What are your fees?

Our fees for all therapists are consistent with the recommended fee guide outlined by the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta. All fees with CCCs and MPCCs have GST added to the total at the time of payment.

• $220 - 60min

• $330 - 90min

• $440 - 120min

We do offer sliding scale fees for those who are low income and do not have coverage. Those fees are determined on a case-by-case basis with your therapist and are subject to clinic approval. All available benefits must be used prior to applying for sliding scale.

Do you direct bill?

Unfortunately we cannot direct bill. Upon receipt of payment upfront you will be emailed a receipt with all of the necessary information to put through a claim to your insurance/benefits providers. Please be sure to look into your specific benefits package to see what is accepted, as some providers have strict adherences for what type of therapist can provide the service for coverage (ie Registered Psychologist, Canadian Certified Counsellor, Registered Counsellor, Clinical Counsellor, etc).

Why do you charge GST?

Only psychologists and social workers are considered GST exempt because they are listed as professions under the Health Profession’s Act— CCCs and MPCCs are not recognized under this Act. Recently the government passed a bill of exemption for counsellors, however because Alberta counsellors do not (yet) fall under a provincial regulatory body, we must still charge GST for any sessions completed with a CCC or MPCC. Our professional organizations are currently lobbying the government to include counsellors without a provincial regulatory body under this bill, so we will keep you posted.

What is a free consultation?

This is an opportunity for you to connect with a therapist, either virtually or in-person, prior to committing to a full session. We offer 15min consultations free of charge because we think it is important that you have a good fit with your therapist before diving in. Come with any questions you have for your potential therapist and a general idea of what you’d like to focus on in therapy.

What is a CCC?

This stands for Canadian Certified Counsellor. Counselling and counselling therapy are not yet regulated terms in Alberta (which means anybody can use these terms), but there are organizations like the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) who support and govern their members. To have a CCC designation means:

1. The therapist has a Master’s degree in counselling.

2. The therapist completes continuing education and training each year.

3. The therapist abides by the CCPA code of ethics.

4. Many insurance plans will reimburse for sessions with a CCC.

What is an MPCC?

This stands for Master Practitioner of Clinical Counselling. Members of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA) must complete foundational registration in order to obtain membership, and then can apply for a master level designation. The MPCC title represents a significant body of education and experience earned and recognized in clinical practice. Thus the MPCC practicing clinician holds an equivalent to graduate degree education and experience. To have an MPCC designation means:

1. The therapist has completed 1250 hours of clinical practice hours.

2. The therapist has completed 250 hours of clinical supervision.

3. The therapist has a minimum of 5 years of active clinical practice in the past 8 years.

4. The therapist has a minimum of 60 hours of advanced education specific to the practice of therapy.

5. The therapist completes continuing education and training each year.

6. The therapist abides by the CPCA code of ethics.

7. Many insurance plans will reimburse for sessions with a MPCC.

What is the difference between Registered Provisional Psychologist and Registered Psychologist?

A Registered Provisional Psychologist is the title given to therapists who have applied and been approved to engage in the process of becoming a fully registered psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Once they have completed the provisional process, they obtain full licensure and are a Registered Psychologist with CAP. Both Provisional Psychologists and Registered Psychologists are obligated to complete continuing education and training each year, as well as abide by the CAP code of ethics. To have a provisional designation means:

1. The therapist has a Master’s degree in counselling and has completed specific course work that is submitted and approved by CAP.

2. The therapist meets with a CAP certified supervisor regularly.

3. The therapist must pass an ethics exam.

4. The therapist must pass the full licensing exam called the EPPP.

What’s the difference between counselling and therapy?

At our clinic, not much. Counselling could be used to describe working on solutions to practical problems. Therapy could be used to describe going a little deeper to look at the root of challenges, issues, or traumas. Our work includes both processes, sometimes together, sometimes individually; so you’ll likely hear us use these terms interchangeably. In the next few years there will be a rather significant shift to how counselling and therapy will be regulated (to protect those terms from being used by just anyone), so stay tuned for new lingo.

How come you don’t have many Google reviews?

This boils down to ethics. Therapists are not allowed to solicit reviews from clients or post testimonials. Of course you are a person with free will, so should you choose to post a Google review of your own volition that remains to be your choice and within your rights. We therapists however, are ethically bound to maintain your confidentiality and that includes not revealing to the internet (or anyone else for that matter) that you are a client. We take the protection of your privacy very seriously.

Can I give my therapist a gift?

Therapists have a bit of a tricky ethical guideline around receiving gifts. Our code of ethics states we cannot accept gifts from clients. Due to the vulnerable nature of our work, as well as the power differential between therapist and client, the code has deemed it inappropriate for us to accept gifts from clients. Clients pay us for a service that we provide. Anything over and above the fee for service creates an imbalance that we cannot rectify, thus rendering the exchange inappropriate.