What can I expect to happen in a session? My two biggest objectives are that your experience of therapy is both comfortable and meaningful to you. I will take the time to get to know you not only through your experience of the problem, but as a person with unique values, beliefs, and skills. During this time together we will explore your preferences and hopes for how to live your life and make a plan for how to make that happen. You can expect me to periodically initiate feedback to ensure that our conversations are covering what is most important to you on that given day.
How long will I be in therapy? Therapy does not have to take a lifetime of analysis, years of scrutiny, or even months of confrontation. In fact, therapy can be significant in a relatively short period of time. The term “brief therapy” does not mean rushed therapy; rather it is a purposeful approach that slows things down in order to better appreciate the rich detail of a person’s life. In doing so, this often speeds up the development of meaningful conversations and relevant shifts. Some people find that 3-6 sessions can be enough to experience lasting changes.
Will you be consulting with anyone about my file? Confidentiality is the cornerstone for any trusting therapeutic relationship. Any identifying information or details of our conversations will not be shared with anyone unless you give your explicit instruction to do so. In order to enhance the therapeutic process however, the therapist may seek consultation from time to time with a dedicated clinical supervisor.
Are there any circumstances where you would need to share the contents of my session with someone? The most common reason for confidentiality to become superseded is in cases where there exists an imminent risk to a person's safety or well-being. This would include the following: suspected child abuse or neglect; or if the individual is at risk of hurting themselves or others, as when there is a danger of suicide or assault.
Are your services covered by OHIP? Therapy services are not covered by OHIP. However, many extended health insurance plans do provide coverage. Each carrier is different so please check your plan to see what the coverage is for social workers.
How long is a session? The approximate length of a session is 60 minutes, although there can be flexibility in this respect as well.
