A: Contemplative psychotherapy is the blending of Western psychotherapy with Buddhist awareness practices. From this perspective, our ability to be present with whatever arises in the moment is the foundation for meaningful psychotherapy. Our actual experience is the doorway to self-acceptance and authentic change.

Traditional psychotherapy tends to pathologize people's pain, and generally focuses on changing or fixing undesirable symptoms. From the contemplative point of view, our basic nature is intrinsically healthy but our awareness of this health is often obscured. Contemplative psychotherapy is a process of uncovering this fully awake and aware state. We become liberated from unnecessary suffering through experiencing ourselves in the moment, exactly as we are.

Please note that while contemplative psychotherapy is derived from Buddhist teachings, it doesn’t require any knowledge of, interest or participation in meditation or Buddhism. Contemplative psychotherapy simply offers secular and logic-based tools to free us from unnecessary struggles.

Reference: www.ContemplativePsychotherapy.net

A: Marlise Meilan, MA, Contemplative Psychotherapist is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

Your Extended Health Benefits package, your employer, or the Criminal Victim Assistance Fund may cover some or all of the cost of counselling provided by a Registered Clinical Counsellor.

Please consult with your workplace Human Resources Department, insurance plan manual, or private insurance company to confirm coverage. Counsellors' services are not covered by the BC Medical Services Plan.

Some extended benefits providers prefer to use universally regulated professions (i.e., a psychologist). But that does not mean you cannot request coverage for services from a specific certified practitioner. Knowing who you want to work with, and what their qualifications and certifications are will help make your request successful. It may also help to get a written referral from your doctor to the practitioner. You are welcome to contact us to discuss this further.

Counselling is often a health expense that is deductible from your taxable income. Check with your accountant to confirm.

A: Marlise Meilan is certified by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, and that means that she is permitted to use the title "Registered Clinical Counsellor" or "RCC", which they own. She also uses the terms "counsellor", "clinical counsellor," “therapist,” and "psychotherapist" because they accurately describe who she is and what she does.

A: Psychotherapy typically involves regularly scheduled one hour long sessions, at least once a week. Longer or more frequent sessions may be helpful to you depending on the nature of your work in psychotherapy.

A normal assessment period length spans four sessions. After that time, the therapist will have a better sense of duration of treatment and we can discuss treatment options. Duration of therapy will vary depending on the nature of your challenges and goals.

In some cases, clients attend therapy bi-weekly and, with those transitioning out of therapy, the space between sessions may extend to monthly. Clients often know when they no longer need therapy and when their desire to end therapy is based on a sense of completion, rather than due to unresolved difficulties. Follow-up sessions at four or six-month intervals are then welcome to track, celebrate and sustain progress.