Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
Often times benefits through your work EAP will cover counselling. Please be sure to check with your insurance company to see whether they cover services by a social worker and/or a registered psychotherapy.
A one hour session costs $120. There is a sliding scale available for those in financial need. Please inquire about sliding scale costs during your consultation prior to scheduling your first appointment.
The Ontario government has included social worker services in the Medical Tax credit. This means that counselling provided by social workers can be claimed on your income taxes.
What appointment times do you offer?
Appointments are available during the day on weekends and during the week in the evenings after 5pm.
How do I book an appointment?
You can schedule an appointment either by phoning or by emailing Natasha or Denise directly. Or you can complete this form.
What is therapy?
Therapy which can also be called counselling or psychotherapy is the process of meeting with a counsellor to resolve problematic behaviours, beliefs, feelings and the related symptoms.
What should I expect in my first session?
During the first session you and your counsellor will discuss your concerns, what you are hoping to get out of counselling, important relationships in your life and what your goals are. A discussion will also possibly be had about different modalities of therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy so that you can talk about which one you believe would suit your needs best. Your therapist will suggest a type of therapy and you always have the right to say that you would prefer a different modality.
Is something wrong with me if I go to counselling?
Many people attend counselling. It does not mean that there is anything wrong with you if you seek out professional help. Often times speaking with an impartial third party that is non-judgmental can help to put things into perspective.
How long does therapy last?
There is no set length of time that therapy lasts for. There are certain types of therapy that are designed to be short term. Other types are long term therapy. You and your counsellor will decide what will best suit your needs. You are always able to book a session after you have stopped therapy if encounter a challenge that you feel counselling would help you with.
What sorts of challenges/problems can counselling help with?
Counselling can help with a wide range of concerns. Please click here for a full range of challenges/concerns that we help with. We work with individuals who are twelve years old and older.
Is counselling guaranteed to work?
There is no guarantee that counselling will work. Anything that the therapist suggests that you try is something that they hope will work but they can not guarantee that it will.
If any counsellor says that something is a hundred percent guaranteed to work then we would encourage you to walk away.
There are modalities that have been shown to be effective for a lot of people and are called evidence based. Even these modalities do not work for everyone.
Your relationship with your therapist is one of the most important factors that will determine if counselling is going to be effective.
It is also important to practice the skills that you learn in counselling outside of the session.
What are the limits of confidentiality?
Everything you say in individual counselling is kept confidential unless
You talk about hurting or killing yourself
You talk about hurting or killing someone else
You disclose that someone under the age of 18 is being hurt or is suspected of being hurt in any way
A judge orders that your file be turned over to the court
If you require that your records be released to anyone else then you will need to sign a consent form allowing them to be released. This includes you wanting your counsellor to talk to a family member about your treatment.
How does video counselling work?
Video counselling works very similar to in person counselling except you are in the comfort of your own home. Your counsellor will send you a link to an online service that is encrypted and allows you to have a confidential service over the web.
As with in person counselling your session will be for 1 hour. If there are technical difficulties then it is possible that a phone session may have to be done instead.
Is video counselling as effective as in person counselling?
Video counselling is still fairly new but there are studies that suggest that it is just as effective as in person counselling.
There are some advantages and disadvantages to video counselling. One disadvantage is that you are not able to fully see the other person so it is possible that some body language cues will be missed. One advantage is that you do not need to travel to your therapist. It is also possible that you will be able to have a session later in the evening or earlier in the day.
What type of counselling will be most effective for me?
There is no one counselling that will be effective for everyone. You and your counsellor will discuss the different types of counselling that may be effective and look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask that you provide 24 hours. This allows us to offer your time slot to someone else. If you are unable to provide 24 hours notice then you will be charged for the session.
What is your no show policy?
If you book a session and then do not attend then you will be charged the full amount.
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
We provide appointments on weekends in person and in the evenings online. Currently we do not have a wait list. Depending on your availability it is possible that you will be seen the same week that you request an appointment.
Will the counsellor give me advice?
The counsellor will not provide advice. They will work with you to help you come up with solutions for your issues. It is possible that they will provide you with strategies that may help you manage different challenges that you have.
What can I talk about in counselling?
You are welcome to talk about anything in counselling. Everything will be kept confidential unless the counsellor is required to break confidentiality.
What should I look for in a therapist?
When choosing a therapist there are several things to consider
See if they have experience working with individuals who are experiencing similar or the same challenges you are.
Research to see if they offer the type of therapy you want.
If they offer a free consultation take advantage of that so that you are able to gain an understanding of what they are like.
Check their qualifications. You want to insure that if you have insurance that it covers them. Some insurance companies only cover psychologists, others cover social workers or psychotherapist and others will cover all three.
What are the benefits of therapy?
There are several benefits of therapy including:
The effects of talk therapy can be long lasting. This is because you are learning new strategies for managing challenges.
If talk therapy is effective then it can also make a positive change of physical symptoms. Research has shown that psychological issues can also affect our physical health and that when these issues are resolved our physical health can improve.
Some research has shown that talk therapy can help to rewire your brain. This can mean that when you are faced with future challenges you will be able to cope with them differently.
How do I schedule a consultation?
In order to schedule a consultation contact Denise or Natasha directly either by email or by phone.