FAQs
General FAQs
-
From the very first session, I am forming a picture of the patterns and themes that are showing up in your life. I am looking for your strengths and what you find challenging. Many clients have told me that previous therapy felt like a place to vent and be validated without anything really shifting. What I offer is different. We use the foundation of our early conversations to move toward a genuine understanding of how you came to be who you are, what your survival strategies have been, and how to build new ways of being that actually fit your life. You are always in charge of the pace and direction, but we are always moving toward something.
-
Yes! I came to this work through my own life, not just through education and training. I have personal experience with many of the challenges my clients bring to therapy, including family separation, loss, financial stress, burnout, and navigating systems that weren't built for people like me. I don't show up green, I show up having done my own work, and continuing to do it.
-
I have been working in the social services field since 1999. I completed my BSW and MSW at Carleton University and moved into private practice therapy after working in a range of settings including addictions treatment, family health teams, and supporting children and families navigating autism.
-
Yes, I am currently accepting new clients. The best place to start is booking a free 15-minute consultation so we can connect and see if we're a good fit.
-
I offer both in-person and virtual sessions. My office is located at 104 Centrepointe Drive in Ottawa, a short walk from the Algonquin College bus stop with free parking on site. I am currently seeing clients Tuesday through Thursday, with Monday availability being added in October.
-
104 Centrepointe Drive, upper level, Ottawa. There is free parking on site and the office is a five to seven minute walk from the Algonquin College bus stop.
-
Yes, and this is actually one of the most common things I hear from new clients. If previous therapy felt like you were just talking without anything really changing, that's worth paying attention to. From the very first session I am actively working to understand the patterns and themes that exist in your life and formulating a direction for our work together. We don't stay at the surface indefinitely. If you've had therapy before and left feeling like nothing shifted, I'd encourage you to book a consultation and tell me about that experience. It helps me understand what you need.
-
I work with both men and women and have genuinely valued my work with male identifying clients across a range of challenges including anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, and Substance Use Disorder. Because therapy is more normalized for women, I tend to see them more often, but I would love to see more men showing up in my practice who are ready to seek support. There is no version of struggle that is too much or not enough to bring here.
-
Yes, absolutely. I welcome 2SLGBTQI+ clients and am committed to providing affirming, non-judgmental support.
-
Yes. I have experience working with military families, first responders, RCMP, police officers, firefighters, doctors, and nurses, including supporting people navigating PTSD and C-PTSD related to their work.
Getting started
-
If you're looking for a neutral, non-judgmental person to talk to, you're ready. You don't need to have a clear diagnosis, a specific goal, or have experienced a crisis to seek support. Some people come in wanting to talk things through and explore what therapy feels like. Others arrive knowing exactly what they want to change. Most people land somewhere in the middle, with some sense of what's been hard and a willingness to explore it further. Wherever you are on that spectrum, that's a valid place to start. I'll help us figure out the rest together.
-
The free consultation is a relaxed 15-minute conversation where you can share a little about what's been going on and get a feel for how I work. You're welcome to ask me anything about my approach, my experience, my rates, or anything else that would help you decide if we're a good fit. I may ask a few questions too. There's no commitment and no pressure. It's simply a chance for us to connect and see if this feels right.
-
Curiosity. Really, that's it. You already have everything you need, your story, how you've been feeling, what's been going well and not so well. Some people bring their own drink, a snack, a fidget toy, or a notebook. Whatever helps you feel comfortable is welcome. I'll take care of the rest. The office has water and tea available, free parking, a comfortable couch, and a big window to look out of.
-
You can cancel or reschedule through the Jane App portal as long as it's more than 48 hours before your session. For changes within 48 hours please email me directly and we'll sort it out together on a case by case basis. As a general guide, cancellations between 48 and 24 hours notice may incur a 50% session fee, and cancellations with less than 24 hours notice may incur a full session fee. If you are unwell or have a genuine emergency, we'll simply reschedule with no cancellation fee required.
-
No. You do not need a referral or a diagnosis to book with me.
The therapy process
-
It depends on what we're working on. As a general guide, anxiety work tends to unfold over nine to eighteen months, relationship and self-relationship work over one to two years, and trauma therapy over one year or more, with many clients working with me for two to six years. For ART specifically, some clients come for an intake session and one to three ART sessions and feel complete based on symptom reduction. Some clients also come for six to eight sessions, build awareness, and then step away until they're ready to go further. There is no right answer, and you are always in charge of when to pause or stop.
