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JULIE THOMASON
REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
COUNSELLING FEES
The fees for individual counselling and supervision are: $155.00 per 60-minute session $195.00 per 75-minute session $235.00 per 90- minute session $310.00 per 120-minute session
Couples counselling or relationship counselling sessions: $175 per 60-minute session $ 225 per 75- minute session $275 per 90-minute session $350 per 120-minute session
CANCELLATION POLICY?
Please provide 24-48 hours notice or as much time as possible to cancel or reschedule a session whether in person or online. *Please text for time sensitive issues.* If it is not cancelled within this time, I will charge a full session fee. If there is a pattern of missed or rescheduled appointments, I reserve the right to end our relationship and refer you to another counsellor. Please be mindful when booking appointments and aim to attend the ones you book, as it can be difficult to fill sessions even with notice. Thank you for your understanding.
WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
I accept etransfers, cash and credit cards. I prefer to receive payment before the session or right after the session.
DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?
Yes, Registered Clinical Counsellors are reimbursed through most insurance companies, though individual plans may vary. Please contact your provider directly to inquire about who your plan covers and also, how much is covered. I accept funding from the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP). Receipts can be emailed upon request for insurance reimbursement after each session.
DO YOU ACCEPT FNHA FUNDING?
Unfortunately, FNHA offers a significantly reduced, fixed rate for RCC's which makes it unsustainable to work with FNHA people. I encourage First Nations people to use their health benefits through their work.
THE COUNSELLING PROCESS
WHAT DOES CONFIDENTIALITY MEAN?
Confidentiality essential means privacy about your personal information. Everything you say will be kept private except for the following concerns. If I believe that you are likely to attempt fatal harm to yourself or threats of lethal harm to another identifiable person, I have a duty to report this to the authorities. If children are being seriously harmed, courts request information or I need supervision, these are the only times I will take your personal information outside of the therapy room. Also, if I see you in public event, I will not approach you in order to protect your privacy.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST SESSION?
A client fills out the Intake Form and Consent Form and brings them to the first session. The first session is an introductory session where we discuss an overview of your concerns and this allows you to see if you feel it is a good fit for you. The session is usually one hour long. At the end of the session, we make a plan, schedule the next session and complete the fees. You are invited to raise any concerns or questions at any time. This is a process designed to nurture, support and empower you. And when you feel like you have achieved your goals or you would like to take a break or get a referral for an approach that I do not offer, feel free to just let me know how I can help you best.
WHAT IS INFORMED CONSENT?
Counselling, like other health professions, requires the client to be informed of the risks and the benefits of any treatment. You have the right to consent or agree by signing the consent form and if it is not signed, your engagement in therapy would imply that you are consenting to therapy. Consent is an ongoing process and can be withdrawn at any time which would end the counselling relationship.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED THERAPY?
If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed or you keep repeating the same relationship patterns, it may be a good time to check in with a therapist. If you are finding that you are using methods to numb your pain or noticing that you are acting in ways that are different than what you know about yourself to be true, it may be time to seek out a counsellor to explore to root of the issue and find solutions to the problem. Counselling can be beneficial and life changing at any stage of life, whether dealing with stress, relationship issues, mental health or trauma. It takes strength and courage to reach out for support with the difficulties in your life.
IS TALKING TO A THERAPIST THE SAME AS TALKING TO A FRIEND?
Counselling is different than talking with friends and family as it is an opportunity to have one-on-one attention where you can share your story with a supportive non-judgemental person who can use their education and life experience to support and guide you towards your goals.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A COUNSELLOR?
It is important to recognize that counsellors are just people who are interested in helping others. Some counsellors will feel like a better fit for you than others because of their personality, beliefs, counselling style or the way they approach problems. You can get a feel for them from their websites, socials or through a phone consultation, but what might help you choose a counsellor is how you feel when you talk with them. Feeling anxious about talking with a counsellor is normal but feeling invalidated, unsupported or judged is not helpful for you and I would encourage you to try another counsellor. I encourage you to interview them before you agree to see them regularly. I am more than happy to share referrals to clinicians and healthcare providers that I trust.
WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS DO I ASK A THERAPIST?
