Finding support for your mental health is not always easy. Visit www.firstsession.com to find the right therapist for you. Filter therapists based on specialization, location, designation, and more. #mentalhealth Browse videos and get to know your therapist before making any commitment. Instantly book a free therapy consultation or a full session, online or in-person (where available). Transparent pricing. Rates visible on each therapist's profile page. #firstsession #findatherapist #psychotherapy #mentalhealth
First Session
Mental Health Care
Victoria, British Columbia 1,129 followers
Find the right therapist for you.
About us
First Session is the best place in Canada to find and connect with a therapist. Our team interviews and films all therapists on our platform, so you can choose your best fit.
- Website
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https://www.firstsession.com
External link for First Session
- Industry
- Mental Health Care
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- Victoria, British Columbia
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2018
- Specialties
- mental health and therapy
Locations
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Primary
Victoria, British Columbia V8T 5L9, CA
Employees at First Session
Updates
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Are you interested in psychedelics? Please let us know-survey in comments to original post.
It’s Friday and I want to ask you about drugs. Specifically, psychedelics. In therapy circles, psychedelics have become a dinner table topic over the last few years. In 2020, numerous psychedelic companies went public, only to blow through millions of dollars of investor cash—learning the hard way that “big business” and psychedelics don’t necessarily mix. But this hasn’t shut down the momentum of the movement — deemed as the “Psychedelic Renaissance.” Mainstream texts like Michael Pollan book “How to Change Your Mind” and the accompanying Netflix documentary have sparked a new wave of interest in the field. Top podcasters like Andrew Huberman and Tim Ferriss have hosted top doctors and psychedelic researchers and advocates such as Robin Carhart-Harris, and Rick Doblin. Research and countless anecdotes make it difficult to deny that folks are benefiting immensely from the use of psychedelics when used properly. Unsurprisingly, these medicines don’t come without risk. Ketamine therapy is legal in North America, and clinical trials are running for Psilocybin, MDMA, and a handful of other drugs used to treat mental health issues. In Canada, programs like Roots to Thrive lead by Pamela Kryskow and Shannon Dames have shown promising, impactful results for patients. Meanwhile, Vancouver Island University now features a Psychedelic Assisted Therapy training program—the first of it’s kind from a Canadian post-secondary institution. So where do you stand? Are you interested in exploring these medicines for yourself? Or do the perceived risks outweigh the benefits? I’ve put together a 5 minute survey which you can find in the comments below. I commit to sharing these responses, anonymously of course, to give folks better sense for where we stand on these medicines.
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Do you want a strictly neutral therapist, or one who is unafraid to be authentic?
Therapists are taught to be neutral. Not to take sides. As a client, you’re expected to open up and disclose your darkest secrets, but in school, therapists are taught that self disclosure is risky. That they should keep to themselves. On Saturday I spent the day with 100 therapists in Vancouver at Jane App HQ. The topics of self disclosure and authenticity were repeatedly discussed, and was a major theme of the day. I learned that therapists leave grad school being afraid to show up as themselves to clients, because it's deemed as too unprofessional. Grad students are repeatedly hit over the head with the neutrality stick. Thankfully, the conference was put on by two seasoned therapists who are breaking the mold, Jordan Pickell and Alison McLeary. Speakers such as Gabriel Ray-Contreras MCP, RCC encouraged younger therapists to show up as themselves—to not hide the fact that they are humans, too. It’s easier said than done, and requires practice (and making mistakes). This doesn’t mean therapists shouldn’t have boundaries—they are in fact professional boundary setters. But luckily for us, this new generation of therapists know that connection is key to healing and growth. Showing empathy and skillfully self disclosing when appropriate is part of what makes a great therapist in my books. As a client, would you rather work with a strictly neutral therapist, or one who reveals more of their human side?
