I offer counselling to individuals (youth 12-18 & adults) coping with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, LGBTQ+ issues, grief and loss, low self-esteem, life transitions (i.e. retiring, challenges of new parenthood) and newcomers adjustment.
I also work with those who are trying to support them.
Information Session
Book a free initial 15-minute consultation over the phone to see if I am the right counsellor for you.
Intake Session
In our first session we will have an initial interview. It is a way for us to become more familiar with your needs and prepare together a plan that will enable you to achieve your goals.
Ongoing Sessions
Following the Intake session, we will meet regularly on a schedule and rhythm that meets your needs. The number of counselling sessions you have depends on the goals you set and how long it takes to reach these goals. We will work collaboratively to help you set and achieve your goals while facilitating personal growth through the counselling process.
Bibliotherapy
“You mean I’d never get out?” said Pooh.
“I mean,” said Rabbit, “that having got so far, it seems a pity to waste it.” Christopher Robin nodded.
“Then there’s only one thing to be done,” he said. “We shall have to wait for you to get thin again.”
“How long does getting thin take?” asked Pooh anxiously.
“About a week, I should think.”
“But I can’t stay here for a week!”
“You can stay here all right, silly old Bear. It’s getting you out which is so difficult.”
…
“A week!” said Pooh gloomily. “What about meals?”
“I’m afraid no meals,” said Christopher Robin, “because of getting thin quicker. But we will read to you.”
Bear began to sigh, and then found he couldn’t because he was so tightly stuck; and a tear rolled down his eye, as he said: “Then would you read a Sustaining Book, such as would help and comfort a Wedged Bear in Great Tightness?”
A World of Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne
The idea that literature has a healing potential is as old as literature itself. Even today, people turn to poems and stories to find comfort, thus unknowingly use the therapeutic qualities of those texts.
Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic method in the field of Art Therapy, where the literature is the art that being used for therapeutic purpose, and it is present in the counselling sessions through either writing or using texts. It is based on our natural tendency to tell ourselves and others stories about our lives. It uses stories and poems in order to help one describe their experiences and feelings. The different texts can help initiate conversations about painful things and allow exploration of feelings, thoughts and experiences in an indirect and safe way. Bibliotherapy also uses writing, but you don’t need to be a ‘good’ or professional writer to get benefit. The writing process, as part of Bibliotherapy, is used only as a mean to explore your inner world, to process past experiences and search new paths in life.
Fees and Policies
Rates
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (RCC #15109). Many people’s private work insurance benefits cover services from a registered Clinical Counsellor. Please contact your service provider directly before our first session to ensure that your benefits cover clinical counselling.
Sessions are $100 for 50 minutes. Sliding scale rate is available on a case by case basis. We can discuss this further during the initial consultation.
Methods of payments are cash, cheque and eTransfer.
Policies
Cancellation or rescheduling is available 24 hours in advance, late notices will be charged the full fee.
Lily Shalev (MA, RCC) 