FAQ
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Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour.
A registered psychologist is a person with a minimum of a graduate degree in psychology (although there are several registered psychologists who also have doctorate level degrees), who has completed a minimum of 1600 hours of supervised practice, and in Alberta, has passed the Examination of the Professional Practice of Psychology. Psychologists focus on different therapeutic approaches, usually from the approach of combining biological, psychological and social factors to treat mental illness and issues. They do not prescribe medication.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with special training in psychiatry and mental health who can also prescribe medication. Psychiatrists focus on diagnosis/evaluation and/or psychiatric medication monitoring.
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Our fees for psychological services are reflective of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta’s Recommended Fee Schedule: $235/session. This may be covered in whole or in part by your employee health benefits plan or through other health insurance/extended health care coverage.
Your psychologist will also provide a sliding scale for counselling. This means that if you don’t have benefits, we will provide a flexible pricing system where the cost of counselling is based on a person's income or ability to pay.
Your credit card information will be collected at intake to secure your first appointment. If a credit card number is not available, other arrangements will need to be made prior to your initial session to secure the appointment.
Payment is taken at the end of each session. We accept all credit cards, debit, cash, cheque, and e-transfers.
You will receive a receipt, which you can submit for reimbursement from your health insurance/benefits provider.
Fees for psychological services can be claimed under tax deductible health services on your income tax return.
Sliding scale may be available. Please contact us for more information.
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We accept debit, cash and all major credit cards along with direct billing to your insurance provider. Your credit card information will be collected at intake to secure your first appointment. If a credit card number is not available, other arrangements will need to be made prior to your initial session to secure the appointment.
Payment is taken at the end of each session. We accept all credit cards, debit, cash, cheque, and e-transfers. You will receive a receipt, which you can submit for reimbursement from your health insurance/benefits provider. Fees for psychological services can be claimed under tax deductible health services on your income tax return.
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Most insurance plans will accept direct billing. Please check with your own plan to determine if this is possible or call our clinic for more information on direct billing.
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Unfortunately, psychologist visits are not currently covered under Alberta Health Care, unless you are visiting a hospital." Can we switch this to "Unfortunately, psychologist visits are not currently covered under Alberta Health Care, unless you are visiting an Alberta Health Services (AHS) health centre.
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During your first session, your counsellor will complete a thorough assessment of your concerns and related factors. This assessment may take two sessions. Future sessions will consist of talk therapy that applies scientifically validated procedures to help individuals improve their mental health. Such procedures help individuals become aware of their internal and external experiences and teach coping skills for improved quality of life.
After assessing your mental health concerns shared during your first session, your psychologist can provide you with guidance on the need for further sessions or referrals for additional support. Most clients find that they benefit from counseling every week or every two weeks, to help maintain the momentum of their mental health processing and goals. However, our counselors can accommodate your needs for session frequency.
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Psychologists prioritize your confidentiality. It is a part of their professional code of ethics. The only limits to confidentiality are if a child, vulnerable adult, or animal is at risk of harm, if you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else, when your information is subpoenaed by a court of law for legal proceedings. In these situations, your counsellor will inform you of their need to reach out to the appropriate authorities.
Psychologists take confidentiality so seriously that they may not even acknowledge that they know you if they bump into you outside of the office. You may say hello, but please note that someone you are with may ask who you are greeting. It's OK for you to not say hello either. Your psychologist won’t feel bad; he or she will understand that you are protecting your privacy.
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The length of therapy depends on a number of factors and can only really be determined on a case-by-case basis. Most clients start to see some positive changes within the first 4-6 sessions, and feel that therapy is complete somewhere between 6-18 sessions. Many people continue psychotherapy even after they solve the problems that brought them in initially. That’s because they continue to experience new insights and want to continue on their healing journey.
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We require 24 hours notice for cancellations. Please note that there is a full-session fee for missed appointments/appointments that are cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, with the exception of emergency situations.
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