Sometimes the hardest part of getting the help we need is making that appointment and showing up.
Here is some information to help relieve the stress of first appointments:
{For Information on Online and Video Appointments. Click here}
Location: 611 3rd Ave N.
Our office is directly behind Earl’s Kitchen & Bar. There are a number of counselling offices on this street. We are a couple houses north of the Family Counselling Centre and a couple houses south of the Christian Counselling Centre.
Where Will I Park?
There are 3 free parking spots directly in front of the house where the lawn would normally be. Watch the tree! If you prefer, you can park on the street across from the house. Do not park on the street in front of the house – it’s actually a driving lane.
Let’s Take it Outside!
If you are interested in taking it out of the office click here: Walk & Talk Therapy
Take a look at our inside spaces:
You may choose the chair by the window 
…or you can curl up on the couch. Feel free to make yourself at home. 
The entrance is tiny, so please stay in your car or outside, until your appointment time. 
Sometimes when it’s cold, this happens! 
Such a great line from a great author. 
Ask me about the meaning of this statue. It applies to you! 🙂 
My co-worker. This is about all he contributes. 
If this door is open go on in and make yourself at home. I’ll be with you shortly.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Soon Can I Get an Appointment?
We can usually get you in for a first appointment within a week.
What Will It Cost?
A regular counselling appointment costs $130. If you are on a fixed or low income we can arrange to work with you at a reduced rate. I work with Open Path Collective to provide counselling at an affording rate. ($60/session). Check it out at http://openpathcollective.org. I reserve 20% of our time for Open Path Clients.
Will my Insurance Cover an Appointment With You?
I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor with the CCPA (#10004199). You need to check with your insurance provide to see if they cover counsellors. Every policy is different.
Be an informed consumer. Many policies only cover psychologists and social workers. Find out the total amount of coverage. Often the amount is only enough for a couple sessions and you’ll end up paying out of pocket to continue seeing the same therapist.
Arriving
The entrance way is very tiny. Please stay in your car or outside until the time of your appointment.
There is a video doorbell on the right side of the door. Press the button. I receive notifications on my ipad when you press the doorbell and will then ask Alexa to unlock the door for you. If the door is slightly open, it means I heard you drive up and am ready for you. Come on in.
Make yourself at home, there is a coat hanger for your coat, a boot mat for shoes, a teeny chair if you need to sit down. The bathroom is up the stairs and directly at the end of the hall.
If the counselling office door is closed, please wait a few minutes, I’ll be with you shortly.
If the door is open, feel free to enter and settle yourself in whichever chair or couch you choose. If I’m not in this room, I may be grabbing a bite to eat or taking my dog out for a break and will be right with you. If you are comfortable doing so, feel free to make yourself a coffee or tea at the coffee bar in this room.
Counselling Session:
There will be lots of questions in your first counselling session. You do not have to answer any question you are not comfortable answering. I prefer to ask the questions directly and follow where the answers lead instead of having you fill out a lengthy form. Here is a list of some of the kinds of questions I will be asking:
1st question: What would you like to drink? I can brew you up some keurig coffee, I keep a selection of teas on hand and of course, my personal favourite – incredibly rich hot chocolate.
Consent Form: Next we will go through a consent form. This will make sure we are on the same page. You will learn about confidentiality and the exceptions to that. We will discuss where I keep my files to ensure your confidentiality. If you are in agreement with this, we will both sign an electronic copy and the counselling session can begin.
Other Questions:
Typically I will ask questions about your family or community support system. I want to know who the important people are in your world.
We will discuss how you spend your time – school, job, or other.
We will discuss the reason you are looking for counselling at this time. What you hope to gain through the sessions, so I have a clear understanding of how it is for you at the present time and where you want to go in the future.
Sessions are 50-60 minutes. At the end of the session, one of my final questions is how you want to proceed. Some people wnat to book the next session immediately. If you are comfortable with me as a counsellor and are wanting the best momentum moving forward I recommend a couple weekly appointments until we get some traction and then they can be spaced out from there. I am willing to do what works best for you, your schedule and your budget.
Payment
Payment is typically taken at the end of the session. You can pay by Credit Card, Debit, Interac, Cheque, Cash or etransfer. Arrangments can be made for third party billing when you are being assisted by a business, a family member or church, synagogue or mosque.
Third party billing is not available for insurance companies. I will email you an electronic receipt that can be submitted to your health plan for reimbursement to you.
More Questions?
If you have further questions, feel free to ask me at trish@trishwhite.ca
If you’re ready to book an appointment you can call or text 639-630-2010; email me at trish@trishwhite.ca
Or book immediately with my online booking:
Schedule Appointment