Book a Time for Child And Adolescent Psychotherapy
Session Framework
• Each session lasts 45 minutes.
• In child therapy, parent sessions are held before beginning the treatment. Therapy for the child will start once the parents are adequately prepared. Additional parent sessions may also be scheduled as needed throughout the treatment.
• In-person sessions are preferred for children. If in-person sessions are not possible, sessions will be conducted online.
• In adolescent therapy, parents may also have separate sessions with the therapist if needed, and these may continue throughout the treatment process.
• Sessions are held on a regular weekly basis at a pre-scheduled time. If rescheduling is needed, prior coordination with the therapist is required and will be arranged if possible.
• If necessary, more than one session per week can be scheduled.
• Sessions are primarily conducted online via Skype or Google Meet.
• The session starts at the scheduled time, initiated by the client through a video call. If the client starts late, the missed time will not be compensated. If the therapist is late, the session will be compensated.
• Sessions cancelled by the client are subject to full payment. Please note that individual therapists may have slightly different frameworks, which will be explained in the first session.
• After the first session (booked online), payment is required before each session begins, and the payment receipt must be sent to the therapist.
• If a session is cancelled due to internet issues or any other reason on the therapist’s side, a make-up session will be scheduled.
• Holiday policies may vary depending on the therapist and will be discussed in the first
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1- Why Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy?
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a therapeutic dialogue—deep, gradual, and meaningful. This approach helps us understand how what happens in our unconscious affects our decisions, relationships, emotions, and everyday behaviors. Many problems that may seem simple or repetitive on the surface often stem from early experiences and hidden layers of the psyche. Unless these roots are addressed, the cycle of repetition continues, and superficial solutions will not be effective.
2- How Do I Know If I Need Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy?
At times, we encounter feelings in life whose origins are unclear: anxieties with no specific cause, relationships that repeatedly end in failure, or emotions such as emptiness, worthlessness, shame, guilt, fear, and anger that resurface in different situations. When such feelings and patterns persist in a cyclical, confusing, or disabling way, they may be signs of neglected aspects of our unconscious that require attention.
3- Are Online Psychotherapy Sessions Effective?
Yes, online psychotherapy sessions can be effective. With advances in technology, it has become possible to hold sessions that, in terms of the quality of connection, are not much different from in-person meetings. In the past—especially before the COVID-19 pandemic—many psychoanalytic institutions and professional therapists only considered in-person sessions valid…
Ethical and Professional Framework
Confidentiality is one of the fundamental principles of psychotherapy. For this reason, all online psychotherapy sessions are conducted in the completely private space of the therapy room, and recording of sessions—whether by the therapist or the client—is strictly prohibited.
The Self Psychology Psychoanalysis Association Clinic has developed a code of ethics based on the revised and updated principles of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA), which includes a set of professional standards and ethical guidelines to direct the professional conduct of its members. These principles cover interactions with patients, child patients and their parents/guardians (if applicable), supervisees, students, colleagues, and the general public.
The ethical framework of this clinic is grounded in respect for human dignity, with a strong emphasis on preserving patients’ autonomy and rights. The core principles applied across all therapeutic activities are:
Respect for patient autonomy
Non-maleficence (avoiding harm)
Beneficence (acting in the best interest of the patient)
Honesty
Commitment to professional responsibilities
Additionally, psychotherapists are required to establish relationships based on trust and safety in all therapeutic interactions and to refrain from any form of exploitation of the therapeutic relationship. They are expected to engage in continuous self-reflection, reassessment, and the use of supervision sessions to safeguard both their clients and themselves as professionals.
Choosing a Psychotherapist
Select your desired psychotherapist and complete the following steps to book your therapy session.
Niki Zekri
Founder, Board Member, and Faculty Member of the Khishtan Psychoanalysis Association
Professional Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
Former Member of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology (IAPSP)
Former Faculty Member of the Tehran Psychoanalytic Institute
Certified in Analytical Psychotherapy by the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (EFPP)
Based in Vancouver, Canada
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a therapeutic dialogue—a deep, gradual, and meaningful conversation. This approach helps us understand how what happens in our unconscious influences our decisions, relationships, emotions, and daily behaviors. Many problems that appear simple or repetitive on the surface have roots in early experiences and the hidden layers of the psyche. As long as these roots are not addressed, repetitive cycles continue, and superficial solutions are ineffective.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy provides an opportunity for profound self-exploration: to recognize hidden patterns of feelings and thoughts, understand the complexities of the psyche, and get closer to what is truly happening within us. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, this approach seeks to understand the underlying causes of phenomena. It is this deep perspective that makes psychoanalysis one of the most enduring and effective forms of therapy.
Sometimes we encounter emotions in our lives whose origins are unclear: anxieties without an obvious cause, relationships that repeatedly fail, or feelings such as emptiness, worthlessness, shame, guilt, fear, and anger that recur in different situations. When these emotions and patterns continue in cyclical, confusing, or debilitating ways, they may indicate parts of our unconscious that have been neglected and require attention.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is an effort to understand these hidden layers of the psyche. The goal is not merely to reduce symptoms; it helps us inflict less harm on ourselves and others, increase our capacity to tolerate difficult emotions and realities, and establish more stable and secure connections with ourselves and others. This path relies on our inner potentials and capacities—for the growth of awareness, the discovery of meaning, and the deepening of our lived experiences and human relationships.
Yes, online psychotherapy sessions can be highly effective. With advances in technology, it is now possible to conduct sessions that, in terms of the quality of the therapeutic connection, are not significantly different from in-person sessions. In the past, especially before the COVID-19 pandemic, many professional psychoanalytic institutions and therapists considered only face-to-face sessions as valid. However, during the pandemic, the need for online services led to a wider adoption of virtual psychotherapy.
Research studies have also shown that, in many cases, online sessions can be as effective as in-person therapy. This effectiveness, however, depends on the quality of the therapist-client relationship, the security of the virtual environment, and the individual’s psychological readiness to engage in an online session. Moreover, a successful online session requires creating a calm, uninterrupted space that respects privacy, allowing the client to participate with focus and a sense of safety.