Introductory Consultation

A consultation is a free, 15-minute meeting with a Steadfast counsellor in an online video call.

Finding the Right Fit for You

There are many reasons you might want to meet a counsellor before starting therapy sessions with them;

  • to share a bit about what you’re looking for,
  • to learn about the counsellor’s areas of specialty, their training and experience, and
  • to get a sense of the potential fit of the counsellor for you.

Starting counselling or moving from another counselling practice is an important step. And we’re here to help. Use our 15-minute consultations to assess whether or not we’re a good fit. Talk to more than one of our counsellors. No pressure. No obligation. If, and when, you choose a Steadfast counsellor, we want you to be confident in your choice. We’re here for you.

Not Sure Which Counsellor to Meet With?

Use our Counsellor Directory to find counsellors who will best match your needs, such as their areas of focus and therapy style.

Or view Our Counsellors page and click on a counsellor’s photo to see their counsellor profile.

Four Ways to Schedule Your Consultation

Use our online Booking Calendar.

Call and talk with our helpful receptionists at 604-629-7108.

Use the Contact form here on the website.

Email us at info@steadfastcounselling.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

An Introductory Consultation is a brief 15-minute meeting with a potential counsellor. The intention is two-fold:

  1. primarily, to give you experiential sense of who the counsellor is in addition to their professional profile on our website, and
  2. to share a bit about your goals and reason for seeking counselling – that way the Counsellor can speak to their relevant experience, training and counselling approach.

An Introductory Consultation is an opportunity to see if the counsellor will be someone you’ll be comfortable working with. In a consultation the counsellor is not providing therapy. As well there is not time to get into the details of your situation or your therapy goals.

After you decide on the counsellor you want to work with, you’ll book your First Session with them. In that session, you’ll have more time to delve into the details of what you would like help with, getting to know each other, such as your past experience with counselling, and what you would like to experience or accomplish through therapy. Knowing the destination of where you want to get to, as a result of counselling, is an important first step.

What is discussed is up to you and how you want to use the time. As it is 15 minutes, it helps to come prepared with questions you want to ask. What do you want to know about the counsellor? What will give you confidence in the potential decision to work with this counsellor? For example, are you looking for a specific approach? Is there an element of past therapy experiences that you want to repeat or avoid?

Having the opportunity to speak directly with a counsellor, even for a short amount of time, can give a person hope or a sense that the counsellor understands their situation. It can be that extra bit of information to help feel more confident in the decision to work with them. The Client-Counsellor relationship is one of trust and vulnerability. Hearing first-hand that the counsellor may have personal experience that’s relevant, in addition to their counselling experience, education and training, can be the start of a professional connection.

Much like an introduction at a dinner party, a brief meeting is enough to know if this is someone you will be comfortable with.

  • You’re unsure about whether or not a certain counsellor would be a good fit.
  • You have specific questions that will help you decide on a counsellor. Or information you’re looking for is not available on their professional profile.
  • You haven’t been to counselling before and have general questions.
  • You want to get a feel for a counsellor prior to booking your First Session.
  • In Couples Therapy, both parties have to feel comfortable with the counsellor. In this case, they may share one Introductory Consultation. Meeting the counsellor together in an Introductory Consultation can be a good start.

For a 15-minute meeting, it’s very convenient to be able to have the call from anywhere you can have a private conversation. Sometimes, people step out of their work location to make the call from the privacy of their parked car. There’s no need for extra time to travel to the counsellor’s office.

Seeing each other on the video call contributes to the sense you get about whether or not the counsellor will be a fit for you.

Sometimes, depending on the circumstances, an Introductory Consultation in-person or by phone may be arranged.