-
Most clients start by meeting every two weeks, though some prefer to begin with weekly sessions for the first two to four sessions to build momentum. As things start to feel more settled we typically shift to every three weeks, and eventually once a month or as needed. Many of my long-term clients come in once or twice a year for what they call a tune-up. The frequency is always flexible and guided by what feels right for you.
-
Early sessions are largely about getting to know each other. You share what you're comfortable sharing and I ask questions, listening carefully for patterns, themes, and the shape of your story. As we build rapport and trust we begin moving below the surface together, getting curious about how things came to be and what might start to shift. Sessions are collaborative and led by you. There's room for depth, and also room for lightness, because that's part of the process, too.
-
No, and this is one of the most important things to know, particularly if you're considering ART. ART does not require you to retell your story in detail for it to be effective. It works with your own internal images and felt sense of what happened, meaning you can choose how much or how little you share. Some clients share nothing. Some share everything. The effectiveness of the approach does not depend on disclosure. For other modalities, we always go at your pace. You are in control of what you share and when.
-
Please know that this is completely welcome here. Crying in session is something I genuinely expect and it won't surprise me or make me uncomfortable. Some people even apologize for it, which I always want to gently address, because crying is healthy, normal, and informative. It tells us something. Interestingly, the stress hormone cortisol is actually released through tears, so crying is one of the ways your body literally lets stress go. If being emotional in front of others feels hard for you, this can also be a space to practice giving yourself permission to do that.
-
The signs are often subtle at first. You might notice a few minutes here and there where you can catch your breath. You might find yourself thinking about something we discussed between sessions and trying a tool out, and noticing it helps a little. You might feel slightly calmer, or find that your thoughts aren't racing quite as much. You might feel a little less discomfort around your own needs, or find yourself wanting to try saying something out loud that you've never said before. Over time the signs become less subtle: you feel more in control and things that used to feel impossible start to feel manageable. You might even arrive to a session unsure what to talk about, which is often one of the best signs of all.
-
Not in the traditional sense. I do ask clients to practice the skills and tools we explore in session and to notice what happens when they do. We check in at the start of each session to talk about what you tried, how it landed, and what felt different. This helps us understand what's working and what might need to be adjusted. Think of it less as homework and more as curiosity between sessions.
Specific services
-
Trauma therapy is more targeted to treating both the psychological and emotional impact of traumatic experiences specifically. Trauma can lead to conditions like anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and PTSD, and trauma therapy works directly on those roots rather than just managing the symptoms. It works best when delivered by an experienced, trauma-informed therapist using evidence-based modalities like ART, NARM, or EMDR. General therapy tends to use talk-based approaches to help clients understand and manage ongoing challenges like stress, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. Both have value, and the right fit depends on what you're carrying and what you need.
-
Burnout and depression can look similar on the surface, as both can leave you feeling exhausted, empty, low, and unable to cope. The key difference is that depression is a clinical diagnosis that affects every part of your life regardless of circumstance, while burnout tends to be situational and rooted in a specific environment or role like work or caregiving. If you removed the stressor, burnout can improve. Depression typically doesn't lift that way. Burnout can also make a person more vulnerable to developing depression over time, which is one of the reasons it's worth addressing early.
-
Yes. Some clients come specifically for ART, complete an intake and education session, do one to three ART sessions, and feel finished based on their symptom reduction. Others choose to continue with ongoing therapy after ART to build on the shifts that happened. Either path is completely valid and we can talk about what makes the most sense for you during your consultation.
-
Yes. I work with both PTSD and C-PTSD (Complex PTSD) and have experience supporting a wide range of people including military veterans, RCMP, police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and everyday people who have been through experiences that left a lasting mark. While I cannot provide a formal diagnosis, I can conduct assessments that help us understand what's showing up. Treatment draws primarily on ART, NARM, DBT, EFT, compassion-focused therapy, and narrative therapy, with self-compassion work woven throughout.
