FAQ

What does confidentiality mean and are there limits to confidentiality?

As outlined by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) all Registered Psychologists (including Registered Provisional Psychologists) in Alberta follow strict standards regarding confidentiality. Confidentiality ethically ensures that your personal information is protected. Psychologists can share information only with your informed consent, which includes written and signed consent.There are a few exceptions to this rule where psychologists are legally obligated to disclose information about you to the appropriate authorities, with or without your consent. Those circumstances include:

  • There are reasonable grounds to believe that you are likely to imminently and seriously harm yourself or another person.
  • There are reasonable grounds to believe that a minor child under the age of 18 years is at risk of or is experiencing abuse or neglect.
  • A counselling record has been subpoenaed by a court of law.
  • There is reasonable grounds to believe another psychologist, or allied health profession regulated member, has and/or is engaging in sexual abuse or sexual misconduct.You are injured (psychologically or physically) at work and, as a result, have missed one or more day(s) of work. Also, if you have an open claim with the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB), they can request your records.
  • You submit a complaint or engage in litigation against your psychologist.


How long will my file be kept?

Files are securely maintained for 11 years after the last date that professional services were provided.  Files of minors are kept for a period of 2 years after the date the client reaches 18 years of age or 10 years after the last date professional services were provided, whichever is longer.  Files of clients who disclose sexual abuse are maintained indefinitely.

How long is each therapy session?

Therapy sessions typically last 50 minutes, leaving the last 10 minutes for documentation/notes. With children this often includes time to talk to parents before and/or after the child’s session.

How do I prepare my child/adolescent for their first session?

How you prepare your child/adolescent depends on their age and how many questions they are asking about therapy.  It is ideal for your child/adolescent to be aware that they are going to be attending an appointment with a psychologist. Before your child’s first session, you might describe a psychologist’s job as helping people to talk about and learn about their feelings, or about thoughts that might be bothering them. You can let your child/adolescent know that therapy can help when emotions are getting really big, really quickly, and can be helpful for gaining strategies that could help them feel better over time. It is important to ensure that your child/adolescent knows that they are not going to therapy as a punishment, but rather to help or support them to feel or cope better.  You can support them by telling them you also have questions or concerns about how you can support them, and that you will be involved and learning along the way as well.

What is the difference between a Registered Psychologist, a Registered Provisional Psychologist, and a counsellor or mental health therapist?

Finding a solid therapeutic match is an important step, and understanding the differences between professional titles can be helpful. 

A Registered  Psychologist (R.Psych) is a regulated health professional who has met the highest standards of education and clinical practice set by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). They typically hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree in psychology. To become registered, they must complete a minimum of 1,600 hours of supervised practice and pass a series of rigorous board examinations (including the EPPP and LEAP). They are trained in advanced psychological assessment (general or formal), diagnosis of mental health disorders, and specialized therapeutic interventions. Their practice is governed by strict ethical codes and ongoing professional development requirements.

A Provisional Psychologist has completed their graduate-level education (Master’s or Doctorate) and is in the final stages of becoming a fully Registered Psychologist. They are currently completing their 1,600 hours of supervised practice. This means they receive regular, direct supervision and case review from a Registered Psychologist, with at least 5 years of experience. 

Titles including "counsellors" or "mental health therapists" are often used by professionals from various backgrounds. Many counsellors or mental health therapists hold graduate degrees in related fields like Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy and may belong to professional associations). While they provide valuable emotional support and therapeutic guidance, it is important to note that "counsellor" is not currently a protected title in Alberta in the same way "Psychologist" is. This means the level of regulation and specialized training in clinical experience can vary significantly between individual practitioners.

What is your fee for therapy? Do you have a late canellation/no show fee?

Fees will depend on the therapist that you select to see. The fees set are influenced by the recommended fee schedule set by the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta. As of January 1, 2025 the recommended fee is $235 / 50 min session.

Our group also maintains a 24 hour cancellation notice, which means that we require up to 24 hours cancellation notice for an upcoming session. We have a cancellation policy because we want to ensure that we remain accessible to all clients, and less than 24 hours does not provide sufficient notice to allow another client to book into an empty session. If a client does not provide sufficient cancellation notice, or no shows for a session, a late cancellation or no show fee of $150 will likely be charged to the client.

Most extended health benefits plans will cover psychological services in portion or total, up to a maximum annual amount. Late cancellation and no show fees are the responsibility of the client. Please check with your insurance provider regarding your coverage for psychological services.  

We offer direct billing to the following insurance companies, and you are encouraged to check with your therapist at your initial session to determine if direct billing is an option for you. After payment is received, I will provide you a receipt by email that may be used for reimbursement from your insurance provider.

Payment is processed and required the day of the therapy session. Forms of payment accepted are:

    * E-transfer (directly to your therapist’s email)

    * Credit Card (Mastercard, Visa, through the Jane scheduling portal)

Can my child attend my sessions?

Informed consent from both legal guardians is required for a child of any age to be in the room during a counselling session. Infants and children absorb the emotions around them, and in many cases, the content of therapy involves topics that are best left to the adults to discuss. In addition, it can be challenging for you to be fully present while in the role of caregiver. To keep your session centred on your process, it is important that no children are in the room during your sessions. If this is a concern, please speak to your therapist - we are here to support you and want to make therapy as accessible as possible.

I am interested in starting therapy. Are therapists available at all times, or do I need to make an appointment?

Therapists are available by appointment only. Therapists are not available to offer services on a walk in basis. There are a few options to get started with therapy. You can look through the profiles of the therapists on the website, and book directly with them using the Book Now option. You can also request a no fee, introductory conversation with a therapist of your choice by using the Contact Us option. If you consider yourself in immediate need of support you may call the 24-hour distress line at 780-482-4357 (Edmonton), 403-266-4357 (Calgary), call HealthLink at 811 or the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642. There are also some walk in counselling options available in the city of Edmonton - you can call 211 for information about how to access these services.

Questions?

Contact Us