Why see a Registered Psychologist?
A psychologist is a professional trained in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health issues. They have specialized knowledge in how we feel, think and behave, and how to encourage change in order to reduce distress, and improve overall psychological health.
Doctoral-level psychologists have the most extensive education and formal training requirements of any healthcare provider in the mental health field. They are required to have an undergraduate degree in psychology, minimum of 6 years of graduate training, thousands of hours of formal clinical training, and a formal full year clinical internship. They are then required to complete another postdoctoral year of supervised practice and pass examinations to show their competency to the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario.
As a regulated professional, psychologists are required by law to provide professional services in a competent and professional manner. They are also required to follow ethical principles and standards as defined in the Regulated Health Professionals Act, legislated by the Province of Ontario. They must also continually improve their knowledge and skills by participating in quality assurance activities.
How do I make an appointment?
Simply call our office and talk to our administrative staff, who will take you through the intake process and set up your first appointment. Alternatively, you can send us a message on our contact us page access our online booking page by clicking on the link above. Faxed referrals are also welcomed by health care professionals and educational staff (Please fax to 905-878-3621).
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
We always welcome referrals from health practitioners, although it is not necessary to obtain an appointment. However, some extended health-benefit providers do require a referral before providing reimbursement.
What should I expect at my first appointment?
Your first appointment is usually dedicated to assessment and treatment planning. This will involve information gathering that will help obtain a better understanding of you and your current situation. An overview of a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs will be discussed and specific goals will be outlined.
How long will therapy last?
This is a reasonable question and is difficult to predict. This depends on a number of factors including your goals, the severity of your symptoms, the strength of the relationship with your therapist, the level of effort put into change, as well as external factors in your life.
Depending on your specific needs and goals, therapy can be short-term, to deal with a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with recurrent life patterns of thinking, feeling or behaving which require the development of greater understanding over time.
Do you prescribe medications?
As registered psychologists we do not prescribe medications.
Are your services covered by OHIP?
Psychological services are not currently covered by OHIP. However, many insurance plans and benefit packages provide partial or full coverage for our services.
What is your cancellation policy?
Clients are required to provide 24 hours notice of appointment cancellations or changes. The full session fee will be charged for missed treatment session where such notice was not provided.