Counseling, or talk therapy, is more focused on specific life challenges, transitions, or difficulties. It addresses a broad range of issues, including relationship problems, career decisions, stress management, and personal development.

Goals: The primary goals of counseling include providing guidance, support, and coping strategies to help individuals manage challenges, make positive changes, and improve their overall life satisfaction.

Methods: Counselors use various therapeutic techniques such as solution-focused therapy, career counseling, and marriage counseling. Counseling is often a shorter-term and more solution-oriented process.

Client Population: Counseling is suitable for individuals dealing with situational stressors, seeking guidance on specific issues, or pursuing personal development. Counselors may have specialized training in specific areas.

Coaching is future-oriented, focusing on personal and professional growth, goal attainment, and performance improvement. It is often used in the context of career development, executive leadership, and life skills enhancement.

Goals: Coaches work with individuals to identify goals, create action plans, and provide accountability. The emphasis is on maximizing potential, building strengths, and achieving specific objectives.

Methods: Coaches use motivational strategies, goal-setting techniques, and action planning. Coaching is typically a shorter-term and more results-driven process.

Client Population: Coaching is suitable for individuals seeking personal development, career advancement, improved performance, and overall life satisfaction. Coaches may specialize in various areas, and they often work with individuals who are already functioning at a relatively high level.

The art of therapy/counseling/coaching is to increase self-awareness of the patterns that may be unhelpful in maintaining and improving quality of life. It helps to identify unaddressed that tend to rule our lives in ways we don’t understand and often can’t even see. With self-awareness and regulation, we are able to heal our unconscious wounds that allow us to make use of the pain in our favor and empower and enlighten ourselves in the face of current and future difficulties.

Therapy/counseling/coaching can promote growth within ourselves by making us more peaceful, grounded, and confident in addressing the underlying issues that may be contributing to our personal, relational and professional struggles. This approach provides a non-judgmental space to explore and integrate aspects of ourself that we might not feel comfortable sharing with others. It can help us revitalize dormant aspects of ourselves, help us learn more empowered ways to communicate, develop practices to cultivate self-love and compassion, and learn practical skills to help us overcome and heal our trauma and mental health problems.

I know I have the right therapist when:

• I feel safe and understood
• I feel I am learning something and
• I feel challenged

Some other things to consider when selecting your therapist:

• Good communication skills
• Mutual willingness to work with you
• Someone who you can relate to (some factors include gender and age)
• Unique specializations (e.g. addiction, OCD, chronic illness, eating disorders, relationship distress etc.)

It really depends. Everyone’s journey and treatment plan plays out differently and the timeline depends on a wide range of factors including what issues you are addressing, what approaches suit you and how quickly you make progress.

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and mental health practitioner. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.

We do not file insurance claims, but we will provide you with proper documentation that will allow you to file your own claims.

Currently OHIP or Manitoba Health does not cover services provided by psychotherapists. You may have an employee health care plan that has coverage for psychotherapy/counseling services, look under Licensed Psychologist.  If you are not sure you are covered, please check with your insurance carrier or with your employer. Please feel free to contact us for more support if needed.

• Good for remote regions where access to face-to-face therapy is limited.
• No travel times to-and-from sessions.
• More flexibility and convenience around your schedule.
• Private and secure from anywhere you feel comfortable in.