Everything you need to know
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Virtual sessions at Ancrage run on a secure, PHIPA-compliant video platform. Once you book, you'll receive a private session link by email. All you need is a reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone, and a quiet, private space.
Sessions feel much like in-person therapy — your therapist is fully present, and the same depth of work is possible. Many clients appreciate the flexibility of connecting from home, especially across Ontario's geography.
Yes — research consistently shows that virtual therapy produces outcomes equivalent to in-person care for most presentations. The therapeutic relationship — the most important factor in effective therapy — translates fully online.
For clients navigating busy schedules, childcare, mobility considerations, or distance across Ontario, virtual sessions also remove significant barriers to consistent, ongoing care.
Ancrage offers virtual sessions to clients anywhere in Ontario, and in-person sessions in Toronto. Brigitte and Ali are social workers who are both registered members of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and are authorized to practice in the province.
All services are available in English and French. Francophone clients across Ontario are warmly welcome.
Our current session fees are:
- Individual sessions: $185 virtual / $185 in-person (Toronto)
- Couples & family sessions: $185 virtual / $185 in-person
- Free 15-minute consultation — always your first step, no obligation
A sliding scale is available for clients who need it. Please mention this when you reach out.
Many extended health benefit plans in Ontario cover sessions with a Registered Social Worker (RSW). Brigitte and Ali are both Registered Social Workers (RSWs) in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
We recommend checking with your provider before your first session to confirm:
- Check if RSW – T.S.I. services are covered by your plan.
- Your annual coverage limit and per-session reimbursement amount
- You need a medical prescription to access counseling and psychotherapy with our two practitioners.
We provide official receipts listing all practitioner qualifications for reimbursement claims and for tax purposes.
Accessibility is a priority for us. A sliding scale means your fees can be adjusted based on your financial situation; we will discuss this in complete confidence and without judgment during our initial contact. If cost is a barrier, please mention it in your first message or during your free consultation. We will always strive to find solutions to make care accessible and help you connect with existing community services.
Yes. Confidentiality is foundational to our practice. Everything you share is protected under PHIPA (Personal Health Information Protection Act) and PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act).
Your information will never be shared without your explicit written consent, except in very limited circumstances required by law — for example, if there is a serious, imminent risk of harm to yourself or others. These exceptions are explained clearly in your consent documents at the start of care.
Yes. We use a PHIPA-compliant, end-to-end encrypted video platform designed specifically for healthcare providers in Canada. Sessions are never recorded without your knowledge and consent.
We recommend connecting from a private space where you feel comfortable speaking openly, using headphones if others are nearby.
Both practitioners draw on a range of evidence-informed approaches, tailored to your individual needs:
- Trauma-informed care — centring safety, trust, and your pace throughout
- Narrative therapy — examining and reshaping the stories we carry about ourselves
- Motivational interviewing — especially for addiction and life transitions
- Strengths-based & anti-oppressive practice — recognising the systems that shape your experience
- Systemic and family therapy frameworks — for relational and family work
Above all, we are direct and grounded — therapy at Ancrage is honest, practical, and always rooted in your lived reality.
Yes — this is a core specialisation at Ancrage. We offer trauma-informed counselling for survivors of intimate partner violence, and Responsible Relationships Counselling for partners who have caused harm and are ready to take accountability and work toward meaningful change.
These services are kept entirely separate — we never work with both parties in the same relationship simultaneously. Safety and ethics guide every aspect of this work.
Yes. Between them, Brigitte and Ali bring over 50 years of experience working inside Ontario's systems — youth justice, child welfare, health, education, and employment. Systems navigation is one of our offered services.
We can help you understand processes, advocate alongside you, and reduce the confusion these systems often create. We know how they work because we've worked in them.
The free 15-minute consultation is a no-pressure conversation — by phone or video — where you can share a little about what's bringing you to therapy and ask any questions about how we work.
It's an opportunity to get a sense of whether this feels like the right fit. There is no obligation to book a session afterward, and no fee.
When contacting us, please feel free to share your preferences—such as your preferred language (English or French) or the gender of the practitioner—and we will do our utmost to connect you with the professional best suited to your needs.
If you are unsure about your options, simply tell us what kind of help you need, and we will suggest the most suitable person.
Yes — Ancrage is a fully bilingual practice. All services are available in English and French. Brigitte Barikage and Ali Lienaux are both perfectly bilingual and warmly welcome French-speaking clients from across Ontario.
You will be invited to get in touch, book, and participate in sessions conducted entirely in French.
The easiest way to start is to use the contact form on our website or email us directly at info@ancragecounselling.ca. Tell us a little about what you're looking for, your language preference, and whether you prefer virtual or in-person sessions.
We'll get back to you to schedule your free 15-minute consultation — and take it from there, at your pace.