| Psychotherapy | |
(Freely translated from the website of the Ordre des psychologues du Quebec)
Psychotherapy is a structured interactive process which, based on a diagnosis, concerns the treatment of a mental health disorder, using methods recognized by the scientific community. It is a personal journey in which the psychologist helps you to see more clearly, to explore, and to make changes.
Q: What happens in psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy usually consists of meetings with the psychologist in his/her office.
Your talks with the psychologist have definite objectives, centred on your life, your feelings and what is important to you.
The psychologist's careful listening is part of the therapy, which can be more or less important depending on the approach preferred by the psychologist. In the large majority of therapies, the psychologist also intervenes: s/he may ask questions, comment on what you have said, ask for details, and help you to express feelings and to describe events.
The psychologist may also use exercises which help you concentrate, relive an experience, or imagine a situation. Activities for the time between interviews may also be suggested.
Usually, psychotherapy is between you and the psychologist. It may happen that members of your family or those close to you are included, for example, your spouse if you want to work on issues between you.
Psychotherapy is a process of change. We all know how hard it is to change our behaviours, attitudes, and reactions. In most cases you will not be able to achieve your goals in one or two meetings. However, therapy does not have to last for years. The length of psychotherapy depends on many factors such as the seriousness of the problems and the nature of the goals.
Q: What approach to psychotherapy does Lee Covington prefer?
Lee prefers the behavioral-cognitive approach, where psychological problems are considered to be linked to thoughts, or to behaviours which have been learned by a person in his/her ordinary environment. Therapy is a question of analyzing these behaviours and thoughts, as well as the person's environment, followed by learning new behaviours and thoughts which are better adapted to the person's situation.
There is no rule about when to stop. You may stop your therapy any time, and in no case are you committed to continue therapy or to pay fees in advance. This being said, usually therapy is considered over when the goals are largely met. Often, people gradually reduce the frequency of their meetings with the psychologist rather than stop abruptly.
In some cases, the psychologist may end the therapy, for example, if his/her career is going in a different direction or if s/he considers that the help of another professional would be more appropriate. In these circumstances, the psychologist is required to assure that such a situation would not be detrimental to you.
Q: Do I have to take medication?
The psychologist does not prescribe medication. If you are already taking medication, or if it seems appropriate, you, your doctor, and the psychologist will work together on this decision.
Q: What happens in the first meeting?
The first interview is an opportunity to become informed and to evaluate whether this is the right situation for you. It is the beginning of mutual trust between you and the psychologist. You can frankly explain the difficulties facing you, which allows the psychologist to assess how to be most helpful.
It is also your opportunity to evaluate the psychologist and to put any questions which worry you. Although you may feel nervous or preoccupied with your difficulties, take the time to become informed. The psychologist is required to explain the principal aspects of the psychotherapy so that you can give your informed consent.
Feel free to ask the psychologist about his/her training, experience relevant to your particular problems, the type of therapy practised, how the interviews typically unfold, and any other question you want to ask.
Take the time to clarify the practical aspects of the therapy, such as:
- What is the fee for each session?
- How long does the session last?
- How frequent are the sessions (once a week, twice a week, twice a month, etc)?
- When must the fees be paid?
- What happens if I can't attend a session?
- When are receipts issued?
- What happens in an emergency?
- Will our meetings be completely confidential?
- Will there be a file on me? What will be in it? Can I look at it?
The first meeting is your chance to evaluate your feelings about the proposed therapy. Do you feel comfortable with this psychologist? Do you feel you can confide in this person? Are you comfortable with his/her way of working? Are you satisfied with the way s/he responded to your questions and in his/her actions towards you? If you answer "no" to these questions, it would be better to consult another psychologist in whom you feel more confident.
Psychological services in the public and parapublic network (Centres Locales de Services Communautaires, schools) are paid for by the province.
If you consult a psychologist in private practice, you must pay fees. These are not reimbursed by the Regie de l'assurance-maladie du Quebec ("Medicare").
The charges are not fixed by law or by the Ordre des psychologues; they vary from one psychologist to another. Fees tend to range between $65 and $85 per hour.
The psychologist must set fees in a fair and reasonable way; the fees must be justified by the circumstances, and be proportional to the services rendered.
Q: What are Lee Covington's fees?
Please call Lee for fee information, (613) 761-2721.
Most group insurance contracts allow the reimbursement, in full or in part, of psychologists' fees. In general, the psychologist must be a member of the Ordre des psychologues du Quebec, or another certifying body, such as the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
Certain programs of the Regie d'assurance automobile du Quebec, of the Commission de la sante and de la securite du travail du Quebec and of the Indemnisation des victimes d'actes criminels allow full or partial reimbursement of the cost of psychologists' consultations when they are necessary, for example, following a car accident, an accident at work, or being the victim of a criminal act.
Q: Can fees be claimed on my tax return?
Fees paid to a psychologist for therapy are accepted as medical costs for tax purposes. Ask the psychologist to issue a receipt at the end of your therapy, or at the end of the tax year; you may then use the receipts in preparing your tax return. Fees already reimbursed by an insurance company cannot be claimed as medical costs.