The key to a successful psychotherapy is how well the treatment is suited to the client or patient. The collaboration between you and your psychologist will lead to an effective treatment strategy. From your first appointment at Medipsy, you and your psychotherapist will develop a shared understanding of the problems that brought you to consider treatment. Your therapist will review your history, your current context (work, relationships, health) and your treatment goals. Together, you will consider how your difficulties are interfering with your life, what you have already done to try to solve the problem, and what strengths you can build upon. If you have had psychotherapy before, we will use that experience to define an approach that will be effective for you. You will be regularly consulted for your feedback on sessions and outcome monitoring methods will be used to assess your progress and to make the adjustments to your treatment as you go along. While we consult recognized practice guidelines, we also know that each client is different. To be successful your treatment must be one that is right for you.

At Medipsy, we offer ultra-brief therapies as well as longer term treatments. While sessions are often scheduled weekly, the frequency and length of treatment relates to the complexity of the problem and to your ability to use the psychological services effectively. Your psychologist will make an initial psychological assessment based on your own situation and discuss treatment options, including frequency of sessions and length of treatment. Sometimes people arrive with one problem and begin to realize that the problem is exacerbated by another issue. At other times, when the initial problem is resolved, the client may choose to work on a different issue. Length of treatment is an important subject and you will collaborate in the decisions about how much is right for you.

All Medipsy psychologists and psychotherapists are bound by a professional ethical code. All regulations relevant to your treatment will be reviewed with you in the first session. Information about you will not be shared with anyone else without your explicit and written consent. Because Medipsy offers a team approach that includes your other health professionals, your psychologist will confer with you to decide if consultation with your family physician or other treating professional could help.

You can pay for your sessions using your credit card, your bank card, in cash, or by personal cheque. You will receive a receipt for all services. Generally, your paid receipt is required by your insurance company for reimbursement. Insurance coverage varies according to your policy or the benefits of your company. You should check with your insurance carrier or broker prior to booking an appointment in order to ensure that you are assigned to a professional covered by your plan. Medipsy is also a registered service provider for a number of governmental programs. Some psychological and neuropsychological evaluations are billed as packages, depending on your individual needs. Psychotherapy however is billed per session. One exception to this is low-intensity coached self-help which is billed as a package. All services are tax-deductible.

Assessments, including diagnostic and neuropsychological evaluations are generally billed as packages, based on your individual needs. For psychotherapy and other interventions and services, we have various different fee categories, depending on the option you choose. You may for example choose to be followed by a senior clinician or by a doctor of psychology, who can also offer diagnostic services, or you may choose to be treated by a psychotherapy or doctoral intern. These interns have a practice permit issued by the College of Psychologists of Quebec and work under close supervision. For individuals who do not need high intensity psychotherapy, low intensity therapy based on an evidence-based stepped care model may be an interesting option. To learn more, please call us at 514-419-3005 or email us at info@medipsy.ca.

We will ask you what service(s) you are looking for to assign you to a professional who can meet your needs while respecting your budget, or we may ask you to briefly describe your situation, always to better guide you. We will also ask for your availabilities and contact information. Finally, we may also ask you for a credit card number. Please note that if you do not come to your first appointment and had not canceled it, a fee of $50 will be charged to your credit card. If you have specific questions and want to talk to a professional before making an appointment, please let us know: we will be happy to answer all your questions before scheduling a first meeting.

We will inform you of the services we offer and the different options available to you, both in terms of price and service types. We will explain how to get to our clinic. Finally, we will explain that if you do not show up for your first appointment and had not cancelled it, a fee of $50 will be charged to your credit card. If you have any questions before setting up a first appointment, please make sure you tell us; we will be happy to answer all your questions over the phone.

You can expect to meet with a well-trained, empathic psychologist, psychotherapist, or counsellor who is concerned with offering services that fit your needs. You can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and to be consulted about your understanding of your problem and the ways that you will work on it. You can expect your therapist to monitor how the sessions progress and to respond to any questions or concerns you raise promptly and fully. And you can – and should – expect to make progress.

People with relatively mild symptoms can be successfully treated with a combination of planned activities under the direction of a trained consultant. If you want to work more on your own, we have validated programs for depression and anxiety. There are readings and exercises that you can do at home with regular telephone support from your own consultant. In a single session, a Medipsy psychologist can help you assess if this option is right for you. Such interventions of varying intensity, often referred to as stepped care, are congruent with recommended best practices.

While it is normal to feel a little uncomfortable sharing and dealing with problems in your life, a good relationship with your psychotherapist, counselor or psychologist is essential. Medipsy professionals are experts in establishing strong therapeutic alliances. During your first visit, your therapist will inquire if you believe that you can work well together. If you think that your therapist is not a good fit for you, Medipsy will match you with someone who is. Weekly progress monitoring assessments are also an opportunity for you to give feedback to your psychotherapist on the sessions. You should feel free to give honest feedback on the treatment you are receiving. At Medipsy, your health is always in mind.

There is not one answer to what constitutes success. Each person is unique; you bring your own expectations, experiences, and patterns into the psychotherapy relationship. At Medipsy, psychologists are trained in goal setting in order to orient your treatment to what you need to accomplish. They also are experts in the use of validated, science-based systems that help to identify roadblocks, avoid treatment failures, and move treatment toward goals. Prior to each session, you will complete a questionnaire that will assess how you are progressing. Research shows that clients and patients who complete these reports have better results than those who do not. Your report will be in your therapist’s hand when you begin the session and together you will review your progress toward successful outcome.

Not unless you agree. Medipsy is committed to ensuring that the field of psychological treatment continues to advance. Part of this commitment is the training and supervision of new professionals. We offer training for licensed professionals who are seeking a psychotherapist designation in addition to their current licensing. We also offer internships for trainees in university programs in psychology. Psychological services offered by trainees are less expensive than services offered by more experienced professionals. You will never be assigned a trainee without your explicit consent. It is always up to you to decide. If you choose to work with a trainee, you can be assured that there is an accredited supervisor who consults regularly to ensure that the psychological services you are receiving meet the highest standards while respecting your privacy. If you wish, you may meet the supervisor who works with your trainee-therapist.

You can access Medipsy services in three ways:

1. By referral. Your family physician, specialist or other treating professional can make a referral.

2. By telephone. You can call on your own and speak to an intake specialist who will answer your questions and make an appointment for an initial assessment. We can be reached by telephone at 514-419-3005.

3. By email. You can send an email to info@medipsy.ca. Indicate when and where you would like to be contacted and a Medipsy intake specialist will call you back within one business day. Please be sure to let us know if we can leave a message on your voicemail.

If you have a question that is not answered here, please call Maria and Sandy at 514-419-3005 or email them at info@medipsy.ca. They would be pleased to give you any information that you need.