I do my best to answer all the emails and text messages within 24 hours. It might take longer for voice mails as we might end up by playing phone tag. The easiest way is to use Client Portal that allows you to manage your appointments online and to retrieve all your invoices and receipts from one single place. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/820a28_0e5a93be5ff041d5a0d59e5155080ea8~mv2.png

My fee is 160 CAD per one hour appointment. As a regulated health professional I do not have to charge taxes on top of your session fees.

Please give me 48 hours notification if you need to cancel. If you need to cancel with little notice or on the day of the appointment and have a valid explanation (sudden illness, family crisis etc.) you will not be penalized. My scheduling system might still send you a bill but I will manually override it. Otherwise you will be billed a late cancellation fee of 50 CAD.

Most extended benefit plans cover psychotherapeutic services provided by a Registered Social Worker. Please check with your insurance provider ahead of the appointment to ensure your reimbursement.

I use a professional version of Zoom - this ensures good connection and privacy as I can manually add and remove participants. Please make sure to enter you first name when you are joining a Zoom call so that I can identify you. I send reminder emails a day before your appointment that include a Zoom link for you to use. However as emails can get lost, you will find an "Access Online Appointment" button at the bottom of each page on my website. There is no need to download anything - ensure that you are in a private space, have good connection, click on the button and you are in.

Many clients choose to register their credit card through Client Portal, allowing me to bill them at the end of the session. Alternatively, you will receive your invoice by email through Square Up that includes a payment link. At that point you can pay using your credit or debit card.

Of course - I primarily work out of my office in Mississauga Square near One. The choice of online or in-person appointment is entirely up to you and you can decide on the day of our meeting. My office is located at 4275 Village Centre Court, Suite LL02 (downstairs) in Mississauga. Please use the entrance that you see in the picture below as there is no access to my office from the rear door. There is plenty of free parking at the back of the building. Unfortunately my office is not wheelchair accessible.

In Ontario, both Registered Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists are legally authorized to perform the "controlled act of psychotherapy." However, there are some differences: • Tax Savings (No HST): As a Registered Social Worker (RSW), I am considered a regulated health professional exempt from charging HST on psychotherapy services. Most Registered Psychotherapists (RP), those who are not affiliated with other regulatory bodies for regulated health professionals, are currently required to charge 13% HST, making the out-of-pocket cost for an RSW significantly lower. • Insurance Coverage: Most workplace benefits (SunLife, Manulife, etc.) prioritize coverage for MSW/RSW designations. • Regulatory Body: RSWs are governed by the OCSWSSW, requiring a university-based Master’s degree. RPs are governed by the CRPO and can come from a wider variety of educational backgrounds.

In Ontario, "Psychotherapy" is a controlled act that can only be performed by members of specific regulated health colleges. It is legally defined as: "Treating, by means of psychotherapy technique, delivered through a therapeutic relationship, an individual’s serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory that may seriously impair the individual’s judgement, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning." — Psychotherapy Act, 2007 Psychotherapy vs. Counselling: While "counselling" often focuses on providing advice or support for specific life stressors or situational problems, psychotherapy goes deeper. It involves the clinical assessment and treatment of persistent mental health conditions and cognitive patterns that impact your daily life. Is CBT considered Psychotherapy? Yes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most rigorously researched and effective forms of psychotherapy. As a Diplomate with 20 years of specialized experience, I use CBT to target the "disorders of thought and mood" mentioned in the legal definition above, helping you create measurable change in how you feel and function. CBT is a form of psychotherapy. Other forms of psychotherapy include psychodynamic therapy, family systems therapy or EMDR.

While many practitioners blend various modalities, I have chosen to specialize exclusively in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) because it offers a level of honesty, clinical rigour, and transparency that "eclectic" approaches often lack. Unified Framework: Different therapies often rely on incompatible core principles. Attempting to blend them can lead to a fragmented process that is confusing for the client. In contrast, CBT functions as a cohesive "umbrella" that allows us to navigate complex issues without the unnecessary noise of conflicting theories. Precision through Case Conceptualization: The true strength of specialized CBT lies in two areas: • Problem-Specific Protocols: We utilize highly researched, targeted "blueprints" for specific challenges (such as social anxiety, OCD, or depression). • The Unifying Mechanism: Through a detailed Case Conceptualization, we create a unique map of your specific experience. This allows us to strategically sequence interventions in the most effective order, ensuring every tool we use works in harmony with the next. By specializing, I ensure you receive a clear, evidence-based treatment plan where the logic is always explained and the path forward is always visible.

While CBT is a widely practiced modality, there are significant differences in training and clinical depth. My practice is built on a high level of specialization, supported by 30 years of clinical experience—the last 20 of which have been focused exclusively on "CBT proper." National & International Certification: My work has been independently reviewed and certified by the leading bodies in the field to ensure it meets rigorous clinical standards: • Diplomate Status: I am a certified Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ACT). This international credential is held by practitioners whose clinical skills have been verified to meet high global standards of CBT excellence. • Canadian Certification: I am also certified by the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT), reflecting my adherence to national standards for evidence-based practice. When you work with a specialist, you aren't receiving a general or "blended" version of therapy. You are receiving a targeted, strategically sequenced treatment plan. My 20 years of dedicated CBT focus allow me to move beyond basic techniques to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive lasting change.

While I am a CBT specialist with advanced certification in DBT (2020) and extensive experience providing this treatment in hospital-affiliated clinics, I do not currently offer a "comprehensive" DBT program. Comprehensive DBT requires four synchronized components: weekly individual therapy, a weekly skills group, 24/7 phone coaching, and a weekly therapist consultation team. Because my current private practice is structured for individual work, I can offer DBT-Informed Individual Therapy (sometimes called "DBT Light"). What this means for our work: • Focus: We will use DBT’s structured strategies, such as Diary Cards and behavioral chain analysis, to target specific goals. • Skills: I integrate the core modules of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness directly into our one-on-one sessions. • Consultation: I maintain clinical excellence by participating in a professional consultations. • Limits: I do not offer a weekly skills group or after-hours phone coaching.