Fees, Insurance & Counselling Formats

*FREE INITIAL PHONE CONSULTATION FOR ALL NEW CLIENTS*

AVAILABILITY: My practice availability for counselling and consultation services is listed below. If my practice is full for the type of counselling you require, you can refer to other clinicians in your area through search engines such as Google, or other therapist lists, for example, Psychology Today.

FEES: Each therapy session is 1 hour: 50 minutes of direct counselling time and 10 minutes of indirect therapy time (e.g., notes, phone calls). Please note, client-requested or third-party consultations with other professionals may result in additional fees.

Individuals – $180/session
- CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Virtual Sessions Only
Professional Consultation Services – $220/hour
- CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Virtual Consultations Only
Couples and Family Therapy – $220/session
- CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Practice Full – No Openings

Most insurance companies mandate which professionals are approved to provide therapeutic services. I am a Registered Social Worker in the province of British Columbia (BCCSW – RSW #13735) and in the province of Alberta, authorized to perform psychosocial intervention (ACSW – RSW #4084). My standing with these regulatory bodies means I am governed under the Health Professions Act and held to a standard of excellence in practice and required to maintain appropriate practice insurance. I am also a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia (BCACC #16467).

*Registered social work services are not subject to GST

COUNSELLING FORMATS OFFERED:

Traditional Face-to-Face Therapy – If you are new to therapy, or if you are returning to counselling with a new therapist, it can be daunting attending for your first session. If you are interested in counselling with me, I welcome you to call or email me for a free consultation, in which I will share with you what you can expect in our first meeting together and answer any of your questions to help reduce any anxiety you might be experiencing about our first appointment together. I am also willing to answer any questions you might have regarding my therapeutic supports to help determine if my counselling style is the best fit for you and your individual needs.

Online Counselling – Perhaps you are unable to attend appointments because of living in a remote location, lack of transportation options, or experiencing a busy schedule that doesn’t allow for additional time spent commuting to and from appointments. Perhaps you are interested in receiving counselling from me, but you live in a different city or province. If any of these sound familiar, I also offer remote-counselling options. Contact me to learn about convenient and secure online counselling from the comfort of your home. I am available remotely across Canada through various online contacts including Skype and Zoom.

Telephone Counselling – Some people are less comfortable using online counselling methods, or perhaps you do not have access to a computer, but you still want to access mental health supports from home. As an alternative, I also offer telephone counselling. Please contact me to learn more and to determine if this is a fit for you and your needs.

Available across Canada via

INSURANCE COVERAGE CONSIDERATIONS

Before considering entering a counselling relationship with me, if you require insurance to afford therapeutic services, please ensure your insurance company approves Registered Social Workers or Registered Clinical Counsellors for coverage. You may be covered in full or in part by your extended health insurance or employee benefit plan.

Please note Ainslie Wellness does not direct bill to insurance providers.

Please check your coverage carefully. Some questions you may want to ask yourself:

Do I have insurance benefits that covers counselling?
If I do, is a Registered Social Worker or a Registered Clinical Counsellor an approved provider under my insurance plan?
What is my deductible, and have I reached the allowable amount for this year?
When is my insurance renewal date?
How many counselling sessions does my insurance coverage allow?
Does my insurance have a maximum amount per therapy session? If the hourly therapy amount exceeds my insurance coverage, can I afford to cover this independently?
Do I first need approval from my primary care physician for insurance to covered for counselling?
If my insurance company only does reimbursement instead of direct billing, am I able to cover the costs of therapy upfront and wait to be reimbursed?

Third Party Billing

You may be eligible for funding under extended health care plans, or through government programs. For example, most government employees receive benefits which extends to immediate family members. If applicable, please contact these agencies to learn more, as you, your partner, or family member may be covered, allowing for less out-of-pocket costs for your counselling sessions.

A Survey of Insurance Carriers for Coverage of Social Workers under the Paramedical Benefits of Health Plans (2003):

Great West Life – Covered in all Provinces
Liberty Life – Owned by Manulife and covered in all Provinces
Manulife – Not in standard contract. Will add if requested.
National Life – Covered under plans for 100+ employees if requested.
Standard Life – Not covered in standard contract but can be added.
Sun Life – Not covered in standard contract. If plan is large enough coverage can be added.

*These are only a few providers and plans and policies can be different for everyone. Please check with your insurance provider first before booking your appointment.*