I’m primarily online. If you’re unsure about having virtual therapy, I hear you. I was doubtful myself but I’ve found it surprisingly easy to connect with people this way. I’m able to really focus on you, and you’re able to be somewhere comfortable and familiar.

People join my sessions from bed, snuggled with their pet on the couch, dressed in their jammies. There’s no traffic to deal with, parking to pay for, or colds to swap back and forth. For all these reasons and more, I’m a fan. If you’re unsure, we can give it a whirl and see how it feels.

I sure like to think so.

I’ve witnessed some amazing transformations over the years. People who’ve come in all bedraggled and exhausted — and ready to give up on their relationship — suddenly experience a shift. Maybe they finally got to speak their mind. Maybe they got some much-needed empathy and understanding. Maybe just enough of the quick fixes gave them a glimmer of hope. Still others got enough clarity through our sessions that they’re able to release a relationship without guilt or regret — and that’s also a win. So, let’s see.

That said, I don’t tend to work with couples where one partner is experiencing abuse inside the relationship, or where folks are experiencing active addiction or affairs that have not ended. But reach out if you’re unsure, and we can talk about what’s possible.

Any client appointment reserves my time and prevents other clients from securing that spot. For that reason, I ask clients to cancel within 48 hours of any booked appointment. If they’re unable to do so, I offer a one-time pass on charging a fee. For any additional instances, clients will be billed for the appointment.

Clients come to me anywhere from a few sessions to a year or two. Mediation and divorce coaching tends to be shorter term; whereas time spent with individuals and folks in relationships can vary depending on what’s going on.

The most common arrangement is to come weekly for a few months; then, depending on your goals, we may taper to bi-weekly or monthly, or discontinue altogether*.  For couples, I really urge some frequency up front — all that momentum is useful to stay on top of friction and to practice new ways of finding clarity & sharing vulnerably.

*It’s very common for clients to come back when a new ‘tangle’ emerges — and I support that wholeheartedly. It’s just sooo nice to slip back into a supportive environment where you don’t have to tell someone new your whole story. Come on back. I’ll still have you on file.

I view myself as a warm, relational de-tangler.

I do my best to sit with clients as they grapple with unimaginable things that have somehow swirled into a giant ball of hurt and confusion.

• Why does this relationship feel so off?

• How can I process this disappointment?

• Why aren’t we communicating better than this?

• Which path should I take?

• What the hell am I supposed to do now?
  

Trying to find a way through involves seeing what is and what could be, bit by bit, during our time together.

Some exploration…some talking….some somatic work….some doodling…lots of relating, lots of validation and, every now and then, a well-timed f-bomb.

Soon, some clarity emerges, and some options.

The weight feels lighter, the path a little clearer.

You get better at feeling and you tend to feel better.

That’s our work.

That’s ok. The idea of relationship counselling can feel daunting to some, so it’s normal for people to have reservations.

If it’s useful, I can speak to your partner/family member and hear them out. Maybe they’re doubtful things can really change, or they’re worried I’ll let you fight in session (I don’t). Maybe they’re worried about feeling ganged up on, the cost of sessions, or whether they have the energy right now. Sometimes we can work through these issues, sometimes we can’t.

But, often, people will still see me solo. We can use that time to unpack what’s going in the relationship for you — that alone can be tremendously useful.

That depends on you. Some clients like having things to work on in between sessions. In those cases, I’ll offer exercises or prompts to help them notice and interrupt old habits that might not be working anymore.

Other clients would literally crumple to the floor if one more thing got added to their plate. For them, we leave much of the active counselling work “in the room” and let change unfold at its own pace.

Yes, very likely.

I’m a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in North Vancouver, British Columbia, which means sessions may be covered by your extended health care plan. My receipts will contain all the relevant information to support your submission. It’s best to check with your individual insurance provider before coming to an appointment to confirm what portion of our sessions would be covered.

Yes. I reserve a percentage of spots to be lower-cost. Let me know if this is important to you when you first reach out, and we can talk about what that might look like.

Good question. I offer a 20-minute call to test the waters a bit — and people tend to find that helpful.

Possibly! Annie is our rescue mutt who takes full advantage of the empty sofa in my office. She lends a little comic relief to sessions and — not to worry — her confidentiality game is tight. But I’m also a little nomadic these days, so I’m not always at my home office, which means Annie’s whereabout will be anyone’s guess.