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Self advocacy is key to being healthy. See what we mean 👇
I’m thankful for Canadian Healthcare. But it has its problems. If you’re lucky enough to have a physician (there’s a national shortage, after all), you’ll know the experience is not always perfect. Doctors rushing to diagnosis and/or prescribing medication based on surface level information is not uncommon. To be clear: I don’t blame them. Their role exists in a fast-moving system of 15 minutes appointments. Which is why self-advocacy is such a critical practice for all of us to practice. Speaking up, being the squeaky wheel, pushing back when you know you’re not getting the care and treatment you need. It’s a critical practice with physicians, specialists, and any provider — including therapists. Maybe you don’t feel heard. That your therapy goals aren’t being addressed. Or, maybe things simply aren’t “working” with your therapist. Your concerns are valid. Make sure they are heard loud and clear. I get it — self-advocacy isn’t easy. But countless experiences and anecdotes how necessary being a “pain the ass” can be when seeking effective treatment. Case in point, Alana Salsberg's story (https://lnkd.in/gvbBYajV). The specifics of her story may differ radically from your own, but it doesn’t matter: Self-advocacy is a key determinant of our health, at every level. You gotta fight for your right to be healthy. PS: If you’re comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear your own experiences with self-advocacy in healthcare in the comments.
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Take advantage of 20% off therapy for World Mental Health Day!
It's World Mental Health Day, and we just launched therapy gift cards—at 20% off! Why therapy gift cards? Well.. It’s hard to convince someone to go to therapy. Sometimes impossible. It makes sense. Therapy is personal and daunting. It takes courage, persistence and, often, a degree of pain to get started. But everything changes if you find the right therapist and stick with it. When I finally started therapy, I know sharing my own enthusiasm for and experiences with therapy convinced many people I love to take that therapy leap. Seeing them make that choice meant a lot. If you’ve ever felt the same (or you’re ready to dive into therapy yourself), now’s the time. As part of World Mental Health day, First Session offering 20% off our $500 gift cards. That means $500 worth of therapy sessions for $400. Because therapy is so personal, a gift card allows your loved one to choose the right therapist for them instead of relying on a referral. Plus, $500 usually provides at least 3 sessions (not including free consultation). To me, 2-4 sessions is the “sweet spot” where most folks start feeling the impact of therapy. Heads up, this offer is available until Oct 17. If you want in, see the link in the comments, or send me a DM. Here’s to your mental health. -Rob
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A little more about our origin story 👇
An overworked family doctor recently asked me “Why did you get into the mental health care space? I imagine it’s not for the money.” The question took me by surprise. This doctor has 2000 patients and runs a residency program—not for the money, but because he cares about people and the future state of our healthcare system. So I decided to be honest. I told him that my reasons are deep rooted. Like many, I come from a long lineage of mental health challenges. From my grandfather’s PTSD and attempted suicide post World War II to my grandmother’s alcohol use to ease this pain, my mother and four sisters had a difficult childhood. Understanding the concept of intergenerational trauma, my mom made it her mission to ensure the cycle did not repeat itself—often sacrificing her own mental health for the benefit of my brother’s and I. To a lesser degree, I’ve also struggled. When I was at McGill, my first two years were spent depressed—feeling trapped, lost, and helpless. Years later when my wife had a terrible experience finding a therapist in Toronto, it was the spark that I needed to convert my own experience and the knowledge of my family’s struggles into First Session. Therapy in of itself won’t solve all the world’s issues. But finding a deep connection with the right therapist can be a catalyst for positive growth and transformation. It can give someone the courage to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma, allowing for a more fulfilling existence. That’s a long answer, I know. But when I actually think about it, it’s the realest answer I can give behind the “why” of starting First Session, and what keeps me going.
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Have you or your loved ones struggled to navigate the mental health care system? We want to share you're story. Please reach out 👇
Mental Health Sector Connector | Stakeholder Engagement, Partnership & Communications Strategy | Board Director, Converge Mental Health Coalition | Patient Partner
2 years ago, almost to the day, I received a breast cancer diagnosis. I did not face it with stoicism, grace, or bravery. Instead, the seasonal depressive episode I'm prone to and generally manage hit like a ton of bricks. I was never ill with the breast cancer; it consisted of a seemingly harmless lump in one breast and lymph node. The treatment was preventative and the hope is that it won't return. The severe depressive episode the cancer diagnosis triggered, however, sent me to bed, sicker than I've ever been. Because mental health is health. Thankfully and luckily- because luck is indeed a factor- I met an amazing psychiatrist who made the effort to understand my depression contextually and has approached treatment accordingly. I am now excited to be a Patient Partner in an upcoming grant program focused on the correlation between insomnia and cancer reoccurrence, as well as one on Ketamine as an effective treatment option for folks facing cancer and associated mental health issues. Because mental health is health and therefore a necessary consideration in treatment planning and recovery.
