I have a variety of funding options available. If you have any questions about these you are welcome to email me.

The options are:

• ACC

• PMHI (4x funded sessions GP referral required)

• Victim Support

• EAP (Clearhead) - your workplace may have a contract with Clearhead

• Work and Income

Prior to having our first session I will send a form via email that you can fill in online. Please complete this before the session. You don’t need to bring anything else, but if you have something that will help you feel comfortable bring it along!

I believe that the heart of therapy is recognising that you are the expert of your own life. You know your experiences and what feels most important to you in this journey. That's why I trust you to come each week with topics or concerns you'd like to explore together. I can provide a question guide before our first session to help prompt any thoughts or areas you may want to discuss - but don’t worry, there is always something to talk about!

In our first session, we'll go over the forms, address any questions you may have, and take some time to get to know each other. We'll also explore what may or may not be helpful for you, and clarify your expectations for the therapy process. This session is typically about sharing parts of your story and starting to identify what you'd like to change, process, or work on moving forward.

I have tried to make this space as light and as comfortable as possible, so please feel free to;

• Bring a drink or food

• Get comfy, take your shoes off, lay on the couch, sit on the floor, hug a pillow, play with one of the squishy toys, whatever helps you feel relaxed

• I have a Border Collie/Husky dog, her name is Maple. She is welcome in our space on request

• Read me texts or journal entries, show me photos or social media - I am love to learn about your life!

Commitment is a key ingredient in making the most of your counselling journey. Counselling can be a process that requires your active participation, consistency, and willingness to be open, even when things feel challenging. The more committed you are to attending sessions, being honest, and doing any work or reflection between sessions, the more progress you’re likely to see. Change doesn’t always happen overnight, and sometimes it can require patience and persistence. The days where we don’t want to go to counselling are usually the days we get the most out of it!

The length of counselling varies from person to person. Some individuals may find they feel better after a few sessions, while others may need therapy for months or even longer to work through deeper issues. The process is unique to you, and we’ll adjust the plan as we go along.

Short answer: Yes, you can bring someone along!

Longer answer: I completely understand that the first session can feel a little intimidating, and if having a support person with you helps, I’m happy to welcome them for the first few minutes or for the whole session, whichever feels most comfortable for you. After that, it’s usually best for us to continue working one-on-one. Having someone else in the room can sometimes influence what you feel comfortable sharing or how you express yourself.

If you’d like to bring someone into a future session, we can definitely discuss the intent, and how that would look. The goal is to ensure you feel safe and supported throughout the process.

It’s natural to have periods where progress feels slow or stagnant. If you’re feeling this way, please bring it up! Talking about this feeling can help explore what might be getting in the way and adjust the approach to better suit your needs - I will not be offended, this is about you and ensuring you are getting what you need.

We may see each other out and about! We can discuss how we will navigate this in the first couple of sessions. If you see me in public you are very welcome to say hello, I will follow your lead. If you don’t feel comfortable acknowledging each other that is totally ok too! If I am with someone, don’t worry, I will keep who you are confidential.

It's totally natural to have questions—after all, counselling is about building a relationship! I'm more than happy to share parts of my experience that are helpful for our work together. That said, the focus will always be on you. If there's anything you'd like to ask, don't hesitate to bring it up!