Footprints Counselling

Pui Yan (Pauline) Lam, R.P. (she/her)

Pauline is a Registered Psychotherapist with The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). She graduated from Queen’s University with a B.A. in Psychology, as well as a M.Div. and a M.T.S from Tyndale University with a major in clinical counselling.

Pauline has extensive experience in providing therapy to individuals, couples, and other forms of dyads and families facing challenges with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, loss, trauma, and difficulties in managing relationships. Pauline also specializes in helping families to cope with, accept, and accommodate loved ones with ASD, ADHD, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia diagnosis. She understands the day-to-day struggles that people with accessibility needs and members of the LGBTQ+ community come across.

Pauline adopts an integrative approach. Modalities she practices include family systems therapy, emotionally focused therapy (EFCT, EFIT, EFFT), cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), focusing, mindfulness, relaxation therapy, and guided imagery. Her sessions are collaborative in nature, where the therapist and the client are being treated as equal partners in the therapy process.

Prior to becoming a RP, for over 20 years, Pauline worked as an enterprise strategy consultant and a Certified Design Thinking Coach, where she has gained extensive experience in driving cultural changes in large corporations.

In her own time, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her Golden Pyrenees Zaky the big brother and her little Corgi Abi the little sister. She is also a casual lyricist in the Asian pop-music scene and collaborates with musicians around the globe. She was born and raised in Hong Kong and practices counselling in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Credentials

M.Div., M.T.S. (Clinical Counselling), Tyndale University
R.P. #009450, The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
Associate Member #2017718, The Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT)
CASDCS #461648, Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (Evergreen Certifications)
Certified EFT Therapist and Supervisor-in-Training, International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
Certified Premarital Counsellor #1319070, Prepare-Enrich
Received formal training for sex therapy using the EFT model
Received formal training for treating individuals with ASD under Autism Certification Centre (ACC)
Received formal CBT training at University of Toronto (OISE) and under supervision with Purple Yip
Received formal training for addictions treatment under Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

1. The first step

Making the decision to consider receiving counselling is a significant and courageous step. Here you will find the information you need for making effective use of the counselling resources we provide.

2. New clients in-take

Most new clients inquire about our services by phone or email. To inquire about our services, or to book a 15 minutes free consultation session, please contact us at (289) 577-6625 or send an email to footprintscounsellingca@gmail.com. All new clients will go through a client in-take process prior to receiving counselling. These include filling in and signing forms that the regulatory college requires prior to beginning therapy. Once these forms are received, your therapist will contact you through your preferred method to schedule an in-take appointment.

3. In-take session

Your first appointment comes with a free 30 minutes in-take session. During the in-take session, we will go through the in-take package with you to ensure you understand your rights and everything you have provided consent for. We will also address any information that is missing from your in-take forms.

4. Sessions structure

During the first session, we will spend time to understand your present concerns . You and your therapist will collaboratively set specific and measurable goals together and decide on the number and frequency of counselling sessions you would like to engage with us moving forward.

In the next session or two, we will focus on assessing and clarifying the concerns presented, including obtaining further insights based on your personal and family history in order to conceptualize what is going on with your concerns and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

The format for other subsequent sessions is similar where your therapist will be working together with you towards the agreed goals through ongoing discussions, reflections, and constructive feedback.

5. Conditions for effective counselling

Counselling is a collaborative effort and the effectiveness of treatment is dependent on your participation. You will be asked to participate in presenting your concerns, setting measurable goals, working through the problem, overcoming obstacles, completing homework assignments, and giving honest feedback. The therapist’s role is to facilitate this process and provide insights for empowering you to reach your goals.

Life is full of ups and downs and we all feel stuck at times. What turns challenges into injuries is facing these challenges alone.

Whether you are experiencing distress, going through struggles, preparing for the next stage of life or simple staying curious about yourself and seeking for self-discovery, Footprints counselling provides a safe place for individuals, couples and families to explore and make sense of experienced inner emotions, understanding key interaction patterns in self and others, and finding hope for secure attachment, recovery and reconciliation.

Developmental challenges and life stage transitions

Life events

Specific symptoms or diagnosis

Emotional support animals (ESAs) documentation

EFT Therapists certification supervision

Zaky, our Golden Pyrenees, is available as emotional support animal in sessions upon request.

1. Confidentiality

All discussions within your therapy sessions is kept strictly confidential and may not be shared with another party without your consent unless mandated by law. Sessions may be discussed, monitored, audio or videotaped for supervision or documentation purposes only.*Exceptions required by law* includes but are not limited to the following: Duty to warn and protect if a plan or threat to harm oneself or others is disclosed or suspected; and abuse or harmful neglect of children or vulnerable adults is disclosed or suspected. We hold a no-secret policy for clients seeking counselling as a couple or a family. Information shared during a session, whether conjoint or individual, are considered therapeutically relevant information for couples and families and could be shared among the consented client unit during sessions.

2. Inter-professional collaboration

In order to provide the safest and the most efficient care for you, inter-professional collaboration often is a key component of successful treatment. These include collaboration with other healthcare professionals, specialists, supervisors, and services. Your therapist will discuss any planned inter-professional collaboration with you and obtain written consent prior to proceeding with collaboration.

3. Limits of services and assumption of risks

Therapy sessions carry both benefits and risks. You might experience uncomfortable feelings or emotional distress during the therapeutic process. You may also decide to alter significant aspects of your life and modify your emotions, attitudes, and behaviours. You are encouraged to discuss about these risks thoroughly with your therapist prior to beginning counselling.

4. Record keeping, accessing, retention and destruction policy

Session and intake records are kept electronically on a secured encrypted local storage device. An audit trail of changes made is generated automatically whenever the file is being updated. You have the right to access and correct any errors on your records. Session and intake records are retained for 10 years after the last interaction with you or when you turn 18, whichever is later. Financial and appointment attendance records are kept for 5 years. Expired records will be destroyed in a secure manner that prevents anyone from accessing, discovering, or otherwise obtaining the information. The names of the destroyed files and the date the files are destroyed will be recorded.

5. Your rights and consent

The therapist does not have the right to assess or provide therapy to you without your consent. Your consent will only be used for the purpose proposed, explained, and stated, which includes but not limited to the nature of and the reasons for the assessment or therapy, information about the therapist, risks and potential side-effects, treatment alternatives, and consequences of no intervention. Consent is your choice and you may be asked to provide consent repeatedly as changes in therapy become advisable. You have the right to inquire or refuse any assessment, care, treatment, or services at any time. Consent can be provided by signing a written document, making a verbal statement, or implied by your actions. You or your legal substitute decision-maker must be deemed capable at the time the consent is given.

6. Therapist communications and no-gifting policy

Relationship between the therapist and you are kept strictly professional under CRPO and CAMFT guidance. The therapist will only discuss your case with you during formal visits within regular business hours. If you require any documentation, reports, or letters of reference related to your case, an administrative fee will be required. Fees are in general $55-$95 per page and may vary depending on the type of documentation requested.

Our office has a no-gifting policy where the therapist and staffs will not be accepting gifts from any clients.

7. Emergencies

If you are in crisis at the moment, please go to the nearest hospital emergency department to seek help from a physician on duty or call 911 to seek for immediate assistance. Facebook is not an appropriate channel for seeking emergency assistance.

To book an appointment or request a 15 minutes free consultation session

Footprints Counselling is not an emergency service.
In case of an emergency, please call 911 or the following 24/7 Crisis Hotlines.