Key Takeways
It’s with real gratitude that I’m sharing a practice update that matters to us.
Laith Eskandar (he/him) is joining Clayre Sessoms Psychotherapy as our clinical practicum student therapist, starting May 1, 2026. This placement is part of our commitment to care within reach. Each year, we mentor one exceptional practicum student through close supervision and steady support, so reduced-fee therapy is available without losing what makes this work feel grounded, relational, and human.
Laith will offer reduced-fee counselling for adults and older teens (16+). He will also offer sessions in English and Arabic. For many people, being able to speak in your first language can be the difference between getting by and actually being met.
If you’re looking for low-cost counselling in Vancouver and across Canada, this is the pathway we’re building with care.
Who Laith is, and what he brings
Clinical practicum student therapist Laith comes to this work with a background in education, refugee and resettlement services, and community-based care. He has supported refugees, diverse families, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, including through peer support roles with local health-care providers. He brings a relational, culturally responsive approach shaped by lived experience, creative practice, and deep respect for the ways people survive.
He’s especially attuned to supporting adults and older teens (16+) navigating:
- Identity and belonging.
- Life transitions and resettlement.
- Relationships and family dynamics.
- Stress, overwhelm, and burnout that has context.
- The impacts of systemic harm and ongoing uncertainty.
Laith is also part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. That does not mean he assumes shared experience. It means he is practiced in listening without requiring you to explain or translate yourself.
What “low-cost counselling” looks like in our practice
Reduced-fee therapy can bring up understandable questions.
Will it feel rushed.
Will I be taken seriously.
Will I have to settle for less care.
Here’s what we want you to know. This is not a side project. It is part of how we practise, and we take it seriously.
Low-barrier care here includes:
- A steady pace that respects readiness.
- Collaboration and choice in how sessions unfold.
- Practical support that stays connected to real life.
- Respect for culture, language, and lived context.
- Clear boundaries and clear next steps, with no pressure to perform.
You can also read more about low-cost counselling in Vancouver and accross Canada and how this care is structured.
Supervision and safety in training
Laith is in his final year of graduate study in the MA Counselling Psychology program at Yorkville University. He is insured and vetted through his degree program as ready to provide supervised clinical counselling.
Inside our practice, he will be closely supervised by Laura Hoge, RSW, a qualified clinical supervisor and registered social worker in BC, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. We meet with Laith regularly and consistently (including twice weekly supervision touchpoints) to support ethical practice, clinical skill, and a steady pace. That supervision also protects the work from becoming overwhelming for the client or for the student clinician.
If you’d like to understand the wider team and our approach, you can meet the practice through our trauma-informed therapist page. If you’re a clinician reading this and you’re curious about how we support developing therapists (or what supervision looks like here), you can also explore clinical supervision for therapists in Canada.
Sessions in Arabic (الجلسات متاحة باللغة العربية)
Laith offers reduced-fee counselling in Arabic for clients in Vancouver, BC, Canada who feel more at ease working in their first language. If that matters for you, you do not need to justify it. You can name it directly when you book, or simply let us know by email.
Practical details: fee, session limit, and what to expect
Reduced-fee sessions with Laith are $75 per session. These sessions are offered at a reduced rate through the practicum placement rather than sliding scale, and they are available for up to 10 sessions.
That $75 fee supports the real infrastructure required to offer low-cost counselling ethically, including the administration of clinical services, dedicated supervision time, and the training supports that help a practicum student provide steady care within a supervised setting.
If you need longer-term support beyond the 10-session limit, we will help you think about next steps with care. That may include transitioning within the practice (when possible) or pointing you toward other community resources.
Important dates and how to book
- Sessions with Laith begin: May 5, 2026
- Booking opens: March 15, 2026
- Consults and sessions: Offered online
I invite you to book a free 15-minute consult with Laith اللّيث اسكندر.
If you have questions before booking with Laith, you’re welcome to reach out for support.
A note from me
Welcoming Laith is genuinely meaningful. He is thoughtful, careful, and deeply people-centred. I’m excited for clients to meet him, and I’m excited to watch him grow into the therapist he’s becoming, with Laura’s steady mentorship and the support of our practice around him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Laith offer a free 15-minute consult?
Yes. Consults will be available, and you may book a free 15-minute consult online. A consult is a simple way to ask questions, name what you’re looking for, and feel for fit.
Who is a good fit for reduced-fee counselling with Laith?
Adults and older teens (16+) who want a relational, culturally responsive approach for identity, belonging, stress, relationships, life transitions, resettlement experiences, or the impacts of systemic harm.
What is the difference between working with a practicum student therapist and a registered clinician?
A practicum student therapist is completing supervised clinical training as part of a graduate program. They practise within a defined scope and receive structured supervision. A registered clinician has completed their full licensing pathway and practises independently within their regulatory college. Both can offer meaningful therapy. The key difference is the level of training completion and the supervision structure around the work.
Am I going to get good quality care with a student therapist?
You deserve to ask that. In this placement, care is supported through program vetting, insurance coverage, and close supervision. Laith is supervised by Laura Hoge, RSW, and receives regular oversight, including twice weekly supervision touchpoints. The goal is steady, ethical care that moves at a pace you can live.
What does the $75 session fee cover, and is there sliding scale?
The $75 fee supports the structure required to offer reduced-fee counselling responsibly, including clinical administration and dedicated supervision time. Sessions are offered at a reduced practicum rate rather than sliding scale, and clients may meet with Laith for up to 10 sessions.
What can I bring to counselling with Laith?
You can bring what is real. Stress, uncertainty, relationship strain, identity questions, family pressures, grief, exhaustion, or the sense that you’ve been carrying too much for too long. You do not need a perfect story or a polished summary. Therapy can start with what you notice and what you want to understand.
