Frequently asked questions

I’m a Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate (RCT-C) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT). I follow the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the NSCCT and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

It means I practise under the clinical supervision of a Registered Counselling Therapist, which is a standard part of professional development. My supervisor is Derek Smith, RCT. Parts of your care may sometimes be discussed with him for guidance, but identifying information isn’t shared without your knowledge and consent unless the law requires it.

Sessions are 50 minutes.

Yes. Virtual sessions run through Jane App, a secure platform built for healthcare professionals. For most concerns, research shows online counselling can work about as well as meeting in person. You’ll need to be in Nova Scotia at the time of your session. If you’ll be travelling, let me know ahead of time.

Find a quiet, private spot where you feel comfortable, and wear headphones if you can. A laptop or desktop works best, but a tablet or phone is fine too. A stable internet connection helps. If we get disconnected, I’ll try to reconnect, and if that doesn’t work, we’ll reschedule.

Yes. What you share stays private, with a few exceptions: if there’s a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, a suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable person, a court order or other legal requirement, or consultation with my clinical supervisor. Whenever possible, I’ll talk with you before sharing anything.

Appointment details, billing and contact information, and clinical notes about your care. It doesn’t include full session transcripts. Records are stored securely in Jane App, and you can ask to see yours.

Only if you choose to. It’s completely optional. With your consent, I can use Jane App’s AI Scribe to draft my session notes. I review and edit every note myself, and the audio and transcript are permanently deleted once the note is finalized. Jane App says this data isn’t used to train AI models. If you’d rather I not use it, just say so, now or at any point, and I’ll write my notes the usual way.

Please give at least 24 hours’ notice. Late cancellations and missed appointments may be charged 50% of the session fee, though I understand things come up and will look at each situation individually.

Email is fine for scheduling and quick, non-urgent questions. I usually reply within 1–2 business days. Please keep deeper conversations for our sessions.

My practice doesn’t provide crisis services. In an emergency, call 911, the Halifax Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team at 1-888-429-8167, or Talk Suicide Canada at 988.

No. I don’t do custody or parenting assessments or other forensic work. Records are released to lawyers or courts only when legally required, such as by a subpoena or court order.

I’d welcome the chance to talk it through with you. You also have the right to file a complaint with the NSCCT or CCPA, and you don’t need to contact me first.

Yes. You can ask questions, decline any part of the process, or end counselling whenever you choose.