Questions about Counselling
with Dr. Steve Conway, RCC, ACS, PCC
- Accepting New Clients
About Counselling
People come to counselling for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a clear problem. Sometimes several things have accumulated over time. And sometimes there is simply a growing sense that something isn’t right or that life could be better than it currently feels.
The terms counselling and therapy are often used interchangeably in British Columbia. I use both throughout this website to describe the individual therapeutic work I provide.
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from counselling.
People seek counselling for many different reasons. You may be experiencing anxiety, low mood, burnout, relationship difficulties, chronic stress, a challenging transition, or simply recognize that something in your life isn’t working as well as you would like.
For leaders and professionals, there may also be significant pressures associated with work, responsibility, difficult decisions, relationships, or trying to meet the needs and expectations of many different people.
Sometimes there is a clearly identifiable problem. Sometimes several things have accumulated. And sometimes life looks successful from the outside, but you simply don’t feel particularly well anymore.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before beginning counselling.
No.
You do not need a diagnosis or mental health crisis to benefit from counselling.
Counselling can help with anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, but people also seek counselling for stress, burnout, relationships, grief, life transitions, confidence, identity, questions about meaning or direction, or because they want to improve their overall wellbeing and quality of life.
Counselling can be about recovering from difficulty, but it can also be about becoming healthier, more resilient, and better able to thrive.
My practice provides individual counselling for adults, with a particular interest in working with leaders, professionals, business owners, healthcare providers, educators, and others who carry significant responsibility in their professional or personal lives.
You do not need to hold a particular title or position to work with me.
What many of my clients have in common is that they are accustomed to being capable, responsible, and relied upon by others, but recognize that they could benefit from having somewhere to focus on their own wellbeing.
It depends on what you want to work on, and you don’t need to determine that before reaching out.
Coaching is generally focused on leadership effectiveness, professional development, performance, behaviour change, and future goals.
Counselling focuses more broadly on emotional wellbeing, mental health, relationships, patterns of thinking and behaviour, life experiences, and personal and professional challenges that may be affecting your quality of life.
The two can sometimes overlap, particularly for leaders and professionals.
If you’re unsure, we can discuss what is bringing you in and determine which approach is the better fit.
If coaching is more appropriate for what you want to accomplish, I also provide executive and leadership coaching through Executive EQ.
Working Together
The first session gives us an opportunity to get to know one another and begin understanding what has brought you to counselling.
We’ll talk about what you’re currently experiencing, what may have been happening in your life leading up to it, and what you hope might be different as a result of counselling.
You won’t be expected to tell your entire life story in 50 minutes, and there is no pressure to share more than you are comfortable sharing.
We’ll begin developing an understanding of what may be contributing to your concerns and discuss how we might work together.
My approach combines psychological depth with practical, goal-oriented change.
I want to understand not only what is happening in your life, but what may be contributing to it. That can involve exploring patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating to others; understanding how earlier experiences may continue to influence you today; and recognizing ways of coping that may once have served you well but are no longer working.
Insight matters, but insight does not necessarily create change.
You can understand yourself remarkably well and still find yourself repeating the same patterns, struggling in the same relationships, or responding to difficult situations in ways you wish you could change.
The people who tend to do best in counselling with me are willing to balance reflection and insight with a willingness to take action.
That might mean responding differently to anxiety, changing how you communicate in an important relationship, establishing a boundary, approaching conflict differently, challenging a longstanding belief, developing healthier ways of managing difficult emotions, or making a difficult change in your life.
The action will look different for every person. What matters is that counselling gradually begins to make a difference outside the counselling room.
My style is active and conversational. I ask questions, listen carefully, and offer observations, perspectives, and feedback when they may be helpful
This practice provides individual counselling, not executive coaching.
Your work, career, or leadership responsibilities may be an important part of what we discuss because they are part of your life. My own leadership experience also means I understand many of the organizational realities leaders and professionals encounter.
But counselling focuses on you as a whole person, including your emotional wellbeing, relationships, experiences, patterns, challenges, and quality of life.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Some people benefit from weekly sessions, particularly when they begin counselling. Others prefer every two to four weeks. The appropriate frequency depends on what you are experiencing, your goals, and your individual circumstances.
Regular sessions can help maintain continuity and momentum, particularly early in counselling. As things improve, we may decide together that meeting less frequently makes sense.
My goal is not to keep you in counselling longer than necessary, but to provide the support and continuity needed to make meaningful and lasting progress.
