FAQ

A standard 50 minute session cost $120 (tax included).

No referral is required to access our services. Simply reach out by calling or emailing one of our team members.

The initial consult is a brief meeting to find out what it is that you are hoping to get help with.

One of the initial questions is “how would you know that coming to therapy has been worthwhile?” This helps us to truly understand what it is that you are hoping for. The consult also gives us a chance to complete paperwork, go over our Letter of Agreement in order to answer any questions about what the therapy will look like, answer any questions and outline expectations.

Most employer insurance plans now cover therapy services offered by a Registered Social Worker. However, it is always important to check prior to committing to therapy if going through insurance is important. How much is covered really depends on the specific employer and the insurance provider. Some will cover the full cost up to a certain amount on a yearly basis.

Others will partially cover the cost of individual sessions (i.e. they will cover up to $60 per session with the rest out of pocket). Our clinical software program emails receipts upon payment that can then be submitted directly to the insurance provider for reimbusement.

We do not offer direct billing.

We can accept cash, cheque, or email transfer.

We ask for at least 24 hours notice to cancel / reschedule appointments. In the case of a no-show appointment or a late cancellation, it is up to the discretion of the individual therapist whether or not they will charge for the missed session.

All of us are Registered Social Workers under the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. We all have Masters in Social Work degrees with additional clinical training in specific therapy modalities. As part of our college requirements, we are mandated to maintain and build our competencies each year with the completion of an annual learning plan.

This very much varies between individuals depending on the goals of therapy, a person’s past experience with therapy, the issues that are being discussed, other contextual information, and even personal preference. For some people looking for a very specific technique or presenting with a very specific goal, 3-4 sessions may be enough. For others, they may want to continue to attend therapy on-going as a means of self care. In our experience, most people will be in therapy for approximately 9 months. Initially the meetings happen frequently (once a week or once every two weeks) and then as things improve they generally become more spaced out.

Some people will choose to continue to have “booster” sessions once they are feeling better, others will choose to end the therapy. It is always a collaborative decision between the individual and the therapist.

At the beginning of therapy it is important to meet frequently in order to build up “momentum” and start the work. We recommend meeting either weekly or once every two weeks when first starting. As things start to improve, we generally start spacing out the sessions initially to every three weeks and then once a month. This is always done collaboratively between the individual and the therapist and is based on both need and personal preference.

We all use what is called an eclectic approach to therapy meaning that we draw on different techniques from different therapy modalities depending on what your goals are and what is the right ‘fit’. Some modalities lend themselves to specific issues. For example, research has shown that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy can be extremely effective in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression. Some techniques are almost universally helpful and for this reason are incorporated into multiple modalities. For example, almost everybody will benefit from an introduction to Mindfulness. Ultimately, the type of therapy that is right for you is the one that ‘resonates’, it really is about ‘fit’. If a therapy modality or technique is not fitting for you that is okay and collaboratively you and your therapist can look at an alternative approach.

Virtual sessions should feel very much like they would if you are in our office. You need to have a private space where there will be limited distractions. It is important that others cannot hear your session in order to preserve your privacy. Cameras must be on and it is important to have a decent wifi connection so that the session does not get dropped. There is a Telemedicine Consent that you will be asked to sign prior to a virtual session that outlines the expectations. It can be found on this website under Forms.

In our field there is a saying that therapy success is related 20% to the techniques introduced and the questions asked and the other 80% is about “the fit” between the client and the therapist. “Fit” is hard to describe completely in words, but it is related to the feeling that you get when you are working together. There should be a feeling of safety, of understanding, and an ability to relate. When you know, you know and sometimes it does take a bit of trial and error to find the right therapist for you. This is also one of the reasons that we offer the free consult prior to committing to the therapy. It gives you a chance to meet us and see whether that ‘fit’ might be there.

The reality is that therapy is hard work and sometimes change happens very slowly. If the therapy isn’t meeting your needs, it is important to be able to discuss this with your therapist. It may be a matter of switching to a different modality. It may be a matter of adjusting the goals of therapy. It could be a matter of ‘fit’. Or it may just not be the right time. Being open with your therapist about this is key. Together you can problem solve and collaborate on solutions.