Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Fee?
We know that therapy is a financial commitment. It is also a place where you can grow and heal in a way that can truly change your relationship and your life.
We are proud to offer a wide range of fees to help meet the needs of our communities. We prefer to be upfront about our fees, so you can take the guesswork out of the equation. Finding a therapist is hard enough as it is!
Session Fees:
The fees for our services are set by each therapist.
The fees for psychotherapy, or psychologist-supervised sessions range from $100 to $200
The fees below are for 50 minute sessions. Some clinicians also offer 80 minute sessions and the fees are prorated.
Social Work and Psychological Services are HST exempt.
Helen Chan RP $150 plus HST for individuals/teens, $160 plus HST for couples/families
Nokha Dakroub MSW, RSW $175 for individuals and couples
Kendra File RP (Qualifying) $150 plus HST for individuals, couples, teens and families
Christina Fletcher RP (Qualifying) $150 plus HST for individuals and couples
Danielle Labranche MSW, RSW $175 for individuals and couples
Emily Martins RP (Qualifying) $100 plus HST for individuals, $120 plus HST for couples, Psychological Services $170
Joseanne Spiteri RP $180 plus HST for individuals and couples
Free Consultations:
We offer a no obligation discovery call at no charge. You can book these online by going to our online scheduling system. You are welcome to book free consultations with more than one therapist. Finding the right therapist for you is important to us! All consultations are 20 minutes long and are held by video (phone by request). You will receive a link to the video 30 minutes before the session.
Sliding Scale:
We believe psychotherapy should be available to everyone that needs it. We are therefore committed to offering a number of sliding scale sessions for clients who require more affordable therapy options. We offer $60-90 sessions for non-insured or limited insured clients (limited spots are available).
Requests for Letters or Professional Support outside of Sessions:
Our office charges the prorated hourly rate to complete task(s) required.
Direct Billing:
We do not offer direct billing to your insurance provider as most Ontario Insurance companies do not allow this. Payment for each session is made to us, and you can submit your receipt to you insurance provider who will pay you directly.
Do you Provide Coverage for Insurance?
Our services are fee for service and not covered by OHIP. While many clients pay out of pocket for their sessions, most prefer to use their extended benefits. Recently with the official proclamation of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), a growing number of private insurers are beginning to provide coverage for Registered Psychotherapists.
Since plans and coverage can vary greatly amongst providers, it is your responsibility to check directly with your benefits provider for coverage BEFORE the first session. We do not offer direct billing to insurance companies. We can provide you with a receipt for psychotherapy services. You can submit the receipts to your insurance provider for reimbursement.
Some members of our team (Master's Level Clinical Interns) are also able to be supervised by a Psychological Associate and therefore can also offer psychology/psychological services. The receipt is issued by the supervising Psychological Associate in her name. This supervision provides an enhanced level of care in more complex situations. When the psychologist is supervising our work, she is not present with us for counselling sessions. She reviews and gives her input into the cases she is supervising during Clinical Supervision meetings with the therapist. Please check details of your coverage PRIOR to the first session as once a receipt is provided, we cannot send another receipt for the same session.
If you have coverage for another type of practitioner, we are able to provide referral suggestions.
When calling your insurance company to inquire about services, you may want to ask your provider:
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Do I have coverage for counselling or psychotherapy provided by a Registered Psychotherapist?
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Do I need a referral from a physician to qualify for coverage?
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Does my plan cover the full fee per session, or just a percentage?
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For couples therapy, do both names need to be on the receipt?
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Is there a maximum per year? When does the plan renew?
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If you are looking to work with an MSW/RSW: Do I have coverage for counselling or psychotherapy by a Registered Social Worker?
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If your coverage is for Psychological Services only: Do I have coverage for counselling or psychotherapy by a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who is clinically supervised by a Psychological Associate? The Psychological Associate's registration number will be provided on the receipt.
You will be expected to pay for the fee in full at the time of the session and we will provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for later reimbursement.
Do you provide Online or In-Person Sessions?
Both! At this time, sessions are provided online and in person at the Georgetown business office. Some of our therapists are available for online therapy only. Please check the about page to learn more.
All video sessions are provided through a secure and encrypted telehealth system for healthcare practitioners. Online video therapy is a new and growing way to receive help, especially with the uncertainty of the Covid pandemic. Here are just a few benefits of receiving therapy online:
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Anyone can access therapy, including those with disabilities, those who do not have access to transportation, or those who live in remote communities.
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Many describe feeling more comfortable sharing and opening up when in the comfort of their own home.
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It is a convenient option for people who have limited time for therapy. There is no need to consider commute time to get to and from the office.
What Can I Expect from Couples Therapy?
Some of the reasons couples have come to see us include:
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Problems communicating
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Life changes such as becoming a new parent, new job, mid-life crisis, retirement, illness
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Lack of trust or affairs
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Intimacy Issues
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Blended Families and In-laws
The goal of couples therapy is completely determined by you and will depend on your circumstances. Most couples wait 6 years before coming to therapy. Oftentimes, the negative patterns are deeply entrenched by then and the relationship is on the brink of collapsing. Some couples we've seen already know it's over and attend counselling in order to break up as smoothly as possible. We can work together to determine your goals in session or you may already have your goals for therapy in mind.
