Sessions are conducted online. Online therapy can be just as beneficial and effective as in-person therapy, allowing you to receive professional help from the comfort of your own home or another private environment.

If this is your first time coming to counselling, I recommend starting with a Free 20 minute Meet & Greet consultation. This session allows us to determine if we’re a good fit for working together. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about the counselling process, what to expect, and who I am as a therapist, as well as any other inquiries you may have. It also provides me with a chance to learn more about you and what brings you to counselling. After the consultation, we can schedule your first session.

For optimal results, it is generally recommended to attend counseling sessions every 1-2 weeks. As you make progress and gain stability in addressing your concerns, you can adjust the frequency of sessions as needed.

Since everyone’s needs are different, it’s challenging to determine an exact timeline for how long you will need counselling. Generally, most individual clients begin to feel better and notice changes after six to eight sessions.

At Luminous Connection, your privacy is treated with the utmost care. Information shared in our sessions is kept confidential in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal standards. This includes information shared verbally, electronically, or in writing.

Confidentiality continues after our professional relationship ends. Clinical records are securely stored and retained in accordance with regulatory and legal requirements in British Columbia, after which they are securely destroyed.

Information related to counselling services is confidential except in the following circumstances:

• Immediate Risk: If there is an immediate risk to your life or safety, or to another person’s life or safety, I am legally and ethically required to take reasonable steps to ensure safety, which may include sharing relevant information.
• Mandatory Reporting: I am legally required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or vulnerable adult.
• Legal requirement: If records are subpoenaed or otherwise required by a court of law, I may be required to release information or provide testimony.
• Written consent: You provide written permission to share your information with designated individuals or professionals.
• Supervision or Peer Consultation: To support ethical practice and professional development, I may consult with a qualified supervisor or professional peer. Identifying information is not shared, and confidentiality is maintained.
• Record Keeping: I maintain brief clinical notes from our sessions. These records are stored securely and used solely for therapeutic and legal purposes.

If you have any concerns or questions about confidentiality, please feel free to discuss them with me.

At Luminous Connection Counselling, we are committed to providing high-quality care and ensuring that all clients receive the support they need. To maintain this standard, we have established the following policies regarding cancellations, rescheduling, and missed appointments:

Cancellation and Rescheduling:

• 24-Hour Notice: Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
• Late Cancellations: Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur a fee of 50% of the session cost.
• Rescheduling: You can reschedule your appointment at no charge if you notify us at least 24 hours in advance.

Missed Appointments:

• No-Show Fee: If you miss an appointment without prior notice, the full session fee will apply.
• Repeated No-Shows: Multiple missed appointments may lead to a review of your treatment plan and could impact your future scheduling.

Emergency Exceptions:

We understand that emergencies can arise. If an emergency prevents you from attending your session, please contact us as soon as possible. Exceptions to the above policies may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us provide the best possible care. If you have any questions about these policies, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I am a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (Candidate) (RTCc) with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT), working toward full RTC designation.

Many clients are able to receive reimbursement for sessions through their extended health benefits. Coverage depends on your individual insurance plan and whether Registered Therapeutic Counsellors (including candidates) are included.

Some providers that have offered coverage for RTCs include::

• Canada Life
• Manulife
• Sun Life
• Green Shield
• Pacific Blue Cross
• Desjardins
• Equitable Life
• ClaimSecure
• TELUS Health
• Homewood Health
• ComPsych
• Aspiria

Because every plan is different, I recommend checking directly with your provider and asking:

• Does my plan cover a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC or RTCc)?
• What is my annual coverage amount and per-session limit?
• Is a doctor’s referral required?

Please note that I do not offer direct billing at this time. If your plan includes coverage, you simply pay for your session upfront and submit your receipt for reimbursement.