FAQs

I believe that everyone can benefit from counselling at different periods in their life. That’s not to say talk therapy is the solution to all of your problems or that you want counselling forever, but counselling can offer support and guidance in many situations that we all face. Whether you’re struggling with your mood, behaviours, relationship conflicts, life transitions, stress, trauma, or grief, counselling can help. Counselling is also beneficial if you’re seeking increased self-awareness, improved coping mechanisms, or general personal development. Counselling provides a safe space to explore your feelings, explore relationship dynamics, understand yourself better, and develop strategies to manage the things that life throws at you.

Check out my Services page, but long story short I offer one-on-one talk therapy. Currently I offer services online throughout all of BC and if you’re in the Penticton area, I also offer Walk + Talk sessions.

Walk + Talk therapy is just what it sounds like - we combine the talk therapy aspect of counselling with an outdoor walk. I’ve taken specific training in facilitating walking therapy and the idea is that the movement and connection with nature can help stimulate conversation and promote relaxation. Some people find it easier to open up and express themselves while engaging in physical activity or walking side by side. There are a few things to know before deciding whether a Walk + Talk session is a good fit for you - particularly around privacy and safety for yourself. I ask that all clients interested in walking therapy book a consultation session beforehand.

Beyond the Walk + Talk sessions in the Penticton area, I don’t offer in-person or in-office sessions at this time.

Over the past few years, online counselling has really been legitimized as an effective and convenient way of accessing mental health support. Studies have shown that client satisfaction and therapeutic outcomes are similar for both in-person and online therapy, and that the flexibility and accessibility of online counselling can actually help to increase engagement and consistency on the client’s part. That said, what we gain in accessibility and convenience, we may lose in little bits of nuance or non-verbal communication - we can bridge this gap by working towards clear and open communication with each other throughout each session. Logistically there are a few things to consider with online therapy: Technical Requirements - Spoiler alert - in order to do online therapy you need to be able to be online! You can join sessions from your phone, computer, or tablet - whatever works best for you. To make the most of our time together it’s good to ensure your internet connection is decent and your camera and microphone are working properly before the session begins. Privacy - On my end, all sessions are conducted in a private space with no one in the same room or within earshot of our sessions. To ensure privacy and confidentiality on your end you’ll want to consider the same. It’s important that you feel you can talk openly and freely without concerns that your partner, parents, roommates, friends, etc. will overhear you. Focus - There are so many areas and so much time in our lives where our focus and attention is in demand. It is important that therapy is able to contrast this and remain a dedicated time for you. As much as it’s great that online therapy increases ease of access, sometimes we’re pulled in other directions and tempted to multitask. It’s in your best interest not to be trying to do other things at the same time as attending counselling. For some, things like doodling, knitting, having a pet present, holding a fidget toy, etc. can actually help with staying present and engaging more actively in the session - this is totally fine! Things like having to parent little ones while in session, looking at things on the internet, checking emails, etc. will pull you away from the session and potentially reduce the benefits of counselling. Recognizing it can be a bit different than how you may be used to operating - I don’t expect perfection on this at all! We can touch base and talk about it as you need. Safety - For safety reasons it’s important that I’m able to know where you are located during the session in case of an emergency. I don’t always need to know specifics, but it’s helpful when you let me know if you’re not in your usual spot during a session, and sometimes I may ask more directly around where you are. Another consideration around safety is that I ask that you do not drive while we are in session. If we do begin the session and you’re driving, I’ll ask that we hang up and try again when you’re able to pull over.

I hold a Master of Education in Counselling (MEd) degree from the University of Northern BC (UNBC), and have designations from both the BCACC and CCPA. I am a lifelong learner and continually take advantage of professional development opportunities and access clinical supervision. If you have any questions or would like more details around specific coursework or training, don’t hesitate to ask.

I don’t. My training around couples or families has been fairly minimal and I am careful to work within my scope. I therefore do not work outside of individual counselling at this time.

