BEGINNING COUNSELLING & ACCESSING BENEFITS
Q: I suffer from anxiety and anger and would like to come see you and get some help but I have 2 questions. Are you covered by my benefits and how does counselling work?
These are very common questions. I will first address the things that are “easier” to answer: costs and insurance benefits. My hourly rate is $150 for a 60-minute hour (some provide a 45-55 minute hour). Your benefits may cover me. I am a Registered Social Worker with bachelor (BSW), master (MSW) and doctor (PhD) level degrees in Social Work. My services are covered by many benefit packages including school boards and government bodies such as WSIB and I am licensed with the government motor vehicle accidents insurance, known as HCAI. But you must confirm your coverage with your benefits package. Some provide counselling through a specific company in which case, you have to accept their counsellors and most likely have a very limited number of sessions available. Some benefit packages cover one professional designation, and not others. Again, check your benefit package and if in doubt, speak to them directly. In your case, since your physician referred you specifically to me, mention that if there is any doubt.
As to how it works, if you mean what makes counselling successful, that is a long conversation and actually best discussed as part of the “work” we would do together. What we would actually do though, is basically talk—I find out something about you and the sources of your stress, and I teach you some ways to change the “outcomes” , which in your case, is depression and anger, so that you become in control of your emotions. If you will ask me how many sessions it will take, of course everyone is different and have different final goals so I can’t tell you for sure, but most people find some level of relief by within 6—10 and feel significantly better after12 sessions. Yet, if you can only afford 4-6, sessions we work with what we’ve got. I am skilled at being able to provide short-term relief quickly.
I hope this gives you some insight into the process. If you are interested in speaking further or booking an appointment, contact me via phone or email. Remember, my goal is to Help You Help Yourself so that your skills will build and you can move forward.
