Getting Started
- This is Your Time!
- You’ve overcome more obstacles than an obstacle-course, itself!
- You can’t count the number of times you’ve willingly and lovingly (ok, sometimes not so lovingly) put your life on hold, made sacrifices, done without, all in the name of creating a happy and healthy family.
- You’ve doubled-done, pursuing both a career and raising a family.
- You’ve likely turned your back on many opportunities so your family and kids could have just that; opportunities.
- Now, your work is done and it is time for you!
- This is Your time to create the life you want!
- Be the woman you want to be!
- After all, you made it this far!
Life is NOT a dress-rehearsal so, Don’t Let Age Be Your Cage! Age-Free Woman; yes you; this is your time!
What is Online Therapy?
Online therapy has been called many things such as: e-therapy, virtual therapy, cyber therapy, web therapy and more. Basically, they are all the same – live video communication via computer to computer. It is like a zoom meeting but with uber security measures in place. It really does appear that our world is shifting to online everything! Online shopping for groceries, clothing etc., take out from your favourite restaurant, even communicating with friends and family (facetime or skype) – most people do not even own a landline these days, and even doctor appointments (I had 2 virtual doctor appointments in the height of COVID19 in my city) and counselling is no exception to this virtual world of ours. So, it does not surprise me that therapy should join the masses online also.
Online therapy is the same as in person therapy but online (to read more about the pros and cons of online therapy skip ahead to pros and cons of online therapy).
Experience Wellness
Advice is Not Therapy
Sometimes, all we need is to be heard, to say it out loud to a compassionate friend or loved. That is all good.
Therapy is for those times when it does not matter how often we talk to friends or seek advice, the bad feelings or the difficult situation, does not go away, and if it does, it is for brief moments of time.
Advice is not therapy, it is just that, advice. Think of the last time you gave someone advice; did they take it? If so, that was probably one in a million – lol! Advice is good for stock suggestions, buying or selling a home, and other transactional events. When it comes to emotional and mental health healing advice does not help. In fact, if a therapist offers you advice when it comes to YOUR personal life, that is a red flag. A qualified therapist is learned and skilled in helping you uncover the answers which are unique to you, your life, unique to the shoes you walk in not someone else’s.
Successful therapy is a collaborative approach and provides an environment permitting clients to speak up or ask therapy related questions at any time without fear of retribution or judgement.
Trust is the building block for good therapy and it can take time to build. Timing can be everything.
Yes, the therapist is the expert (and should be or why bother seeking one – lol!) but that does not mean the therapist has more value or that he or she understands you (the client) more than you understand yourself. Think of it like this: The client uses the therapist’s expertise as a safe place, a “home-base” that they can always depend-on to be there in times of need and in times of successes! Someone they can come back too, even after long absences, in their journey to wellness. Both client and therapist are of equal necessity and thus of equal value in the healing relationship.
The therapeutic process is what many neurologists call right brain, right brain interplay between client and therapist. Meaning the inter-relating that occurs in the therapy session between client and therapist stimulates healthy neural activity, creating lasting and structural changes (for the better) in the brains of both the client and the therapist (one of the benefits of the job – wink-wink!). Good therapy is very different from a good hearted and well-intentioned friend helping to lift your spirits when you are down. Sure, that is also beneficial, however, the sad mood will only return. Lasting change requires good therapy!
I could go on and on but instead, invite you to a free consult where I will happily elaborate on this topic.
First, it is both my legal and ethical responsibility which is legislated by my College of Social Workers as well as Canadian Laws ( PHIPA https://www.ipc.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/phipa-faq.pdf and HIPPA https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html ) to ensure your information is confidential.
Angela Seabourne E-Counselling video conferencing works like Skype or Facetime but leagues ahead in terms of security. Your confidentiality and privacy is taken seriously. I use a highly encrypted server (noustalk) designed for medical and mental health professionals that abides by HIPPA and PHIPA confidentiality requirements. Feel free to check it out www.noustalk.com You can learn more about it here: https://blog.canadianwebhosting.com/phipa/. This means sessions are safe, secure and confidential.
THERAPY or LIFE COACHING: $150 an hour. Additionally, She rewards longer term clients the 10th session free providing the sessions are at minimum once a week (without cancellation on your end). After that you will receive every 7th session free providing the sessions are at minimum once a week (without cancellation on your end).
Advice is Not Therapy
Sometimes, all we need is to be heard, to say it out loud to a compassionate friend or loved. That is all good.
Therapy is for those times when it does not matter how often we talk to friends or seek advice, the bad feelings or the difficult situation, does not go away, and if it does, it is for brief moments of time.
Advice is not therapy, it is just that, advice. Think of the last time you gave someone advice; did they take it? If so, that was probably one in a million – lol! Advice is good for stock suggestions, buying or selling a home, and other transactional events. When it comes to emotional and mental health healing advice does not help. In fact, if a therapist offers you advice when it comes to YOUR personal life, that is a red flag. A qualified therapist is learned and skilled in helping you uncover the answers which are unique to you, your life, unique to the shoes you walk in not someone else’s.
Successful therapy is a collaborative approach and provides an environment permitting clients to speak up or ask therapy related questions at any time without fear of retribution or judgement. Trust is the building block for good therapy and it can take time to build. Timing can be everything.
Yes, the therapist is the expert (and should be or why bother seeking one – lol!) but that does not mean the therapist has more value or that he or she understands you (the client) more than you understand yourself. Think of it like this: The client uses the therapist’s expertise as a safe place, a ‘home-base’ that they can always depend-on to be there in times of need and in times of successes! Someone they can come back too, even after long absences, in their journey to wellness. Both client and therapist are of equal necessity and thus of equal value in the healing relationship.
The therapeutic process is what many neurologists call right brain, right brain interplay between client and therapist. Meaning the inter-relating that occurs in the therapy session between client and therapist stimulates healthy neural activity, creating lasting and structural changes (for the better) in the brains of both the client and the therapist (one of the benefits of the job – wink-wink!). Good therapy, is very different from a good hearted and well intentioned friend helping to lift your spirits when you are down. Sure, that is also beneficial, however, the sad mood will only return. Lasting change requires good therapy!
I could go on and on but instead, invite you to a free consult where I will happily elaborate on this topic.
Online therapy has been around long enough for studies to be published about its efficacy. In general, the evidence supports online as effective as in person therapy. Many people enjoy the benefits of online therapy such as: not having to leave the comfort of your home; do not have to worry about commuting or finding a parking spot – not to mention possible parking or speeding tickets (uh-oh); never having to ask your boss to leave early; online works well for those who live in a remote areas with limited or no access to therapists; it is also ideal for individuals with mobility issues, whose priority, unfortunately, is whether or not the physical location is wheelchair accessible or has an elevator, etc. instead of prioritizing the ability and/or matchability of the therapist. There are many pros to online therapy and I have merely touched on a few of the more obvious ones.
In regard to cons, there is always the possibility of technical difficulties which can be frustrating for many people. Some clients may take longer than others to adjusting to talking into the computer screen. I usually suggest that during online sessions, clients refrain from having their image on the screen with the therapist's (picture within a picture) because it is can cause clients to feel self-conscious and distract from the therapeutic process.
However, online therapy is not for everyone. I have added an article from the Huffington Post that speaks to the basic appreciation on the limits of online therapy.
However, as mentioned, the best way to find out if online therapy is for you, is to have a free online consult with me. I look forward to hearing from you!
Request an Appointment
For new clients, please complete the form to request your first appointment. Please indicate your preferred date & time.
I look forward to hearing from you.