Frequently Asked Questions

Counselling offers an opportunity for you to express yourself in a safe, non-judgemental environment. When you’re sitting with the right person and feel that ‘click,’ something happens in the brain and body where it expresses things that have been long locked away. A great sense of relief often occurs that we now know from neuroscience is the body restoring its parasympathetic — ‘rest and repair’ mode. Secrets that we keep to ourselves and others eat away at our health!

Besides that, by working with the right counsellor you can understand yourself more deeply, take better care of yourself, improve the quality of your relationships, overcome negative patterns of behaviour, and learn to set clearly defined goals. You work closely with someone in your corner helping to re-design and improve your life as it better fits with your emerging values.

You will be greeted in a waiting room where you are welcome to tea and water before joining your counsellor in a comfortably charming sound-proofed room. Together you’ll chat about what counselling involves so there is no mystery or surprise. Your counsellor will get to know you so that the therapy is specially fitted to you as a unique person. Nothing occurs without your consent and awareness. Once you’re done, you will receive a detailed receipt following payment by credit card or e-transfer that may be submitted to your Extended Insurance Plan.

Thrive has over a decade of its mission to activate the MOST AUTHENTIC WAY OF BEING for our therapists and our clients. From the top down, we are practicing the belief that everyone has a deeper self they are meant to be, and that this may be discovered with the right mixture of safety and challenge. We help you realize that your biggest struggles are actually clues as to who you are a meant to be and will ultimately drive your evolution. We are thrilled to share your victories as you overcome stuck points and find out what life truly has in store for you.

Growth and healing are best viewed as a journey that you learn to live instead of a cure that you take like a pill. For this reason, everybody is different. We often find that 4 – 8 sessions accomplish a great deal of relief. With that said, clients may experience transformation within a few sessions or realize there is something bigger they want to work on the long term.

When possible, it’s a great idea to come in every week or two when you get started. The biggest first step is building trust and safety with your counsellor—that’s what allows good work to be done. Once this occurs, clients often space out appointments to a month or more, or take breaks from counselling altogether.

Our Clinical Counsellors are covered under most Extended Health Plans, but always call or check online to ensure your plan covers counselling specifically.

Most sessions are 50-minutes, leaving your counsellor 10 minutes to prepare notes and to help organize the best treatment possible. Most of our therapists also offer 80-minute and 110-minute sessions as well. Some of us even offer multi-hour or full day sessions!