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The elephant in the therapy room.
Last week I sent out a survey asking about folks’ experience with BetterHelp. To recap, BetterHelp is a juggernaut. If you like your podcasts, you’ve probably heard hundreds (thousands?) of BetterHelp ads over the years. But what are people’s actual experience with the platform? The volume of responses was surprising. People had a lot to say. The results themselves were much less surprising, and confirmed what licensed therapists, endless reddit threads, user reviews, and myself have been thinking for years. A few key highlights from the survey: 70% of respondents had a negative experience with BetterHelp. 35% of respondents report trying multiple therapists. 80% of respondents who tried multiple therapists report having a negative experience with BetterHelp. 48% of respondents describe the process of switching therapists as “painful.” 30% of respondents report that BetterHelp negatively impacted their view of therapy and their likelihood to pursue it in the future. So, what are the key takeaways, then? The most glaring is that close to three quarters of surveyed BetterHelp users had a negative experience. Considering that, for many folks, BetterHelp represents their first experience with therapy, I find that deeply troubling. But, beyond that, even this brief survey confirms a hypothesis at the very core of our mission and purpose at First Session — that the “convenience first” and “switch therapists anytime” approach to therapy is not a workable solution for the majority of folks. From day 1 First Session has focused on helping clients find the right fit, the first time. Therapy facilities lasting change through meaningful human connection. It's vital that we don't lose site of this in the age of AI and instant gratification. More analysis and discussion with licensed therapists about this soon — stay tuned.
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BetterHelp is the great white shark in the ocean of therapy companies. We'd really appreciate your feedback if you've given them a try!
I need your help, with BetterHelp. I'm the founder of First Session. We're a therapy company. BetterHelp is also a therapy company. What makes us different? I'd like to think of BetterHelp as the convenience store of therapy. Cheap, unhealthy snacks, leading to an instant dopamine hit. Whereas, my vision for First Session is to be your local farmer's market—organic, healthy, and sustainable. Last year BetterHelp's parent company spent $900 million(!) on sales and marketing. BetterHelp has nearly 500,000 monthly therapy clients. But does BetterHelp actually help? I'm not sure. If you've tried BetterHelp, either successfully or unsuccessfully, please share your experience—it will be anonymous! The goal of this survey is to improve First Session to ensure we're providing the best and highest quality therapy service—thank you for contributing. https://lnkd.in/gv_6b_NR
BetterHelp Survey
https://typeform.com
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We recently turned 5 🎂
𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁” 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟵𝟬𝘀. In 2018 my wife came face to face with that reality after quitting therapy before it even started. She was frustrated and upset. I was too. And I knew millions of people experienced the same outcome. Finding a therapist in 2019 was like trying to find a date by randomly picking names in a phone book. This reality persists today, and is why I am devoted to solving this problem. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝟱 🎂 After 5 years 12,000 sessions, and 1000s of conversations with therapists, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what we’ve learned, the impact we’ve made, and the work ahead of us. I wrote in-depth about it on our blog https://lnkd.in/gd4PYN4s Here’s a quick glimpse at what’s next based on everything we’ve learned: 🧩 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝘁 Whether someone is a first-time or experienced therapy seeker, we’re evolving our search and platform to support exactly where they’re at in that journey. 🧼 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 Time-consuming back and forth should never halt potential for meaningful change. We’re permanently removing it (next up, insurance and billing). 🧱 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 We’re doubling down on building a complete platform for therapists to manage their practice. Because less admin = more time for the work that matters. If the adage is true in start ups, that an overnight success takes 10 years, I'm hopeful that we're half way there.
First Session Turns 5
firstsession.com