Fees and Policies

FEES

Therapy services with Andrea are billed at $178.50 (including GST) per therapy hour (50 minute session) or $257.25 (including GST) for an 80 minute session.

Therapy services with Jocelyn are billed at $125.00 (including GST) per therapy hour (50 minute session) or $188.00 (including GST for an 80 minute session.

Some insurance plans pay all or a portion of the costs of seeing a counsellor. It is up to individual clients to check with their health insurance provider about coverage before seeking counselling services.

Other billable services, such as report writing, professional letters, form completion, and review of written records from other specialists are charged at the same rate as the billable rate for the specific therapist.

Payments can be made by cash, cheque, e-transfer or credit. Services must be paid for after each session and receipts will be provided. Unpaid invoices will be sent to a collections agency after 45 days. Direct billing to insurance agencies is not offered.

LATE CANCELLATIONS AND NO-SHOWS

Appointment times are reserved for exclusive use and it is the client's responsibility to provide at least 2 business days notice of cancellation, which allows that time slot to be offered to another client. Appointments may be cancelled by email or phone. Email and voicemail are time stamped, verifying the time of cancellation. The usual charge for late cancellations or “no shows” are billed at the regular hourly rate of the therapist being seen.

CONSENT

Clients have the right to decide whether or not to receive services and the duration and nature of those services. This decision needs to be based on an accurate understanding of client and counsellor responsibilities, rights of the client, and potential risks and benefits of receiving services. Consent is an ongoing process and clients have the right to ask any questions, at any time, about the nature of therapy, and to receive answers that are clear and straightforward. Clients can withdrawn consent at any time; this can be done through verbal or written notification.

Youth between the ages of 15 and 18 can be considered mature minors according to the Mental Health Act. If a teen is considered a mature minor, that means they can consent or decline counselling services on their own behalf.

PRIVACY

Clients have the right to decide the time, circumstances, and extent to which personal information is shared with others.

The information shall be shared solely for the following reasons:

Track referral information for administrative purposes.
To give billing information required by a third party to pay for services.
To provide information to a third party when referring for treatment (consent to release form required).
In situations where clients wish to share their counselling progress or information with a 3rd party, such as a doctor or specialist (consent to release form is required)

Covid-19 Contact Tracing

In the event I am required to provide client information for tracing purposes, whether initiating a report or responding to a request for information from a designated person, I will only provide information deemed necessary, and doing so to the appropriate person designated to collect that information. In the event I have determined that I need to make a report, Yukon Public Health will be contacted.

Technology and Privacy

Many new smartphone, tablets, and computers come with voice activated assistive technologies. In order to work properly, these voice-activated technologies are always listening, and the conversations can be recorded if they “think” they hear their name. In order to ensure sufficient confidentiality, it is important that clients know and understand the risks associated with such technology. Common Ground Counselling requests that you either turn off this assistive technology in the waiting room and during sessions or turn your phone off completely off.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Client information and counsellor files are not released without informed written consent except in circumstances where ethically and legally required. Clinical files are maintained for a minimum of ten years and after that time period, they are destroyed. In the case of minors (even mature minors), files will be maintained for seven years after their 18th birthday, or ten years, whichever is longer.

Common Ground Counselling clients are asked to consent to the following conditions that may limit confidentiality:

If services are paid for by a third party, there may be requirements to share information with this party.

In certain exceptional circumstances, counsellors are ethically and legally required to disclose information to others without your consent. These circumstances include:

Instances where the client poses an imminent threat of injury to themselves or others. In these circumstances, the therapist will act to protect the person(s) in danger by informing a family member, the police, and medical or other clinical personnel as appropriate.
Instances where a clinician has suspicion that a child or elderly person is at risk of abuse or neglect.
If the client reports professional misconduct by another registered or certified professional.
Instances where a judge issues a Court Order to release therapy information.

Note: Andrea and Jocelyn participate in clinical consultation with other clinicians and clinical supervisors. Cases may be discussed in the process of consultation, however, names and identifying information are withheld or disguised to protect confidentiality. This is standard practice within the profession and ensures optimal client care and effective therapeutic services.