YOUR THERAPY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

  Due to COVID-19, all sessions currently are offered virtually.  
 

Being in Lockdown and offering virtual sessions for most of the year has proven just how much emotional development can happen virtually. 

While it is always ideal to see each other in person, you will find that secure video sessions are very effective for us getting emotional work done. 

You just need a safe spot to talk, and maybe a nice cuppa tea, and we should be all set.

  Session lengths are the usual therapist 'hour' of 50 minutes in length.

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I primarily work longer term - especially because of my specialization in trauma therapy. 

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I am very flexible when it comes to frequency. 

A good rule of thumb is to think about it in terms of progress: Meeting weekly gives us a chance to get to know each other faster, and often less happens from week-to-week so we can focus on what you are bringing. Progress can be made in a similar fashion with bi-weekly sessions as well. However, longer gaps between sessions does slow down progress. Which is not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind. 

I'm a Psychodynamic practitioner - which means that I actually sometimes see clients more than 1x a week. We can discuss what would work best for you when we meet. 

  While you may already 'know' the answer to this one, it is vitally important that you understand that what you say in therapy is confidential. My sessions are never recorded, and the notes I write after sessions are in a secure and data-protected space. 

When might that change? 

If I fear imminent harm to yourself or another – if I become worried that something harmful will happen when you leave my therapy office (ex. suicidal intent, or violent intent to others). Then, I may need to break confidentiality to keep you and others safe. Almost always, I will tell you before this happens.

Many of these topics are important to bring to therapy. But it is important to know that if I am worried for any immediate danger I will tell you, and may need to bring in help. 

NOTE: If I hear of harm posed to any child, that will always be cause for me to break confidentiality. 

  This is definitely one of the scariest questions to ask in therapy - where in the world do I begin? 

Great question!  
 

Let me put you at ease: As a Psychodynamic Practitioner, it really does not matter where we start! We can start with your childhood, your relationships, your problems, what you want to work on, how your week went... the list goes on. 

In my experience, no matter what we are talking about, we are doing the work – because many aspects of our lives link together. 

  This question is harder to answer because sessions with me are never prescriptive. I do not work from a workbook, or a set rubric on what our sessions need to be.  

Why?  

Because every single client is different. Every single one. An anecdote I give is that I can have 5 clients say that they are depressed and yet each and every one of them faces depression in a very particular and individual way due to their pasts, coping mechanisms, current supports or limitations. 

Because of that, I do not provide a band-aid approach, so when we meet we will start to realize what is most effective for you and tailor the sessions to you.

Sadly, this is correct. I am not taking new clients at the moment. 

If you need therapy as soon as possible, please do contact me and I can refer you to some amazing colleagues in the city that are currently taking in new clients. 

If you wanted to wait to see me, feel free to contact me to put you on a waiting list. As soon as I open up my scheduler, I can let you know and hopefully we can start then.

In the mean time, feel free to watch  the videos below to get more info on what therapy is like to take away some of the 'unknowns' to seeing a therapist.

Being late happens. It has happened to me before, and it may happen to you! I would rather you come a bit late than not come at all!! 

Session length, however, cannot be extended for lateness. And the session rate also stays the same.

Unfortuneately, because I have a waiting list for appointments, I charge my full session rate if you do not attend your session or cancel with less than 24 hours.  

If cancellation was due to an emergency, we can definitely talk about this, but out of respect to my services and fellow clients, most missed sessions would have the full payment charged.

Short answer is absolutely! 

I welcome you emailing me with questions etc., either here at Centredself.ca/contact 

or

via my email address jess.erb@centredself.ca 

Please note: Email is not a secure/confidential form of communication.  Please limit content of emails to that which you would be comfortable discussing in public.  

I may take a bit of time to get back to you, but that is only because of me seeing other clients etc. 

If it is an emergency please do call: Toronto Distress Centre (416) 408-4357 or text 45645

  Referrals are probably the biggest form of a 'thank you' that any therapist can receive.  

It means that you have benefitted from my practice so much that you would think someone else might too!  

However, something to keep in mind: Sometimes you may want to have a therapist that is just yours.

Seeing the same therapist can create what we call a 'dual relationship' - and while I do feel comfortable seeing someone you know, it is helpful for you to know that sometimes this can create an unhelpful dynamic for you.