Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers which you might find useful:
FAQS
Yes. My services are covered by some private insurance providers. I can provide you with an itemized receipt each session that you may submit for direct reimbursement from your provider. Please check with your provider to see if they cover registered social workers or you may be able to submit the receipts as a medical expense on your income tax.
Social worker's fees are not covered by Manitoba Health and so are paid directly by clients. Most clinical social workers have similar fees. My fees are negotiable on a sliding scale based on income. Payment is made at the end of each session by e-transfer only and a detailed receipt is provided.
You must provide 48 hours notice on the previous business day for the cancellation of appointments otherwise, the full session fee will be charged. For example, Monday appointments must be cancelled by mid-day Friday to avoid cancellation fee. There is a high demand for services and certain times of day, your session is reserved exclusively for you and therefore is not available to others.
The length of time therapy takes varies for each client and is influenced by the presenting problem as well as the goals of the counselling process. I prefer to see clients on a weekly basis for the first several months to develop an accurate understanding of who you are as well as understand your needs and in order to create a specific treatment plan. Once we feel that progress has been made or your symptoms have improved, we can reduce frequency of treatment to biweekly, monthly, or as needed.
A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.
Yes. Your privacy is important to me, and you can trust that our sessions, as well as any of your personal information, is held in the strictest of confidence. Additionally, anything you transmit over my website is highly secure, and stored data is PHIPA (Personal Health Information and Protection Act) - compliant. Confidential information disclosed in private therapy sessions is legally protected. However, there are some exceptions to this, including instances of suspected child or elder abuse, or when a client presents a serious danger of violence toward himself or herself or another person. If you’d like to learn more about ethical standards and privileged communication exceptions, I am happy to provide additional information.