We know that many people looking for therapy don’t like surprises, so we’ve done our best to anticipate what you might want to know. Although we ultimately want you to learn to tolerate these uncertainties, we also want to help you get through the door!
How often do we meet?
That’s entirely up to your needs and schedule. For clients with moderate to severe concerns, or who are urgently looking to address their concerns, weekly meetings are recommended. Most individuals prefer meeting every two weeks as it gives us enough to talk about without having too much to catch up on. Monthly or less frequent meetings are better for individuals in a maintenance phase or very self-motivated individuals.
How much does it cost?
Psychological treatment or a behavioural health consultation costs $225/50 minute session. The cost is not covered by MSP but is covered by most extended health plans and can be submitted as a medical expense on your tax return.
In other words, a typical full course of treatment (8-20 sessions) will cost around $1800-$4500. It’s not cheap, but check your benefits. Some people may have part or all of this cost covered by their extended health plan. And when you think of the true costs of mental health in terms of missed opportunities, time spent mindlessly engaged in activity, and purchases with short-lived benefits, you might find it’s a good investment.
If therapy is not in your current budget, check out the many free or low cost mental health support options, like university training clinics. AnxietyCanada, Bounce Back®, and the Centre for Clinical Interventions are excellent self-help online resources.
How do I pay?
If you want to pay by credit card, you can do this at your in-person session or by entering your credit card into your Jane account, whether or not you are attending virtually. Your credit card is run after the session and your credit card information is stored securely. Payment can also be made by e-transfer to info@ebhvancouver.ca, cash, or cheque.
How long does it take?
Measurable or noticeable change on average takes 8 to 20 sessions, but some people find they notice a difference after just a few sessions.
Realistically, it takes years of dedication to your mental health to really feel like anxiety or depression is in the rearview mirror and much of that isn’t in therapy. The aim is to set you up with tools to carry on a lifetime of better habits.
What if I don't like my therapist?
Sometimes this happens! No one is all things to all people. You are welcome at any time to bring any concerns to our attention or stop treatment. We can even try to suggest someone who we think might be a better fit or you can go it on your own.
What should I expect?
The session is typically structured to have a few minutes to catch up and review homework if applicable. We spend most of the session around a particular problem or problems and the interventions to support them.
At EBH, we wrap up the session by collaborating on the session note to try consolidate what we covered, which is then sent to you through secure email with your permission.
Do I need to prepare?
To get the most out of the session, it’s best to think about what you want to cover in therapy in advance. Before your first session, you might think about what you’d like to get out of therapy, beyond just what’s not going right. What might your life look like if these problems resolved? What feels like it’s missing in your life?
It can be a good idea to take notes between sessions when things come up if you find your mind goes blank when you come to therapy.
What if I only have one or two sessions covered by my insurance?
Don’t let limited coverage hold you back! Although change is intended to happen over time, we understand that people might have financial or other restraints on the number of sessions they attend. This is why we offer behavioural health consultations.
If you plan to attend just one or two sessions, please book a behavioural health consultation from our services menu (although you can always change your mind later and come back; similarly people booking therapy appointments are not committed to continue coming if it’s not a good fit). That way we will have a more targeted focus during our initial intake and aim to send you on your way with at least one solid intervention.
Can I do direct pay through my insurance?
We can submit claims through many insurance providers so that you don’t have to pay entirely out of pocket or at all. If you don’t see yours listed, please enquire directly. Most insurance companies require that you sign a consent form to submit claims on your behalf, so please let us know when you submit your contact form if you want to do direct pay.
Can I cancel my session?
You can cancel your session for any reason up to 24 hours before your appointment. If you cancel inside this time, you may be charged a fee as stipulated in your consent form. Missed sessions may also be charged; please read the consent form carefully.
Did we miss something? Feel free to call or email the clinic in advance of your appointment or ask questions at any time during treatment.