Question 1

Why do people go to counselling?

Accepted Answer

Dealing with stress:  Counselling can help individuals manage stress and find healthier ways to cope with challenging situations, such as work, family issues, or relationship problems.  There are real and often physical consequences of excessive stress.

Managing emotions: Counselling can assist individuals in understanding and managing their emotions and increase their emotional intelligence.

Improving relationships: Counselling can provide tools and strategies for individuals to develop healthier communication and relationship skills. It’s no secret that poor coping skills can damage relationships with the people you love and care about.  A counsellor can help provide skills so that you can better interact in all of your important relationships.

Building self-confidence: Counselling can help individuals enhance their self-esteem and develop a positive self-image.  We tend to act according to the beliefs we have about our worth and ability.  If our self-confidence is low, we will likely achieve less than what we’re actually capable of doing.

Question 2

What are the different 'modalities' of counselling? (CBT, DBT, ACT, EFT, Somatic...)?

Accepted Answer

There is a long list of various counselling modalities....here are the main ones that I utilize with my clients.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)  encourages mindfulness to overcome the negative attitudes, thoughts, and feelings that result from difficulties that come with life. ACT builds on a model of accepting our reactions, staying present, and making choices that then enable us to take action. Someone who struggles with social anxiety, continued stress, and depression could benefit from ACT.

Attachment-Based Therapy taps into the experiences that influence your early attachment experiences, or the bonds that developed between you and your early caregivers, in order to resolve the resulting feelings, thoughts, communications, and behaviors that you may have adopted as avoidant coping mechanisms. For someone whose current experiences are being negatively impacted by early trauma, Attachment-Based Therapy may be an effective therapeutic approach.

Breathwork encourages mindfulness and increased self-awareness via breathing exercises. Those with depression, anxiety, or extreme levels of stress may appreciate the pause, relaxation, and opportunity for reflection that breathwork brings.

Client-Centered Therapy occurs when your therapist takes a step back, and allows you to take a more active and directive role in your healing process. In this approach, your therapist is primarily present to encourage self-acceptance and healing. This is a great method for those who recognize their potential and want to take the lead, but still value the support that a therapist can provide.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a short-term approach that allows you to address your goals by considering the thoughts, feelings, and experiences that support desired behaviors. This is a great option for you if you have a short-term goal you want to achieve, and desire the support and accountability that a therapist can provide.

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) encourages people to respond to their experiences with compassion. CFT is a great choice for you if you struggle with shame and self-criticism. CFT can help you nurture compassion for yourself and others.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) promotes healing by providing skills to manage difficult emotions. Your therapist incorporates mindfulness, self-awareness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal communication into your treatment plan. DBT is a great modality if you are struggling with stress or anxiety, or if you find yourself overwhelmed by strong emotional reactions. DBT can consist of group therapy sessions in addition to the individual sessions with the therapist.

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is founded on the belief that the exploration and understanding of our feelings are key to our healing and identity. Your Emotion-Focused therapist may observe patterns and help you recognize how your attachments impact your ability to have positive and healthy relationships with yourself and others. As emotional attachments vary with each individual, EFT is a great option for couples and, more specifically, in intercultural relationships.

Emotional Freedom Technique is a physical strategy that involves the use of fingertips to tap on and stimulate various energy points to promote healing from physical and emotional pain and/or disease. This tapping technique has been successful in treating anxiety and depression.

Exposure Therapy is a form of behavior therapy that relies on exposing you to triggers in order to overcome phobias, anxiety, and distress. With the guidance of a licensed therapist, you are exposed to the trigger in a safe environment. Exposure therapy has been successful in treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a structured form of healing that requires you to revisit painful and traumatic experiences in order to reduce the triggers and feelings of negativity towards the experience. You will be asked to focus on the trauma while your therapist helps to control the bilateral stimulation via controlled eye movements.

Grief Therapy addresses the emotions and thoughts that follow the loss of a loved one or pet. Grief Therapy is successful at managing pain and processing memories that you shared with the deceased in a way that is healing and positive for you.

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and experience from moment to moment. This is an ideal practice for someone wanting to increase their self-awareness.

Motivational Interviewing helps you make decisions for yourself with conviction, based on motivation and positivity. This is a great form of therapy if your quality of life is negatively impacted by your indecisiveness and uncertainty.

