Frequently Asked Questions

No.

Many people contact me because they know something has changed, but they aren't sure whether what they're experiencing is PTSD, another trauma-related condition, anxiety, depression, or simply the effects of prolonged stress.

Perhaps you're avoiding certain places without really knowing why. Maybe your sleep hasn't been the same since an accident or difficult event. You might find yourself constantly on alert, emotionally numb, easily startled, or unusually irritable. Some people continue functioning well at work while privately struggling with nightmares, intrusive memories, guilt, or feeling disconnected from the people they care about.

You don't need to figure all of that out before reaching out.

The assessment process helps us understand what is happening and whether your symptoms are consistent with trauma-related difficulties. From there, we can determine the most appropriate treatment plan together.

My practice is designed for adults who are looking for structured, evidence-based treatment for PTSD and trauma-related concerns.

I work with healthcare professionals, first responders, adults recovering from medical trauma, and survivors of interpersonal trauma. While everyone's story is different, many of the people I see have spent months or years trying to push through symptoms on their own before deciding they want something to change.

If you're looking for long-term supportive therapy without a specific treatment focus, my practice may not be the best fit.

If you're ready to better understand your trauma responses and actively work toward recovery using structured, evidence-based approaches, we may be a good fit.

The goal isn't to stay in therapy indefinitely. The goal is to help you understand what happened, reduce the impact trauma continues to have on your life, and help you build the skills to continue moving forward long after therapy has ended.

Many people I work with have had therapy before.

That doesn't necessarily mean their previous therapy wasn't helpful.

Supportive therapy can provide an important place to process emotions, feel understood, and navigate difficult periods in life. For many concerns, that may be exactly what's needed.

PTSD and trauma, however, often require something more specific.

Trauma changes the way the brain stores and responds to frightening experiences. The brain continues reacting as though danger is still present, even when you're objectively safe. That's why someone may logically know they're safe while their body still reacts with fear, panic, guilt, or intense distress.

Evidence-based trauma therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Written Exposure Therapy (WET), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are specifically designed to address those trauma-related patterns.

Rather than talking about whatever comes up each week, we follow a structured treatment plan with clear goals and practical strategies that directly target the symptoms keeping you stuck.

People sometimes worry that "structured" means therapy will feel rigid or impersonal.

It doesn't.

It means we have a clear roadmap.

During treatment, you'll know what we're working on, why we're doing it, and how each session fits into the overall treatment plan. We regularly review your progress and adjust the work when needed.

The treatments I provide have been carefully researched and are designed to be completed within a defined period of time. Depending on the treatment approach and your individual needs, therapy may range from approximately five sessions to several months of weekly appointments.

The focus isn't on keeping you in therapy for years.

The focus is helping you recover as efficiently and effectively as possible.

There isn't one treatment that's right for everyone.

During your assessment, we'll look at the nature of your trauma, your symptoms, your goals, your previous therapy experiences, and your preferences before deciding on a treatment approach.

Some people benefit most from Cognitive Processing Therapy, which helps identify and work through beliefs that may have developed after trauma.

Others may be better suited to Prolonged Exposure Therapy, which gradually helps the brain learn that trauma memories and reminders are no longer dangerous.

Some individuals may benefit from Written Exposure Therapy or another evidence-based cognitive behavioural approach.

The treatment plan is developed collaboratively. I'll explain my recommendations, answer your questions, and ensure you understand why a particular approach is being suggested.

This is one of the most common concerns people have.

The short answer is no.

Different trauma therapies involve talking about trauma in different ways. Some focus more on understanding how trauma has affected your thinking, while others involve gradually approaching memories or situations you've been avoiding.

None of these approaches require you to describe every traumatic experience you've ever had or share details you aren't ready to discuss.

Trauma therapy isn't about forcing people to relive the past.

It's about helping the brain process experiences differently so they no longer continue triggering the same level of fear, shame, guilt, or distress.

I'll explain exactly what the treatment involves before we begin, and we'll work together throughout the process.

Sometimes, yes.

Avoidance is one of the brain's most understandable survival strategies after trauma.

If thinking about what happened feels overwhelming, your brain naturally learns to stay away from reminders. That can provide temporary relief, but over time it often keeps the trauma feeling just as powerful because the brain never has the opportunity to learn that the danger has passed.

As treatment begins, approaching thoughts, memories, or situations you've been avoiding can feel uncomfortable.

That discomfort has a purpose.

