Dr. Fulton provides 3 types of services:

1) Individual therapy

2) Support for families with a loved one experiencing substance use issues

3) Professional training and consultation.

Please click on the link to learn more about each service.

In general, whether it is working with an individual, family or organization we work together to clarify the main goal and priorities as well as understand the challenges that get in the way, and then we develop a unique road map to move forward. Science-backed strategies are integrated throughout to make sure we are doing what works.

Dr. Fulton uses mainly Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on developing coping strategies such as evaluating thinking, behavior, and feelings. Other approaches such as Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness-based approaches and Dialectical Behavior Therapy may be used as needed. These different approaches also aim to help people manage emotions and meet personal goals.

Dr. Fulton is also certified in Seeking Safety, a therapy for substance use, PTSD, or both conditions together. She is also certified in Flinders Model of Chronic Condition Management- an approach that can help people with complex medical conditions.

For more information about Dr. Fulton and her training, see the About section.

No. Dr. Fulton uses Community Reinforcement and Family Training, Invitation to Change and similar approaches. These are not family therapy and Dr. Heather Fulton is not a family therapist.

Family therapy typically involves members of a family working together to improve communication and functioning. In CRAFT, or Invitation to Change, your loved one is not regularly attending sessions with you (although they may attend some sessions as a “guest”). Importantly, they are not a client of Wayfinder Wellness Centre.

In CRAFT/Invitation to Change we will be focusing on you and the holistic helping framework for how to support your loved one with substance use difficulties.

For individual therapy: yes- but it’s important to know that YOU are the client. So we might talk first about what you may or may not want to share with them. Or what may be helpful for me to ask them.

For family support when a loved one has substance use challenges: Often partners may want to attend sessions together when the loved one who is using substances is their adult child. This is fine and actually has many advantages for getting everyone on the same page and using a consistent approach. After booking your appointment, please email about this arrangement so we can send a second set of consent and intake forms to the other family member who will be attending sessions with you.

For Individual or family support, services are virtual. For professional services, in person training (e.g. for a workshop) can be arranged.

Cost is one barrier to therapy- but often getting there can be another. Finding a provider close to home or work, taking additional time off work to travel to an appointment, fighting traffic, rushing to find and pay for parking- all of this can be stressful and even add to the list of things that are already overwhelming you. Services are provided virtually, through an end to end encrypted provider (Jane app) so that you can attend from the convenience of your own home or office. It’s similar to Zoom, Doxy, Facetime, or other services you already use. You get a link via email about 30mins before your appointment- click the link and voila! You are connected and ready for your appointment!

All questionnaires and consent forms are also sent through the Jane app. So you can completed them when it works FOR YOU. No coming 30mins early, or having to stay late to complete the forms. Payment can also be made through the app (all your information is kept separate and in accordance with privacy guidelines)- or through e-transfer.

Once you book an appointment online through Jane, you will also receive an email link from the Jane app to complete some intake forms. They will include questions about you, like what are your concerns and what have you tried already. You will also receive a consent form about my services. This outlines the risks and benefits, your rights, what if you have a complaint, as well information about payment and fees. If you have questions about any of those things- you don’t have to sign the online form. You can wait until we have our first appointment to discuss everything.

Approximately 30mins before our appointment, you will receive an email from Jane with the link for our virtual meeting. You just click the link and you’re connected. It is very similar to Zoom, Doxy, Facetime, or other video services you might have already tried. At our first meeting we will go over questions you have about treatment and I will ask you more questions about what has been happening. I want to make sure I understand all aspects of your life, the challenge(s) you’re facing, and how these challenges have changed over time. That will help us create a unique road map for how we get from this point of challenge to where you want to go.

Guidance on how to connect to your appointment is here. If you want to test your video before your appointment, click here. You can also click here for trouble shooting tips.

In line with the recommended fees by the BC Psychological Association guidelines for pricing, fees for services are set at $245 per therapy/consultation hour (50mins).

Sessions are 50mins in length so that there is 10mins for additional documentation and service planning. Additional services (e.g. letters, care coordination meetings) are charged in 10-minute increments at one-fifth of the hourly rate (i.e., $49/10mins).

Psychological services (but not consultation services for organizations) are exempt from GST and costs are often covered by insurance or Employee and Family Assistance Program plans. See your plan for details.

If you have limited coverage or a non-profit society we can work together to figure out what options might work so you can get the most out of our time together.

All services are paid for by the client (or another designated payer such as a parent).

Psychological services are not covered by MSP but a portion of our services are often covered through Workplace Health, Health Spending Accounts, and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Check your policy for what is covered under “Psychological Services” as well as for any yearly limits.

You may also be able to claim any non-reimbursed fees as tax deductible medical expenses. Please speak to your accountant and/or consult the Canada Revenue Agency for more information

There are never any double bookings- all sessions are booked just for you. As a result, we require 48 hour notice for cancellations otherwise the full fee will be charged.

For individuals and families:

We use the Jane app for our virtual services. You will receive a link to your appointment approximately 30mins before it starts. You can connect through your computer, cellphone, or tablet device as long as you have a working camera, speakers and microphone. For tips on connecting, go here.

If you’d like to test your video before your appointment, click here.

Trouble shooting tips are here.

For organizations:

Typically most meetings are set using Zoom, Teams or Google Meet depending on your organization and privacy requirements for our meetings.