JULIE THOMASON
REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR
APPROVED CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
FEES
Q: HOW MUCH DOES COUNSELLING COST?
A: I offer individual counselling and supervision at:
$155.00 per 60-minute session
$195.00 per 75-minute session
$235.00 per 90- minute session
$310.00 per 120-minute session
* inclusive of tax
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
* inclusive of tax
Coaching and consulting sessions for those outside of B.C. are:
$225 per 60-minute session
$285 per 75-minute session
$335 per 90-minute session
$450 per 120-minute session
* not inclusive of tax
Q: WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
A: 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.
Q: WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
A: I accept etransfers, cash and credit cards.
I prefer to receive payment before the session or right after the session,
if that is more comfortable for you.
Q: DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?
A: Yes, most insurance companies cover RCC's though individual plans may vary. Please contact your provider directly to ask 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.
Q: DO YOU ACCEPT FNHA FUNDING?
A: Unfortunately, it is not sustainable for me to accept FNHA funding because the fee offered for RCC's is 58% of our wage, despite many years of experience in the field so limited spaces are available.
COUNSELLING PROCESS
Q: WHAT DOES CONFIDENTIALITY MEAN?
A: Confidentiality is the foundation of counselling and refers to the privacy of your information and your stories. It is important that you feel safe to share with your counsellor knowing you can trust them with your personal information. Everything you say will be kept private except for the following concerns.
If I believe that you are likely to attempt lethal harm to yourself, I would need to direct you to the hospital for your safety.
If I hear threats about serious fatal harm to another identifiable person, I have a duty to report to the authorities.
If children, up to the age of 19 or vulnerable adults are being harmed, I have an obligation to protect them by reporting to the authorities.
If the court of law requests your records, I am required to provide them or prepare a summary of our work together.
I would discuss this with you, if for any reason, confidentiality must be broken. These exceptions are for your safety, the safety of vulnerable children, seniors and those who are disabled.
If I need supervision, you should know that I will share just enough to get the guidance I need. Supervisors also have the same rules and guidelines around confidentiality that therapists do. And we really do take this seriously, which means that, we don't tell friends, partners or colleagues about identifying details that we discussed in session with you.
Additionally, if I see you in public event, I will not approach you in order to protect your privacy. You are welcome to say hello to me or to ignore me completely if that feels more comfortable for you.
Q: WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST SESSION?
A: A client is asked to fill out the Intake Form and Consent Form which is available on home page of my website and bring them to the first session.
The first session is often an introductory session where we discuss an overview of your concerns and it allows you to see if you feel it is a good fit for you.
I am adaptable to client’s preferences as I can be more directive with focused questions or simply provide a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their concerns.
The session is usually one hour long, unless otherwise discussed. At the end of the session, we discuss the course of treatment, schedule the next appointment 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 things have changed for you and you would like to take a break or get a referral for something more specific, that I do not offer, feel free to just say that.
Q: WHAT IS INFORMED CONSENT?
A: Counselling, like other health professions, requires the client to be informed of the risks and the benefits of any treatment or procedure, as well as information on confidentiality and the collection of personal information. Once you have been informed you have the right to voluntarily consent, or not, by signing the Consent Form. To begin counselling a client must give informed consent. Consent is an ongoing process and can be withdrawn at any time, effectively ending the counselling relationship.
Q: HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED THERAPY?
A: If you are asking this question, being easily overwhelmed or noticing you keep repeating unhealthy 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 in 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.
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 guide you towards your goals.
Q: HOW DO I CHOOSE A COUNSELLOR?
A: 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 or through a telephone 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 am more than happy to share feedback or referrals to professional clinicians that I trust.
Since you are paying for a counsellors’ service and trusting them with your story, I would encourage you to interview them before you agree to see them regularly.
So, what could you ask? You might want to ask about their qualifications including level of education, experience and if they are registered with an accrediting association such as BCACC or CCC.
You could ask about practical questions such as fees, location of the office, how long sessions take and payment questions. If you are seeking a counsellor with for a specific issue or looking for a specific modality such as emotion-focused therapy, you may want 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 is important is, finding the right fit for you! Really!
Q: WHAT DO YOU STUDY TO BE A REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR?
A: Registered Clinical Counsellors spend around three years completing a Master’s program which includes a biopsychosocial or a holistic approach to wellbeing. I can also include spiritual and sexual elements but only for those who are interested.
A practicum is completed as part of the program, I chose to do mine over the course of one year. There are additional counselling requirements 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 choose has a main focus on clinical counselling and every course over three years is centered on clinical counselling.
It includes theories of personalities, assessments, ethical standards, research methodology, psychopathology and core 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, group and couples therapy.
Q: WHAT IS SEX THERAPY?
Sex therapy is talk therapy where someone can discuss and explore sexual health and wellness concerns and find solutions to these issues. It is okay to say sex related words and topics in session.
Please note: Sex therapy does not include any form of physical contact.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY + Privacy
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.
Q: CAN I FRIEND YOU ON FACEBOOK OR DATE YOU?
A: Nope. I do not interact or accept friend requests from current or former clients on any social networking sites because I believe that 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,
for a quick response or email if it not time sensitive.
Q: CAN I FOLLOW YOU ON INSTAGRAM?
A: Yes! Follow me on Instagram @julie_therapy_works for general therapy related content and @sextherapywithjulie for
sexual health and wellness, CNM, and BDSM related content.
I use my social media page 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.
Q: HOW CAN I INTERACT WITH YOU?
A: Please send an email or current clients can also text me. 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.
Q: DO YOU WANT ME TO REVIEW YOU?
A. No. You may find my psychology practice on sites such as Psychology Today and BCACC. Some of these sites include forums in which users rate their providers and add reviews.
If you come across my listing on any of these sites, please know that my listing is not a request for a testimonial, rating, or endorsement from you as my client as this unethical according to my registering association the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors.
If you do post a review, it is likely I may never see it. You have the right to share with anyone about which counsellor you’re seeing and how you feel about treatment.
If you have any concerns or challenges about working together, please come to me directly with your feelings and reactions to our work so
that we can address them together.
Q: HOW CAN I PROTECT MY PRIVACY WHEN I VISIT YOU?
A: 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, etc. However, if you have GPS tracking enabled on your device, it is possible that others could guess that you are a client, due to your location.
EMERGENCIES
My role is to provide scheduled 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 ages 6–18 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.