Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy and Counselling

How Does Counselling Help?

Counselling provides people with an opportunity to discuss what is happening in their lives in order to:

• Broaden perspectives
• Consider alternatives
• Seek solutions

Counselling can help people to:

• Increase coping strategies
  
• Increase communication and negotiation skills
  
• Increase self-esteem
  
• Increase awareness of strengths
  
• Process difficult situations like grief and loss or the experience of a traumatic event

What Can I Talk about in Therapy?

Some of the things individuals, couples and families have discussed in counselling with me include:

• Childhood Physical, Emotional, Sexual Abuse and Neglect
• Adult Sexual Assault
• Sexual Addiction
• Other Addictions/Compulsions (alcohol, drugs, computer, gambling)
• Coming out and other gay, lesbian, bisexual life issues
• Sexuality issues
  • Sexual disturbances/Sexual problems
  • Enhancing sexual pleasure
  • Sexual health
  • bDSm
  • Non-monogamy and Open Relationships
• Relationship problems
• Body image, eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, body dysmorphia), disordered eating (including binge eating)
• Separation/Divorce
• Bereavement
• Parent/child conflict
• Transgender/Transsexual issues
• Depression
• Surviving a traumatic event
• Domestic Violence/Spousal Assault/Emotional Abuse
• Work-related stress
• Coping with chronic/terminal illness (including cancer, M.S., HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s/Colitis)
• Anxiety
• Stress Management
• Bipolar issues

What about Non-monogamy and Open Relationships?

Some couples make a decision to have an “open relationship” or non-monogamous relationship.  This can mean a variety of things to different couples from having occasional outside playmates, to having a regular “bed buddy”, to both members of the couple experimenting together sexually with outside partners.  Having a conversation with a therapist about the boundaries and expectations of this arrangement can help to make the experience feel safer and more fulfilling.

Who Goes To Therapy?

• Anyone who has an issue that is acts as a barrier to success
• Anyone who has something difficult to discuss
• Anyone who would like to strategies to manage their situation differently

How Much Does Therapy Cost?

My fee is $130/hour.

I have access to funding for First Nations and Inuit people who have a Status Card. If this applies to you, you may be eligible for counselling at no cost.

If you have private insurance as a benefit through work, my services may be covered. My services are covered if your plan mentions Registered Social Worker, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist or Psychotherapist.

Can any therapist use EMDR ?

Only a Masters level therapist who has attended EMDRIA - approved training can use EMDR.

I am EMDRIA Certified which means I have attended Level 1 and Level 2 training (now known as Basic Training), plus I have met with a certain number of clients and attended consultation with a senior EMDR clinician. As well, I have attended further training in EMDR Peak Performance (with Sam Foster, one of the two creators of this approach), on Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Dr. Philippe Gauvreau, on Trauma and Dissociation with Jim Knipe, as well as the EMDRIA International Conference four times, and the EMDR Canada conference five times. I am an EMDRIA-Approved Fraser-Trained Facilitator and an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant.

For more information or to make a confidential appointment contact:

Jeremy Tomlinson, M.Ed., R.S.W.
20 Eglinton Avenue East
Suite 445
Toronto, ON
M4P 1A9

416 486 2161
jeremy@alternativehorizon.com