Description of Psychotherapy:
According to the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), psychotherapy is primarily a talk-based therapy and is intended to help people improve and maintain their mental health and well-being. Registered Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples and families in individual and group settings. Psychotherapy occurs when the Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and client enter into a psychotherapeutic relationship where both work together to bring about positive change in the client’s thinking, feeling, behaviour and social functioning. Individuals usually seek psychotherapy when they have thoughts, feelings, moods and behaviours that are adversely affecting their day-to-day lives, relationships and the ability to enjoy life. Please check https://www.crpo.ca/find-a-registered-psychotherapist/what-is-psychotherapy/ for more information.
What to Expect from a Registered Psychotherapist
When you seek the services of a Registered Psychotherapist, you can expect to receive competent, ethical, quality care from a qualified professional who is registered with CRPO.
RPs are accountable to CRPO for the quality of care they provide and for their professional conduct. Only individuals who are registered with CRPO are able to use the title “psychotherapist”, “Registered Psychotherapist” or any abbreviation or variation thereof in any language, or to hold themselves out as qualified to practise as a psychotherapist in Ontario (no matter what title they use).
Standards of Practise
All RPs in Ontario must follow the established standards for the profession. CRPO’s Professional Practice Standards for Registered Psychotherapists are in place so you can be assured that your psychotherapist is practising in a competent and ethical manner. The standards provide clear expectations for RPs, covering everything from professional conduct to record-keeping and documentation.
CRPO holds all Registered Psychotherapists accountable for their conduct and practise.
Please visit https://www.crpo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Professional-Practice-Standards-EN-v-6.0.pdf for more information.
Potential risks and benefits
Although psychotherapy is considered to be relatively low risk, but because psychotherapy explores difficult aspects of one’s life, clients might experience uncomfortable feelings such as anxiety, sadness, fear, frustration, anger, loneliness, guilt, suicidal ideation, etc. Clients might recall unpleasant feelings and memories during or in between sessions, which is a normal experience during the process of psychotherapy. As a result of psychotherapy, clients might also notice some changes in their relationship with others and with their surrounding, as they learn more about themselves and find new ways of coping and problem solving.
Despite these risks, therapy has generally been shown to benefit those who choose to engage in it. Therapy often leads to a significant long-term reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, and development of more effective coping skills.
Psychotherapy Outcomes
The client has to keep in mind that the outcome of psychotherapy is not predictable and there can be no guarantee in the clients progress towards her/his goals, since psychotherapeutic progress is dependent on many factors. However, we are professional psychotherapists with years of experience and we are committed to do our best to help you through your life challenges.
Age of Consent to Service
In Ontario, there is no “age of consent” with respect to personal health care decisions. In general, clients of any age are considered capable of refusing or providing consent to their own treatment as long as they possess the maturity to reasonably understand the information provided and can appreciate the consequences of their decisions.
Where a client is a minor (e.g. under the age of 16 for health care decisions, or under the age of 18 for decisions involving contracts), their capacity to provide consent must be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Medavie Blue Cross
Medavie Blue Cross is a Canadian not-for-profit health insurance provider offering a wide range of benefits, including health, dental, travel, life, and disability coverage for both individuals and organizations nationwide.
As part of its coverage, Medavie Blue Cross also provides access to psychotherapy and psychological services for individuals who have submitted a refugee claim, continuing until their refugee status is officially recognized and approved by the court.
To access psychotherapy and psychology benefits, a psychological assessment must first be completed. This assessment includes a clinical interview and the use of standardized psychometric tools. Following the assessment, the assessor will prepare a psychological report, which, along with a physician’s referral, will be submitted to Medavie Blue Cross for approval of psychotherapy/psychology services.
Please note that a doctor’s referral is required in order to submit this request. Once the psychological report and referral are submitted, Medavie Blue Cross typically takes approximately four to six weeks to review and respond. If the request is approved, therapy sessions may begin immediately.
Confidentiality
No information about you or the content of your psychotherapy sessions will be shared with anyone, except your referring physician and Medavie Blue Cross, and only for the purpose of processing your application. Both are bound by strict confidentiality regulations. The only circumstances under which we are legally obligated to disclose client information are if there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, or if there is reason to believe that a child (under 18) or a vulnerable adult may be in danger. In the case that your information gets subpoenaed by court, your psychotherapist is entitled to release your information to the court. Also, when a client discloses that she/he has been sexually abused by another helping professional who is a member of a profession regulated by the Regulated Health Professions Act of Ontario (e.g., psychologist, medical doctor, physiotherapist, etc.) or the Social Work & Social Service Workers Act of Ontario, it may be necessary to report the name of the professional (not the client) to the relevant college. In a situation of the unexpected death or illness of the therapist, you may be contacted by a representative who is acting on behalf of the therapist and is committed to the confidentiality rules. At any time, you have the right to withhold or withdraw consent to, or place conditions on, the disclosure of your information.
Emergencies
If you have an emergency between sessions, please contact your physician, the emergency department of the local hospital nearest to you, call the local community mental health crisis lines or dial 911.
Electronic communication (Videoconferencing, e-mail, texting)
Electronic communication is generally used for online sessions and scheduling appointments. Although we use updated spyware, antivirus, and VPN, due to the nature of digital technology, the complete security and privacy of e-communications cannot be guaranteed as information may be intercepted, lost, corrupted, or infected, or someone may access your computer. It is highly recommended that clients also use a VPN, in order to reduce the risks of sessions getting hacked.
Record Keeping
Psychotherapists are required to keep a record of each session with the client. Records are kept for a minimum of 10 years after a client turns 19 years of age. All information is maintained in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) of the Federal Government of Canada and the Personal Health Information and Protection Act (PHIPA) of the Province of Ontario. Your personal information is protected by specific safeguards including locked cabinets and computer passwords.
Client’s Rights and Expectations
During the first session, you will be informed about the psychological assessment process, the informed consent form, and an estimate number of sessions.
You have the right to ask about the assessors qualifications or any questions related to your assessment or treatment.
You can ask to see the assessor’s or the psychotherapist’s registration certificate with the Ontario College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO).
You can refuse any recommendations, practices or techniques which you find unsuitable for you.
You can stop therapy at any time. Although, we recommend that you participate in a termination session prior to leaving.
Feedbacks are welcomed
Payment Policy
There is no cost for the assessment or the therapy sessions. Medavie Blue Cross covers up to ten psychotherapy sessions. If you wish to continue treatment beyond those sessions, a new referral from your doctor will be required, and your therapist can assist you with the application for an extension.
Cancelation Policy
If you need to cancel a session, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance. If you do not provide sufficient notice, you will receive a verbal warning. A second occurrence will result in a written warning, and if it happens a third time, we will need to discontinue your treatment with us.
Assistant
Any assistant, volunteer, or employee of Zaud Psychotherapy Professional Corporation will be fully committed to confidentiality laws in psychotherapy practice, and will sign a confidentiality agreement form. The assistant will have No access to clients personal files, such as session notes, etc. The assistant will only be responsible for scheduling appointments, managing cancellations and missed sessions, sending invoices and receipts, and bookkeeping. For this purpose, the assistant will have access to your name and personal information stated on this form.
Acknowledgement and Consent
By signing below, you indicate that you have read and understood this consent form. You indicate that any questions you have about this consent form or the information form were answered to your satisfaction and that you were provided a copy of this document. You agree to accept the psychotherapy services as offered herein. You understand that psychotherapy is a process of collaboratively working to resolve issues presenting for you.