FAQs
Click below to watch a brief video message from Andrew
Picture an iceberg...
Whether you've struggled to make progress in therapy before, or whether this is your first time, when you work with me, we will work on finding answers, going to the root to bring sustained, deep, profound relief over the long-term.
Think of a bicycle’s flat tire: patch jobs may work for a little while but can only take you so far. I work with you on navigating around the nails before the puncture occurs.
Why Andrew?
There are many therapists — why should I choose you?
Three reasons: I’ve been there. I have the experience. I do not rely on band-aid solutions.
First, I’ve been there: Gene Mauch once said, “You can’t lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself.” I know what it’s like to hit rock bottom and come out the other side. I will walk the walk with you.
Second, I have the experience: I am highly skilled with broad and diverse education, training, and professional experience. I supervise the work of other therapists who want to improve and enhance their own clinical practices.
Third, no band-aids: For lasting change, I appreciate the importance of going beyond the surface and to the root of pain and difficulties. I believe therapy, at its best, can change your life.
I invite you to join me for a free 15-minute phone call where we can see if we are a good fit for each other.
Investment Details
What are your rates? Do you take insurance?
For a standard length session, the fee is $140 (plus tax) per appointment.
I accept private pay only. That said, extended health benefits may cover some or most of the cost of my services. Check with your health insurance provider (for example, through your employer or a family member’s employer) to determine if the professional services of a Registered Psychotherapist are covered. Where applicable, patients submit receipts for reimbursement directly to their health insurance providers.
Additionally, Registered Psychotherapists in Ontario are health care professionals recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as medical practitioners for the purposes of the medical expense tax credit. In other words, you may be able to claim my professional services on your income tax return. If you have any questions regarding this tax credit, please contact CRA or a qualified tax preparation service provider.
The Telephone - Explained
What are the benefits of teletherapy?
You may be surprised at how the telephone can be more effective than in-person therapy and videoconferencing therapy.
My intentional use of the telephone (audio-only) to deliver services is not a compromise on quality of experience, nor is it substandard. Telephone/audio-only appointments can simulate lying down on the couch during a therapy session (yes, this is still done, but it’s rare to find a therapist who will engage in this traditional therapy setting). Here, you are freer to relax while being less burdened by the usual social pressures (e.g., negotiating eye contact). While being unburdened from face-to-face contact, you may be less inhibited and you are freer to daydream and articulate yourself, which can elicit important material for therapy. In the comfort of your own private space, you are encouraged to relax as much as possible.
The use of telephone to access my services can be a therapeutic intervention in itself. In an audio-only environment, you can learn more about yourself and how you interact with other people (and with yourself): For example, you might overly rely on the visible cues of others to determine your own behaviour, causing you to set aside what you truly want and need. Together, we can make surprising discoveries: Using the telephone for therapy is a unique way to negotiate the interpersonal space in a new, transformative way!
In addition, there are incidental benefits to distance therapy using the telephone: It is convenient and accessible, saving you both time and money with no transportation requirements and expenses. Lay back, relax, and enjoy the benefits of telephone therapy!
More FAQs
Will I be stuck in therapy forever?
My goal is to provide immediate support so that you can start feeling relief within a few sessions while we work on creating longer-lasting changes. Therapy is not linear, and it may take months to start feeling a large impact. Many patients choose to attend therapy for years in order to realize ongoing growth and progress within the context of a secure, trusting therapeutic relationship that is unique and special to them. The key is to not rush yourself or judge the process, but to invest in yourself and your life. Many patients who realize the benefits of therapy consider it to be a liberating, enriching experience, rather than one in which they are ‘stuck.’
How often do I need to come to therapy?
It is expected that you will commit to attending therapy at least once a week (with the understanding that, on some occasions, sessions need to be missed). Some patients attend therapy more than once a week, depending on personal preferences and needs. Regular, ongoing attendance at therapy helps ensure we gain ‘traction’ and continuity within the therapeutic work. This regularity can help with its effectiveness.
What kind of therapy do you do?
Psychoanalytic (psychodynamic). This is a large umbrella that, broadly speaking, is characterized by ‘going deep.’ It’s about connecting the dots and making connections (realizations and insights) never before made, helping you realize what’s not working and how changes can finally occur. It’s about going below the surface of conscious awareness to unrealized depths within the psyche to unlock mysteries for greater liberation. At the centre of this work lies a unique therapeutic relationship — which is, at the same time, both professional and personal. Within this relationship, we seek to make discoveries within you and between us that can help you in other relationships and areas of your life.
What does the first session look like?
At the first session, which is an initial consultation appointment, we will meet face-to-face via videoconferencing for 50 minutes (each subsequent appointment is also 50 minutes). At that first appointment, I will review with you some basic administrative details. You will tell me what brings you to therapy and we will determine how to best proceed. Should we decide to commence working together, we will agree on the terms of treatment. A lot of people feel some relief even after the first appointment.
Contact me for a free 15-minute consultation!