Creative Edge
Frequently Asked Questions
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What kind of people/issues do you work with?
As a general rule, our clients are
over the age of 25; and
dealing with issues that, on the surface, seem to be about career and relationship, but, on further investigation, often prove to be rooted in the issues of meaning and purpose that arise mid-life.
What is the procedure for becoming a client?
To help us screen for clients who would benefit most from what we do, we ask all prospective clients to complete and send us an email application form. (To see the application form, or to apply, click on New Client Intake). If your application indicates a match between our services and your needs, we contact you and either invite you to come for a consultation (assuming that we have openings for new clients), or ask if you are interested in being on our waiting list. If we feel that we are not the appropriate service for your needs, we try to give you a referral that might serve you better.
What are you looking for when you assess a new client application?
We are looking for information that indicates that the applicant
is experiencing the crisis of meaning that occurs at mid-life (as indicated by their age and their presenting issues); and
has an interest and a readiness to enter into a deep process of self-examination and personal development.
How long after applying can I expect to hear from you?
All email applications receive an automatic reply indicating that the application has been received. Assessment and follow up are usually completed within a week to ten days.
What happens at a consultation?
The consultation is a one-hour meeting with a counsellor to explore further the match between our services and your needs. We find out more about what brings you to us at this time, you find out more who we are and how we work, and together we decide if it would be appropriate to work together.
Is there a charge for the consultation?
Consultations are charged at our usual hourly rate, with one exception. The exception: there is no charge for the consultation if, as a result of the meeting, we decide that we are not the appropriate service for your needs.
What happens after the consultation?
If there is a decision to go ahead with counselling, we ask that you make a commitment to six weekly one-hour sessions. Why? Because the issues you will be dealing with are core to who you are and it takes time to develop the kind of trust that will permit you to open up and talk about these issues .
What happens after six sessions?
In the sixth session we review your
progress and talk about where to go from there. If there is a decision to continue, the
commitment becomes an ongoing commitment to the relationship rather than to a fixed number
of sessions.
How long
does this process take?
Since our work is a response to the needs of each individual client and since every client is different, it is impossible for us to predict how long any particular client will be with us. There have been cases where clients have identified and dealt with specific issues and left at the end of six sessions, but that is unusual. More frequently, our clients see themselves as having begun a journey of self-exploration and personal growth and choose to continue for longer periods of time, both as individual clients and as participants in our ongoing groups.
Does my commitment go beyond coming to sessions?
Yes, it does. For example - in order to understand your situation we need a lot of information about you, both past and present. Telling your story in session is often not the best way to use your session time. We therefore ask you to write a biography. We also ask for session write-ups and may ask for pre-session updates by email, so that the counsellor knows what is going on with you at the start of the session. Other homework is assigned as appropriate.
What modalities of psychotherapy do you rely on?
Our approach to psychotherapy is holistic and experiential, incorporating elements from many modalities including Jungian therapy, Transpersonal therapy, Primal therapy, Gestalt, and Bioenergetics to name a few. We also have extensive training and experience in Psychodrama. The work is not limited to talking, but where appropriate may include expressive and body based techniques. For more background information, click on Who We Are
Do you see clients outside of regular office hours?
While we see clients on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, those sessions are in high demand and do not become available very often. Monday to Friday we can start as early as 8:15, with our last sessions scheduled at 4:30 or 4:45, Mid-day sessions are more available than sessions at the beginning or end of the day. We try to start and end on time, and ask that clients be punctual.
What is your cancellation policy?
For our cancellation policy, click on cancellation policy
What are your rates?
To find out about our rates, click on New Client Intake and follow the procedures for becoming a new client. You will be advised of our rates as part of the application process.