No, you do not need a referral to see a counsellor. You also don't need a diagnosis, or have to be in crisis.

You are welcome whatever you want support with - no matter how big or small it may seem.

You have a few options depending on what feels like the right fit for you:

If you feel ready to connect and start working together, please book an initial session on JaneApp. After you schedule your session, I’ll send you a welcome email with more information, as well as your personalized Zoom link. You’ll also be prompted to fill out a brief intake form on Jane before we meet.

If you’re unsure if we’re the right fit, or if you have questions about counselling or my approach, please book a free 15 minute consultation on Jane. At the time you’ve selected, I’ll give you a call so we can chat about what you’re hoping for and answer questions you may have.

Some extended health benefit plans do cover a portion of session fees for Registered Clinical Counsellors. I’d encourage you to check your benefit details to confirm whether my designation is covered.

I am a registered CVAP provider, and do not charge a top-up fee.

Please note that for private insurance I do not do third-party billing - this means you need to pay for your session, and can then submit your invoice for reimbursement.

For individuals:

$170 for a 50 minute session

$255 for a 75 minute session

For couples:

$190 for a 50 minute session

$285 for a 75 minute session

I reserve a portion of my availability for sliding scale spaces - these are currently full.

You can pay for sessions by credit card through JaneApp, or by e-transfers to amanda@takegoodcarecounselling.com. If you choose to pay by credit card, you can enter your credit card information to be securely stored by JaneApp, and use that card for billing moving forward. Fees are due at the end of each session.

If you cancel a session with less than 48 hours notice, you will be charged the full session fee. If you are late for your appointment, we can meet for the remainder of your time, but will end our session at the scheduled time. If you are running late for a session, the easiest way to let me know is by email.

All sessions are provided virtually through Zoom. I will send you a personalized Zoom link before our first session.

You can read more about data privacy and security on Zoom here. If you’re unsure how to use Zoom, you can see their Get Started guide here, or you can send me an email with any questions.

Fair enough - I used to be skeptical too. One of the unexpected things I learned during the pandemic was how helpful virtual counselling can actually be. It makes counselling more accessible for many people, and I’ve found it just as effective as in-person counselling for many people (though that doesn’t mean everyone, and it’s okay if it’s not the right fit for you!). If you have specific questions or concerns, book a free consultation call and we can talk them through together.

Just like in-person counselling, it’s important to be intentional about how you approach virtual counselling. It can be helpful to find ways to create a counselling space - whether that’s making yourself a cup of tea, setting aside a corner of your home just for therapy, or making sure you put a time buffer between your session and your next meeting at work. I’d also recommend being mindful about your privacy.

We’ll start out our first session going over the informed consent form and answering any questions you may have.

Then, we’ll explore what you’re hoping for from counselling in as much or as little detail as you want. Safety and trust take time to build, so if there’s anything you don’t feel comfortable discussing, that’s totally okay. When we have a sense of your goals (whether it’s in a first session or later on!), we’ll come up with a plan together to work towards them in counselling.

It's a great question! This really depends on your goals and how you want to use therapy. Some folks just want support building some new skills, and only come for a few sessions. Other people are working through more long-term challenges and we work together for longer.

People often come and go from counselling - it's common to come for a time, then take a break.

Unfortunately, due to registration requirements, I’m not able to see folks who are in other provinces. There are some very rare exceptions to this for current clients - please contact me to discuss further.

Isn’t it kinda cheesy? Yep, it is. But for many of us, we never learned how to take good care of ourselves, or to receive kind care from others. Sometimes it can even feel scary. 

Counselling is a place where we can learn to treat ourselves with care, to receive care from others, and to offer it to others too.

You are always welcome to pause or stop counselling at any time and for any reason.

I see counselling as a type of scaffolding - it’s a supportive foundation at first, and feels less necessary as time goes on and people feel more solid in the changes they’ve made. As you progress, I’ll check in with you about how counselling is feeling, and what frequency feels right for you.

I would recommend not ending therapy abruptly. When you’re ready to pause or stop counselling, it’s helpful to spend some time together reflecting on the changes you’ve made, solidifying the work we’ve done together, and even exploring what it means to say goodbye (or see you later).

You are also always welcome to reconnect if you need support in the future, no matter how long it's been.