Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ and Additional Resources to Help You

Additional Resources

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Alcoholics Anonymous Calgary

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Sex Addicts Anonymous

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Calgary Al-Anon

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Centre for Addiction & Mental Health

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The Science of Addiction

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National Institute on Mental Health

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Grief Support Program - Calgary

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Lawyer Referral Service Calgary

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The College of Alberta Psychologists

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Psychologists’ Association of Alberta

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EMDR International Association

Questions on Counselling

What is a psychologist?

A psychologist is a mental health professional who has specialized in psychology. A psychologist studies how we think, feel and behave from a scientific viewpoint, and uses this knowledge to help people understand, explain and change behaviour.

Psychologists must successfully complete rigorous professional entry requirements. To become a registered psychologist in Alberta, completion of a masters degree is required, as well as 1600 hours of supervised practice and comprehensive oral and written exams. Psychologists adhere to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

This level of training and supervised practice is what distinguishes psychologists from other mental health providers.

How do I know if I need counselling?

Sometimes we need to seek help from a trained professional to work through problems that we are encountering. You may need counselling if:

  • you are feeling overwhelmed, and your problems do not seem to improve despite your best efforts
  • you are having difficulties in your relationships
  • it is difficult to carry out your daily routine, performance at work is affected, relationships are strained, or you are not feeling like you are coping effectively
  • You are using alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, or other means that are negatively affecting your life
  • You feel unhappy or hopeless
Are my sessions confidential?

All sessions are confidential. This means that I will not share any information that you disclose to me, except under certain conditions. These limits to confidentiality include:

  1. risk of harm to yourself or others
  2. neglect or abuse of a minor child or dependent adult
  3. subpoena by courts
What can I expect in a first session?

During the first session, paperwork is completed as well as a functional assessment. I will ask about your concerns and what has brought you to therapy. Once all information has been gathered, goals for therapy and a treatment plan can be discussed.

How do I know if it’s the right fit for me?

You should feel comfortable with your psychologist and be able to discuss personal information. It is important to have a good rapport with your psychologist and feel at ease with him/her.

In order to determine if we are a good fit for each other, I offer a free 20 minute consultation.

How long are sessions?

Sessions are 60 minutes in length, which includes admin time (i.e. payment, booking next appointments, etc). Longer sessions may be arranged in 15 minute segments.

How many sessions are required?

Therapy is individual to each person and the amount of time required is dependant on several factors. Some of these factors include the nature of the concerns brought to therapy, complexity of the issues, amount of work completed outside of sessions, and motivation to change.

What is the cost?

The Fee Schedule recommended by the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta is a guideline for setting fees for services. My fees are set using this schedule as a guideline. You can access this fee schedule on the Psychologists’ Association website at www.psychologistsassociation.ab.ca.

My fee for individual sessions is $220/hour.

Alberta Health Care does not cover the cost of psychological services. However, I will issue a receipt for fees paid, and if you have an insurance plan, this may be submitted to your insurance company for full or partial re-imbursement.

Live Your Best Life

I can support you in finding the path to health and healing.