Our FAQs

Christie Heart is a psychotherapy practice named in memory of Jean Christie — Nigel's mother — and built around the way she moved through the world: with kindness, compassion and love.

We offer individual, couple and family therapy that is client-centered: we follow you. And if you need someone to take the lead for a while, your therapist can take the reins.

Start with the free 20 minute consultation. Send a note to nigel@christieheartpsychotherapy.ca and we'll find a time that works for you.

There's no obligation and no pressure — it's simply a conversation so you can hear how we work and decide if it feels right.

Yes — completely free. It's a chance to ask questions, describe what's bringing you in, and get a feel for the fit before any money changes hands.

It means you set the pace and the agenda. We walk beside you — and when carrying it alone gets heavy, we help carry it.

Modalities are chosen with you rather than for you. Sessions are collaborative, judgement-free and shaped around what you need on the day you arrive.

Mostly listening. We'll talk about what's happening now, what you'd like to be different, and how you prefer to be supported. Nothing is forced and you decide how much to share.

By the end we'll usually agree on a loose direction — which can change any time.

A normal therapy session is 50 minutes. We also offer 80 minute sessions at an increased rate and 30 minute sessions at a decreased rate, so the session can fit the needs of the day.

We try to keep rates manageable for every client.

Individual: 30 min $50 · 50 min $120 · 80 min $140.
Couple & family: 30 min $70 · 50 min $130 · 80 min $160.

The 20 minute consultation is always free.

Life happens, and we understand there are things you cannot control. Our policy is 24 hours notice; otherwise the card on file will be charged.

If you're concerned, please talk to your therapist — it is at their discretion to make an exception for you.

Many clients start weekly or every other week while building momentum, then space sessions out. Because we follow your lead, frequency is something we review together rather than fix in advance.

Yes. Individual, couple and family appointments are all available, and it's common to move between them — for example individual work alongside couple sessions.

A range of evidence-based modalities, chosen with you rather than for you:

You don't need to know. We'll explore what's happening and choose an approach together — CBT to shift the thought loop that keeps you stuck, EFT to work with the emotion underneath the pattern, DBT for distress tolerance and regulation, Narrative to retell the story, Solution-Focused for forward momentum in fewer sessions.

Approaches are often blended, and can change as you change.

Yes, and it sits close to the heart of this practice. Grief and Loss Work makes room for the missing — space for grief bursts, memory, and the love that remains.

Yes. Anger Management work is about learning to respond rather than react: recognising your triggers early and choosing a response with intention.

Just say so. Being client-centered doesn't mean leaving you to do the work alone — speak to your therapist and we can take the reins for as long as you need.

Yes. What you bring to session stays in session, with the standard legal and ethical exceptions — risk of harm to yourself or someone else, concerns about a child's safety, or a court order.

Your therapist will walk you through this at the start so nothing is a surprise.

Tell us. Fit matters more than any technique, and honest feedback is welcome — we'd rather adjust the approach, the pace, or help you find a better match than have you sit in something that isn't working.

Therapy sessions are not an emergency service. If your safety or someone else's safety is in jeopardy, call 911, the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline, 211, Toronto Distress Centres at 416-408-4357, or the CMHA Crisis Centre at 519-539-8055.