You totally can, but I limit text and email communication to administrative purposes like booking and canceling appointments, or forwarding links to articles, resources etc. I have a Communication Policy as part of my consent process, so we can discuss the intricacies a bit more in session or during a consultation. The important thing to know off the bat is that texting and emailing is not secure so I cannot fully guarantee confidentiality when those methods of communication are used - so it’s a bit of a “use at your own risk” kind of situation.

During an initial session I’ll usually start with some of the logistical pieces to ensure you fully understand the consent process and limits to confidentiality. After that we’re getting to know each other and we will likely discuss your reasons for seeking counseling, what you’re hoping to get out of it, a bit about your background, etc. My focus is to build safety and trust, understand your needs, and collaborate on a plan with you.

No problem at all, just let me know. I’ll never force you to talk about something you don’t want to. I may ask to talk around the subject (Is this a never talk about it or just not now? Do you want me to check in on it again another time or leave it up to you to bring up if you ever decide to? What would it be like to talk about it? What are some concerns you have with potentially talking about it?) but a hard no will always be respected as a hard no.

How often is one of those wonderful questions with no definite answer - sorry! Many people find coming weekly helpful, especially in the beginning if they’ve been struggling with a particular situation for a little while or if they just feel like they need more consistent support. Having said that, weekly is not doable for some folks because of scheduling or financial reasons. Bi-weekly is a sweet spot for many as it feels regular enough to keep some continuity, but may be a little easier to handle with schedules and finances. Some people choose to come monthly or simply book a one-off session on an as needed basis, which are both totally fine as well but have some limitations around continuity or scaffolding progress between sessions. All this to say - let’s talk about it! It often shifts and changes as your needs shift and change.

Again - this is unfortunately one of those questions that is nearly impossible to answer. The duration really depends on your needs and goals or intentions with counselling. Some people find a few sessions helpful, while others may benefit from longer-term support. My goal is to work myself out of a job. I’m very happy to work long-term with clients, but counselling is not intended to be a forever relationship. Depending on what you’re wanting to look at/work on/talk about - it could be a few weeks, or it could be a few years. Throughout the process we’ll talk about what you’re hoping to see in yourself and when you might know it’s time to stop therapy or take a break.

In 99% of cases - no. Unless you’re trying to work out how to navigate doing something you’ve already decided to do, I don’t give direct advice. At times that may feel frustrating, but it’s important that you have autonomy to make your own decisions and you’re not making choices for your life because your therapist told you to. I’m more than happy to bounce around ideas, provide potential strategies, and explore options to see what feels like the best fit for you - but the goal is that I’m able to provide a supportive environment that helps you find your own solutions.

No. Some counsellors may utilize certain assessment tools, but counsellors or therapists are unable to formally diagnose in BC unless they are either medical doctors or registered psychologists.

No. Similar to above, counsellors are not able to provide medication. In BC only general practitioners (family doctors), psychiatrists (doctors with advanced training in psychology), nurse practitioners (graduate level nurses with advanced training), and some pharmacists can prescribe medications. If you’re thinking you might want to explore starting meds or changing meds, I can definitely help you explore having these conversations with a doctor.

You can stop at any time you like. The counselling I provide is not mandatory and you have no obligation to stick with me as your counsellor. If there’s something about our work that’s not working for you or not sitting right, or you’re wishing for more of something or less of something - I do encourage you to speak to me about it and we can see if we can shift to make things work for you. That said, I’ll never try to convince you to stay in counselling with me if you’ve made up your mind to end.

If you are in crisis or experiencing an emergency, please call the National Suicide Crisis Line at 9-8-8, dial emergency services at 9-1-1, or visit the local emergency department. It’s important to know that 9-8-8 can be used for all mental health crisis situations - not only thoughts of suicide. It’s also helpful for some to know that with 9-8-8, you’re connected to their crisis line partners and it works regionally, so if you call from BC you’re likely connected to a BC crisis line, not someone who works directly for 988 in Ottawa or something like that. It’s a great resource if you’re feeling like you need to talk to someone, whatever the reason. If you’re hoping for a session with me as soon as possible, you’re welcome to reach out and I will try and get you in when I can - but I don’t offer emergency services and I can’t guarantee that I’ll see your message or be able to respond right away. That’s why it’s important during an emergency to call the folks who are available 24/7.