Multicultural Therapy is founded on the understanding that family and cultural factors impact our individual perspectives of ourselves, the world, and our experiences. This is a great form of therapy for refugees, immigrants, and anyone who finds challenges in assimilating to a new culture.

Narrative Therapy has you step outside of your own shoes and involvement within a situation to gain understanding, insight, and a proactive perspective on it. The goal of Narrative Therapy is to empower you to make changes and control your narrative moving forward, in a way that feels true to who you are. This is a great option for anyone who needs insight to gain clarity on their current situations, and improve their future.

Nature Therapy enables you to address your mental health, challenges, feelings, and behaviors by connecting with nature. Also known as Ecotherapy, Nature Therapy may involve activities such as gardening, walking through a park, and planting trees. This is a great option for someone who is likely to find relaxation in the outdoors.

Person-Centered Therapy involves speaking through your experiences, with minimal but intentional feedback from your therapist. Your therapist is not present to interpret your experiences; they may, instead, opt to repeat back what you say to help you understand your thoughts and feelings in a new way. This is a great form of therapy for someone who heals best by openly discussing their experiences and challenges.

Psychotherapy aims to treat mental disorders through talk therapy, as opposed to relying on medical means. Psychotherapy is a great approach for you if you can address your disorder and heal from it by talking about it or navigating your challenges, fears, thoughts, and emotions in other ways.

Rogerian Therapy involves you and your therapist beginning your relationship by identifying your goals for your sessions. You speak through your experiences, with intentional feedback from your therapist that offers opposing perspectives in an objective way. Your therapist will not interpret your experiences; they may, instead, opt to repeat back what you say to help you understand your thoughts and feelings in a new way. This is a great form of therapy for someone who heals best by openly discussing their experiences and challenges, and is open to understanding their pain from a new lens.

Solutions-Focused Therapy focuses on arming you with problem solving skills by focusing on the impact of your present decisions on your future. Solutions-Focused Therapy empowers you to become more goal oriented, rather than becoming paralyzed by problems. This therapy is recommended for anyone who struggles with managing and responding to their problems.

Somatic Experiencing is designed to alleviate the symptoms of PTSD and other mental and physical manifestations of trauma. Your therapist works with you to understand how your trauma impacts you on a physical level. Shifts in posture, changes in breathing, and fidgeting could all be observations in a Somatic Experiencing session. Someone who seeks to change the physical responses that occur as a result of their trauma may appreciate the effects of Somatic Experiencing.

Strength-Based Therapy focuses on your internal strengths and resources as tools for overcoming failures, pain, and trauma. Your relationship with your therapist is collaborative, open, and non-hierarchical. Your community is viewed as a support system of resources, as opposed to being viewed as an obstacle.

Trauma Therapy is designed to help you with your history of traumatizing experiences. Trauma Therapy incorporates a variety of other therapies that your therapist may deem helpful to your specific circumstances.

Question 3

Do I need a referral?

Accepted Answer

No. You do not need a referral from your doctor to attend counselling sessions.

Question 4

What qualifications do you hold?

Accepted Answer

I am a graduated of the highly regarded UBC Counselling program and have qualifications/memberships.

RCC #22232 BC Association of Clinical Counsellors

Certification in Trauma, Anxiety, Grief, Somatic EMDR (April 2024)

Bachelor of Science (Missouri Southern)
B.Ed - Professional Program (SFU)

Diploma of Guidance Studies (UBC)
Masters Of Counselling Psychology (UBC)
CCPA Member

Question 5

How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

You have the flexibility to decide the number and frequency of counselling sessions based on your needs. While certain situations may only require one or two sessions to address your concerns, more complex issues might take months or even years to resolve. Typically, clients attend counselling sessions regularly for a minimum of two to three months.  It is always your decision when and how long to attend, and when you feel it is right to end.

hange or cancel your appointment up to 24 hours before your appointment time. A full refund will be provided for appointments cancelled with 24 hours or more notice. For appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, a 50% refund will be provided. There are no refunds if you do not show up for your appointment/session.

Question 6

Can I claim counselling on Medicare?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, at this time Medicare does not cover the cost of counselling services.

Question 7

Can I change or cancel my appointment?

Accepted Answer

You can change or cancel your appointment up to 24 hours before your appointment time. There are no refunds if you do not show up for your appointment/session.

