FAQ's
It’s important that my clients feel fully informed and confident when working with me. Browse through the information below,
and if you have a question that isn’t included here, feel free to reach out to me today: admin@amandastoddard.ca
Working Together
How do I know if we’ll be a good fit? Do you offer a free discovery call?
Yes. I offer a complimentary 15-minute discovery call by phone or Zoom, and in person upon email request.
It’s a chance for you to ask questions, share a little about what you’re looking for, and get a feel for whether working together
feels like a good fit. You do not need to prepare anything formal.
It’s simply a gentle first step.
I’m new to counselling. How does it work?
That’s completely okay. Many people begin counselling feeling nervous, unsure, or worried they won’t know what to say.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you start. We simply begin with what feels most present,
and I help guide the process in a way that feels supportive, collaborative, and manageable.
What happens in an initial consultation session?
Before the session you'll be prompted to complete an intake form. Your first session is a space for us to expand our understanding of what brings you in, what feels most important right now,
and how we'll work together through IFS and Somatic therapy.
We may talk about your history, health, current stressors, intentions & goals, and address any questions or concerns you have about the process. There is no pressure to share everything all at once. We go as fast as we can and as slow as we must, resourcing along the way. We move at a pace that feels respectful of your nervous system and your readiness.
How many sessions will I need?
This really depends on your goals, your history, and the depth of support you’re looking for. Some people come for short-term support around a specific issue, while others choose longer-term work to help heal deeper patterns and create lasting change.
Typically I recommend 4-6 sessions to get started (weekly or bi-weekly) so that we build rapport and momentum
in mapping out your system of parts, building back greater access to Self Energy,
and somatic resourcing tools to regulate your nervous system.
IFS | Somatic Therapy
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy?
Internal Family Systems, or IFS, is a compassionate approach to healing that helps you understand
the different parts of yourself. Some parts protect you, some carry pain, and some hold fear, shame, or old beliefs.
Rather than trying to eliminate these parts, IFS helps you build a relationship with them.
As healing happens, people often begin to feel more clarity, calm, confidence, and self-trust.
What is somatic therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to healing that works with
the nervous system and the ways stress and trauma can live in the body.
This may show up as tension, numbness, shutdown, anxiety, restlessness, or feeling constantly on edge.
Somatic work helps you listen to the body’s signals, gently release what has been held there,
and reconnect with a deeper sense of safety and inner wisdom.
Common Concerns
How do you work with anxiety and overwhelm?
Many of the people I work with feel like their mind is always on, their body has a hard time settling, and even rest doesn’t fully feel restorative. Anxiety can show up as overthinking, tension, panic, irritability, trouble sleeping, or feeling like you always have to stay one step ahead. With somatic therapy, we slow things down by orienting to the space, guiding the mind-body into a
relaxed state so you can begin listening to what your nervous system / internal family system is trying to communicate.
Clients often report feeling much more calm, present, connected and lighter than when they arrived.
How do you reconcile burnout and chronic stress patterns?
I work with many people who are used to being the strong one, the capable one, or the one who holds everything together,
until their system simply starts saying enough. Burnout can look like exhaustion, numbness, irritability, disconnection,
resentment, or feeling like even simple tasks take more effort than they used to.
Together, we look at the deeper patterns underneath burnout, befriend and unburden the parts that have been stuck in those
patterns and provide the practical mind-body-spirit support that helps prevent this from happening in the future.
What about people-pleasing and boundary issues?
This is a very common part of the work I do. Many people have learned to stay safe by keeping the peace, over-functioning,
reading the room, or putting other people’s needs ahead of their own. While those patterns often make sense, they can also
leave you feeling depleted, invisible, resentful, or unsure of what you actually want. IFS Therapy can help you understand
the parts of you that took on these roles and unburden them so that you can begin practicing clearer,
healthier boundaries with more self-trust and courage to advocate for your needs and desires.
Do you help clients heal from past trauma?
Yes. Past trauma can continue to shape how you feel, relate, protect yourself, and move through everyday life,
even when part of you knows the past is over.
Sometimes it shows up as anxiety, shutdown, perfectionism, people-pleasing, hyper-independence,
emotional overwhelm, or difficulty feeling safe in relationships. My approach is gentle and trauma-informed,
which means we go at a pace that honours your system rather than pushing for insight before your body is ready.
Counselling vs Coaching
Do I need a counsellor or a coach? What is the difference?
This depends on what kind of support you’re looking for.
Counselling is usually the better fit when you want support with anxiety, trauma, emotional distress,
nervous system regulation, or deeper healing work connected to your past and present wellbeing.
Coaching is often a better fit when you feel stuck around clarity, direction, confidence, or patterns of self-sabotage
and want more forward-focused support. I use IFS and somatic approaches in both,
but counselling is more clinically grounded, while coaching is typically more present-and-future oriented.
Do you help clients heal from past trauma?
Yes. Past trauma can continue to shape how you feel, relate, protect yourself, and move through everyday life,
even when part of you knows the past is over. Sometimes it shows up as anxiety, shutdown, perfectionism,
people-pleasing, hyper-independence, emotional overwhelm, or difficulty feeling safe in relationships.
My approach is gentle and trauma-informed, which means we go at a pace that honours your system
rather than pushing for insight before your body is ready.
Booking, Fees + Insurance
How much will it cost? What are your counselling and coaching fees?
My current fees are: $170 for 60 minutes | $195 for 75 minutes | $224 for 90 minutes
I know therapy is an investment, and I want you to have clear information up front so you
can choose what feels supportive and sustainable for you.
Why do you offer 60, 75, and 90-minute sessions?
I offer different session lengths because this work is not one-size-fits-all.
Many clients choose 75 minutes because it gives us enough time for both meaningful conversation and deeper somatic or parts-based work. We can check in, explore what is most important, slow down to listen to the body and nervous system, and still have time at the end to reflect, re-orient, and talk about next steps. 60-minute sessions can be a good fit for shorter check ins or ongoing support, while 90-minute sessions offer a more spacious container for deeper or more layered work.
Do you accept private insurance? Do you direct bill insurance?
I am a provider for Telus Health, which includes Canada Life and Manulife.
I do not direct bill, but I will provide a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Some insurance providers in Nova Scotia, including Medavie Blue Cross and Sun Life, often do not cover Registered Professional Counsellors, so I always recommend checking with your provider before booking to confirm your coverage.
What if I have to cancel a session? What is your cancellation policy?
Life happens, and sometimes plans need to change. I do my best to balance flexibility with respect for both your time and mine. Cancellations made more than 48 hours before your session receive a full refund.
Cancellations made within 48 hours are charged 50% of the session fee.
Cancellations made within 24 hours or no shows past 15mins from the start of the session are non-refundable.
If you need to reschedule, please try to reach out with at least 48 hours notice.
Emergency situations may be considered on a case-by-case basis.