Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for a counsellor can feel more complicated than it should. Below are some of the questions I get most often about counselling, what working with me is like, and the different ways we can meet.

What kinds of counselling do you offer?

I work with people dealing with a range of concerns, including anger, grief and loss, addiction, anxiety and stress, relationship conflict, trauma, and patterns of behaviour they are having a hard time changing.

A lot of my work involves helping people better understand why they react the way they do, what is happening underneath those reactions, and what they can realistically do differently.

I offer individual and couples counselling in Saskatoon, along with virtual and walk-and-talk sessions.

What is your approach to therapy?

My style is warm, conversational and direct.

I think people need to feel understood before being challenged. At the same time, I don't think good therapy means simply agreeing with everything you say. Sometimes counselling involves looking honestly at patterns, choices, relationships and beliefs that may be getting in your way.

I draw from several approaches, including CBT, DBT, ACT, Reality Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology and other forms of talk therapy. I don't expect clients to know or care about all of those acronyms. I use what seems useful for the person sitting in front of me.

Do you provide anger management counselling in Saskatoon?

Yes. Anger and harmful patterns of behaviour are some of the main areas I work with.

Anger counselling with me usually goes beyond simply learning how to calm down. We may look at what happens before the anger, how your body responds, the meaning you give to a situation, feelings of disrespect or loss of control, relationship patterns, communication, boundaries and the beliefs underneath your reactions.

The goal isn't to never feel angry. It is to understand your anger well enough that you have more choice in what you do with it.

Do you work with grief and loss?

Yes.

Grief does not always need to be "fixed." Sometimes counselling is about having somewhere to talk openly about the person you lost and what the loss has changed.

Other times we may work on some of the things that can come with grief, including difficulty sleeping, anger, guilt, changes in relationships, loss of routine or simply trying to function while part of your life feels very different.

There is no particular timeline you are supposed to follow.

Do you provide addiction counselling?

Yes. I have several years of professional experience working in addictions treatment.

You don't need to have everything figured out before coming to counselling. We can look at what alcohol, drugs or another behaviour has been doing for you, what makes change difficult, patterns that increase the chance of returning to use, and what you want your life to look like moving forward.

That can include supporting sobriety, maintaining recovery, reducing harm or helping you decide what changes you are ready to make.

Do you work with trauma?

Yes. Trauma and the way difficult experiences affect our bodies, beliefs, relationships and behaviour have been major areas of my training.

Trauma counselling does not mean you have to immediately tell me every detail of what happened to you. We can work at a pace that makes sense and focus on understanding what is happening now, building stability, recognizing patterns and helping you have more control over how past experiences affect your present life.

Do you offer in-person, virtual and walk-and-talk counselling?

Yes.

My in-office counselling appointments in Saskatoon are currently available on Sundays.

I also offer virtual counselling and walk-and-talk therapy throughout the week, including evening and weekend availability.

Walk-and-talk therapy is exactly what it sounds like: instead of sitting across from each other in an office, we have the session while walking outside. Some people find conversation comes more naturally when they are moving and not sitting face-to-face for an hour.

There is no pressure to choose one format permanently. We can use whichever option works best for you.

What is the free consultation?

I offer a free 15-minute consultation before booking if you would like one.

It gives us a chance to briefly talk about what you are looking for, what you would like help with, availability, payment or insurance questions, and whether I seem like someone you would be comfortable working with.

It isn't a therapy session and you don't have to make a decision during the call.

What happens during the first counselling session?

The first session is mostly about understanding what brought you in and where you would like things to go.

I'll ask questions about what has been happening, what you have already tried, relevant parts of your history and what you would like to be different. You will also have a chance to ask me questions and tell me what has or hasn't worked for you in counselling before.

I don't expect you to show up with a perfectly organized story or even know exactly what you need. Figuring that out can be part of the work.

How do I know if you're the right counsellor for me?

A website can only tell you so much. The free consultation is usually the easiest way to get a sense of fit.

My style tends to work well for people who want someone who will listen carefully, try to understand where they are coming from, and also be willing to have direct conversations when those conversations are useful.

I want therapy to feel human. We can laugh sometimes. We can disagree. We can talk about difficult things without treating you like the worst thing you've ever done or the hardest thing that's ever happened to you.

And if it doesn't feel like a good fit, that's okay too. Finding someone you can actually work with matters.

How long will I need counselling?

There isn't a standard number of sessions.

Some people come in with a specific issue and only need a shorter period of counselling. Others are working through longstanding patterns, trauma, addiction, relationship issues or major life changes and choose to stay longer.

We can talk about what you want from counselling and check in along the way rather than keeping therapy going simply because that is what we have always done.

How will I know if therapy is working?

The important changes usually happen outside the therapy room.

Maybe an argument goes differently. You notice yourself getting overwhelmed before you explode. You understand why something affects you so strongly. You communicate something you normally would have avoided. You recover from a difficult moment faster. Or you start making decisions that fit better with the person you want to be.

We can regularly look at what is changing, what isn't, and whether we need to adjust what we are doing.

How much does counselling cost?

Individual counselling sessions are $155 per hour and couples counselling sessions are $190 per hour.

Many extended health insurance plans provide coverage for counselling with a Registered Social Worker. Coverage varies between plans, so it is worth checking the details of your individual insurance policy.

I also work with clients who have Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) coverage. If you are planning to use NIHB, contact me and we can go over the coverage and approval process before your first appointment.

Is counselling confidential?

Yes. What you tell me in counselling is private, but confidentiality does have legal and professional limits.

There are situations where a counsellor may be required to share information, such as certain serious safety concerns, child protection situations or when disclosure is required by law or a court.

I will explain confidentiality and its limits at the beginning of counselling, and you are always welcome to ask questions about it.

Do I need a referral to start counselling?

Generally, no. You can contact me directly to ask questions, schedule a consultation or book a counselling appointment.

Insurance and NIHB requirements can be different depending on the type of coverage you have, so we can sort that out before booking if needed.

How do I get started?

You can reach out by email, phone or through the contact information on this website.

If you already know that you would like to book, we can look at appointment times. If you aren't sure yet, we can start with the free 15-minute consultation and go from there.

Email: TheListeningTherapist@gmail.com
Phone: 306-361-5830