Question 8

How to Reschedule

Accepted Answer

To reschedule your appointment, visit My Bookings on the Janeapp and select Manage Upcoming Appointments. Once you have logged in, you will see a list of your upcoming appointment(s). Simply click the reschedule button and choose your new appointment day and time.

For appointments conducted online through a video call,  once you have booked your appointment online, you’ll receive an email confirming your appointment time and further details of how to join your video call.

Question 9

Where are you located?

Accepted Answer

I am based in East Vancouver. I work with clients who are local, and can have online sessions with people throughout BC as can provide counselling in Provinces that are not regulated.

Question 10

How do I pay for my appointment?

Accepted Answer

Payments can be sent by e-transfer to guesthousecounselling@gmail.com or paid by credit card through the Jane App.

Question 11

How do I book an appointment?

Accepted Answer

You can book your appointment online by choosing the Book Online option from the menu or search Guest House Counselling on Jane App.

Question 12

Low Cost or Free Counselling

Accepted Answer

I do offer low cost session for those without benefits or ample means.  Your mental health is important. My Low Cost rate is $80/ session.  I do offer some sliding scale spots for $45 and $65.  Please book an initial consultation to discuss.

If my low-cost list is filled, please reach out to one of these other counselling services:

No Fear Counselling1-888-914-3485
https://www.nofearcounselling.com/
low-cost counselling ($42/session and sliding scale)
Email for information:  info@nofearcouselling.com

Scarfe Counselling (UBC Psychology Clinic)604-827-1523Free counselling provided by counselling psychology graduate student interns, supervised by a registered psychologist. Clinic runs September-April.

Adler Centre – Counselling Clinic604-742-1818
www.adlercentre.ca/clinic.html 
Low-cost individual and couples counselling services ($60 individual, $85 couple) and sliding scale services. Counselling provided by counselling psychology graduate student interns, supervised by a registered counsellor.
BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
604-682-6482
https://bc-malesurvivors.com/for-survivors/funding-your-therapy/
Registered clinical counsellors (RCCs) provide individual and group counselling for male survivors of sexual abuse. RCC fee: $100 for individual counselling. Group counselling: $40 per week. Reduced cost counselling provided by practicum students at $45/hr. Victim services workers on staff to help apply for funding for those who qualify.
Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre
604-442-4352
https://cwhwc.com/services/
Providing low-barrier wellness services totrans and gender diverse people
Ciel Community Counselling (East Vancouver)
www.cielcommunitycounselling.comReduced fee counselling services ($45 individual counselling, $70 couples therapy) provided by masters level counselling student interns supervised by registered counsellors.
Family Services of Greater Vancouver604-874-2938 x 4141www.fsgv.ca/find-the-support-you-need/counselling/No-cost counselling from registered counsellors. Access to services may require referral from a Social Worker.
Heath Initiative for Men (HIM)
604-488-1001 ext. 230
https://checkhimout.ca/gay-mens-health/mental-health/counselling-support/
Brief professional counselling (8 sessions) is available to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men either by donation equivalent to hourly wage.

Qmunity - Counselling Program
604-684-5307 ext.107
https://qmunity.ca/get-support/counselling/
Counselling for members of the LGBTQ+ communities provided by Registered Social Workers and Clinical Counsellors. $60-$140 a session. Daytime only. 10-session limit.

Sarah Poole (B.Sc, M.Ed, RCC)
Vancouver, BC

FAQ

Why do people go to counselling?

What are the different 'modalities' of counselling? (CBT, DBT, ACT, EFT, Somatic...)?

Do I need a referral?

What qualifications do you hold?

How many sessions will I need?

Can I claim counselling on Medicare?

Can I change or cancel my appointment?

How to Reschedule

Where are you located?

How do I pay for my appointment?

How do I book an appointment?

Low Cost or Free Counselling

Take the First Step Towards Your Well-Being

Sarah Poole (B.Sc, M.Ed, RCC) Vancouver, BC

FAQ

Why do people go to counselling?

What are the different 'modalities' of counselling? (CBT, DBT, ACT, EFT, Somatic...)?

Do I need a referral?

What qualifications do you hold?

How many sessions will I need?

Can I claim counselling on Medicare?

Can I change or cancel my appointment?

How to Reschedule

Where are you located?

How do I pay for my appointment?

How do I book an appointment?

Low Cost or Free Counselling

Take the First Step Towards Your Well-Being

Sarah Poole (B.Sc, M.Ed, RCC)
Vancouver, BC