What is the fee for psychology services?
The fee-guide rate for psychology services is $220 per 50-minutes.
Services are eligible for reimbursement through benefit plans, health spending account, and may be submitted as an eligible medical expense on your income tax return. In extenuating circumstances, your psychologist may be able to adjust the fee-guide rate.
What about Sliding Scale counselling services?
For clients without benefit coverage, or who are not able to manage the fee-guide rate for psychological services, our counsellors are able to provide services on a sliding fee scale. You will be asked to let us know what you will be able to manage for a fee. Note that in no case are the services of Student Practitioners eligible for benefit coverage. All insurers will only reimburse fees for the services of a licensed practitioner, and students are not licensed.
Counsellors are graduate students enrolled in a Masters-level Counselling or Psychology program who are completing their practicum placements at Restored Wellness. Counsellors provide personal, couples/marriage, and child/family counselling services and practice under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist.
Can you direct bill?
Yes, we do direct bill, however not all insurers support direct billing for all psychology services. If you’re not sure whether you have coverage for psychology services, or what your provider’s claims submissions procedure is, please contact your provider directly.
Registered Psychologists are able to direct bill to all major insurers except Manulife Financial and Sun Life Financial, both of which require their members to pay up front and submit for reimbursement for psychology services.
Registered Provisional Psychologists are able to direct-bill to Meadavie Blue Cross (restrictions apply, please call our office), Alberta Blue Cross and Green Shield Canada, and their services are reimbursed by other providers if you pay up front and submit your own claim.
Please Note:
Direct Billing is a service we offer our clients to make psychology as accessible as possible for all clients. But, it’s a very expensive service for our business (that’s why so few practices offer it). Not only do we carry the cost of fees until they are reimbursed, we also pay staff to submit and administer all claims. Therefore, like other service providers (your dentist for example), we are not able to check with your provider for how much coverage you have, or inquire about why a claim did not go through. It is your responsibility to check into coverage availability and to monitor usage, and to troubleshoot submissions that aren’t paid. We do require a credit card on file for fees that are not covered by benefit plans.
What can I expect when I phone or fill out the ‘Contact’ form?
Our Administrative Assistant will phone you to discuss your needs and will book you with a psychologist or counsellor, depending upon your needs and availability.
We do require a credit card on file for securing your first appointment, so please be prepared to provide this information at booking.
What will my first session be like?
It is not uncommon to feel a bit nervous for your first appointment. Not to worry, these butterflies are temporary! Please arrive 5-10 minutes ahead of your first appointment to complete the necessary paperwork. Your psychologist or counsellor will meet you in the waiting room and you will head into your session.
Here, we will go over an informed consent process which allows for any questions or concerns to be addressed. Then we will begin to discuss what has brought you into counselling, what you are looking for to be different in your life, and how we can be helpful for you. We will set clear goals for counselling and may assign tasks for you to work on between appointments.
The ‘fit’ between you and your psychologist or counsellor is very important, and we will work with you to find the style and strategies that best suit your needs and preferences.
Will I be working with a Psychologist, a Counsellor, or a Psychiatrist?
A psychologist is a Registered Psychologist and is a regulated member with the College of Alberta Psychologists.
You will work with a psychologist if you are using benefit coverage for personal, couples, or child/family counselling, for a psyched or other assessment/diagnosis, if your therapy is court-ordered (Practice Note 7 Interventions), or if you are using separation/divorce mediation services.
A counsellor at the office is a practicum student working under supervision of a Registered Psychologist.
You will work with a counsellor if you are using sliding scale fee for personal, couples, or child/family counselling.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of mental health presentations. Psychiatrists and family doctors write prescriptions, but psychologists do not. We do not have access to psychiatry at the office.
Will I be in counselling forever?
Psychological and counselling interventions are intended to promote, restore, and enhance the lives of clients. We aim to help you achieve your goals in a timely manner.
How often do I need to attend sessions?
We will typically schedule your second appointment within one to two weeks your first session. After this, we generally schedule weekly or bi-weekly appointment, spacing them out gradually until you have reached your goals and are finished counselling.
I am separated/divorced and want to enroll my child in counselling. Does the other parent need to know?
In cases of separation/divorce, both parents need to provide consent for services, or the parent enrolling the child in counselling needs to produce the most recent Court Order indicating that they can make this decision without the other parent. We would prefer that both parents be involved so that communication to parents is consistent and both are receiving information about the child’s progress and strategies to support the child. Please contact us with questions or concerns.
If I attend mediation with my former spouse/partner will I still need a Separation Agreement?
Mediation is a form of alternate dispute resolution that clients can use to come to voluntary agreements about details pertaining to their separation/divorce. The agreements you reach in mediation are not legally binding. During the mediation process, your decisions can be placed into a Mediator’s Report. It is up to you to put the contents into a legally binding agreement, such as a Separation Agreement.
Can any part of mediation be binding?
During mediation, you may have the option to grant arbitration powers for brief, smaller issues that do not impact parenting time, custody, or access. Arbitration decisions are final and binding.
Can my psychologist report to my lawyer or become involved in my personal legal matters?
Unless your services are court-involved from the beginning (Practice Note 7 or other specifically court-involved services), in most cases it is a conflict of interest and may be harmful to our client(s) or a third party if you ask your psychologist to get involved in your personal legal matters. Clients are responsible for all hourly rates and legal fees related to subpoenas, communications, and/or appearances in court.
How much does a Psyched or other Assessment cost?
The cost of assessments includes the intake interview, testing appointments with the child/client, analyzing and interpreting assessment materials and writing the report, and debrief with client/parents. The total cost depends on the type of assessment and materials needed. In most cases, psyched assessments are completed in 10-15 hours.