-
Yes, and it responds very well to therapy. People pleasing typically begins as a survival strategy, a way of managing anxiety around others' reactions or disapproval. Over time it can lead to a loss of self-identity and a pattern of consistently putting everyone else's needs above your own. Treatment draws on a combination of CBT, DBT, EFT, and compassion-focused work to help you manage the underlying anxiety, reconnect with your own emotional needs, and start building a life that actually has room for you in it.
-
This is one of the most common things I hear from family members reaching out for this kind of support, and it makes complete sense to think that way. But here's the thing: being a caregiver for someone with a Substance Use Disorder takes an enormous toll. The checking in, the supporting through crises, the appointments, the worry that never fully lets go, all of that requires its own kind of care. When we spend all of our energy on someone else's recovery, we stop taking care of ourselves. And slowly the exhaustion, the overwhelm, and the feeling that we can't keep going starts to take over. That experience is real and it deserves support, not because your loved one's struggle doesn't matter, but because yours does, too.
-
Not at this time. I work with individuals only. I do hope to offer family therapy in the future as my practice grows.
Modalities
-
Both ART and EMDR use eye movements to treat trauma, and most people have heard of EMDR while fewer have heard of ART. The key differences are that ART facilitates image replacement and directly addresses body symptoms, two features that make it particularly effective for trauma processing. ART sessions also have a clear beginning, middle, and end, so clients leave each session with a sense of resolution. In my experience ART tends to produce results more quickly than EMDR and is more effective at shifting the body's physical response to traumatic memories.
-
NARM stands for Neuroaffective Relational Model. It is a specialized approach for healing the effects of early childhood and developmental trauma. Rather than revisiting past traumatic events in detail, NARM focuses on the survival patterns people developed in response to what happened, particularly the ways they learned to disconnect from themselves, their emotions, and their relationships in order to stay safe. NARM works in the present moment, looking at how those patterns show up in the body and mind right now, and gently helping to resolve the disconnection that drives so many of the symptoms people bring to therapy. It is a particularly good fit for anyone who has felt stuck in patterns that don't seem to respond to insight or talk therapy alone.
-
DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder but has evolved significantly since then and is now used effectively for a wide range of presentations. I use DBT regularly with clients who want to better understand and regulate their emotions, communicate more effectively, set boundaries, shift from passive or aggressive patterns to assertive ones, and practice mindfulness as a way of staying present rather than getting lost in anxiety or rumination. Over the years I have found it to be one of the most practically useful modalities I work with, and I draw on it often regardless of what a client originally came in for.
-
I take an eclectic approach, meaning I don't believe any one modality works for every person or every presenting challenge. From the beginning of our work together I am observing what's landing and what isn't, and checking in with you regularly about your experience. We essentially tailor the therapy to what works best for you. If you come in with a specific modality in mind, we'll spend more time there while staying open to incorporating other approaches if needed. It's always a collaborative process.
-
Yes, most likely. I genuinely believe an eclectic approach is most effective, and in practice that often means drawing on multiple modalities in harmony within a single session. There are gold standard approaches for specific presentations, like CBT for anxiety, and we'll lean into those where they apply. But therapy is not one size fits all, and the goal is always to find what works for you specifically, not to stay rigid about any one method.
Fees and logistics
-
Individual sessions (60 minutes) are $180. Accelerated Resolution Therapy sessions (75 to 90 minutes) are $225.
-
Yes. I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots at rates between $100 and $180 per session. These are currently full, but please reach out and I'll let you know if availability changes.
-
I do not offer direct billing. I do provide a receipt after every session that includes all of my particulars and credentials, which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Most insurance plans that cover social work services will accept this receipt, but I'd encourage you to check with your insurer in advance to confirm your coverage.
-
As a private practitioner, my services are not covered by OHIP. Many people do have coverage through their employer's benefits plan, so it's worth checking your policy to see how much is available for social work or psychotherapy services annually. If you don't have insurance coverage and cost is a barrier, please feel free to ask me about sliding scale availability.
-
I accept cash, credit card, and e-transfer.
-
Yes. A receipt is sent as soon as payment is received for each session. It includes all of my credentials and information needed for insurance submission.
You've taken the first step just by being here.
Reading through these questions takes courage. It means something in you is ready to explore what support could look like. Whenever you feel ready to take the next step, I'm here. Book your free 15-minute consultation and let's start the conversation.