During the first session we'll get to know the two of you to gain a better understanding of the problems hurting your relationship and your individual stances. If continued therapy is agreed upon, we'll then move on towards individual sessions for each person in the relationship. This allows us to get to know each of you separately and gain a better sense of the underlying issues. We’ll then move back into couples sessions and begin to attentively and carefully piece together how to recover and strengthen your relationship with one another.
Some couples may be afraid to come to couples therapy for fear that the therapist will take one side or the other. This will not happen. Our role is not to be the judge and determine who is right or wrong. We will listen to each side equally and never shame you. However, if there are unhelpful behaviors, we will bring them to your attention. We will provide honest feedback and guidance to both you and your partner.
Your therapist may make suggestions, or provide insights which you may not have anticipated...and that's a good thing. It's simply part of the process, and can be a learning experience for you. Be receptive and open to the feedback- as this will likely help your relationship.
The long-term goal of couples therapy is for each partner to feel loved, connected and empowered in their relationship.
What if my Partner Does not Want to Attend Couples Therapy with Me?
If your partner is not willing to come to therapy with you, we can still see you individually. Together, we can examine your strengths and how you manage conflict in your relationship. Your personal feelings, needs and boundaries will become more clear to you and you will develop ways to express them to your partner in loving ways. As you learn to stop acting in anger or distancing yourself, you will notice that both you and your partner are handling problems in a more respectful way. What often happens is that the other partner will see the progress you have made, and will then be more inclined to attend therapy with you.
How Many Sessions Will We Need?
The number of sessions you will need depends on the nature of your problems. The Emotionally Focused Therapy model we use often requires anywhere from 12-20 sessions. Exploring painful subjects in therapy can be challenging for couples but can be extremely helpful in understanding your relationship and where things might be stuck. We will make concrete suggestions and give you homework tasks to do on your own or with your partner between sessions to keep the momentum going. Being open about the difficulties you have with each other and being motivated to make changes will improve the speed of improvements in the relationship.
Keep in mind that it will take time for your psychotherapist to get to know you and your partner, fully understand your situation, and then determine the best way to move forward. Each situation needs its own unique pace and treatment plan. You and your partner may require therapy for longer or shorter periods than others, and that's totally normal.
Do you Offer Therapy for Individuals only?
Yes we do. We provide counselling services to couples as well as individuals (adults, children, teens, and parents). You do not have to be in a relationship to work with us. Common goals of individual therapy can be to inspire change or to improve your quality of life. Individuals may seek therapy for help with issues that are hard to face alone such as anxiety or depression. Therapy man help you overcome obstacles to your well-being. It can increase positive feelings, such as compassion and self-esteem. You may learn skills for handling difficult situations, making healthy decisions, and help you reach short or long term goals.
Do I Have to Share my Secrets with My Partner?
As EFT therapists, we inform clients that we cannot work effectively with partners to make their bond more secure if either partner is holding secrets. If a client shares anything that seems relevant to repairing the relationship, and that they are uncomfortable sharing with their partner, we will encourage them to share it with the other partner prior to continuation of therapy. Also, we assure our clients that we will support them throughout this process. This is done in a collaborative manner, such as exploring the impact on the partner and the relationship.
When is EFT for Couples NOT recommended?
As with any type of mental health treatment, indications and contraindications for beginning couples therapy are important to consider. To ignore these is not only unwise but also unethical and even risky in certain situations. At Couples Therapy Centre, we undergo a thorough assessment of each couple we meet. The assessment process helps us determine readiness for effective relational repair work.
Couples therapy at Couples Therapy Centre is not appropriate when there is:
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An active risk of abuse or violence between partners (can include emotional, physical or sexual abuse).
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An untreated mental illness or addiction with one (or both) partners.
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One or both parties are engaged in infidelity and lack the motivation to give those outside relationships up for the good of the primary relationship.
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One or both parties have made the decision to separate or divorce.
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When there are complex disorders and mental health diagnoses with one (or both) partners.
When these conditions are present, couples therapy tends to be less productive, emotionally unsafe, less cost effective and unsuccessful in helping couples repair or establish a healthy bond.
We highly recommend you partake in a free consultation to determine if couples therapy is right for you.
Do you Work with Separated Couples/Families who are in Family Law Court Proceedings?
No. We will not be able to see you while you are actively engaging in divorce proceedings, disputing custody, or access. However, we will be happy to work with you once the court proceedings have been finalized.
What Happens if I Need to Cancel an Appointment or Don’t Show up to a Session?
Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in our day that could have been filled with another client. As such, we require 48 hours notice for all cancellations. Sessions that are missed without notice or not cancelled with greater than 48 hours notice will be subject to the full session fee. Extenuating circumstances may be taken into consideration.