A practical guide to beginning therapy
What to expect from therapy
You don’t need to arrive with a polished story, a clear goal, or the right words. Therapy begins by understanding what brings you in and how you experience the conversation. If you are used to monitoring what other people want from you, we can also pay attention to that pattern and make the process more collaborative from the start.
The process
From the first question to ongoing work
The consultation
The consultation is a free 30-minute virtual conversation. You can briefly describe what is bringing therapy to mind, ask about my approach, review format, fees, scheduling, and possible fit, and decide whether you want to book a first session. It is not a therapy appointment and does not create a commitment to continue. Individual and couples consultations have separate booking links.
The first session
We will review informed consent and confidentiality, discuss what prompted the appointment, and begin learning about the relationships, experiences, culture, and priorities that may be relevant. I may ask clarifying questions, and your questions are welcome. You don’t need to tell every part of your history or identify a precise goal in the first hour.
Ongoing sessions
We decide together what deserves attention. A session may focus on a recent interaction, an earlier experience, an emotion that is hard to understand, a decision, a relationship pattern, or a practical response you want to try. The work may be reflective, active, or both. Its direction can change as we learn more about what matters.
Feedback and review
You can tell me when a question, interpretation, pace, or approach does not feel useful. I may also ask how therapy is feeling and whether the work is connecting with life outside the room. Feedback is information, not a sign that you are doing therapy incorrectly or disappointing me.
Changing course or ending
Therapy remains a choice. We can discuss changing frequency, shifting focus, pausing, ending, or considering another service when your needs, circumstances, goals, or sense of fit change. When possible, talking about an ending can help us review what was useful, what remains unfinished, and what support may be needed next.
Practical details
What to arrange and what to ask
Virtual appointment preparation
For an online session, arrange a private and stationary space, charge your device, check the connection, camera, and microphone, and use headphones when they improve privacy. You must be physically located in Ontario during the appointment. We will confirm your location and a phone number as part of virtual-care planning.
In-person appointments
In-person sessions take place by appointment at 944 King Street West in Kitchener. Contact the practice before booking if you need current information about mobility, sensory, or other access considerations. Office and virtual availability can be discussed during the consultation.
Fees, insurance, and receipts
Individual therapy is $160 for 50 minutes. Couples therapy is $180 for 50 minutes. The 30-minute virtual consultation is free. Direct billing is not offered. A receipt is emailed after payment for you to submit to your insurer. Confirm whether your plan covers psychotherapy provided by a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and whether any referral or annual limit applies.
Cancellation, privacy, and urgent support
The cancellation and rescheduling policy, website privacy policy, and crisis-resource page contain the current details. Ordinary email is appropriate for general questions and scheduling, not private health information or urgent concerns. Intentional Living Psychotherapy is not a crisis service, and messages are not monitored continuously.
The purpose of therapy
A structured relationship, not a set of instructions
I bring psychological knowledge, questions, observations, and responsibility for the therapeutic process. You bring your history, values, relationships, instincts, and knowledge of your own life. My role is not to take control of important decisions or declare one correct way to live. We can examine interpretations without treating them as absolute truths and remain open to changing direction when the work does not fit.
Therapy cannot guarantee an outcome or timeline. It can offer consistent attention to experiences that have been difficult to understand alone and create opportunities to respond with more awareness and choice.
You can ask questions before deciding whether to begin.
The consultation is a place to learn how the process works and notice whether the conversation feels respectful, understandable, and relevant to what you are seeking.