FAQs & Policies

You may cancel or re-schedule an appointment with me anytime, as long as you provide sufficient notice.

To cancel your appointment without incurring any fees, notice of 24 hours is required. If your notice of cancellation is less than 24 hours prior to your appointment, or you miss an appointment (no-show) you  will be invoiced at the following rate: 1st incident 50% of session fee; subsequent incidents at the regular rate.

Before or during our first session, clients review, discuss with me, and sign a Consent to Services that details my commitment to confidentiality and privacy.

The services provided to you are confidential. If you feel it would be beneficial for me to speak with other service providers in your life, I will request your verbal or written consent.

In accordance with best practice standards, I utilize supervision as part of my practice. In supervision, I may provide information about our sessions without identifying information. I also consult other social workers for suggestions of resources that may be relevant to my clients. It is your right to withhold or withdraw consent, or to place conditions on the information I share.

Information about you or your situation will not be released without your verbal or written consent except in the following circumstances:

A) If I am required by law to do so.

B) If I assess that there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.

C) If I assess that a child may have been harmed in the past, or that a child is at risk of harm in the present or future. In all cases, I have a legal duty to report this.

D) If I am bound by law to report a regulated professional for professional misconduct.

E) If I am required to defend myself against a complaint filed with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Please only use phone or email to communicate.

I do not currently use texting to communicate with clients. I only use emails to communicate about appointment times and to share articles and other resources that may be relevant to you specifically.

An attempt will be made to return calls and emails by the end of each business day, but this may not always be possible.

If you have not had a response from me within 2 business days, please try another method of contact.

I do use social media (currently Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram) to network and share information that may be relevant to the public.

I will not share any information about my clients. If you are on social media, it’s important to remember that posts/ comments are not private in nature and may be seen by others. I may also see your posts if you are an active member of any of the same groups I am part of. If this is a concern to you, please speak with me directly.

I have strict professional guidelines that I need to adhere to, as such I am not able to be connected, i.e.:“friends” with anyone on my personal social media or to have a relationship with clients outside of my professional practice.

At our first session we will review your goals and discuss a timeline for services. We can re-evaluate at any time throughout the process your goals, duration and frequency of services.

Each individual situation is unique and requires different amounts of time together (sessions). Generally, clients take on average 8-10 sessions to get the results they are looking for. Some clients choose to work together periodically on an on-going basis as the need arises.

I attempt to return all voicemail messages by the end of each business day.

Occasionally, I may not be able to return your call until the following day.  If I am away, I intend for my voicemail to reflect the best way to contact me.

Please ensure that I have your current contact number. If there is any reason why I should not call or text back, please let me know.

Phone calls longer than 15 minutes may be billed according to my fees outlined above.

Your participation in social work services comes with possible benefits as well as risks.

Although no one can promise a specific result, there are some potential benefits from engaging in social work services.

We will talk about your goals, what you hope to gain from service and any difficulties that you wish to address.

The benefits from service depend on the amount of time, the goal and the level of follow through.

During our time together it is possible that you may not make improvements towards reaching your goals. If this is the case, we will discuss what other options are available, readjust goals, discontinue or I can refer you to a different service provider.

When you start your sessions, you may have some feelings or behaviors that get worse. It is very important that you discuss these issues with me if they arise, so I can help you with ways to handle them or refer you to a different service provider.

My services do not include emergency or crisis counselling.

For emergencies please contact Mental Health First Response Sarnia-Lambton 1-800-307-4319.

If you feel you’re at imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.

I make every attempt to provide my services in a professional, ethical, and respectful manner. I would be pleased to discuss any concerns that you have in an open and honest fashion. The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers regulate the services I provide to you.

At this time Senior Transitions Made Simple is offering primarily social work services. The areas listed is not an extensive list. If you have other later life challenges that are presenting please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss further. Chances are, if I can’t help, I know someone else who can.

If you feel it will be helpful, a support person is welcome to join you for any part, or all, of a session.

Session duration will not be extended due to a second person being present unless you have specifically requested a couple or family session.

Typically, family or couples’ sessions are 1.5 hours to allow time for both individuals to speak and reflect.

We may plan together to shorten or extend the session if you feel that’s best.  In these cases, your fee will be adjusted.

Often couples request to have individual  sessions as well.

Sessions can take place in your home or virtually. We find it very helpful to visit seniors where they live, as this gives us a clear picture of their current living situation. There is no travel cost for in-home sessions for Sarnia based clients. Follow up meetings can be conducted over the phone or via zoom, which often occurs with family living outside the Sarnia area.