Fees & Insurance

Many extended-health plans cover psychotherapy provided by a Registered Social Worker (RSW), but coverage depends on your specific plan.

Before your first appointment, check whether your plan covers a Registered Social Worker and how much it will reimburse. It is also worth checking your annual or per-session limit and whether your insurer requires a referral, prescription, or prior authorization.

No. You can contact me and book a consultation directly without a referral from a doctor or another healthcare provider. Some insurance plans do require a referral or prescription for reimbursement, so it is worth checking the requirements of your specific plan.

Yes. I direct bill many insurance plans through TELUS Health and am registered with Medavie Blue Cross.

Eligible Veterans Affairs Canada, Canadian Armed Forces, and RCMP clients can also have approved sessions billed through Medavie Blue Cross. I am also registered with IFHP and Victim Services for eligible clients.

Direct billing depends on your individual plan or program. If you are unsure whether yours can be billed directly, ask me before your first session.

You can still use your insurance if your plan covers Registered Social Workers.

You would pay for the session and receive a receipt to submit to your insurer for reimbursement. Direct billing changes how the claim is submitted, but it does not determine whether your insurance company will cover the session.

You can attend sessions in person, virtually, or by phone. In-person sessions are held at the Hamilton Centre for Personal Development at 430 York Boulevard in Hamilton, with free parking available.

No. Psychotherapy with me is not covered by OHIP.

Many workplace and private extended-health plans include separate coverage for Registered Social Workers.

Yes, depending on availability. I keep a limited number of appointments available at a reduced rate.

If the regular fee would make it difficult to begin or continue therapy, you can ask whether a sliding-scale space is available.

WSIB can fund mental-health treatment for some accepted workplace claims. Their Mental Health Program of Care includes social workers, although participation requires WSIB approval and treatment through an approved provider arrangement.

If you have an active WSIB claim and want to work with me, speak with your WSIB case manager about whether treatment with me can be authorized before booking.

At the moment, I do not bill automobile insurers directly for psychotherapy following a motor vehicle accident.

Ontario’s current auto-insurance system creates some significant problems for social-work treatment. Registered Social Workers are excluded from the Professional Services Guideline used by automobile insurers, which has allowed insurers to set widely different rates for social-work services. The Ontario Association of Social Workers has also been advocating for Registered Social Workers to be able to authorize their own treatment plans.

Read more about OASW’s advocacy for motor vehicle accident clients and social workers.

I hope these rules change. If they do, I would be happy to provide psychotherapy through automobile-insurance funding.

For now, if you would like to work with me after an accident, you can ask your insurance adjuster whether they will approve sessions with me at my regular fee. Please confirm that funding with your insurer before booking if you need automobile insurance to cover the cost.

Appointments require at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Fees apply to appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours’ notice, as well as missed appointments.

Booking your appointment with me is easy! Please see the booking page for more details and instructions.

That’s a great question! Finding out whether we are a good match is the most important part of therapy. Without it, we would not make good progress. Therefore, I see this as being both of our responsibility.

In short, I believe that it’s about your gut feeling. If it feels like you can trust, share, and express yourself safely in session, then it’s a good match. If it doesn’t feel right to you, that’s completely acceptable as an indication that we are not a good match.

I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation to help you make the decision, because of how much I value the right therapeutic fit. Click here to book your free consultation.

That’s a very reasonable question! The length of therapy really depends on your specific concern(s), as well as other factors such as your comfort level, how often you’re able to come for sessions, and your fit with the therapist.

In general, I find that anywhere between 8 and 20 sessions is common. That said, it is not uncommon for people to need less (even one session!) or more than that. Some people even prefer to stay with a therapist long term.

What’s most important isn’t how long it takes, but how you feel during and after sessions, how you view your progress, and how well you connect with the therapist.

It’s completely understandable to feel hesitant if past counselling didn’t help. The truth is, therapy is a deeply personal experience, and it’s not uncommon for it to take more than one try to find the right fit.

Different therapists bring different strengths to the table, and sometimes, it’s about finding the one you connect with on a deeper level. This connection can make all the difference in how you experience therapy. My approach might resonate with you in a way that’s different from your previous experiences, and together, we can explore what works best for you.

Therapy is meant to be a safe, confidential space where you can openly explore your challenges. Your conversations with me will remain private, and no one, including your employer or family, will know about what we discuss unless you choose to share that information.

If you ever decide to involve someone else, we’d need your written consent through a signed release of information. There are a few legal limits to confidentiality that all mental health professionals in Ontario must follow, and we’ll go over these together in our first session so you feel fully informed and comfortable.