I am interested in the growth and healing of the whole person including emotional, spiritual, academic, relational, vocational, behavioural, and cognitive well-being.

I am not a medical doctor and therefore cannot prescribe any medication or give advice on medical procedures but am able to make a referral if needed.

While counselling style varies with each counsellor, I will ask you for some information in order to gain an understanding of the concern(s) that you bring and will develop goals with you that will guide your time together.

Goals are usually discussed together and revised every few sessions for as long as you remain in counselling. You may end therapy at any time. If possible, it would be best if you could discuss your decision with me, as closure is part of the therapy process.

The process of change has an impact on our life as well as those we are in relationship with.

I will try to help you think through the implications and consequences of the changes that you are considering in your life. Changing old habits and ways of thinking, feeling and behaving often requires hard work and you may experience some feelings of discomfort along the way.

While positive gains are the goal in counselling, outcomes cannot be guaranteed and it should be kept in mind that a person may change in ways that others may or may not approve of.

As part of my commitment to professional development, I consult with peers and with professional supervisors. From time to time, I may wish to share non-identifying information with my colleagues for the benefit of their varied insights and expertise. I believe these forms of consultation enhance what I am able to offer you, the client.

For the purpose of insurance coverage, my work is supervised by Dr. Diana Garcia.

Confidentiality. Under normal circumstances only you have the right to tell your own story and what is shared in counselling is treated as confidential and will not be shared with any office or individual outside of our professional relationship without your signed and informed consent. Individuals in family counselling are responsible for their own handling of confidences shared in the group.

Under some circumstances, all professionals are legally and ethically bound and free to disclose certain specific and relevant information to appropriate individuals or agencies. If at all possible, I will discuss my concerns with you beforehand, and let you know how I am planning to proceed.

These circumstances include:

• If there is reason to believe that a client in counselling is a danger to themselves or may do harm to another person

• If there is reason to believe that a minor has been, is, or may be in danger of neglect or abuse and in need of protection

• In response to a court order

If you ever have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.

There may be times when we may see one another outside of our therapeutic relationship. When this happens it is best that we do not discuss therapeutic issues.

All counselling-related material is kept in a locked file cabinet and is my property.

It will be securely and confidentially maintained for a period of ten years following the completion of the last counselling session, after which time, under normal circumstances, it will be destroyed in a complete, responsible and professional manner.

You have a right to review or have a copy of any information that is contained in your client file. This access will be provided upon written request

You have a right to expect that your regularly scheduled appointments will be respected and protected from unnecessary interruptions.

I will inform you in advance of any absences including vacations. Occasionally I may not be able to make a session due to sudden illness or an unforeseen circumstance. I will try to contact you if possible.

f you must cancel your appointment you are asked to leave a message for me at least 24 hours in advance. Clients will be charged for all sessions that are missed or cancelled with less than 24-hour notice. Occasionally it is understood that an emergency may arise such as a sudden illness or death in the family that may necessitate cancellation with less than 24 hours notice.

When a client wants to end the counselling sessions it is appropriate that they discuss this with their counsellor, as this is part of the counselling process.

If you need to contact me, please leave a message on my confidential voicemail. I check my messages regularly and will return your message as soon as possible. I will be discreet in contacting you as per your instructions. I can also be contacted by email if this is preferable.

Please note: Because email is generally not a secure or confidential medium, while I do my best to keep your communication private, I cannot guarantee that your email will remain confidential. There are many ways an email message can be intercepted. If you are concerned in any way about your email being read by someone other than the person you are contacting, please consider other methods of reaching me.

Yes! Your opinion is important to me and will help me continually improve my services. Please feel free to let me know if there’s something I can do better or if there’s anything I may have missed in session that you needed to address. I will ask you regularly if there’s anything you would like to discuss in this way.