Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions:
What happens after I book a consultation?
After you complete the contact form, we will review the information that you submitted and try to match you with one of our therapists. We want to make sure that the therapist can be a good fit for your current concerns. We will then email you to let you know who may be the best fit and the length of their wait (if there is a waiting list). If you know who you would like to work with, please make sure to specify it on the contact form. When an appointment becomes available, the therapist will reach out to book an appointment with you.
We typically book weekly or bi-weekly appointments to start so that we make sure that time is set aside for you in the schedule. The approaches used in our clinical practice typically respond best to weekly sessions, with a reduction to bi-weekly sessions once clients have gained some new skills and are using them consistently in their lives.
We typically book weekly or bi-weekly appointments to start so that we make sure that time is set aside for you in the schedule. The approaches used in our clinical practice typically respond best to weekly sessions, with a reduction to bi-weekly sessions once clients have gained some new skills and are using them consistently in their lives.
How Much do Sessions Cost and Are They Covered by Insurance?
Individual Counselling Fees
In addition to session time, our rate covers time spent in between appointments on various tasks such as phone calls, emails, research for other resources you may need, reviewing your progress, preparing needed paperwork, creating a treatment plan, and most importantly considering how to best help you. Session fees must be paid prior to the start of the session.
In regards to insurance coverage, many extended health care plans pay all or a portion of the costs of seeing a Registered Psychologist, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, or a Registered Social Worker. You will need to check your benefits coverage or speak with your insurance company to find out about your specific coverage.
- Registered Psychologist Session $250
- Registered Clinical Counsellor Session $150 -160 (please note that prices vary as RCCs set their own rates)
- Doctoral Candidate Clinician $190
- Registered Social Worker Session $15
- 90 minute couple counselling $288 (Plus GST) with Dr. Mahsa Rad
- 50 minute couple counselling $170 with Alex Gheorghe
- $525 for the assessment (including clinical interview, completion of measures, report review, and results discussion)
In addition to session time, our rate covers time spent in between appointments on various tasks such as phone calls, emails, research for other resources you may need, reviewing your progress, preparing needed paperwork, creating a treatment plan, and most importantly considering how to best help you. Session fees must be paid prior to the start of the session.
In regards to insurance coverage, many extended health care plans pay all or a portion of the costs of seeing a Registered Psychologist, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, or a Registered Social Worker. You will need to check your benefits coverage or speak with your insurance company to find out about your specific coverage.
Do I need a Referral?
You do not need a referral to see a psychologist, a registered clinical counsellor, or a social worker. You can contact the clinic directly. However, referrals from physicians or school are welcome.
Some extended insurance plans may require a referral before they reimburse expenses. Thus, you may want to check the specifics of your extended insurance plan prior to booking an appointment.
Some extended insurance plans may require a referral before they reimburse expenses. Thus, you may want to check the specifics of your extended insurance plan prior to booking an appointment.
What Does Therapy look LIke?
Adults:
The clinician's aim in your first session is to get to know you and what brought you in for therapy, to gather background information, to set goals, and to build trust. Following sessions are usually aimed at helping you examine changes you would like in your life and helping you gain skills and strategies to make these changes a reality. Treatment is collaborative, individualized to each individual client, and guided by research evidence.
Children:
Clinicians typically meet only with the parent(s) or caregivers at the first session, so that they can openly speak about concerns and they can gather background information. During the second session, clinicians will focus on gaining your child's trust and setting goals for us to work on. The following sessions will be aimed at helping your child develop skills and strategies to manage concerns. You and your child will be asked to practice skills and strategies between sessions.
Clinicians involve parent(s) and caregivers in sessions as much as possible as you can help support your child to practice new skills and strategies. They also help parents find new ways to engage with their child through parenting consultations. Their goal is to strengthen relationships and to provide parents with knowledge and skills, so that they can support their children through the struggles they face.
Parent(s) and caregivers will be asked to complete an intake form to provide the clinician with information regarding your concerns, family psychiatric history, developmental milestones, your child's strengths, etc.
Youth:
Clinicians typically meet with parent(s), caregivers, and youth at the beginning of the first session. They use this time to explain and gain informed consent and discuss current concerns. They will then meet with your teen to gather background information, build trust, and set goals. They generally meet with parent(s) and caregivers to gather further background information at a later time. During the following sessions, clinicians will help your teen gain skills and strategies. Although they attempt to involve parents as much as possible, youth may require a certain degree of privacy in therapy. Thus, parent involvement will depend on a number of factors.
Parent(s) and caregivers will be asked to complete an intake form to provide me with information regarding your concerns, family psychiatric history, developmental milestones, your child's strengths, etc.
Parenting/Caregiver Focused Sessions:
If the family and the clinician have decided to pursue the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), the clinician's aim in the first session is to get to know the family and the family dynamics involving anxiety, while also building a trusting relationship with the parents/caregivers. The treatment plan will be outlined and a new conceptualization of anxiety will be presented to the parents. If parents want to join our Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) parent group, they can reach out to the clinic and read more about the groups here.
Couples Therapy:
Our aim early in sessions is to create safety so that each person has a place where they are able to communicate vulnerably and openly, while managing conflicts and moving forward to where they want to be in the relationship. The clinician's role is to guide you both to feel safe and heard in your relationship, while also being aware of your own and your partner's personal history and narratives and how these are influencing how you both "relate".
The clinician's aim in your first session is to get to know you and what brought you in for therapy, to gather background information, to set goals, and to build trust. Following sessions are usually aimed at helping you examine changes you would like in your life and helping you gain skills and strategies to make these changes a reality. Treatment is collaborative, individualized to each individual client, and guided by research evidence.
