FAQ About Counselling

Once you’ve matched with a therapist, you can book online here using the very user-friendly Jane app. Or, if you prefer, you can email the counsellor directly and they would be more than happy to help you.

Now that you have an online profile created in our Jane app, and your first session has been booked, you will automatically receive an email containing your intake form(s). Please complete these prior to meeting your therapist. We suggest taking a bit of time to give thought to these  questions, as this will help your therapist get up to speed on your current struggles and save you time in your first session. 

A first session is all about sharing your background and building that initial trust. It’s also a great opportunity to ask questions about the counselling process or share more about what you’ve benefitted from (or not) in past therapy. You and your counsellor will get more clear on the changes you’d like to create in your life. You may walk away with a strategy, new tool, or new perspective. It’s normal to feel nervous, however most clients say after their first session, they feel heard and a sense of relief for having started the process!

Our experience is that clients tend to want to build on the momentum they’ve created in starting therapy, so you may want to book in sessions weekly or bimonthly, depending on what your concerns are. Once you’ve found some flow or stability, you can space these sessions out to your liking. We also find, given busy schedules, that it is more convenient to cancel appointments later if no longer needed, rather than looking for availability close to the date. 

Considerations for session spacing is based on your concerns, therapy goals, finances, and of course your own schedule/availability. Please discuss your therapy pacing with your counsellor and they will be happy to help you create a treatment plan. 

Many of our clients use their extended benefits to pay for some or all of their sessions. Illuminate Counselling does not offer direct billing; so you would pay for your session (by credit card or e-transfer), after which you will be automatically sent a receipt. All of the information that you need to submit your claim will be provided.

Although Illuminate specializes in Reproductive Mental Health, our counsellors are experienced in helping with a huge range of concerns, including: grief and loss, life transitions, break ups/separation/divorce, parenting challenges, family conflict, career changes, burn-out, stress, mood disruptions, health challenges including pain, and much more. 

Reproductive Mental Health describes a huge range of mental health challenges during the reproductive years, and we specialize in supporting women and couples during these times, including:

• Infertility / Fertility challenges – Space to process the emotional impact of infertility, treatments, and family-building choices

• Pregnancy Loss counselling – Gentle support through the grief of miscarriage or stillbirth

• Pregnancy support – adjustments to changes to your body and mood, as well as existential preparation for this major life event

• Postpartum support – help for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), including postpartum depression and anxiety.

• Perimenopause & Menopause – navigating a sometimes confusing, disruptive, and emotional time. 

Yes, we absolutely work with men and all gender presentations. For male identifying clients, we specialize in:

• helping dads adjust to parenthood
• helping men support their partners/wives in postpartum mental health challenges
• supporting men through difficult transitions, such as changes to work, health issues
• empowering men to show up better in their relationships, including providing empathy skills and active listening training
• providing education about relationship tools and strategies

For more information about services for men, click here.