Frequently Asked Questions
How does the intake process work?
The intake process is really simple. First, we do a complimentary phone consultation so that you get can a sense of who I am and I can learn more about what you’re looking for from your counselling experience. I also love to answer any questions that you might have ready, or that come up during our call. If you feel that I’m a good fit for you, and I feel that I will be effective in our work together, then we book a session at the end of the phone call.
What Happens in session?
Sessions are collaborative. In the first session, I usually get a bit more context about who you are and your counselling goals. This can take 10 minutes, or the whole session depending on you and what you want me to know. From there, we highlight how we can comfortably & effectively move forward in the your upcoming sessions. The goal is for you to get the most out of your counselling process. Your collaboration and vision is key throughout the process!
Do you provide online counselling & is online counselling effective?
Absolutely! Online counselling is effective and has been evolving and expanding over the past few years. While the feel is slightly different, clients are able to achieve their goals and benefit greatly from their online counselling experience (now referred to as telehealth).
How many sessions will you need?
That is entirely dependant on you, what you’re working on, your financial situation. This changes for everyone and we can speak about this in the first session or during our intake call.
How frequent are sessions?
This question again is dependant on you. There are some clients where weekly sessions are important for progress. I have had weekly clients for a year or more, some come in once every 2 weeks, and some clients that I see once a month on a regular basis. Session frequency all depends on what we’re working on. Session frequency is variable, so don’t worry about feeling locked into a contract- you’re free to reduce or increase frequency at your discretion.
are sessions covered by my benefits?
This depends on your insurance policy. Please check the wording. I have had very few clients who are not covered however, sometimes insurance providers do not cover “clinical counsellors” so please double check the wording on your policy!
what can i expect from counselling?
The answer to this question is different for everyone. In short, if you show up willing to learn more about yourself, I can help you do that. I draw from several methods (highlighted on my methods page). I like to work with you to deepen your awareness of different habits and patterns (these can be noted through thoughts, feelings, behaviours or movements). These patterns help us to gain a deepening in understanding, opening new doors for you to explore. I also offer tools that you can take home and start using immediately.
and of course, the most common question i get: can i know more about your practice?
Yes, of course. I like to explain my “why” when people ask me this question. I started Sana Counselling because I am inspired by people’s resilience. Everyone has a story to tell and sometimes, friends and family are not the more appropriate audience for certain chapters of your book (at first). I want to offer you a space to be able to give voice to what might be holding you back, or causing pain.
I want our society to overcome shame and stigma. These issues are present for so many of us in our communities, and they stop our stories from being told, which ends in unnecessary suffering or pain. Counselling helps with these issues, tremendously.
I enjoy taking the information that I have learned in psychology and various trainings, and sharing it with my clients. This helps with normalizing certain issues and for many, relieves a sense of feeling broken or ruined. You are most certainly not broken, nor ruined.
My mission is to help you build confidence, connection and community.
To learn more about me, go to my Bio page. To learn more about my counselling approaches, check out my methods page. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, click the button below to get in touch. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
CRISIS RESPONSE SUPPORT: Sana Counselling does not provide crisis response support. If you or someone you know is at imminent risk of suicide, call 911 or attend the closest hospital. In BC, if the risk is not imminent, call the BC Suicide Line at 1-800-784-2433 or the Mental Health Support Line at 310-6789.
