counselling & Psychotherapy

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Sometimes life is hard, confusing, scary, painful. Sometimes we're overwhelmed, grieving, or could benefit from learning new skills. Sometimes we can make better sense of things with the support of a skilled professional. 

It's important to integrate our experiences in ways that allow for greater peace of mind. Doing so is a healthy response to adversity, whether we're living through it now, or it occurred years ago. In claiming greater health and wellbeing, we free ourselves up to enjoy continued growth and all the fruits of flourishing. As we discover our expanded capacities, we can move forward with more confidence, wholeness and empowerment. This process can involve challenging terrain, and that's where the care of an experienced therapist can be key. If we work together, I will serve as a compassionate listener, a creative ally, an insightful consultant, a knowledgeable resource, a safer space in which you can know you matter without question. There are many ways to make life better -- let's discover what's right for you.

There's often confusion about these terms and how they compare to one another. Counselling is generally a solution-focused approach that assists with decision-making and accessing resources. Examples would be making choices during a medically-complex pregnancy or figuring out if you want to change jobs. Psychotherapy is an approach to mental health that aims to bring about positive change in one’s thinking, feeling, behaviours and social functioning. Examples would be addressing depression or anxiety, healing from trauma or developing new communication skills.  Counselling and psychotherapy are often interwoven, education can be a component of both, and both are within the scope of registered social work services in Ontario.

I provide services to individuals and couples aged 18 and over. While my skill set is applicable for a wide range of concerns, my areas of focus include:

• Fertility challenges
• Pregnancy
• Birth and postpartum concerns
• Birth experience processing
• Parenting and child development
• Other caregiving roles, such as caring for an aging parent
• Identity, including the transition into parenthood, gender & sexuality, and other aspects of personhood
• Communication & relationships, including with friends and extended family members
• Career and workplace dynamics
• End-of-life and dying, including TFMR
• Grief, related to death and other losses
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Relating with loved ones who have physical or mental health conditions
• Sexuality and relationship, including all expressions of non-monogamy
• Spiritual/existential concerns

I draw on a broad range of experiences and knowledge in my work. Evidence-based interventions that inform my services include Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Attachment Science, Polyvagal Theory, Gottman Method, CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, EFT, Ecopsychology and Narrative Therapy. I love learning and regularly engage in continuing education.

Evidence consistently shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is JUST as important as any therapeutic techniques that are used. What does that mean? It means that the rapport and goodness-of-fit between client and therapist greatly determines the effectiveness and outcomes of any psychotherapy. For this reason, I invite you to book a free, 15-minute phone call with me so we can assess if we're likely to work well together. If we're a match, great, let's get to work. If not, I can refer you to other services that can better support your wellbeing. To book your call to assess our mutual suitability, email or call:

Lara@LaraStewartPanko.com

289-237-1596

Please Note: My practice is full at this time. Openings are anticipated beginning in January. If you'd like to be placed on the waitlist, please be in touch.

The honest answer to this is highly variable. It depends upon your areas of concern, what your goals are, and the process of addressing them. Some problems are addressed in a single session using a brief therapy approach, others require several sessions. Some people (myself included) like to do therapy on an on-going basis because being human is complex and it can be great to have a professional someone with whom you can work things through. As with other aspects of health, psychotherapy isn't a one-size-fits-all.  Your experience -- including the number of sessions -- will be unique to you.

An individual session runs 1 hour in length, and a couple's session is 1.5 hours.

I provide services virtually throughout Ontario, and offer home visits, as well as walk-and-talk sessions, for clients in the Hamilton area who meet the criteria for these options.

Social work services are often covered by insurance benefits. Check with your provider. If they're not covered, or if you don't have benefits, registered social work services are claimable as a health expense because social workers are regulated mental health professionals. In my practice, all fees are payable at the time service is rendered, and receipts are issued so you can submit them to insurance or claim them when you do your taxes. While I have a standard hourly fee, I also have some reduced-fee spots in my practice. I'm happy to discuss fees with you during our free, 15-minute discovery call.

My practice is full at this time. Openings are anticipated beginning in January. If you'd like to be placed on the waitlist, please be in touch.