We believe that your complexities should be taken into consideration during therapy. A great way to do this is to have therapists that reflect your unique identity and can relate to the factors that have impacted your mental health.
Over the past few years, we have put together a racially diverse team of over 40 experienced counsellors and therapists who can deliver a range of services that are anti-oppressive, anti-racist, feminist, trauma-informed, and LGBTQ+ aligned.
Our therapists are also able to provide support that is religiously, culturally, and linguistically appropriate. In fact, we offer services in English and 15 other languages:
We want to ensure that you are matched with the right therapist who understands your positionality. This way, you can spend less time “explaining yourself” and more time focusing on your treatment.
To get started with virtual therapy, we suggest these initial steps:
Learn about our team and pick a therapist you feel is a good fit for your needs.
Complete an initial assessment to help determine your wellness goals (no matter how specific or general they are).
After your initial assessment, you will begin meeting virtually with your therapist, either by phone or video. Sessions are typically weekly or biweekly, but depending on each client’s needs, the frequency can change over time.
At Wellnest, our therapists offer several therapeutic models, including:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Mindfulness-based therapies
Trauma informed care
Somatic therapy
Therapy is not a one size fits all treatment, so it will look and feel different to each client.
Your treatment can be adjusted as you progress through your sessions and learn what does or doesn’t work for you. If a modality or approach doesn’t feel right, it’s important to communicate with your therapist so you can learn how to work on it together.
We know that making the decision to see a therapist is not easy. It may be even more difficult when the treatment doesn’t align with your idea of traditional in-person therapy.
At Wellnest, we are here to guide you through the virtual therapy process – before, during, and after your sessions!
Although there are non-verbal cues that may be missed when you are not in the room with your therapist, virtual therapy is a great alternative that can still offer a meaningful and intimate experience.Here are some tips for how to make the most of your virtual therapy experience:
Use video instead of phone, if possible. A video call will most closely resemble in-person therapy and will allow your therapist to see your facial expressions. Choose a quiet and private space that you can sit in comfortably for at least an hour. ‘Set the mood’ for therapy by having a beverage near you, putting your phone on silent, and maybe even lighting a candle. It can really help ease your nervous system! Keep a familiar object around you that you can hold onto or fidget with. Let your family members or roommates know that you are unavailable for the next hour or so. Maybe even leave a note on the door to remind them.Once the session is done, move to a different space. That may just mean going to a different room in your home. This will help to physically mark the end of your session and allow your mind to decompress.Virtual therapy is definitely a learning curve, so it’s important that you communicate what works or doesn’t work with your therapist. They may be able to offer you personal advice that isn’t outlined here. A good therapist’s goal is to accommodate your needs and provide a safe space so you can speak openly and get the most out of your virtual sessions!
Virtual therapy is definitely a learning curve, so it’s important that you communicate what works or doesn’t work with your therapist. They may be able to offer you personal advice that isn’t outlined here.
A good therapist’s goal is to accommodate your needs and provide a safe space so you can speak openly and get the most out of your virtual sessions!
Mental health concerns are best treated like any physical health disorder. You want to pay attention to and treat the symptoms, but more importantly, you want to address the root of the problem. This is why therapy is such an effective treatment for a range of issues, from anxiety to PTSD to anger, and more.
Therapy works by helping you figure out the ‘story’ of your mental health concern. When or how did it start? What triggers it? What maintains it? How does it impact the different areas in your life?
By unpacking the root of the problem, our therapists can then help you determine and practice coping skills using the appropriate modality to manage your specific symptoms.
At Wellnest, we aren’t here to provide bandaid solutions. Rather, we’re here to help provide you with a better understanding of the challenges you are experiencing and teach you how to manage them and prevent worsening symptoms in the future.
Having specific wellness goals can help shape your therapy treatment, but there doesn’t need to be something ‘wrong’ with you to see a therapist. Our therapists are there to help guide you and ask questions you may not have considered. In fact, you may go into the session with one issue and your therapist can help you understand that it’s actually something different that you may need to work on. These open-minded sessions can be the most productive!
We suggest you start by reading through our therapists’ profiles to learn about their areas of focus and approaches. If you begin therapy and feel the therapist is not the right match for you, let us know as soon as possible and we’ll help you find someone else. Our priority is you! We can assure you that none of our therapists will take it personally.
Therapy is not a quick fix. The length of therapy will vary (from several weeks to several years) depending on your needs. It’s important to let go of the idea that therapy will completely eliminate your issues. Rather than trying to reach a final goal, think of therapy as a lifestyle change. The advice and coping mechanisms you acquire during therapy are meant to be practiced throughout your life. Therapy is part of your wellness journey.
The right time to see a therapist varies for each person. There are signs you can look for that signifyindicate the time is right for you. This won’t mean you’re perfectly ready for therapy, but it can indicate that it’s a good idea to start learning about the process.
If you have any other questions, check out our FAQ page.
You can also reach out to us at info@wellnest.ca or call/text us at 437-333-WELL(9355).