General Counselling
Verna Sullivan has worked as a counsellor on a part-time basis since 1989. Verna specializes in Co-Parenting, Parent-Child Relationships, Parent Coaching, Sexual Abuse Trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Benefits and Goals:
When experiencing a personal problem or crisis, it is often beneficial to speak with someone who can provide an alternative point of view as well as emotional support. Verna is an experienced counsellor who can assist in guiding people through difficult experiences.
Process:
Individuals seeking counselling need only to contact Verna's office and schedule an appointment. Verna and the client will decide together about the length and frequency of counselling sessions.
Fees:
Clients are expected to pay fees immediately following each session.
Fees are currently set at $150.00/hour.
Payment can be made by cash, cheque or e-transfer.
Family Assessments
Separated parents sometimes have difficulty establishing a care plan for their children. This can result in intense conflict and delays in establishing stability for children. Parents can agree to retain assessors to thoroughly investigate their circumstances and the circumstances of their children in order to make recommendations for parenting plans. Sometimes, assessments are ordered in family court. In all cases, the recommendations included in assessments are to reflect the best interests of the involved children. There are times parents or others with attachments to children require Guardianship or Parent/Child Capacity Assessments. These are conducted in a similar manner to custody/access assessments.
Benefits and Goals:
Verna Sullivan will make recommendations regarding what is best for the child(ren). This may include decision-making responsibilities, where the children will live, and how they spend time with each parent. In some situations, the report helps families come to an agreement without returning to court.
Process:
- Parents agree to undergo an assessment process or court orders an assessment
- All parties reach an agreement to retain Verna Sullivan
- Verna Sullivan will contact all parties involved in the assessment process to conduct interviews
- Verna Sullivan will observe family members’ interactions
- Verna Sullivan will contact other individuals who are familiar with the children and parents – usually those who have professional involvement with the family.
- A completed report will be mailed to the respective lawyers
Fees:
Please contact our office for a consultation and quote. A consultation is necessary in order to provide an accurate quote, as factors such as travel or specific family circumstances will vary the assessment cost.
Parent Coaching
Separating parents can opt to develop a parenting plan which establishes the manner in which they will share responsibility for their children. Parents meet with the coach to reach agreement on various aspects of co-parenting. This is often an alternative to litigation.
Benefits and Goals:
Co-parents who engage in coaching can reduce their conflicts and they can reach agreements quickly regarding parenting issues.
Once the coaching process is complete, parents will have a parenting plan that can be easily included in a separation agreement.
Process:
Parents may opt to share the services of one parenting coach (one coach model). Alternatively, they can each use a parenting coach (two coach model). Decisions on co-parenting are then made in meetings with the parents and one parenting coach or two coaches. Prior to meeting together, it is often important for parents to meet with their coach individually in order to prepare for co-parenting meetings. Parents wanting to utilize coaching need only to contact Verna’s office.
Fees:
The fee for each hour session is 150.00. This is due at the end of each session and can be paid by etransfer, cash or cheque.
Family Reunification Therapy
There are situations in which children of separated parents have not had contact with one parent for extended periods of time. This can occur even when separated parents have agreed to specified periods of access or these periods of access have been court-ordered. Verna can assist children and parents by engaging in counselling whereby fractured relationships can be restored.
Benefits and Goals:
It is beneficial for children to have positive relationships with both parents. If a parent/child relationship has been affected by a conflict, Verna will intervene and assist in the resolution of this conflict so positive relationships can resume.
Process:
Parents agree to engage in family reunification counselling with Verna by signing contracts or by obtaining court orders to do so. Verna will meet with each parent individually to obtain information from each parent’s perspective. Following this, Verna will meet a child individually or with a sibling group. This is to learn about children’s feelings and concerns. When it is deemed appropriate, Verna will arrange for the children and the estranged parent to meet together in her office. This is so they can begin to address the barriers to re-establishing relationships.
Fees:
The hourly fee for conducting reunification therapy is 150.00 to be paid by cheque, etransfer or cash. Parents generally agree on cost sharing before reunification counselling commences.