This is an opportunity to meet our psychotherapists, share the reason you’ve reached out for therapy, and discuss what working together would be like. They will also answer any questions that you have. If it feels like a good fit and you decide that you’d like to work together, we’ll book your first appointment.

During your first appointment, your psychotherapist will review consent, confidentiality, and considerations for online therapy (if it’s a virtual consultation). Assessment is an ongoing process throughout therapy, but your first session is dedicated to learning about you - the issue that has brought you to therapy, how it shows up in your life and how you manage, your strengths and values, and what it is that you are hoping to achieve with therapy. Your goals for therapy will be discussed, as well as what progress will look like. You and your psychotherapist will collaborate on an initial plan for treatment, including style of therapy and frequency of appointments.

For couples, the process is similar, but your psychotherapist will have you and your partner take turns speaking so there’s an opportunity to hear from both of you.

Sessions are 50-60 minutes in length depending on the psychotherapist.

Ongoing psychotherapy sessions will begin with checking in and updates, where you can share what is going on for you as well as anything you would like to discuss with your therapist. The session will continue with treatment, and will end with any exercises or activities for you to do in between appointments. Periodically, you can anticipate a review of where things are at and progress towards goals, and as indicated, adjustment to goals or the treatment plan.

There is no specific timeline for the therapy process. Some people are able to get what they need after a number of sessions, others decide to continue with therapy after the issue that led them here is resolved so that they may continue to use this support or address other concerns.

Sessions are 50-60 minutes in length depending on the psychotherapist.

Some young clients are more comfortable having a parent sit in with them for the first session, while others wish for their therapy to be private and separate from family life. Not talking right off the bat is okay. Sometimes we encourage younger clients to write down thoughts and feelings they can share through writing rather than talking. We also keep paper and drawing materials in the office to have the option of drawing, as a way to express feelings and experiences with pictures or colours. 

We offer both virtual and in-person sessions, and for some teens and parents, virtual therapy is a lot more comfortable and convenient—you don’t have to leave your bedroom! Therapy is always a safe and nonjudgmental place to share what’s on your mind.

Couple sessions begin with a check-in to see how things have been since the last appointment. Sometimes one partner may want to vent about something that has happened, but your therapist will encourage you to focus on the feelings surrounding the incident, how to communicate those to your partner, and guide the conversation back to your goals. One major focus of couple therapy will be helping you and your partner to communicate better, so your therapist will have exercises and activities that can be practiced together in session. Other components of couple therapy include: learning to increase empathy and understanding, building on relationship strengths, reflecting on what each of you hope for and re-establishing connection, and finding new ways to approach challenges.