How do I know if you would be the right counsellor for me?
The 'fit' between client and counsellor is an important factor in determining how helpful counselling will be. People often look for different characteristics in a counsellor but in general, most people want to feel comfortable and respected. Most people also want to sense their counsellor is competent and can help.
I invite you to explore my website and take advantage of the free phone consultation to get a sense of how we might work together. If you determine we would not make a good fit, I would be happy to make referrals to other counsellors.
What is the different between Psychiatrist, Psychologist, counsellor, and therapist? How do I know which is right for me?
Counsellor, therapist, and coach are general terms and are not regulated. In other words, anyone can use these terms to refer to themselves regardless of education or training. I will often refer to myself as counsellor or therapist when looking for a general term for the work I do.
Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Social Workers are all regulated titles; only those who meet the requirements and are registered with their regulatory body can use these titles.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who completed additional training in psychiatry. Some Psychiatrists may provide counselling services but most tend to focus on medication regulation. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication.
Psychologists have a minimum of a masters degree in psychology and have completed additional supervised practice and entrance exams. Psychologists may provide psychological testing or counselling services (or both). Psychologists do not prescribe medication.
Social Workers with a Masters degree are also trained and able to provide counselling services.
The type of professional you choose to work with will be influenced by your personal preferences and needs. However, I encourage people to always make sure any mental health professional you work with is registered with a regulatory body. Regulatory bodies:
- ensure the professional's education and training meet minimal requirements.
- have codes of ethics and conduct that members must abide by.
- are a space for you, the client, to voice any ethical concerns around a professional's conduct.
How do I make an appointment?
Contact Me! You can use phone (403 988 0944) or email (ashley@hopefulhorizons.ca). I try to respond to inquiries as soon as possible. If you want to take advantage of a free, 20 minute phone consultation we can arrange for one at this time or we can move forward with booking an appointment.
I have a confidential voice mail. I also make every attempt to keep my email confidential, but due to limitations in digital technology, I am unable to guarantee email will be confidential. Many client's will still choose email as the preferred method of contact and I just ask them to be mindful of this limitation.
How many sessions will I require? How frequently will we meet?
The number of sessions is difficult to predict as it depends on the issues you bring. We will discuss this in your first (and subsequent) sessions.
Frequency of sessions also varies. However, generally we will likely meet more frequently in the beginning (every 1-2 weeks) and then space out sessions as we progress.
How much does a session cost? Is it covered by insurance?
The fee for services is $220 per session (50-60 minutes - with longer sessions prorated to this rate). This fee is in accordance with with the fee schedule for Psychologists provided by the Psychologists Association of Alberta. I have a few sliding scale spots on my case load for those who are not able to finically manage the full fee. If these spots are full, I am happy to refer to other sliding scale therapists or community agencies.
Payment can be made by Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Amex) or Email Transfer. Payment is made at the end of each session. You will receive an official receipt to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement and tax purposes.
Most extended health benefit plans include coverage for a Psychologist (in part or in full). I encourage clients to contact their insurance provider prior to our first session to gather information about their coverage.
Psychological services are approved as a medical expense by the Canadian Revenue Agency.
What will our first session be like?
Our first session will lay the foundation for our work together by going over paperwork and hearing your story.
We will go over consent for counselling and discuss important details such as confidentiality. I will do a little bit of history taking (personal history and family history). Then I will ask you to share your story about why you are seeking counselling. We will discuss your struggles and your hopes for counselling. I will share some ways counselling might be helpful for you and we will collaborate on setting goals and a game plan for our work together.
Will our sessions be confidential?
Yes, our sessions will be confidential. In instances where there is imminent risk of harm to yourself or someone else I am required to break confidentially. We will discuss the limits of confidentially in our first session.