All of our therapists are offering online counselling at this time!
Our virtual counselling service provides the same experience as an in-person session but on a digital platform, utilizing phone or video-chat. This mental health support approach is quickly becoming one of the most popular trends. Canadian regulatory bodies fully support this confidential and secure form of counselling.
During a online therapy session, you can address and process the same concerns as you would in-person. Our services cover a wide range of topics including intimate relationships, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma, interpersonal relationships, boundary setting, parenting, and family counselling. We cater to couples, individuals, LGBTQ community, parents, youth, children, seniors, and other groups. Whether you prefer traditional in-person therapy or virtual counselling, our services are designed to benefit you.
What is virtual or online therapy?
What kinds of virtual therapy do we offer?
Phone and video chat. Please note we do not provide therapy through texting.
What mental health conditions the online therapy can be effective for?
A broad range of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder), OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, eating disorders (such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder), personality disorders (including borderline personality disorder), sleep disorders, relationship issues, stress and burnout, grief and loss, and adjustment disorders, can be addressed effectively through online therapy.
What online platforms are used for virtual therapy?
Our counsellors use a variety of platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, and Jane platform to run their counselling session.
What should I expect in a video chat session?
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If you have been seeing your therapist for a while, the virtual experience may feel a little different right at the beginning. You will likely get into the groove of your regular routine with your therapist and will not notice much of a change. You will continue your treatment from where you left off last session. You will still follow your treatment plan and whatever form of counselling you were using as if you are still sitting in the counselling room.
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If you are connecting with a new therapist over video-chat, you will likely feel a little apprehension just as you might have when you were meeting your new therapist in person. However, if you are with the right therapist, the anxiety should soon dissipate as it would have in a face-to-face session.
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In a video session, your therapist will be able to track your body language, facial expression, breathing, and the emotional energy that you putting out just as well. The therapeutic process can still be completely present in a virtual session. Again if you have been matched with the right therapist there should really be no change to the overall experience.
Is Virtual Therapy effective?
There is much research and empirical evidence showing that therapy from a distance can be as effective as in-person therapy. There are circumstances where online therapy may even be the best option. Many of our existing clients prefer online therapy over in-person sessions for various reasons. These clients cannot devote the time to commute, much less disruption to their busy lives, and they can speak to a therapist in the comfort their own home, on their lunch break, in their car, or while taking a stroll through the park. Some of our therapists provide services to people across Canada because of certain expertise in certain areas, such as trauma, parenting, family counselling.
How Should I Prepare?
There is not a whole lot you need to do other than make sure you have access to a phone or device that has a video chat technology installed. A phone call is also an option.
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Also, try to get as much privacy as you can. Some patients live in a space with children, other family members, or roommates. In this case, we have seen people get creative and find a space such as their car, a walk-in closet, or a private room with a white noise playing on the outside. Whatever works for you will work for us.
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Don’t stress about the appearance of your house and how you look for the video sessions. This will be absolutely irrelevant to the success and outcome of therapy.