Yes, I am! If you are ready to book your first session, please click on the Book Now tab and book in for a full 55-60-minute session. If you want to talk with me first before committing to a full session, please book for a 15-minute FREE phone consultation (note that this is NOT a therapy session; it's an opportunity to establish if my services are a fit for your needs). If you have other inquiries, please send me a message through the Contact tab.
As of January 1, 2025, the recommended fee by the Psychologists' Association of Alberta is $235.00/hour. Fees for psychological services are not covered by Alberta Health Care. You will receive a receipt at the time of payment for your records. These can be submitted for full or partial coverage through most extended health care benefit insurance programs or employee assistance programs. Direct billing is available for some private health insurance. Please check with your private health insurance if they provide coverage for psychological services and allow direct billing for this specific service. Additionally, psychological services may be used as a tax-deductible medical expense.
The sessions are 55-60 minutes in length. However, some sessions may need to be longer (i.e., if experiential processing work is in progress). Fees for extended sessions may be set for 15-minute intervals.
All sessions with a registered psychologist are confidential. This means that I will not share any information that you disclose in these sessions to third parties without your consent. However, the following circumstances are three exceptions to this rule:
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if you are at imminent risk of harming yourself or someone else;
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if you disclose current child abuse or neglect; or,
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if you are involved in a court case in which the judge subpoenas your client file.
In keeping with the guidelines in the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the College of Alberta Psychologists, I participate in professional supervision/consultation but without using personal identifiers (e.g., name, address, place of work, etc.) of clients. Thus, client anonymity and confidentiality are preserved and clients gain the benefit from the combined wisdom of a team of mental health professionals who are also bound by the same ethical codes regarding confidentiality as I am. For additional information see the College of Alberta Psychologists website at www.cap.ab.ca.
In addition, all my assessment documentation and therapy session notes are kept safe and secure in a practice management software for health organizations.
The duration of therapy is different for each client. It will depend on your therapeutic goals and the complexity of your situation. It is also dependent upon the amount of work completed outside of the therapy sessions and the motivation to make changes. A treatment plan will be discussed after the first one to two sessions when there is an adequate understanding of your unique situation and hopes of therapy. You have the right to withdraw from treatment at any time.
Sessions will be booked at intervals most appropriate to your clinical needs as well as time and financial considerations. Initially, you may want to start with weekly appointments and then move to every two weeks, again, dependent upon your situation and clinical needs.
Payment is made via a secure electronic invoice system following each session by credit card or visa/mastercard debit card. Interac e-transfer is also an option.
If an in-person appointment is scheduled but you are not able to make it, telepsychology (online/virtual) may be an appropriate option. If you are needing to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please do so with at least 48 hours advance notice. As the appointment time has been especially reserved for you, missed appointments or late cancellations mean that others are not able to use that appointment time. Depending on the circumstances, without adequate (48-hour) notice, you may be charged the full session fee.
If you have a life-threatening situation, call 911.
If you have a mental health emergency, please be aware that I am unable to provide crisis intervention nor any support between scheduled therapy sessions. Instead, please call or text the Distress Centre (403-266-4357) or go to your nearest emergency department.
Yes, clients do have rights. For example, clients have the right to:
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have their information kept confidential;
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know all about the therapist’s experience and training;
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discuss their therapy with anyone they choose;
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know all about the terms of their therapy (e.g., cost, appointment times, cancellation policy);
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have any procedure or method explained before it is used;
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ask the therapist anything about their therapy;
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see the information about them in the therapists’ files, or have it shared with another professional at their request;
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report inappropriate or illegal behaviour by a therapist;
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refuse any test, evaluation, or therapy/intervention of any kind; or,
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ask the therapist for a referral to someone who might be a better match for them.
Yes, clients do have responsibilities when coming for therapeutic treatment. Although the sessions are essential in addressing your concerns, much of the work in therapy happens between sessions. Therapy is a collaborative effort. You can help yourself meet your agreed upon recovery goals through reflecting on what you discovered about yourself in session, applying the strategies suggested, and/or carrying out the homework exercises offered. In this, your commitment to your own growth and healing is paramount.
Psychotherapy does involve some risks. Clients sometimes experience uncomfortable emotions (e.g., sadness, anger, fear, guilt, shame, anxiety). It is important to remember that these feelings are normal and are an important part of the therapy process. Psychotherapy is focused on facilitating change according to the hopes the client has for therapy. Any change, even good change, can affect a person’s established lifestyles and relationships. Sometimes clients may be met with some resistance from other people in their lives as a result of the changes they make.
