Counselling/Psychotherapy: online or in-person
NC provides counselling services to residents of Ontario, both virtually and in-person. I provide therapy via virtual visits, delivered online in a safe, comfortable location of your choosing. Most people quickly become accustomed to connecting online and discover that virtual visits are not all that different from meeting in-person. I also provide therapy via in-person sessions at my office in Niagara Falls. With NC, you have the option to choose either virtual or in-person sessions (or a combination of both), giving you increased flexibility and convenience with respect to scheduling and attending appointments.
How can you become a client?
Please call or email me to arrange a free consultation and to set up your first appointment. From there, I will set you up with a confidential account with login credentials on NC's client portal. In the portal, you can securely communicate with your therapist between sessions, as well as view receipts or add your payment information. For virtual sessions, using your phone, tablet or computer, just enter the client portal at the time of the appointment then click on the video icon in the portal calendar. It's that simple! There is no software or app to download. At NC, I use OWL software, which is encrypted, secure, and PHIPA-compliant, so you can rest assured that the privacy of your personal information is protected.
What can you expect at your first session?
At your first session, I will review important policies and practices of NC with respect to informed consent, confidentiality and cancellation policy. I will assess your needs for counselling/therapy by reviewing your past and current mental health challenges. I will help you to identify your goals for counselling/therapy and discuss the most effective approach for achieving them, taking into consideration any of your financial concerns with respect to limitations on number of sessions or duration of service. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions about NC, my approach or anything else related to my services.
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Counselling for Adults
Do you feel unsafe disclosing your mental health concerns with others such as family members or your boss? Have you recently been diagnosed with a mental disorder and not sure where to turn? Are you or a loved one struggling to find or access mental health services? Have you tried to get help from your doctor but felt you were dismissed or misunderstood? At NC, I provide a safe, confidential space where you can connect with a counsellor who will listen carefully and respectfully to your concerns. Seeking out counselling takes courage and strength. I draw on that to help you move forward with your recovery. Your goals might include wanting to sleep better, to have better relationships, to get unstuck from past trauma, to better manage symptoms of anxiety or depression, to overcome body image issues, to reduce or stop substance use, to parent more effectively, to cope better with disability or chronic pain, to address obstacles to a healthy sex life or to heal after the death of a loved one. The goals for counselling are potentially limitless and unique to your needs and experiences. Counselling is an investment in yourself, which supersedes all other investments in life. At NC, I can help you to explore and fortify the relationship that you have with yourself.
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Counselling for Couples
The relationships with our romantic partners can be a large part of our lives with a significant impact on our mental health. When once-thriving relationships get bogged down in conflict and discontent, the distress for those involved often manifests as anxiety, depression and substance use. In couple relationships, mental health challenges can lead to communication breakdowns, insecurity, mistrust, anger, shame, jealousy, blaming, isolation and, at worst, abuse or violence. Sometimes couples get stuck in past grievances or drift apart, unable to move forward on their own. At NC, I can explore the present challenges in your relationship, as well as how those challenges are affecting your mental health. With a focus on developing effective communication skills, we can assist you to connect positively with one another so that you can work through difficult issues without damage to your relationship or further negative impacts on your mental health. I can also assist you to develop strategies to better manage the impacts of your mental distress, such as excessive worrying or avoidance, on the health of your relationship. Once the foundational work has been done, I can also assist you to move beyond any hurts or burdens from the past that might be preventing you from moving forward toward resolution and positive change in your relationship. I will work with you to decide which approach is best suited to your needs and goals as a couple.
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Counselling for Young Adults (18-30)
Young adults encounter an increasingly complex range of pressures and stressors as they transition from youth into adulthood. Are you a young adult who is struggling with anxiety or depression? Do you frequently feel down on yourself or angry at others? Are you overwhelmed with schoolwork and unable to function? Is dating or sex causing you a lot of stress? Are you living on the Internet and becoming disconnected from other important parts of your life? In serious conflict with your parents or teachers? Trying to figure out what to do with the rest of your life? Being a young adult in our society comes with numerous challenges that are unique to this period in life. At NC, I can help you better understand your mental health and manage what is bothering you or preventing you from being connected, content and confident as you navigate the tricky waters of early adulthood.
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Counselling for Seniors (65+)
Sadly, many senior citizens struggle quietly with their mental health, believing that nobody cares or that nothing can be done. However, improving your mental health can happen at any age. Mental distress such as depression, at any stage of life, can have a major impact on your overall health, increasing the likelihood and severity of chronic illness or disability. Are you a senior who is feeling lonely and isolated from family or community? Are you coping with illness or disability? Do you struggle with feeling connected to a sense of purpose or direction in your so-called "golden years"? Are you finding it difficult to navigate your way through the maze of services that you need to live your life? Are you worried about end-of-life care? At NC, I understand that maintaining mental health is one of the critical challenges of aging well, a challenge that is often overlooked or misunderstood by care providers. Mental health is a lifelong pursuit, and NC can help you make your last years and decades of life to be connected, enjoyable and meaningful.