Policies
Payment Policies
Frequency of Sessions
We see most clients on an every other week basis to start but are sometimes able to accommodate weekly or monthly sessions. We find that therapy works best when there is consistency in the frequency. Ideally, this happens with enough of a break between sessions to process and put what we have started in therapy to work outside of the therapy room but not too long of a break that therapy begins to feel like we are catching up on what has happened in your life in the last two or more weeks. Of course, we understand that it is not always possible to have the means to attend therapy every week or every other week and are open to other arrangements, especially once we have seen each other on some type of regular basis to start with to establish trust and get to know each other. It is normal for the frequency of therapy to decrease over time, as your needs for support decrease in intensity.
24 Hour Cancellation Policy
We have a 24 hour cancellation policy whereby we ask for your full session fee if we do not receive at least 24 hours of notice before you cancel your scheduled session.
Confidentiality
Anything that you tell us in therapy stays with us, with a few notable exceptions. The first is that our students are supervised by Erica directly on a weekly basis. They need to tell Erica anything that is relevant to them supporting the students so that your student therapist can best support you.
The only times we would be legally and ethically obligated to report something you’ve told us, possibly but hopefully not without your consent and knowledge, would be:
1. If you have a real and imminent plan to hurt yourself
2. If you have a real and imminent plan to hurt someone else
3. If you inform us that you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected
4.If you inform us that you suspect that an elder is being abused or neglected
The only other time that we would release information about you would be if your records were subpoenaed by a court but we should be able to discuss that well beforehand.
Complaints Process
All therapists at our practice follow the CCPA (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association) Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics (links below). Please feel free to discuss any potential complaints with Erica or Sarah or by contacting the NSCCT (Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists) directly.
If you have or believe that you may have a complaint to make, please follow these links for more information: