How do I explain the therapy to my child?
We encourage you to talk to your child before you come to the session and explain in an easy way who a psychologist is and why at this time your child may need help. We suggest telling the child the following:
“Things don’t seem to be going well for you at home (or at school, or daycare), and sometimes it helps to have special time just for yourself to share with a special person.”
When you are ready to come for the first visit, you could say to your child that she (he) will come to see Mrs. Natalie for a visit in her special playroom where there are lots of toys to play with.
Are the sessions confidential?
Information you share with us will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed without your written consent. With children, the degree of confidentiality may vary depending on their age and the nature of concerns. You need to be aware about limits to confidentiality which apply in situations when your child may be at risk.
What is your average time per session and fees?
Sessions last 50 minutes, and it’s time spent only with your child. We do not provide updates in front of your child. We will set up an update session for parents only where we share with you our general impressions and offer suggestions.
Session fee – $260, as per Recommended Fee Schedule of Psychologists’ Association of Alberta. Payment is due at the end of each session and we conveniently accept debit, cheque, cash, e-transfers, VISA, and MasterCard.
How many sessions does my child need?
Some children can be helped fairly quickly, but most children will probably take some time to start feeling safe and open to talk about their difficulties. A complete therapy would normally take anywhere from 10 to 20 sessions.
How does the typical first session look like?
Before seeing a child, we would love to meet the parent(s). We talk about the nature of the child’s difficulties and their family’s background. After that we meet your child. We use play-based approaches to help children express in non-verbal ways about their worries and difficulties.
What is your cancellation policy?
Missed appointments and late cancellations will be billed unless notification is received at least 48 hours or 2 business days before the scheduled appointment time. Please be aware that insurance companies usually do not cover cancellation charges.
Do you have free parking?
Of course! There is free 90-minute visitor parking behind our building. Please make sure to register your car’s licence plate using the bar code poster located inside the building, next to the elevator.
Do you direct bill insurance?
Unfortunately, we do not offer direct billing at this time; however we do provide receipts for insurance claim purposes.
