Q: What is the best psychotherapy for me?

 “The best psychotherapy” is the psychotherapy that works for you, no matter of therapy modality. In therapy, you learn to find and listen to your own voice. According to research, the most efficient treatments are ones where a “good therapeutic alliance” with your therapist is established and where the therapist is “synchronized with you.” Empirical studies in the 1990ies showed a positive effect of therapeutic alliance on therapy outcomes (Tschacher 2015). Studies showed that your therapy success depends on an established bond, empathy, goal consensus, positive regard and congruency with your therapist. In other words, “in seeing you seeing me, I recognize myself, I become.”

We can conclude that the best psychotherapies are ones where you and your therapist build together the sense of what is needed. You both are “on the same page.” You both perceive and acknowledge one another; you adjust to one another in the process and take “bold steps together” to get where you want to be while also enjoying each other presence. The best therapy is where you and your therapist “click together.” Entrusting oneself to the other and taking care of the other is how successful treatment evolves and healing becomes possible.

For all these reasons, I offer a free consultation.

 

Q: What can I expect in a free consultation?

In a free consultation, we talk about your therapy needs and goals. Free consultation (15-30 minutes phone or video call) before your session gives us a chance to meet each other and see if we can decide together what you might need from therapy and whether I am the right person to help you. Our first session will be an assessment of your needs and therapy goals. We will discuss what you see as the problem, what you would like to work on, how frequently you would like to have appointments, and what you hope to accomplish in your therapy sessions.

 

Q: Can Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) cover my psychotherapy fees?

Ontario Health Insurance Plans (OHIP) generally do not cover psychotherapy services in Ontario unless your psychotherapist is a psychiatrist or a general medical practitioner (MD). Psychiatrists are medical doctors specializing in diagnosing and treating mental disorders, and most prescribe medication to treat symptoms of mental disorders. Finding a psychiatrist who is doing talk-based therapy is not an easy task.

 If you receive psychotherapy services from general medical practitioners, you may ask about their professional training specific to psychotherapy.

 

Q: Who can provide psychotherapy?

Registered Psychotherapists (RP) are authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy. Besides Registered Psychotherapists, the members of five other regulated professions practice psychotherapy: physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and psychological associates and social workers and social service workers.

 

Q: I have an extended health benefits plan, which covers psychotherapy. Are my psychotherapy expenses for sure covered?

 If you have extended health benefit plans by your employer, you may first check which categories of psychotherapy providers are recognized by your employer plan. You may check this in advance with your Human Resources Department.

Your employee benefit plans may be restricted by the number of sessions you can have per annum and may limit your choice to only certain therapy providers. The typically higher fees charged by registered psychologists will mean that your annual benefits only allow for a few sessions.

 

Q: When do I need to pay for my therapy session?

In most cases you will need to pay for therapy directly at the time of your sessions and then submit the expense for reimbursement to your extended health plan or income tax return. I provide a receipt following each session, which you then present to your insurance.

 

Q: Can I discuss psychotherapy fees?

I offer free consultations in which we can discuss fees. I have some spots available for sliding scale to accommodate a range of financial circumstances. Please feel free to discuss your financial circumstances with me when you attend a free consultation.