Sessions are $145 including GST. My session fees are based on the recommended fee schedule set by the BCACC.

Many insurance companies will cover services conducted by a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) or Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) - but please check with your provider ahead of time to make sure. I am able to direct bill a number of insurance companies or programs. See here for the full list.

At this time I don't. I absolutely believe it is important for counselling and other mental health services to be accessible, and for all professionals to give back to the community in some way. Instead of offering a sliding scale through my private practice, I choose to offer pro bono services with the Community Counselling Centre in Prince George. If you're looking for low-cost counselling in the Okanagan, I suggest reaching out to OneSky Counselling Services or OK Clinical. If you’re really struggling to find suitable resources for yourself - don’t hesitate to reach out to me and I’m happy to try and look into a few more specific options for you.

You can schedule an appointment online by visiting www.cottonwood.janeapp.com, or if you prefer you can give me a call at 250 328 5658 - feel free to leave a voicemail and I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m able. You can also send an email at spencer@cottonwoodcounselling.com . If you choose to email me or text me, please make sure you understand the limitations of confidentiality through those methods. Information around this is covered in my Communication Policy which can be found at the bottom of the site in the footer.

I require 24 hours notice for cancellations or last minute changes. Otherwise the full session fee is charged. This said, I also understand that life happens. If extenuating circumstances have led to you missing or cancelling your session outside of the cancellation policy - I encourage you to speak to me about it.

You can cancel an appointment online by logging into your Jane account, but you can also just give me a call or send me an email or text. Just ensure you understand potential limitations of confidentiality when using email/text - these are covered in my Communication Policy which can be found at the bottom of the site in the footer, and is covered during the informed consent process.

Absolutely. Confidentiality is the backbone of ethical counselling. The fact that you may be a client and anything we discuss is fully confidential unless you explicitly consent to the release of information. That said, it is important to know there are legal limits to confidentiality that all counsellors must adhere to. They are the following: There are reasonable grounds to believe that you are at imminent risk to yourself or an identifiable other person. There are reasonable grounds to believe that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of being abused or neglected. In the rare case that your file is subpoenaed by a court of law. These limits will be discussed in our first session and as needed throughout our work together to answer any questions you may have and ensure you fully understand. If there is ever a time when I am legally required to breach confidentiality, this would never be done without your full awareness beforehand and we would work together on how to best move forward. Another rare occurrence where an element of confidentiality may be breached is if you have some kind of medical emergency during session and are unable to consent to me contacting emergency services and/or your emergency contact. I of course would not be sharing any content of our sessions with anyone in this case, but the fact that you’re a client may be exposed in this scenario.

As a part of counselling, records are kept of each session. These records include minimal information that is important for me to remember when providing ethical and effective care. I include the most minimal information possible in your notes to decrease possible harm that may occur on the very low chance that your file is legally requested by outside parties. My files are electronic and I use a Vancouver-based company called “Jane” to manage client information, scheduling and credit card payments. Your personal information is only collected to be utilized in the delivery of counselling services to you and will not be disclosed to any third party without expressed written consent by you or in the case of the above limits to confidentiality. Jane is fully compliant with both HIPAA and PIPEDA, and I only access client information from a personal password protected computer. The data in my system is encrypted using 256 bit encryption when sent between my devices and the Jane servers (in the same way as your banking information would be). If you’d like more detailed information about the privacy in the Jane system, please visit their security faq. At any time you may request a copy of your file. In this case you will be provided a release form to complete, and a copy of your file will be made available to you within 30 days with an administration fee of $50.00 and $0.10 per printed page. Your records will be kept in perpetuity unless a clear request is made to the contrary. Should I pass away unexpectedly, I have arranged for another counselling colleague to take responsibility for my clinical records. In this case, any records older than three years will be destroyed. All current clients will be asked if they wish their records to be transferred to a new counsellor. All remaining records will be destroyed once the three year mark is reached.