Question 1

1. Do you do both assessment and treatment work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I do both.

Regarding assessment, historically, for some 25 years, I did mostly IME (Independent Medical Legal, or Psychological Legal) assessment work and typically for the court, lawyers, and/or insurance companies. These were lengthy assessments, resulting in 20-to-25-page reports. I no longer do this type of assessment or report; however, I am happy to do shorter comprehensive “clinical” assessments that result in 2 to 4-page reports. These assessments and reports would be mostly diagnostic in nature, followed by treatment recommendations. They may also be designed to help opine upon and manage workplace injury and disability. They can be used in the context of litigation. They may address psychologically-based workplace limitations and restrictions and are sometimes used for pension purposes, as with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). They can involve written reports and/or completed insurance forms. They will follow DSM-5TR diagnostic criteria.

I am well-practiced and steeped in both psychological assessment and treatment work.

Question 2

2. Do you offer both in-person and online assessments and treatment?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no. For the most part, my services are online and conducted by phone or within a secure videoconferencing platform. I find this to be most the convenient approach, as do most of those who seek my assistance. This methodology yields both reliable and valid clinical data, as has been supported by many controlled studies that have compared in-person versus online treatment.

Many recognized protocols and guidelines are also available for both online assessments and treatment.

On the rare occasion, I will provide in-person assessments and treatment. This practice would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Question 3

3. What is the cost of your services?

Accepted Answer

The present cost of my services is $250 per hour. I offer direct billing with ICBC without a surcharge. Work that is “forensic” and for the court is at a higher rate. The current BCPA (British Columbia Psychological Association) suggested rate is $240 per session (usually 50 minutes). Many extended benefits plans reimburse at this rate or more. It is best to check with your insurance carrier for clarification regarding hourly and total third-party psychological coverage.

Psychological services are not covered by MSP. Psychological fees, paid out of pocket, are generally income tax deductible as medical expenses; however, confirmation by a tax specialist is recommended. Fees, payment, source and method of payment, receipts, and related details are discussed and agreed upon at time of booking of services. Fee levels and other payment variables are subject to change depending upon the type and nature of service, and over the course of time.

Question 4

4. What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

If you need to cancel or reschedule, and by way of courtesy, I would like as much notice as possible. That way, I can plan my schedule and insert others into my calendar who are waiting to see me. For the most part, I would like 24 to 48 hours’ notice. If you cannot provide this, as in cases of severe illness or an emergency, this will be acknowledged and understood.

Question 5

5. How will I know if your services are right for me?

Accepted Answer

Before beginning any service (assessment or treatment), we will arrange a 15-minute complimentary telephone or video call. By this time, you will likely have answered 3 or 4 questions as part of the sign-up process on this website. This will give me a sense of what you are looking for (regarding assessment and/or treatment). I will be looking for an assessment or treatment match – that is, a match between what you seek and what I can confidently deliver. I will not, for instance, take on any task that is not within my area of expertise.

Regarding therapy, once we are engaged in the treatment process, in my view, it is our combined job, so to speak, to create and foster a therapeutic setting and treatment focus that is “helpful” for you, the client. I will ask you, on a periodic basis, about “how we are doing,” and if what we are doing is “helpful.” If not, and if your therapeutic goals are not being met, we will decide to change course, and if this is not possible, we will discuss a referral elsewhere.

Question 6

6. Regarding treatment, who do you work with, and what type of therapy do you provide?

Accepted Answer

I work with people from all walks of life and with a multitude of different issues and/or concerns. These can include any of, or any combination of: anxiety (GAD, social, health anxiety), fears/phobias, anger, Panic Disorder (panic attacks), trauma and stressor-related disorders (Adjustment Disorders, ASD, PTSD, Complex PTSD), problems with sleep, depression, bipolar illness, problems with cognitions and function, grief/bereavement, issues with substance use/abuse, chronic illness, chronic pain, workplace issues and/or disability, couples and marital issues, and problematic family relations. As well, I routinely assess and treat those injured in motor vehicle accidents (as with ICBC), RCMP members, and other First Responders suffering from traumatic exposure in the workplace.Regarding therapeutic orientation, I am strongly informed by a bio-psycho-social understanding of physical and psychological health. Primary treatment modalities include CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), and MI (Motivational Interviewing). I am also well versed in couples/marital therapy (CBT, IBCT, ACT) and Family Systems Theory.Further, my practice is trauma-informed, meaning that I am knowledgeable, experienced, and comfortable in assessing and treating individuals suffering from injury and trauma from multiple earlier and later sources, resulting in many different forms of physical and psychological distress.For more information regarding favoured treatment modalities, please refer to the Resources page.

Question 7

7. How often do I need to attend therapy, and how long does it take?

Accepted Answer

The frequency of treatment attendance is usually determined by financial matters/means, the severity or acuteness of the problem, the time availability of the client(s) and/or this writer, and client satisfaction. Some clients attend weekly, some attend bi-weekly, and some attend monthly. Some attend on an as needed basis and only once every 3-6 months, and only for a particular stressor at the time. Typically, therapy sessions are more frequent in the early stages when symptoms and impairments are more acute.

The duration (or length of treatment) is influenced by the same factors. Treatment duration, in my experience, can range from one session to more than a year.

Question 8

8. What about confidentiality?  Will everything I share be confidential?

Accepted Answer

Limits of confidentiality are reviewed at the start of the assessment or first treatment session. Essentially, I advise that I am required by my practice guidelines to keep a record of our meeting and the content. Depending upon the nature and purpose of the session, the content that is kept can be more or less detailed. I advise that regardless of the setting, there will be no release of records without client or legal counsel written consent, or a court order. Even with written consent, records are carefully reviewed before release, with several considerations in mind. These are set out in the College of Psychologists of BC (CPBC) Code of Conduct, and the Ethics and Practice Standards of the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).

I also advise that I have a duty to warn and/or a duty to report and a legal obligation to do so if I have a reasonable suspicion of child, dependent, or elder abuse or neglect, or when a client presents a significant danger to self or to others.

Question 9

9. What is the difference between a psychologist, psychiatrist, and counsellor?

Accepted Answer

A psychologist in BC typically has an advanced university degree such as a Ph.D. or Psych. D. This is often 3 or 4 years of study (and clinical internship experience) beyond a master’s degree. A psychologist with a Ph.D. is a doctor, though not a medical doctor. A psychologist cannot prescribe medication. A psychologist can and is licensed to diagnose mental health conditions (typically using the DSM-5-TR).

A psychiatrist is first trained as a medical doctor and then completes a specialty in psychiatry. A psychiatrist can both diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. A psychiatrist is most likely to focus on the medical aspects of mental illness/disorders, and with a biological or neurological focus.

A psychiatrist in BC will most likely bill through MSP. Psychologists and counsellors are not able to do so. For the most part, a psychologist invoices at a higher rate than a counsellor.

Essentially, and in the simplest of terms, the differences come down to the extent and type of training, the capacity to diagnose, the capacity to prescribe medication, and matters of “regulation.” Importantly, psychology and psychiatry in BC are “licensed” and “regulated” healthcare practices. Their practices are overseen, regulated, and held accountable to and by their respective Colleges. To date, it is my understanding that counsellors within BC are not regulated or “licensed” under any BC Healthcare College, or as healthcare practitioners. Regulation and licensing are designed to assure a high standard of training, a high standard of care, and to protect the public.

The CPA (Canadian Psychological Association) offers some additional information regarding psychological practice regulation, as follows:
https://cpa.ca/public/decidingtoseeapsychologist/

Psychological services in BC are now regulated under the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC).

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