You could ask about their qualifications including level of education, years of experience and if they are registered with an accrediting association such as BCACC or CCC. You could ask about practical questions such as fees, office location, how long are sessions and payment questions. If you are seeking a counsellor with for a specific issue such as sex therapy or looking for a specific modality such as emotion-focused therapy, you could to ask about this. You may also want to ask about their counselling style as some counsellors are really directive and some primarily focus on listening. What matters the most is finding the right fit for you!
WHAT DO YOU STUDY TO BE A REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR?
Registered Clinical Counsellors spend around three years completing a Master’s program which includes a biopsychosocial or a holistic approach to wellbeing. A practicum is completed as part of the program, which I chose to extend mine over the course of a year. There are additional counselling requirements for clinical counsellors such as specific time requirements in each area to meet the standards for our registering body, in this case, the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. The Masters program I attended has a main focus on clinical counselling and every course over three years is focused on clinical counselling. Some of these topics includes theories of personalities, assessments, ethical standards, research methodology, psychopathology, counselling skills and competencies. I also studied different modalities such as emotion-focused therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, psychodynamic and human centered approaches. I explored trauma, health psychology and cultural diversity. I also studied individual therapy, systemic or family therapy, group and couples therapy.
SEX THERAPY
WHAT HAPPENS IN SEX THERAPY?
Sex therapy is just like clinical counselling where someone can discuss and explore sexual health, sexual wellness and relationship concerns and explore solutions to these issues in the privacy of a counselling office with someone who has education and specific training in this area. Similar to the clinical counselling process, the focus of attention is on your issues, concerns and feelings and not the therapists' concerns. Sex therapy is talk therapy and does not include any form of physical contact.
Social media is a valuable tool for connecting, sharing resources and entertainment. As a counsellor, I have guidelines on how I use social media from my registering association BCACC.
CAN I FRIEND YOU ON FACEBOOK OR DATE YOU?
I will not interact or accept friend requests from current or former clients on my personal social media sites because adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you need to contact me between sessions, the best way to do so is by text or email me.
CAN I FOLLOW YOU ON INSTAGRAM?
Yes, you can follow my therapy socials on Instagram @julie_therapy_works for therapy content and @sextherapywithjulie for sexual health and wellness, CNM and BDSM content. I use my social media pages to promote my practice and share resources and inspiration. I do not search, follow or friend current or former clients and I make a practice of deleting any comments regarding my services from current or former clients on these platforms.
HOW CAN I INTERACT WITH YOU?
Please send an email or current clients can also text me directly. I encourage people not message me on social media because these sites are not secure, I cannot protect your privacy and I do not monitor them for messages regularly.
DO YOU WANT ME TO REVIEW YOU?
No, some sites automatically ask for reviews but please know that it is unethical for a therapist to ask for or display client reviews according to our registering body, BCACC
If you use location-based services on your phone, you may wish to be aware of the privacy issues related to using these services. I do not place my practice as a check-in location on various sites such as Facebook. However, if you have GPS tracking enabled on your device, it is possible that others could guess, where you are and that you may that you be a client, due to your location.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MY PRIVACY WHEN I VISIT YOU?
EMERGENCIES
My role is to provide scheduled counselling sessions only. I do not provide on-call services, crisis calls or emergency services. I do however, help prepare suicide safety plans for people struggling with suicidality and I can support you through this issue, during your scheduled appointments.
IF YOU ARE AN ADULT AND YOU FEEL SUICIDAL
Call the Fraser Health crisis line: 604-951-8855 or 1-877-820-7444 (toll-free) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or please go to the nearest hospital If you are unable to, please dial 911 to contact emergency services and they will come to you and take you to the hospital.
IF YOU ARE A YOUTH AND YOU FEEL SUICIDAL
For online text/chat from 6pm to midnight go to http://youthspace.ca/ For chat go to: www.youthinbc.com Call the START Team at 1-844-START11 (1-844-782-7811). Or call 911 to get an ambulance to take you to the hospital.
IF YOU ARE FEEING SUICIDAL AND DON'T WANT TO CALL
Find the safest place in your house and take care of your needs. Avoid the kitchen, garage and bathroom. Hide things that you could harm yourself with including your car keys. Have some food. Drink some tea. Take a nap. Breathe deeply. Connect with safe others when you can.