There isn’t a predetermined number of sessions.
Some people come to counselling to address a relatively specific concern and find that a shorter period of work is sufficient. Others are dealing with more complicated or longstanding issues and benefit from working together longer.
We can periodically consider how things are progressing, what has changed, and whether counselling continues to be useful.
Diagnosis & Documentation
People come to counselling for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a clear problem. Sometimes several things have accumulated over time. And sometimes there is simply a growing sense that something isn’t right or that life could be better than it currently feels.
No. As a Registered Clinical Counsellor, I do not provide formal mental health diagnoses.
My focus is on understanding what you are experiencing, what may be contributing to it, and helping you work toward greater wellbeing and meaningful change.
If you require a formal diagnosis for medical, insurance, legal, or workplace purposes, a family physician, psychiatrist, or registered psychologist who provides diagnostic assessment may be more appropriate.
Not typically.
My practice is focused on providing individual counselling rather than preparing assessments, reports, or documentation for third parties.
On occasion, and when appropriate, I may provide a brief letter confirming attendance or providing limited information about the purpose of our work, with your written consent.
I do not provide diagnoses, prognoses, disability determinations, fitness-for-work opinions, or other medico-legal assessments.
Any letters or documentation I agree to prepare are billed separately based on the time required.
Sessions & Booking
You can book a session through the contact page or by email.
I’ll respond within 24 business hours to arrange a time.
Standard individual counselling sessions are 50 minutes at $275.
30-minute sessions are also available at a prorated fee of $170.
I do not offer counselling sessions longer than 50 minutes.
Yes. I offer individual counselling:
In person in downtown Victoria, BC
Online by secure video throughout British Columbia
By phone throughout British Columbia
I don’t offer free consultations.
I find the best way to determine whether we are a good fit is through a full counselling session, where we have enough time to properly explore what is bringing you in, begin getting to know one another, and consider how we might work together.
I encourage you to read through my website before booking. If you have a brief question about my approach, areas of practice, or whether my services might be appropriate for what you are looking for, you are welcome to contact me.
Because my work combines clinical depth with practical change, I only take on a limited roster of clients who are committed to doing active work outside the room. If we aren’t the right match, I will gladly direct you to colleagues better suited to your needs.
Payment & Insurance
Individual counselling is:
$275 per 50-minute session
$170 per 30-minute session
I do not bill insurance providers directly.
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), my services may be covered by extended health plans that include counselling with an RCC. I will provide a detailed receipt after your session that you can submit for reimbursement.
Because plans vary considerably, please confirm your coverage directly with your insurance provider before booking.
I accept:
E-transfer
Credit card
Cash for in-person sessions
Payment is due before or at the time of your session.
Confidentiality & Privacy
Yes. Confidentiality is a fundamental part of counselling. What you share with me is kept private and will not normally be disclosed to others without your consent.
There are, however, important legal and ethical limits to confidentiality. There may be circumstances in which I am required or permitted to disclose information, including:
Child protection concerns: If I have reason to believe that a child may be in need of protection, I have a legal duty to report that concern to the appropriate child protection authority. This duty overrides confidentiality.
Serious risk of harm: If there is a serious and imminent risk of harm to you or another person, I may need to disclose information necessary to help protect those at risk.
Abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult: There may be circumstances involving abuse, neglect, or significant risk to a vulnerable adult in which disclosure or reporting is required or appropriate under applicable law and professional obligations.
Legal requirements: Records or information may sometimes have to be disclosed when required by law or through a valid legal process.
Professional and ethical requirements: In limited circumstances, disclosure may be necessary to meet my professional, ethical, or regulatory obligations.
Whenever possible and appropriate, I will discuss a required disclosure with you before taking action and will disclose only the information reasonably necessary for the purpose.
The limits of confidentiality will be explained more fully as part of the informed consent process before counselling begins. I encourage you to ask questions at any time about confidentiality, privacy, or how your information is handled
I use a secure platform for online counselling and take reasonable measures to protect your privacy and confidentiality.
For online sessions, I also encourage you to choose a private location where you feel comfortable speaking openly without being overheard.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
Clients often describe me as approachable, practical, direct, and having a sense of humour.
While counselling can involve difficult conversations, I don’t believe it needs to be overly formal or filled with therapy-talk.
I strive to create an environment where people feel comfortable speaking openly about what is happening in their lives while also being challenged to consider new perspectives and possibilities.
Therapy is a professional relationship, but at its core it is also a human conversation.
