Fees and Funding
Individual Therapy Fee:
The fee for a 50-minute individual psychotherapy session is $250.00. The initial consultation and assessment meeting lasts one hour and 15 minutes for a fee of $300.00. Taking more time in our first encounter allows for sharing information, making an assessment of your concerns, clarifying your needs, engaging in some therapeutic interventions, and getting a sense of how we will work together.
Occasionally, I have space in my practice and can offer a reduced fee to prospective clients who have no health benefits plan and a limited income.
Couple Therapy Fee:
The fee for couple therapy is $275.00 for a one hour session. At the request of clients, I can offer longer sessions for a pro-rated fee (e.g., $350.00 for one hour and 15 minutes).
External Funding:
Extended Health Plans – Psychological services are reimbursed by most extended health care plans offered by employers. If you or a member of your family has signed up for such a plan, look in the booklet describing your benefits or talk to your insurance company to find out about your coverage. Coverage for psychologists varies from $500 per year to $2000.00 per year for most plans. You pay the psychologist and submit the receipt to the insurance company that reimburses you.
Insurance companies' short- or long-term disability plans - If you are receiving short- or long-term disability coverage, your insurance company may be willing to fund treatment. Contact your case manager / adjuster.
Criminal Injury Compensation - If you have a psychological problem as a result of having been a victim of a reported crime, you may qualify for payment of psychotherapy services. In BC, the crime needs to have occurred since July 1972, when this program was created.
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) in British Columbia does not pay for the services of a private psychologist. You might be able to access the free services of a psychiatrist under MSP with the referral of a physician.
Tax issues which may help you save on expenses:
Tax credit: You can claim, as a non-refundable tax credit, medical expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and your children. You may be able to pool your claims with those of your spouse or common-law partner. For more information visit the website of the Canada Revenue Agency.
Deduction of expenses for tax purposes: You may set up a special Health Spending Account (HSA), a uniquely designed account established exclusively for the purposes of healthcare spending. Health Spending Accounts can be set up by self-employed individuals through a broker. They may already be part of your employer's benefit package.