Frequently Asked Questions

No. You do not need a referral from your doctor, just a willingness to look at your life.

Following are a few common reasons women seek counselling with me:

• The way you think you “should” live is holding you back from knowing who you really are and what you want for yourself.
• Feeling stuck and either don’t know how to move forward or afraid of doing the wrong thing.
• Overwhelmed with emotional, physic or physical distress. eg. Unhappiness, loneliness, anger, fear, unfulfillment and engaging in unhealthy behaviours.
• Want extra support during major personal and/or professional life transitions and challenges.
• Many others seek counselling as a part of their normal self-care routine, and look at it as preventative maintenance, or a way to achieve personal growth and maintain health and wellness.

• Counseling provides an opportunity for you to explore any situations, relationships, behaviours, thoughts, or feelings that may be causing difficulty in your life.
• A source of comfort and support during a crisis, or a challenging, difficult time.
• A space to gain deeper awareness and insight into yourself and others.
• Better ways of understanding and coping with problems or challenges.
• Better communication and functioning in relationships.

Most clients experience temporary emotional discomfort due to close examination of difficult topics as well as emotional or physical fatigue immediately after a session. It may help to schedule some time after a session to process what was discussed. It is also common to notice changes in relationship patterns with those close to you, which may need a time of adjustment.

• A “good fit “and a style and personality that you feel comfortable with
• Registration and/or certification with a professional association to ensure adherence to a professional code of ethics
• Participation in ongoing professional development (i.e., workshops, training, supervision)
• Education from an accredited reputable college or university

Yes, with a few exceptions. I keep any personal information that you share in a counselling session confidential according to BC’s Personal Information Protection Act. Under PIPA, your records belong to you and information cannot be disclosed to anyone outside of the office unless you provide a written request for release of information. Every effort is made to respect client confidentiality, however counsellors are required by law to share your information when/if:

• It is revealed that a child is or may be at risk of abuse or neglect, or in need of protection
• If you or another person is at clear risk of imminent harm
• If disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law (e.g., legal order, subpoena, warrant)

The office is located in a professional building that holds different types of businesses. Once inside the office, it is possible to run into other clients in the waiting room, but every effort is made to schedule sessions with plenty of time in between sessions. If privacy is a critical concern, please tell me so that special arrangements can be made. In addition, every effort is made to ensure that any correspondence (fax, phone, email) is kept secure.

If it is an after-hours emergency and you require immediate attention please call the Vancouver 24-hour Crisis Line at 604.872.3311. You may also call 911 and/or go to your nearest hospital Emergency Room for assistance.

If you have taken advantage (which I hope you do!) of my satisfaction guarantee we will have already spent a good 30 minutes together and decided that we are a good fit and will work well together. Prior to your first paid session you will be given an intake pkg. to fill out and bring with you and in your first session I will want to know more about the issues that bring you to counselling, about your history, and about your goals for counselling (initial assessment). Together, we will make a plan for future counselling sessions.

My overall goal for our therapy sessions is to help you get on track with your happier life in 8-10 visits. Some clients prefer a more in-depth exploration of their issues or concerns and attend counselling for longer periods of time (e.g., 20 or more sessions), but many clients gain considerable satisfaction after only 4 to 6 sessions. We can discuss how many sessions you might need at the end of your first session. Once the initial set of counselling sessions is complete, you may choose to return at a later time for occasional follow up sessions, as required.

You can decide what feels right for you, but most clients come in once every week or once every two weeks, especially at the beginning. Over time, sessions are tapered off until they are no longer required. Whether you choose to come in weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, attending sessions on a consistent and scheduled basis provides the best results because it keeps you on track and motivated. Advance booking of appointments is available if you wish to reserve a preferred day or time.

BC’s provincial health care plan (MSP) does not cover the cost of counselling. However, many extended health care plans (e.g.,Manulife, Great West Life, etc.) will reimburse you for the services of a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC). If you have coverage, you will be required to pay for the counselling session and then submit your receipt to your extended healthcare plan for reimbursement. Please check your policy to ensure you will be covered.

To book a counselling appointment or a free 30-minute consultation prior to booking an appointment, please call 604.809.7438 or email me at lyn@lynfirthcounselling.ca.
Please note that I do not have a receptionist, but every effort will be made to return your call as soon as possible.

Your appointment time is reserved especially for you, which means that others are required to wait to access counselling services. Therefore, 24 hours cancellation notice is required or a no-show fee equivalent to the full session amount will be charged (except in the case of an emergency). You can cancel your appointment by email, or by calling 604.809.7438

Clients arriving more than 20 minutes late for their scheduled appointment will be considered to have missed their appointment and a no-show fee equivalent to the full session amount will be charged (except in the case of an emergency).