 1) Are fees covered by provincial insurance? |
|
| The fees of private practice psychologists in Canada are not covered by provincial insurance. However, many private and company insurance programs do cover these services. For example, if you have dental coverage you likely have coverage to see a psychologist as well. Also, fees for psychological services are tax deductible in Canada. |
|
2) How long is a session? |
|
| Sessions are 50 minutes long. The remaining 10 minutes of the hour are used for note taking and administrative work related to your client file. |
|
3) What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist? |
|
A Psychiatrist has degree (MD) from medical school and is capable of prescribing medication for psychiatric conditions (e.g., anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, etc.). Some, but not all psychiatrists offer psychotherapy to their patients.
A Psychologist earns his or her degree from graduate school. At present in Nova Scotia, both Masters level (M.A., M.Sc.) and Doctorate level (Ph.D) therapists can use the title "Psychologist" if they have completed the necessary education, training, work experience, and meet registration requirements (although only those with Ph.Ds can use the term "doctor"). Psychologists generally receive more training in therapy and assessment than Psychiatrists and as such, specialize in these areas. It is not uncommon for someone to meet with a Psychiatrist for medication needs and with a Psychologist for therapy.
One final note, the terms "Psychiatrist" and "Psychologist" are legally protected names and those using them must be registered with relevant governing organizations to ensure they are qualified to offer service to the public. In contrast, the term "therapist" can be used by anyone and requires no specific standards for education, training, practice, or competency.
|
|
4) Is the information I discuss confidential? |
|
| Yes. Your information will not be released to any person or organization without your written permission. Not even the fact that you are a client would be confirmed if someone asked. However, there are several exceptions to confidentiality with a Psychologist. If a child or a senior is in need of protection or if someone is in immediate physical danger, Psychologists are legally required to take action to prevent this from happening - even if it requires breaking confidentiality. In rare cases, a Psychologist may have to discuss confidential information if he /she is subpoenaed to testify in court. |
|
5) I have heard the term "blank wall" in reference to psychologists…what does this mean? |
|
| At one point, it was generally felt that Psychologists should remain neutral at all times and avoid direct client questions (i.e., the Blank Wall). The theory being that information or opinion added by the therapist could sabotage the natural progression of therapy. While there is merit to this approach at times, I believe that a client is deserving of honest feedback if they request it. To stay with the visual metaphor, I suppose I actually prefer to have something written on my wall. |
|
6) What are the qualities of a good Psychologist? |
|
The following list is really just my opinion - nothing more, nothing less. It is certainly not the definitive set of criteria for selecting a Psychologist. These are qualities I try to work toward in my own practice and if I was looking for help I would expect my Psychologist to:
- Be warm and non-judgemental
- Have a sense of humour and relate to me as a real person
- Be psychologically healthy him/herself
- Help me set attainable goals and work with me to achieve them
- Be understanding of any reservations I may have about therapy
- Have the proper education, training, and experience related to my particular issue
- Be respectful at all times
- Offer referrals if he/she cannot provide appropriate treatment for my difficulties
- Be dependable and understanding
- Show interest in the difficulties I am having
- Be willing to meet with other members of my family if I request it
- Demonstrate high ethical standards and have clear professional boundaries
- Be willing to see me in times of crisis
- Not dismiss other forms of therapy I may be interested in
- Genuinely seek to understand me and not make assumptions about my experience
|
|
7) Can you guarantee that my problems will be solved? |
|
| No, I cannot promise this - and I would be worried about any Psychologist who would actually say this. I can promise that I will try my best to help you address the problems you are struggling with. However, at times, other types of interventions or other professionals may be better able to assist you. If so, I would encourage you to seek these services rather than continue with me. |
|
8) I am considering seeing a Psychologist - therefore I must be "crazy", right? |
|
| No, not at all. It is actually healthy to seek help when experiencing difficult periods in your life - it is not a sign of weakness or failure. |
|
|
| This may be the wrong question to ask. "Could I benefit from therapy?" is a better way to think about it. |
|
10) My child is going for a psycho-educational assessment - What should I tell him / her about seeing a Psychologist? |
|
| If your child is young, keep it simple. You may want to say that she will be seeing a "talking doctor" who will be trying to help the family figure out a problem. Some young children worry about getting a "shot" when they see a doctor so it is important to tell that this will not happen. |
|
11) Do I need a referral from a family doctor? |
|
| No, you can initiate therapy or an assessment in a private practice without a referral. However, if you wish to claim the fees on your insurance, you may wish to contact your insurance company first. |
|
12) Do you have evening and weekend appointments? |
|
Yes. I offer evening appointments for therapy sessions.
For assessments, I understand that many people must work or go to school during normal weekday hours. Therefore, I am happy to offer weekend appointments for psychoeducational assessments.
Please contact me for available times. |
|
13) How long and how often should I see a Psychologist? |
|
| This is a difficult question to answer. It will of course depend on the particular issue(s) you would like to work on. In the beginning, most people meet for 50 minute sessions once per week. Some people then cut back to every other week, every month, or just a few times per year. Others find that they feel more in control of their problems after a few sessions and decide that is sufficient for now - with the understanding that they are always free to book future sessions should they desire. |
|
14) Now that I am seeing a Psychologist should I stop taking medication? |
|
| I cannot offer advice on medication. Any changes to your medication(s) should be done under the supervision of a physician. |
|
