Frequently Asked Questions

* These rates are for Dawn's services only. Associate therapists set their own fees — please check with your therapist directly.

If finances are a concern, please bring it up right away — at the time of booking or at your first session. Dawn is committed to making fair and feasible arrangements for those experiencing financial difficulty, and will always do her best to find a workable option.

Blossom Counselling accepts all major credit cards — Visa, Mastercard and American Express. E-transfer is also accepted at dawn@blossomedmonton.com.

After each session you will receive a receipt that includes Dawn's designation and registration number (CCC #9864) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Keep these for income tax purposes.

Dawn is a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) and Certified Canadian Psychotherapist, registered with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. This designation is recognized by many insurance providers, including:

It may be recognized by other providers as well — check with your insurer. Coverage varies by policy, so it's your responsibility to confirm what your individual plan covers for counselling services.

Yes — please let Dawn know. There are advocacy options that can be explored through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and Dawn is also open to adjusting the cost of sessions accordingly. Reach out and the two of you can work something out.

After each session, you'll receive a receipt that includes Dawn's professional designation and her registration number with the CCPA: CCC #9864. These receipts can be submitted to your insurance provider and also kept for income tax purposes.

The easiest way is to book online. Click here to access the online booking portal.

Yes — please download and complete the appropriate forms before your first session and bring them with you. If you don't have access to a printer, arrive 15–20 minutes early and hard copies will be ready for you at the clinic.

Head to the Forms page to download the correct documents for adults, youth or children.

Both options are available. If you have a preference, note it when booking or mention it when you reach out. For children and youth, in-person sessions are generally preferred, especially when play therapy is involved.

A credit card number is collected at the time of your first booking.

First late cancel or no-show: If you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice or don't show up for your appointment, you will be charged half the cost of the time set aside.

Subsequent late cancellations or no-shows: Any further cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed appointments, will be charged the full cost of the session.

At least 24 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule without incurring a charge. If you need to cancel, please do so as early as possible.

Yes. Unless a sole guardianship order is in place, consent must be provided by both biological parents for any child under 18. The Consent for a Minor form must be signed by both parents before the first session begins.

If you have a sole guardianship agreement, please bring a copy to the first session as it will need to be kept on file.

In Alberta, the age for a Mature Minor is 15 years. This means that youth 15 and older may seek and consent to their own counselling services without a guardian's permission — provided they have completed a Mature Minor assessment with Dawn first.

If a young person 15 or older would like to pursue counselling independently, please reach out to discuss this process.

Confidentiality is an important part of the therapeutic relationship, and this is especially true for youth. What a young person shares in sessions is generally kept private — including from parents, unless the youth consents to information being shared.

There are exceptions: if there is a risk of harm to the young person or to others, or in cases where the law requires disclosure, confidentiality may need to be broken. Dawn will explain these limits clearly at the start of the therapeutic relationship.

No. Dawn does not provide services where there is active high-conflict co-parenting or ongoing legal proceedings between parents. This is to protect the wellbeing of the child and the integrity of the therapeutic relationship.

If you are in this situation and are looking for support, please reach out and Dawn can help point you toward appropriate resources or referrals.

Yes, and in many cases parent involvement is a key part of the work. Helping children and their caregivers communicate more effectively with one another is one of the most meaningful things Dawn does. The structure of parent involvement will depend on the child's age, the presenting concerns, and what works best for your family.

Parents who join sessions are required to complete an Informed Consent form of their own.

It depends on what's going on. If you're noticing emotional or behavioural challenges, counselling with Dawn may be a good fit. If you're wondering whether there's a learning profile — ADHD, a learning disability, giftedness — that's driving the difficulty, a psychoeducational assessment may be the right next step.

Psychoeducational assessments at Blossom are conducted by Teresa Devost, Registered Psychologist. Learn more about assessments here.

Completely. Most people come to counselling with a general sense that something isn't working — not a tidy diagnosis. You don't need to know what to call it or have it figured out before reaching out. That's what the first session is for.

This varies enormously depending on the person and the concerns being addressed. Some people find significant relief in a handful of sessions; others benefit from longer-term work. Dawn takes a collaborative approach — you'll always have a voice in decisions about the direction and duration of your work together.

Blossom Counselling has a team of experienced associate therapists, each with their own specialties and approaches. The team includes:

Teresa Devost (Reg Psych, children & teens, psychoeducational assessments) · Nicolette Sopcak (PhD, CCC, trauma, PTSD, EMDR) · Akil Gulamhusein (MSW, RCSW, strengths-based, adults) · Hannah Barrington (MC, RN, CCC, children & youth) · Erin Nesbitt (RD, CCC, eating disorders) · Rachel Steege (RPsych, counselling & performance) · David Walters (PhD, CCC, life transitions) · Tyrone Powell · McKenzie Shimko

Visit the Meet the Team page to learn more about each person and find the right fit.

Please just reach out. You can email the office at admin@blossomedmonton.com or call 780-756-6551 and someone will be in touch as soon as possible.