Frequently Asked Questions

The first step is for you and I to meet for a 15 minute free consult to get a sense of each other and see if it feels like a good fit.  Reach out to me by phone 778-732-5039 or by email @ faye.alignwithin@gmail.com.

Once we decide to book an appointment, you will receive an intake and consent form by email.  This is where you can begin to tell me a bit about yourself and what your goals for change are.  If you've tried other supports before (counselling or otherwise) you likely have a sense of what works for you and what doesn't.  This is great information for you to share with me!  Although I have a lot of training and many years of experience, your  lived experience makes you the expert on you!  Your intake form also gives you important information outlining my legal limits of confidentiality that you need to know.  You having a sense of safety is essential so we can  talk about very difficult, painful or challenging experiences. As a Canadian Certified Counsellor I follow a code of ethics with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association where I am required to act in situations where there is risk of imminent harm to you or others. This is especially applicable if there is ever risk of harm to people under 19.  

50 minute counselling session (individual): $165 including tax

75 min relationship/couples therapy counselling session (2 people): $195 including tax

​A note about accessing benefits: Counselling services within BC are often covered by your extended health care benefits. Check with your provider before the first visit to see if you have coverage for a Certified Clinical Counsellor.  It's often listed under Paramedical services. 

Cancellation Policy: 24 hours notice is required to cancel a session, because I have held the time for you. Cancellation with less than 24 hours notice is subject to a cancellation fee of the full session rate.

I will invite you to share what is important to you at this time; what is motivating you to seek help, what you are hoping for and what considerations you may have that will make our counselling relationship of greatest benefit  to you. 

You do not need to 'catch me up' on your life history or tell me your concerns in a linear way.  I know that what is important will surface in the way it needs to:  I have seen this happen time and time again. Most often, you will begin by sharing what you feel is most important for me to understand about you and your situation now. Once you’ve had a chance to express your challenges and hopes,  I will likely ask you what aspects of your struggle you want to tackle first, , and begin there by offering some focused attention on what is most pressing for you.  

I believe that it is important for you to be present for yourself while you tell your story. This might mean that I ask you to slow down your sharing, or expand on particular aspects you may not have thought were important. I may give you some tools to help you connect to your own curiousity about what is happening with you, and guide you in making your own connection to your Self.  I pay attention to your sense of safety so that you do not get overwhelmed (or support you in  recovering your equilibrium if you do become overloaded).  My top priority is to ensure a sense of safety: for you, and between us.  

I will likely encourage you to check in with your body and emotions, as they are an important source of information. Bringing compassion and curiousity to your somatic, embodied experience, naturally results in subtle shifts - and, over time and with practice, not-so-subtle transformations..  I will listen deeply, ask curious or clarifying questions and perhaps offer feedback or observations — always checking in with you to see if this feels welcome, in the moment.  

I will invite you to be curious about different parts of yourself that emerge.  This may feel, in a way, like a gentle, guided meditation.  If you are new to a somatic or embodied way of knowing yourself, this may be a new way of learning about yourself. I will invite you to connect with different internal parts of you; this may be tuning into sense or sensations, noticing images or thoughts. I will frequently offer you choices,  to ensure that whatever therapeutic approaches we take  feel good and right to all parts of you. We will likely also explore beliefs you hold,  and how these may be impacting your life, consciously or unconsciously.

Before the session ends,  I will encourage you to make meaning of the work we did.  We might collaboratively set some specific, actionable goals you want to take. We might identify what support you might need (internal or external) in the next day, week or weeks.  We may co-create something that feels important for you to do between sessions: this can look like making time to check in with a part of you, taking action for yourself, reframing a belief or writing a  journal for self-discovery. 

We begin each session with a check-in about the work from the previous session.  We look at what is important for you in the present moment, in the growing context of your new insight, learning, and goals. You will begin again by identifying an area of focus. We will jointly work to identify what is important right here, and right now, as you examine the challenges before you.

I may invite you to focus on your  somatic experience, tuning into your body, emotions, and Self. My goal is to help you to make sense of  the information you receive in this inner space, continuously inviting your curiosity so that you are able to access a deeper inner knowing than you might be able to access on your own. 

I can generally make room for new clients within 7-14 days.

I generally work with adults only, over 19 years of age.  If you are a bit younger than 19 and are interested in working together, reach out and talk to me.