A place to begin.
Whether you're seeking support, exploring therapy for the first time, or are simply curious about what services are out there, this is a place to start.
Kate offers a safe, non-judgmental space to show up as you are to improve your mental health and emotional well-being. Life has its up and downs, but you don’t have to go through them alone.
The first step is often the hardest.
Knowing what to expect can help.
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Therapy is for everyone and there’s no ‘right’ way to do it. You might be looking into therapy because you want a safe, judgement-free space to talk. Maybe you have experienced past or recent trauma, or are navigating internal and external conflicts. Perhaps you want to understand your patterns of thoughts and behaviour more, or develop a deeper emotional awareness. And maybe you don’t know what you are looking for yet. That’s okay too.
Curiosity and openness to therapy is the first step. Therapy isn’t just for individuals who are in crisis. It offers practical tools to help understand ourselves on a deeper level, improve our relationships, and build long-term resilience and presence. Whatever your reason for seeking therapy, you are welcome.
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Sessions are 50 minutes in length.
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Your first session is a chance to get to know each other. Kate will go over informed consent, confidentiality, and provide an overview of what to expect moving forward. She will also ask questions to learn more about your history, understand what brings you to therapy, what you’re hoping to explore, and how she can best support you. It will look more like a relaxed, collaborative conversation rather than an interview and there is no pressure to share more than you are comfortable with; the session will go at your pace.
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Kate has her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) and is registered with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT) as a Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate (RCT-C). The RCT-C is a legally protected and regulated title under provincial law. This ensures that best ethical practices and policies are being followed and that individuals are receiving care from qualified professionals.
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Kate offers both in-person and virtual session options depending on individual preference. Her in-person sessions are located at Brightside Integrated Health at 250 Baker Drive, Suite 222 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
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Finding a therapist who is the right fit for your needs is one of the most important parts of therapy. Signs that you have found the right fit include:
You feel respected, safe, and heard
Their approach (e.g. communication style, therapeutic modalities, and session structure) aligns with your needs
You feel confident in their professionalism and ethics
You feel there is collaboration within the relationship and you feel empowered to share your thoughts and feedback
To help determine if the fit is right, Kate offers a free, 15-minute phone consultation prior to booking a first session. During this time you can discuss what you are looking for, and she can answer any questions, or concerns that you have. She encourages taking the time to find the right therapist and is happy to make a referral to someone else if the fit isn’t right.
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Kate offers direct billing with some insurance plans. A payment receipt can also be provided for those who need to submit an indirect insurance claim for re-imbursement. As every insurance company/plan is different, Kate recommends checking with your plan provider ahead of time to see what’s covered.
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Frequency of sessions is based on each individual’s needs, preferences, and availability. Kate often recommends committing to weekly or bi-weekly sessions at the beginning. This will also be discussed in more detail during the first session together.
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Kate takes an integrated approach to counselling. Some of the therapeutic modalities she draws from include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and solutions-focused therapy.