We're helping your brain learn that these memories, while painful, are no longer emergencies requiring a survival response.

Treatment should feel challenging at times, but it should never feel chaotic or unsupported. We move through the work thoughtfully, monitor how you're doing, and make adjustments when appropriate.

That's more common than many people realize.

Trauma affects how memories are stored.

Some people remember every detail vividly.

Others have gaps in their memory or struggle to put events into chronological order.

Some remember emotions or physical sensations more clearly than specific details.

None of that means your experiences weren't real.

Trauma therapy does not require perfect memory. Our work focuses on how your experiences continue affecting your life today, not on producing a perfect historical record.

Consistency is one of the reasons evidence-based trauma treatments are effective.

Each session builds on the previous one.

Between sessions, you'll have opportunities to practise new skills, complete treatment exercises, or notice patterns in your daily life. Weekly appointments allow us to review that work, build on your progress, and maintain momentum.

Spacing sessions too far apart often slows progress because we're continually restarting rather than moving forward.

My goal is to help you recover, and regular attendance gives you the best opportunity to benefit from treatment.

I usually think of it as practice rather than homework.

You spend about one hour each week with me.

The rest of your week is where lasting change happens.

Depending on the treatment approach, between-session activities might include completing worksheets, listening to recordings, practising new ways of responding to trauma-related thoughts, or gradually approaching situations you've been avoiding.

These exercises aren't busy work.

They're an important part of helping your brain develop new learning between sessions.

I'll explain each exercise, answer your questions, and make sure the work feels manageable.

That depends on the treatment approach and your individual needs.

The therapies I provide are structured and time-limited, so you'll have a general idea of the expected length of treatment from the beginning.

Some approaches are completed in approximately five sessions, while others typically involve weekly therapy over several months.

During your assessment, we'll discuss which treatment is most appropriate and what that timeline is likely to look like for you.

Our goal is focused, effective treatment rather than open-ended therapy.

No.

EMDR is a well-established, evidence-based treatment for PTSD.

Over the years, I've chosen to focus my training and clinical practice on Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and CBT-D because these approaches align closely with my clinical philosophy and the type of work I provide.

Rather than offering many different treatment models, I've chosen to develop deeper expertise in a smaller number of evidence-based approaches.

If, during our assessment, it appears that another treatment or provider would better meet your needs, we'll discuss that openly.

Sometimes, yes.

It depends on the type of therapy you're already receiving and whether the two approaches complement one another.

For example, some people continue working with another therapist for couples therapy or another specialized service while completing structured trauma treatment.

We'll discuss your current supports during the assessment and determine the approach that is most likely to help you succeed.

Most extended health benefit plans in Ontario provide coverage for services offered by a Registered Social Worker, although coverage varies depending on your plan.

Payment is due at the time of each appointment. You'll receive a detailed receipt that can be submitted to your insurance provider for reimbursement.

I recommend contacting your insurance company before your first appointment to confirm your individual coverage.

No.

Only physicians and nurse practitioners can prescribe medication.

If you're wondering whether medication might be helpful alongside therapy, we can discuss your concerns during your assessment. If appropriate, I can encourage you to speak with your family physician or another qualified medical provider about available options.

Yes.

Like all regulated health professionals, I maintain confidential clinical records.

I use a secure electronic health record system that complies with Canadian privacy standards. Session notes are professional summaries of our work together and are stored securely.

Protecting your privacy is an important part of providing ethical care.

You're always in charge of your treatment.

If you decide to pause therapy or feel that another provider may be a better fit, we'll talk about it together.

Whenever possible, I encourage ending treatment through a planned conversation rather than simply stopping unexpectedly. This allows us to review your progress, discuss any remaining concerns, and make recommendations for ongoing support if needed.

My goal is always to support you in making informed decisions about your care.

Yes.

Many of the people I work with have been living with trauma symptoms for years before seeking treatment.

That doesn't mean your brain is permanently damaged or that you've missed your opportunity to recover.

Trauma changes the way the brain and body respond to perceived danger, but those patterns can change.

Recovery doesn't happen by pretending the trauma never occurred. It happens by helping your brain learn that what once kept you safe is no longer necessary in the same way.

Many of the symptoms you're experiencing today were intelligent survival strategies at the time.

Understanding that often becomes the beginning of recovery.

Rather than asking, "What's wrong with me?" we begin asking, "Given everything I've been through, why does my brain respond this way?"

That shift from self-judgment to understanding creates space for meaningful, lasting change.