FAQ
Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions
Is there something you wanted to know but didn’t have the answers to? Review my FAQs for some insight into how I work. If you have a question you would like answered that is not posted here, feel free to contact me 778-389-3234
How can I get started?
I’m here to talk during a free 15 minute phone consultation where you can talk about what’s bothering you and what’s on your mind. This provides you with the opportunity to ask questions and to get a feel for whether we might be a good fit. Together we can determine how I could best be of service to you .
You can reach me in my Surrey counselling office by phone/text at (778-389-9234) or by email at tgramm@gmail.com to book your free consultation or an initial counselling session. I will get back to you within 24 hours at the latest.
Do you accept health insurance?
As a member of the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists (ACCT), my counselling services may be covered by your health insurance plan. Please check if you are covered by your insurance provider. A receipt is provided to you at the end of each session.
Insurance coverage includes:
Pacific Blue Cross
Green Shield
Manulife
Sunlife
What can I expect during the first session?
For the first session, we spend some time getting familiar with one another, discovering your goals or desires for therapy and reviewing your intake form/informed consent. Sometimes we take some time to do some grounding or relaxation exercises. Next we discuss the reasons you have come for counselling and clarify your goals.
Overall, you can think of the first session as a two-way interview where we can ask each other questions so we can begin to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:
- What brought you to therapy?
- Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?
- What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about about my experience or how future sessions work.
The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel safe, accepted, peaceful and seen with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
Please note: For clients under the age of 12, I request the opportunity to meet with a parent prior to meeting with the child.
I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?
Therapy can be vulnerable and new, so it’s natural to be nervous. It can feel intimidating to sit with someone new and talk about how you feel. You may find it difficult to talk about your feelings and have faith that therapy will bring you relief. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. It takes courage to start going to therapy. The fact that you are on this website, looking for help, and reading this right now shows that you are being brave and seeking help.
Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and feel safe bringing up whatever is going on for you and welcoming all of your feelings, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your individual needs and ensuring sessions are as comfortable as possible.
I’m here if you want to talk about it during a free phone consultation.
What supplies do I need for an online art therapy session?
Online sessions can be as effective as in person sessions for art therapy. I recommend having some supplies on hand that are readily available from the dollar store, Opus, Deserres or Michaels. Here are some suggestions for art supplies, although not all are required. You can do great work with simple white lettersized paper and crayons!
- pencil
- pens
- paper of various sizes – 8.5 x 11, 11 x 14 or 11 x 17 work well in white
- pencil crayons
- oil pastels
- crayons
- watercolor paints
- acrylic paints
- kleenex or tissues or rags
- water container
- paint brushes
- musical instruments
- scarves
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can contact me for a free 15 minute phone consultation.
During a free phone consultation, you can ask me about my therapeutic approach, my training and education or what a typical session with me would be like… or any other questions you may have.You’ll also be able to talk about what’s bothering you and what’s on your mind and together we can determine how I could best be of service to you.
It may be helpful to see the first sessions as an opportunity to see if we are a good fit or match. During the sessions, you’ll be able to have the opportunity to see how you feel working with me and try out new things.. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
What forms of Payment do you accept for Counseling?
What type of clients do you see?
While I specialize in providing services to women in Surrey, BC. I also work with children and teens.
I also see clients with anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, grief/loss and life transition issues. I often work with individuals who suffered from stress related issues and provide biofeedback services for anxiety, depression, stress management and anger.
How long does therapy take?
You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast.If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing small amounts of growth after the first 3-4 sessions. By that point, they they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible.
Each session is 50 minutes long, and therapy can be short in duration (6-12 weeks) to longer (6 months to 1 year or longer). It all depends on your particular goals and issues. For example, clients who are dealing with intense trauma or PTSD or childhood abuse may take longer. Some clients come for an average of four to ten sessions to deal with a specific issue. After a series of sessions, many clients choose to continue with less frequent sessions to maintain their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Sometimes clients like to take a break and may decide to return later. Everyone’s situation is different. I am always here for you. The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.
What can I expect in subsequent sessions?
What is your Cancellation Policy?
I require 24 hours notice for cancellation of appointments. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be charged 50% of full session fee.
Have more questions? I’m available for a free consultation over the phone at (778) 389-9234 and I’m happy to help with any additional questions you may have.
What if I don't want to talk about something?
It can feel scary to open up. It’s normal to feel difficult to talk about painful or difficult things you have been through. During our sessions, if you don’t want to talk about something, your don’t have to. It’s my job to give you space to slowly start to work through the tough stuff. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share.
You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to your session and we can explore that together.
