Your Questions Answered

Although psychological services are not covered by OHIP, they may be fully or partially covered by extended health benefits (e.g., Great-West Life, SunLife, Manulife, etc.). However, the insurance coverage offered by each company is different. It is suggested that you confirm with your insurer the type of insurance coverage you have and all related details (e.g., Do you need a referral letter from your family doctor to access your insurance coverage?, How do you file your claim?, Is there a maximum dollar value and what is it?).

The following payment options are available for in-person services: cash, electronic transfers, debit, and credit.

The following payment methods are available for teletherapy services: electronic transfers and credit.

The platform is OWL Practice (www.owlpractice.ca/) which is an encrypted and secure system. The servers are located exclusively in Canada (Toronto and Montreal). Access and storage of sensitive information follow a strict confidentiality policy. It also complies with Ontario’s privacy laws (PHIPA) and the College of Psychologists of Ontario’s confidentiality requirements.

The platform offers email and text message reminders for sessions, electronic submission of forms, invoices and receipts, and a client portal with secure messaging.

The information on file is confidential. Therefore, it cannot be disclosed or shared without consent except in certain situations where required by law. These exceptions will be discussed at the first meeting.

“Evidence-based” approaches mean that there have been several measurable research findings for service delivery that demonstrate effectiveness in meeting the needs of the individual within the intervention.

The course of psychotherapy will depend on the goals set, considering the type of challenge or disorder diagnosed, the individual’s history, and the events that occur in their life that may influence their well-being and/or the course of the sessions. Research shows that some individuals may feel a sense of relief after only one session, while others see a difference in their symptoms/behaviours after a few, and for others, the process may take a year, two years or be ongoing. Some individuals also wish to continue psychotherapy once the goals have been met as it provides them with an increased sense of well-being and optimal functioning in their daily lives.

The individual may choose to schedule a meeting with the therapist a few weeks or months after the “last” session to update the situation and determine the inactivation of the file. 

The individual may also face another challenge following the inactivation of the file and therefore wish to continue psychotherapy to revise the skills discussed or to discover new ones. The individual may recontact the therapist who is already familiar with his or her history and the therapeutic process that has been carried out.

A trainee is doing his or her doctoral training in a university program. He/she works under the supervision of a licensed member of an accredited college.

An intern is in his or her final year (Ontario) or final two years (Quebec) in a university program. He/she works under the supervision of a licensed member of an accredited college.

A supervised practice is when an individual has completed their doctoral training and is awaiting certification from their accredited college. He/she works under the supervision of a licensed member of an accredited college.