What should you expect from therapy?

You should expect to feel heard and understood. Therapists do not judge. They focus their energies on understanding your perspective and the challenges you face. A therapy session is typically 50 minutes and through conversations and experiential exercises, the therapist and the client develop a greater understanding of the concerns at hand and means to cope with it.

How does Dr. Paterson approach therapy?

Dr. Paterson has a client-centred and collaborative approach to therapy that is grounded in evidence-based practices. She primarily draws from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion-Focussed Therapy (EFT), and Emotionally-Focussed Family Therapy (EFFT). Attachment theory and trauma-informed practices guide much of her work. Dr. Paterson is compassionate and non-judgemental, and she ensures that her clients feel safe and supported as they work toward their goals.

What to expect during your first session?

In the first session, the therapist will explain the process of therapy and generally what to expect from your sessions. They will then spend much of the time learning about your history and what has brought you to therapy. Time may also be spent determining what your therapeutic goals are and generally what you are looking to get out of your sessions. If you aren’t sure, that is ok. Over time, these can be discovered together in sessions.

What kind of problems can Dr. Paterson help with?

Dr. Paterson has a breadth of knowledge and experience working with children, adolescents, and adults who present with a wide range of mental health concerns, including: anxiety, panic disorder, post traumatic stress, separation anxiety, selective mutism, depression, and bipolar disorder. She also supports people with chronic pain and illnesses that impact daily functioning. In addition, throughout her career, she has enjoyed working with those who have neurodiverse presentations, including autism and/or intellectual disabilities.

How many sessions will I need?

Everyone is different. Therapeutic change can occur quickly, but may also be a longer journey. Some changes are small, but meaningful, while others are quite large. Typically, clients begin seeing change within the first 8 sessions.

What is the cost of therapy?

The fee for service is $200 per session.