What Is Narrative Therapy? A Gentle Introduction

If you've looked at my website or my Psychology Today profile, you've probably noticed I describe my approach as Narrative Therapy, rooted in Feminist, Anti-Oppressive, and Harm-Reduction frameworks. That's a mouthful, so I want to take a moment to explain what it actually means for the experience of sitting across from me in a session.

At its heart, Narrative Therapy starts from the belief that you are the expert on your own life, not me. So much of our culture teaches us the opposite, that a professional will diagnose what's wrong with us and hand us a fix. Narrative Therapy works differently. Instead of treating you as a problem to be solved, we look together at the stories you've come to tell about yourself, where those stories came from, and whether they're actually serving you.

A key idea in this work is that the person is never the problem; the problem is the problem. So rather than talking about "your anxiety" as something baked into who you are, we might talk about "the anxiety" as something separate from you that has shown up in your life, often for understandable reasons. That small shift in language opens up a lot of room. It becomes possible to ask questions like when the anxiety is less loud, what you're doing in those moments, and what that tells us about your own strengths and resources, rather than staying stuck in a story where you are simply "an anxious person."

The feminist and anti-oppressive part of my practice means I pay close attention to the bigger picture around your story, things like how gender, ability, race, sexuality, and other social forces shape the challenges you're facing. You are not just navigating your own internal world; you're navigating systems, and I think that context matters. This is part of why I welcome people from all backgrounds, including 2SLGBTQIA+ clients, people from the global majority, and people of all sizes, shapes, and abilities. Your identity and lived experience are part of the conversation, not something we set aside.

In practice, this looks like a lot of curious, open questions, real conversation rather than a rigid script, and a pace that's set by you. Some people want to dig into a specific life transition or piece of grief; others want space to simply be heard for a while before deciding where to go next. Narrative Therapy flexes to meet you there.

If this way of working sounds like it might be a fit, I'd love to talk more. You're welcome to reach out for a free 15-minute consultation, no pressure, just a conversation to see if this feels right for you.

In the spirit of transparency I value in this work, I want to share that AI helped me draft this post. I've reviewed and edited it carefully so it reflects my own voice, values, and approach to care.

Counselling for Caregivers: You Deserve Support Too

If you're caring for a family member, whether that's a child with a disability, an aging parent, a partner managing illness, or anyone else who depends on you, I want to say something you may not hear often enough: you deserve support too.

Caregiving asks so much of a person. There's the physical labour of it, the appointments and paperwork and phone calls, but there's also the quieter weight: the worry that doesn't switch off, the grief for things that have changed or been lost, the guilt that creeps in when you feel tired or resentful or simply human. So many caregivers I've worked with carry a quiet belief that their own needs have to come last, or that struggling somehow means they aren't doing it well enough. I want to gently push back on that. Needing support doesn't mean you're failing at caregiving. It means you're carrying something heavy, and that's exactly when support matters most.

My own background includes nearly two decades of work with individuals and families navigating disability and care work, so this isn't unfamiliar territory to me. In our sessions, you don't have to translate or justify the caregiving world; you can just start where you are. Sometimes that means talking through the exhaustion. Sometimes it means making sense of a relationship that's changed under the weight of illness or disability. Sometimes it's simply having one hour that belongs entirely to you, with no one else's needs in the room.

I offer both in-person sessions in St. Thomas and virtual sessions by phone or Zoom, which I know matters when leaving the house isn't always simple. Sessions can be single-session support if you just need to process one particular moment, or longer-term if you want ongoing space as things unfold. There's also a sliding scale available if cost is a barrier, because caregivers are so often already stretched financially as well as emotionally.

If any of this resonates, I'd love to connect. You can reach out for a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions and see if working together feels like a good fit, no obligation at all. You've spent so much time holding space for someone else. This can be a space that's just for you.

In the spirit of transparency I value in this work, I want to share that AI helped me draft this post. I've reviewed and edited it carefully so it reflects my own voice, values, and approach to care.

Is Counselling Covered by Insurance in Ontario? What to Know Before Your First Session

One of the most common questions I hear before someone books their first session is whether counselling is actually covered by insurance. It's a practical question, and an important one, so let's walk through it.

I'm a Registered Social Worker (RSW), which means many extended health benefit plans in Ontario do cover sessions with me, the same way they might cover a psychologist or massage therapist. Coverage details vary a lot from plan to plan, though, so the best first step is to call the number on the back of your benefits card and ask two things: whether your plan covers services from a Registered Social Worker, and what your per-session or annual maximum is. Some plans cover a set dollar amount per year, others a percentage per visit, and some require a doctor's referral, so it's worth knowing before your first appointment rather than after.

To make this easier, I offer direct billing through Green Shield Canada, TELUS Health, and many others which means for many clients, I can bill your insurer directly and you're only responsible for any remaining balance. If your plan is with a provider I don’t have direct billing with, that's completely fine too. I'll give you a detailed receipt after each session that you can submit yourself for reimbursement.

I know that even with insurance, cost can still be a barrier, whether because of a low annual maximum, no coverage at all, or being between jobs. If that's your situation, please don't let it stop you from reaching out. I hold a sliding scale for exactly this reason. Spots are limited and there is sometimes a waitlist, but I'd rather know you're waiting than have you go without support because of what you can afford right now.

If you're not sure where to start, you're welcome to reach out before booking. A quick email or call to ask about coverage, fees, or the sliding scale doesn't commit you to anything, and I'm always happy to help you figure out what's realistic for your situation. Financial questions can feel awkward to ask, but they're a normal, practical part of getting started, and I'd rather you ask than not come in at all.

In the spirit of transparency I value in this work, I want to share that AI helped me draft this post. I've reviewed and edited it carefully so it reflects my own voice, values, and approach to care.