Practice Information

Rates & Fees

• Fees are charged on an hourly basis and are consistent with the recommendations set by the Ontario Psychological Association. Please contact us to discuss our current rates.
• Psychological services are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). However, they may be covered by your extended health benefits through your employer or private health insurance plans. Please check your plan to determine your coverage amount and the process to make a claim to the insurer.
• Non-reimbursed fees for psychological services are considered to be a tax-deductible expense.
• Payment is due at the end of each session and may be paid by cash, cheque, debit, Visa, or MasterCard. You will be provided a receipt for your health benefits or income tax return.

Session Length & Frequency

• Regular sessions are booked for one hour. The session itself is 50 minutes in length, with the final 10 minutes the session being devoted to note-writing.
• Sessions are usually scheduled once per week, however, session length and frequency may be adjusted due to your specific needs.
• Treatment progress is regularly reviewed to ensure that your goals are being met. As treatment progresses, these sessions may be spaced out to allow you more time to practice the skills you have learned.
• You always have complete control over the therapy process and have the right to discontinue treatment at any time.

Cancellations & Missed Appointments

• While it is understandable that sessions will need to be changed or cancelled from time to time, it is important to attend your scheduled appointments to benefit the most from your treatment.
• If you need to cancel or change your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we may offer that time to another client.
• Except for certain extenuating circumstances, we do require 24 hours notice for cancellations. Sessions cancelled within the 24 hours, or that are missed, will be charged at the full rate.

Privacy & Confidentiality

• Protecting your privacy and confidential information is of paramount importance to us.
• All information discussed in your sessions is strictly confidential, and won’t be disclosed to anyone without your prior permission, except as legally required.
• Exceptions to confidentiality are rare and would be discussed with you, whenever possible, prior to action being taken. Situations where we would be required to break confidentiality include:
  • harm to yourself or others,
  • a child who is being abused or neglected,
  • sexual abuse by a regulated health professional,
  • a court order requiring the release of the records,
  • abuse or neglect of an individual in a residential care facility or retirement home, and
  • for the purposes of the Quality Assurance Program of the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

Read more about Downtown Psychology’s full Privacy Policy Statement.