Frequently Asked Questions
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Finding the right clinician is a key part of starting treatment. It can take a few (sometimes many) tries before you find someone you really click with. I understand that my approach and style will not be a fit for every person and will address this with both new and existing clients.
If requested, I can offer a free 15-minute phone call prior to initiating services to help you determine if I am a good fit for your needs. This call is reserved for answering any questions or concerns you may have and discussing if I am suited to help you with your goals. This call can help you get an initial sense of fit, but it typically takes one to two sessions to see if a clinician will be a good fit for you.
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Psychologists are regulated healthcare professionals trained to assess mental health concerns, provide formal psychological diagnoses, and offer evidence-based treatment. In Nova Scotia, we are licensed and overseen by the Nova Scotia Regulator of Psychology (NSRP; formerly NSBEP), which sets high standards for education, ethics, and clinical practice to ensure quality care.
Both psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose mental health conditions, but we differ in our training and approach. Psychologists focus on psychotherapy to help clients understand patterns and develop skills for lasting change. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health and can prescribe medication, which psychologists do not provide.
“Therapist” is a broad term that can refer to many types of mental health providers (e.g., psychologists, social workers, counselling therapists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists). What sets psychologists apart is the level and focus of training. Psychologists typically complete a PhD or PsyD, which involves more years of training and specialized education, supervised clinical experience, and research training. This allows us to offer diagnostic assessments, evidence-based therapy, and comprehensive treatment planning.
Getting Started
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Virtual appointments require some extra steps to ensure your privacy and confidentiality. To meet by Zoom, you must have a private space to set up with a stable internet connection, where you will not be interrupted or overheard. Zoom calls done from your car or a work office are usually not secure or appropriate locations.
Once we’ve scheduled the session, you will receive an email with a Zoom invite link that may prompt you to include the Meeting ID and Passcode. You can log in a few minutes early to make sure there are no issues. I will join and start the meeting at the session start time.
I use the Zoom healthcare package that is PHIPA-compliant, to safeguard your protected health information.
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At this time, I am unable to provide in-person appointments. All services are conducted virtually through Zoom.
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Every person I meet with has different needs and resources, so the treatment plan will be individually tailored to you. My aim is to help you achieve the most meaningful changes in as short of a time as possible. We will explore your presenting concerns and goals for treatment, your resources to pay for sessions (e.g., coverage limits, out-of-pocket ability), and the frequency of meetings. I can do both brief short-term treatments and long-term intensive treatment plans, and will check in with you regularly to make sure we’re addressing your needs.
My typical process for a more in-depth treatment is:
- Initial intake meeting (2 hours) to get to know each other, during which we come up with a tentative treatment plan.
- 2-4 sessions to continue building our shared understanding of the difficulties and what drives them, working through things as they come up.
- “Working through” phase of treatment, during which we get at the things maintaining your difficulties. We will intentionally check in around every 10 sessions to evaluate treatment progress and revisit remaining goals.
I typically meet with clients weekly or bi-weekly, because research suggests this is where you see the most therapeutic changes.
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I am registered to practice in Nova Scotia, which means that clients I see have to be located in the province. If a client travels out of province, I will typically not be able to see them until they return.
In order to see a client from a different province or country, I would have to check with the governing body there. New Brunswick and Quebec allow for NS psychologists to provide teletherapy to clients from these provinces, so I am able to see you if you are located there. I am also able to request a certificate to offer limited teletherapy services for clients in PEI. Other provinces/territories in Canada require psychologists to be registered there to see clients from there.
How I Practise
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My rate is $230 per clinical hour.
The recommended psychologist rate set by the NSRP is $225, though psychologists with specialized expertise or advanced training may charge higher rates. My rate is slightly increased due to my specialized training in ISTDP and my experience working with complex mental health concerns.
A clinical hour reserves the last 10 minutes of a meeting for doing clinical notes, so typical sessions are 50 minutes. All clinical activities (e.g., report/letter writing, consultations) are pro-rated at the same hourly rate. Fees can change periodically and you will be notified far in advance of any such changes.
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Psychological services are not MSI-covered, but are covered by many insurance plans. If you are not sure, you can contact your insurance company to see if psychology visits can be reimbursed and if you require a physician referral. I do not offer direct billing to insurance at this time.
If you are not covered by insurance, please note that psychological services and other healthcare expenses are tax-deductible, so you can keep your receipts for tax purposes.
Payment is due at the end of each appointment, payable by e-transfer. Receipts will be provided and can be submitted to your insurer for reimbursement.
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Please provide 48 hours notice if you are unable to attend your appointment or need to reschedule. Late cancellations or missed appointments will be billed at the full session rate. If you are late for an appointment, we will meet for the remaining time available and you will be required to pay the full session rate. Please note, insurance typically does not cover late/missed appointment fees.
Payment
A Brighter Path Starts Here.
Therapy offers a space to slow down, better understand yourself, and move forward with support that feels thoughtful, collaborative, and grounded in your goals.