FAQs

Psychotherapy, often referred to as talk therapy or counseling, is a structured therapeutic process where individuals work with a trained therapist or mental health professional to address emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues. The primary goal of psychotherapy is to help individuals gain insight into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as to develop coping strategies, manage symptoms, and improve their mental and emotional well-being.

You will meet one-on-one with your counsellor/therapist getting to know one another, determining if the therapist is a good fit for your needs and you will get a chance to discuss about what brought you to counselling and your expectations. Furthermore, your counsellor/psychotherapist will discuss how many sessions and the frequency. However, while there may be exceptions, it is generally advisable to plan on scheduling weekly or bi-weekly sessions. Duration of treatment is dependent on several factors, including the severity of the concern that brought you to counselling.

The type of therapy you chose, the duration and frequency can impact the fees. Payment is accepted at the beginning of each session and receipt will be provided at the time of payment. We accept credit cards and Interac e-transfer.

Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) does not cover counselling and psychotherapy fees. Individuals are responsible for finding out about their insurance coverage from their employer to consult a psychotherapist. You are required to pay for the service, and you may be able to claim your cost back based on your coverage type and your company policy.

24 hours’ notice is required to cancel your appointment or rescheduling for another day. Failure to do so will attract a full payment because the time cannot be used for another client without a proper cancellation.

Lightroom Counselling Services opens Monday-Friday (9am-6pm) and some Saturdays based on availability, extended hours may be available base on request and availability. Services are available virtually and an in-person based on available spots. If you don’t find a time, contact us and we will try and walk out alternative timing.

Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of counseling and therapy, ensuring that clients can trust their therapists and feel safe sharing their personal and sensitive information. This includes the handling of files that contain case notes, records, and psychological test results. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality, it’s important to discuss them with your therapist to ensure a clear understanding of the limits and exceptions in your specific therapeutic relationship.

Here are some key points regarding counseling confidentiality:

Therapists and counselors have a legal and ethical obligation to protect the confidentiality of their clients. This means they are required by law and professional ethics to keep the information shared during sessions confidential.

While confidentiality is a strong principle in counseling, there are specific situations in which therapists may be required to breach confidentiality. These exceptions typically include situations where there is a risk of harm to the client or others. For example, if a client expresses intent to harm themselves or someone else, the therapist may need to take action to prevent harm. Counsellors are required by law to report to the appropriate authorities if there is physical or sexual abuse of a child under the age of 18 or if there is reason to believe a person’s life is in jeopardy. If a judge subpoenaed a counsellor to testify in court or to release the contents of a file, the counsellor is required to do so.

Therapists typically discuss the limits of confidentiality with their clients during the initial session. This process is part of informed consent and helps clients understand when and why confidentiality may be breached.

Therapists may engage in supervision or consultation with other professionals to ensure the quality of care. In these cases, client information is typically de-identified or anonymized to protect confidentiality.

Therapists keep records of their sessions, but these records are also kept confidential. Access to these records is typically limited to the therapist and their staff. If there is a need or desire to disclose information from files with another professional e.g., medical doctor, lawyer, pastor, or third-party billing source (for employee benefits, for example), the client will be consulted first and asked to sign a release of information document.

When clients use insurance to cover therapy costs, the insurance company may require some information for billing purposes. However, therapists typically share only the minimum necessary information for billing, and they work to protect the privacy of their clients as much as possible.

Confidentiality extends beyond the termination of therapy. Even after therapy has ended, therapists are bound by confidentiality rules.

Therapists are careful to avoid dual relationships, which can compromise confidentiality. This means they generally do not have personal or professional relationships with clients outside of the therapeutic context.