Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a session and how do I pay?
Counselling sessions last 50 minutes and are offered at $157.50 per session, which includes GST. Payments are due at the time of service and a receipt will be issued at the end of the session which you can them submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. If you have a credit card on file, payment will be charged after the session, if you wish to pay with etransfer, payment is due before the session starts
I have insurance, do you do direct billing?
Clients are responsible to pay for the session up front, then a receipt will be issued which you can then submit to your insurance provider.
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Will my insurance provider cover your sessions?
You will have to check with your insurance provider regarding your individual coverage, every plan is different. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor so you can check with your provider if they cover my services and how much coverage you have per year.
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Are you available for crisis support?
Please note that I may not able to be available for crisis support. If there is an emergency between sessions, please contact your physician, your local hospital emergency, or the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888. I will endeavor to return phone, text or email messages during my business hours which are Monday through Thursday 9-4.
What is counselling?
Counselling is an opportunity to explore and process difficulties related to behaviors, thoughts, feelings, memories and relationships. Counselling can provide greater self-awareness, insight, and coping. I believe that the client is their own “best expert” and I therefore work in a collaborative manner. Counselling may require that you be willing to explore difficult topics or memories and try new or different behaviours. These experiences can sometimes lead to stronger than usual emotions. Effective counselling tries to minimize or manage these feelings, however this requires cooperation between client and counsellor, and willingness on the client's part to express when emotions become difficult to manage.
What is confidentiality? It is your right to have the information you disclose remain confidential. For this reason, information you choose to disclose will remain strictly confidential, except where given written permission. While you have a right to confidentiality, there are limits to confidentiality, and in these cases, I am obligated by law to break confidentiality.
What are the limits to confidentiality?
o In order to provide you with the best quality services counsellors will occasionally seek consultation with other colleagues. Clinical supervision allows your counsellor to discuss cases and get suggestions for interventions. The information provided to the clinical supervisor is confidential between your counsellor and the supervisor. Your counsellor only discloses information pertinent to receiving support in providing quality care to you, names are removed from case descriptions or aliases are used.
o By law your counsellor is obligated to break confidentiality and report any information that is disclosed regarding intent to harm yourself, intent to harm someone else, and child abuse. Additionally, counsellor notes on sessions can be subpoenaed by a court of law. Should you have questions about confidentiality at any time, please contact Valerie Macneil.
All clients accessing services within Valerie MacNeil Counselling are also asked to bear the confidentiality of other clients in mind, and refrain from sharing any information about other clients; as well as refrain from identifying other clients in public as belonging to our clinic.
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What is an RCC?
Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) are members of a professional counselling organization called the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. BCACC requires its members to meet specific, extensive criteria in the area of counsellor education and training. Its members must also adhere to a strict code of ethics in their work with clients. A counsellor with an RCC designation meets, and commits to continuing to meet, the highest standards for their profession. A counsellor without an RCC designation will likely not meet these standards for training, education, and ethical behaviour. To have counselling covered by your extended benefits often requires you to see an RCC.
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What does M.Ed. mean?
The initials "M.Ed." beside my name indicates that I have a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology. I graduated from the University of Victoria in 2007 with this degree.
How many sessions will I need?
Every person and every set of circumstances is different, but 10-12 sessions is common. Some situations will require more sessions. Clients who would like to resolve multiple challenges, or who would like to focus on personal growth may choose to work with a counsellor for an extended period of time. Clients generally attend once a week, ideally, but may attend every other week if needed. Once therapy is complete, follow-up or 'check in’ sessions can be arranged, and if a new challenge arises, further counselling is available.
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What is your Cancellation Policy?
Your appointment time is reserved just for you and because of this, other clients have been placed on a waiting list. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the therapists’ day that could have been filled by another client, as well as a loss of income for the therapist. As such, I require 24 business hours notice for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. This means that appointments on Monday or following a long weekend must be cancelled before the appointment time on the following Friday. Patients who provide less than 24 hours notice, or miss their appointment, will be charged a cancellation fee of $157.50, due the day of the missed appointment. No exceptions. Until the cancellation fee has been paid, the client will be unable to book another session. For late cancellations due to bad weather or illness, a phone or virtual session will be offered at the booked appointment time. In the event of illness, Valerie will attempt, if possible, to find another time within a day or two, to have the phone or virtual session. If you choose not to have the phone or virtual session you will be charged the full fee.
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How many sessions will I need?
The answer to this question will be different for everyone, it will depend on the individual and what they are seeking help for. 10-15 sessions is common. Some situations will require more sessions. Clients who would like to resolve multiple challenges, or who would like to focus on personal growth may choose to work with a counsellor for an extended period of time.
Clients generally attend once a week, ideally, but may attend every other week if needed. In my experience, when people start counselling but only book a session every month or two, they do not make the same progress they would if they booked every week or two. Meeting with your counsellor more frequently makes it easier to get the work done and makes the skills you are learning stick sooner. Doing work between sessions will also help you make progress sooner.
Monthly sessions are great for anyone who has progressed through most of their therapy journey and just needs support monthly. I do not recommend this option until the client feels like they are well enough to do so. To see the most benefits of therapy, starting with such little frequency might make it more challenging to get the support you need when building new skills, but once you’ve already have your new skillset locked in, monthly sessions are there for accountability and support. Ultimately, how often you attend therapy is your decision.
