Question 1

What type of clients do you see?

Accepted Answer

I have been formally trained to provide counselling and art therapy services to individuals from childhood through adulthood. I have specialized training in developmental psychology and trauma. Currently, I offer counselling and art therapy services to adult clients and children (ages 6 to 13) presenting a range of issues. I enjoy working with post-secondary students and those in the helping professions, such as nurses. I also have a special interest in providing services to individuals who experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress, burnout, and those who're recovering from abuse.

Question 2

What is your background and training?

Accepted Answer

I have completed formal training and gained supervised experience in general psychology, counselling, play therapy, and art therapy.
 
I have experience counselling children, adults, and groups experiencing a wide range of mental health concerns. My main experience has been in treating anxiety and trauma in children and young adults. I also have experience conducting formal assessments and writing psychological reports.
 
I have a background in advising students within a post-secondary setting; assisting new students in planning for their future program; and assisting students in crisis who require referral to community or government resources.
 
I draw on my training and practical experience to deliver exceptional therapy services to clients 6 to 13 years old and 18+ at Yellowtree Therapy Services. To learn more about my background, education, and areas of speciality, please select The Therapist (javascript:void(0))from the menu above.

Question 3

What can I expect in my first session?

Accepted Answer

Typically, in our first session, I'll ask you some questions to get to know you and your situation, and we’ll discuss what brings you in. We may also explore what approaches you find helpful (if you don’t know yet, that’s okay), and we’ll likely begin to discuss your goals for therapy.
 
The first session will look different for different people. I believe in the importance of collaborating with my clients to create a safe space and a process that works for them. I feel it is important for clients to control the pace of their therapy so I tailor my approach to the individual.
 
Please note that there is a different process for child therapy services. See the Child Therapy (javascript:void(0))page for more information.

Question 4

How often will my sessions be and how long are they?

Accepted Answer

I work with clients in the initial sessions to determine how often we should meet and for how long. As we continue our work together, we may decide that more or less time is needed than we originally planned.
 
Typical 1-hour therapy sessions last 50 minutes, with the final 10 minutes reserved for me to take notes and plan for future sessions. 
 
I also offer 90-minute sessions for adult clients who prefer to have a bit more time each session. Longer sessions can be especially helpful for clients who wish to devote more time to making art in session.

Question 5

How can I prepare for my first session?

Accepted Answer

It's common to feel nervous or anxious about starting therapy. Meeting someone or doing something for the first time brings a degree of uncertainty. Your brain and body want to protect and prepare you and sometimes this manifests as anxiety. Moreover, from the time you book your appointment (and probably before), you may be thinking more about the issues that are bringing you to therapy, which can be overwhelming. Below are some ideas of things you can do to prepare for your session and manage feelings of anxiety or nervousness. For child therapy, guardians may want to address the following with your child prior to their first appointment.
 
• Acknowledge that feelings of increased anxiety or nervousness are your body’s natural way of preparing you for something new.
• Engage in self-care activities that are calming for you.
• Write down any questions you have for your therapist.
• Write down three things you may want to explore or goals you might have for therapy. You don’t have to share these with anyone and they might change, but writing things down can help you feel more prepared.
• Write down what you’re hopeful for or excited about. This can be as simple as “I am hopeful that there’s a good coffee shop close to my therapist’s office” or “I am excited to have someone to talk to."
• Talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling.
• Email me to book a 20-minute phone consultation, and you can ask any questions you have about the therapy process. There is no fee for this consultation.

Question 6

What is the client portal?

Accepted Answer

I use Jane p(undefined)ractice management system to manage bookings, records, and payments. When you book an appointment, you'll be prompted to create a client portal where your information will be kept secure and where you can manage your appointments and payments, access online therapy, and more!
 
To log into your portal, go to yellowtreetherapy.janeapp.com

Question 7

Will you talk to anyone else about what we discuss in session?

Accepted Answer

Prior to engaging in therapy, you will be asked to review and sign a consent form which outlines my obligations with respect to confidentiality (i.e. keeping information that you or your child shares with me private).
 
As a provisional psychologist, I am required by the College of Alberta Psychologists to receive ongoing supervision for mental health services provided to clients. As such, I may share your information, including identifying information, with my supervisor(s) so I can provide optimal client care. 
 
Occasionally, I may consult with other professionals (e.g., art therapists, registered provisional psychologists, registered psychologists). In such cases, I will not share any identifying personal information about you and I'll limit information shared to that which is necessary to receive appropriate consultation (e.g., general information about the presenting issues). 
 
Please refer to your copy of the consent form and/or the Yellowtree Therapy Services Privacy page (javascript:void(0))for more information on your privacy and the limits of confidentiality.

Question 8

What if an issue comes up during therapy and I need another resource?

Accepted Answer

Some clients attend therapy to work on one issue, such as test anxiety, and other issues arise during the process. Moreover, some clients may come to therapy without a clear sense of what they want to work on. That’s okay. Issues are multifaceted and often complex. I work with my clients to identify the issues they wish to address and we can develop goals together. If issues arise that are outside of my competency area, or if you think you would benefit from other health services, I will work with you to find resources and make referrals as needed.

Question 9

How can I give feedback to the therapist?

Accepted Answer

I invite my clients to share feedback with me directly. I believe a strong therapeutic relationship is essential for therapeutic progress. Honest and direct feedback from clients helps to build trust in the therapeutic relationship and helps me meet my clients’ individual needs.
 
You are welcome to share feedback with me at any time. I may periodically request feedback from you during our work together, to ensure you're getting what you need.

As a registered provisional psychologist, I am required to obtain supervision from a fully registered psychologist. If you have feedback that you would like to share with my primary supervisor directly, her contact information is below. 
Brooke Hendricks, Registered Psychologist #3618
brooke.hendricks@gmail.com
 
Please note: When communicating with any health professional by email, you are consenting to associated email risks. Although every effort is taken to keep email confidential, email cannot be guaranteed to be secure, as rare breaches of privacy could potentially occur. Please consider carefully before emailing personally identifying or confidential information to any health professional.

Question 10

What if I need or want to stop seeing my therapist permanently or temporarily?

Accepted Answer

Clients terminate therapy for a variety of reasons: they’ve reached their goals, they’re looking for a different specialty or approach, they’re moving, etc. Seeking therapy is a personal choice and I encourage you to make the best choice for you. 
Whenever possible, I encourage you to let me know when you (or your child) are considering or have decided you want to terminate therapy. I understand this is not always possible, and that’s okay. Providing some advance notice helps me use the remaining time in a way that works best for you (or your child). We can also use final sessions to look back on progress and process any feelings that arise with the end of our time together. This can be a very empowering way to end therapy.

Question 11

What precautions are you taking during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Accepted Answer

Please visit the Health and Safety page (javascript:void(0))for details on the precautions I'm taking to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at this time.

Question 12

What is the COVID-19 survey?

Accepted Answer

Effective September 2023, clients are no longer required to complete Yellowtree Therapy Services' COVID-19 survey for in-person sessions. You will no longer receive the survey prior to your session. You and anyone accompanying you to an in-person session are encouraged to self-assess prior to your visit. Please see the Health and Safety page (javascript:void(0))for details.

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