clients. Therefore we are able to provide counselling services in person at out offices at 325 - 2184 West Broadway in the Regent Medical Building, via a secure virtual platform designed for medical appointments or over the phone.

We encourage that the first four to six appointments take place in person or through our secure virtual platform to help facilitate a strong and connected start to the process of counselling.

Do I need a referral to start counselling?

Not at all! You can start counselling whenever you’d like. The same applies to pausing or concluding your counselling work. It is all directed by the client and as the client, you are effectively our employer and are “in charge” of making key decisions about your counselling process.

I want to start Relationship Counselling but my partner is uncertain about it. What do I do?

Starting relationship counselling can sometimes be a tricky conversation where one partner feels more prepared to take this step. We generally recommend that in circumstances such as this, we commence with a one-on-one consultation where we can offer a few options to help get this process moving. Sometimes the preferred course of action is to start counselling by yourself, and we can explore how we can support you in your relationship even if your partner is initially relunctant to join.

What does ‘receiving ongoing supervision’ mean for a Graduate Intern Therapist?

As Graduate Intern Therapists offer counselling services to clients during their process of learning and training, they are required to meet with their Clinical Supervisor regularly in order to make sure they are receiving the necessary support to provide the best services to the clients.

The Graduate Intern Therapist may share some information from a session to their clinical supervisor to discuss it, but any client identifying information is kept confidential unless necessary, and the supervisor is bound to the same confidentiality agreement as well. Clinical supervision is an integral part of a therapist’s profession, and in fact all registered therapists have one too!

Can my extended benefits cover sessions with a Graduate Intern Therapist?

As any other service, it would be best to contact your provider directly as they are the ones who decide what is covered by your plan or not. Our current rate for working with a Graduate Intern Therapist is $80 making this a significantly more accessible and affordable option.

How do I find your offices? How do I find parking? How do I get in?

We are located in at 325 - 2184 in the Regent Medical Building, at the corner of West Broadway & Yew Street. Both the 99 B-Line and 9 Broadway bus stops are located in front of the building. Our offices are a 10 minute walk away from the number 4, 7, 14, and 33 bus lines.

There is paid parking available directly behind the building for $2 per hour, seven days per week. There is also various free and paid street level parking available close to our building.

If your session is at 6 p.m or later or occurs on Sunday, the building entrance will be locked. In these cases, please wait by the front entrance door and your counsellor will come meet you a few minutes prior to your session time. There may be some instances where your counsellor is a minute or two late, but rest assured that they are on their way.

I think I am ready to end counselling. What do I do?

A client is welcome to pause or end counselling at any point in the therapeutic process that they determine is appropriate for them. We would encourage you to talk about this with your therapist as it can be a very meaningful part of the process to say "goodbye" and evaluate the scope and effectiveness of the work. We can even create a "ritual of goodbye" to honour your investment and time. In addition, we can make recommendations after counselling to help derive the maximum value from your investment and time. No matter what, the door will always be open for future counselling should a client wish to return.