Children:
Clinicians typically meet only with the parent(s) or caregivers at the first session, so that they can openly speak about concerns and they can gather background information. During the second session, clinicians will focus on gaining your child's trust and setting goals for us to work on. The following sessions will be aimed at helping your child develop skills and strategies to manage concerns. You and your child will be asked to practice skills and strategies between sessions.
Clinicians involve parent(s) and caregivers in sessions as much as possible as you can help support your child to practice new skills and strategies. They also help parents find new ways to engage with their child through parenting consultations. Their goal is to strengthen relationships and to provide parents with knowledge and skills, so that they can support their children through the struggles they face.
Parent(s) and caregivers will be asked to complete an intake form to provide the clinician with information regarding your concerns, family psychiatric history, developmental milestones, your child's strengths, etc.
Youth:
Clinicians typically meet with parent(s), caregivers, and youth at the beginning of the first session. They use this time to explain and gain informed consent and discuss current concerns. They will then meet with your teen to gather background information, build trust, and set goals. They generally meet with parent(s) and caregivers to gather further background information at a later time. During the following sessions, clinicians will help your teen gain skills and strategies. Although they attempt to involve parents as much as possible, youth may require a certain degree of privacy in therapy. Thus, parent involvement will depend on a number of factors.
Parent(s) and caregivers will be asked to complete an intake form to provide me with information regarding your concerns, family psychiatric history, developmental milestones, your child's strengths, etc.
Parenting/Caregiver Focused Sessions:
If the family and the clinician have decided to pursue the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), the clinician's aim in the first session is to get to know the family and the family dynamics involving anxiety, while also building a trusting relationship with the parents/caregivers. The treatment plan will be outlined and a new conceptualization of anxiety will be presented to the parents. If parents want to join our Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) parent group, they can reach out to the clinic and read more about the groups here.
Couples Therapy:
Our aim early in sessions is to create safety so that each person has a place where they are able to communicate vulnerably and openly, while managing conflicts and moving forward to where they want to be in the relationship. The clinician's role is to guide you both to feel safe and heard in your relationship, while also being aware of your own and your partner's personal history and narratives and how these are influencing how you both "relate".
How Often Will we Meet and For How Long?
Clinicians typically meet with you, your child, or your teen every week and move to bi-weekly sessions when skills and strategies to help manage concerns have been acquired or when less distress is being experiencing.
Typical treatment length is 12 sessions. However, there are numerous factors that can impact this length. For example, treatment length can be impacted by severity, the number of areas of struggle, level of motivation, contextual stressors, ability to practice new skills and strategies between sessions, and/or family dynamics. We can discuss the expected length of treatment for you or your child after the first session.
Typical treatment length is 12 sessions. However, there are numerous factors that can impact this length. For example, treatment length can be impacted by severity, the number of areas of struggle, level of motivation, contextual stressors, ability to practice new skills and strategies between sessions, and/or family dynamics. We can discuss the expected length of treatment for you or your child after the first session.
Do You also Provide Therapy to Parents?
Clinicians provide parenting support children with various struggles. Some of our clinicians also offer evidence based parenting support based on the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotion approach. However, clinicians do not provide individual therapy to parents/caregivers. It can be very stressful and painful to see our children struggle. Thus, parents may benefit from their own therapy. Clinicians encourage parents to seek out support and are happy to recommend therapists.
Will I have to Wait to See Someone?
Clinicians will do their best to see you quickly. However, since the rate of people struggling with mental health challenges is high and there are insufficient resources, individual clinicians sometimes have a waitlist. It is usually faster to book an appointment with them during the morning or early afternoon. If you are willing to book appointments during these times, please mention this on the contact form.
How Do I get to Your Office and Where do I parK?
We are located at the Lonsdale Quay, close to the Sea Bus and bus terminal. From the Sea Bus, turn left and you will see our building (145 Chadwick Court). We are located on the 2nd floor. Our office is not accessible by vehicle, but you can park at the parkade under the Lonsdale Quay Market, the ICBC parkade, or find street parking on Esplanade.
Unfortunately, the building is not open on Saturdays and evening. This means that your therapist will have to meet you at the front entrance to the building at your session time. Please allow a few minutes in case your therapist is not able to come down right away.
If your session is online, your therapist will send you instructions on how to log into our system, Owl Practice.
Unfortunately, the building is not open on Saturdays and evening. This means that your therapist will have to meet you at the front entrance to the building at your session time. Please allow a few minutes in case your therapist is not able to come down right away.
If your session is online, your therapist will send you instructions on how to log into our system, Owl Practice.
What happens if I have to cancel my Appointment?
You will be sent an appointment reminder 72 hours prior to the appointment. If you need to cancel or make changes to a scheduled appointment, please notify me at least 48 hours prior to your appointment time. Since this time is set aside for you and it is often not possible to fill this spot on short notice, you will be charged the regular session rate if you do not provide 48 hours notice.
In snow conditions, the cancellation policy remains in effect if schools, busses, and the skytrain are operating. We are happy to change sessions to a virtual session if you are unable to attend in-person.
In snow conditions, the cancellation policy remains in effect if schools, busses, and the skytrain are operating. We are happy to change sessions to a virtual session if you are unable to attend in-person.
What is your work schedule?
Clinicians are in the office Monday to Saturday. Please check with your clinician on the date and times they are available.
Do you offer in-person or virtual sessions?
We are currently offering virtual sessions and in-person sessions. We have more availability for virtual sessions, so please let us know if you would like to book virtual sessions in the contact form.
