Are consultations covered by New Brunswick Medicare?No, but consultation costs are often covered in part by most private insurance plans. As well, it is possible to deduct consultation costs as medical expenses in income tax returns.
Can your professionals provide receipts for the insurance companies?Yes, all our practicians are members of their respective professional organizations and they can provide official receipts required by insurance companies.
How can I make an appointment?You can reach us by telephone at 506-382-1717 and by leaving us a voicemail that will remain private and confidential or sending us an email at the following address:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Our office manager will get in touch with you and ask you a series of questions over the phone to find out more about the reasons for your consultation, your needs and your availability. She will arrange an appointment for you with the professional from our centre whom you wish to see or is best suited to meet your needs.
How long does it take to get an appointment?The waiting period is up to 3 months.
What are the average rates for a consultation?Rates/fees vary from one service to another. All of our authorized practitioners working in a private office are responsible for their own rates. These are generally set sessions of 50 to 60 minutes. Speak to your professional to learn more and feel free to ask him or her questions about rates/fees and other terms and conditions.
The Psychology and Wellness Centre accepts cash, debit cards, and credit cards. Please see the professional profile of each practitioner to find out more.
How long do consultations last?Consultations last between 55 and 60 minutes.
How long does the therapeutic process take?The frequency of the sessions and the length of the therapeutic process depend on the individual needs of the client and his or her goals. It is generally possible to establish this with the practitioner during the first round of meetings. For some, a short-term process might work best while other problems might require a longer treatment (medium- or short-term).
Which therapeutic approach does the clinic advocate?We favour a versatile approach (cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, existential-humanistic, etc.) that is tailored to the client's individual need and resources. We offer an environment of empathy and respect, and strongly believe that these are key elements in transformation and change. We design the therapy as being a process of collaboration in which the therapist is active and engaged.
Are the sessions confidential?Yes. All of our therapists are governed by a strict code of ethics and assure confidentiality and respect for the rules of ethics of their professional body.
Why undergo psychotherapy?When we engage in psychotherapy, it is often to diminish the distress within, to get the tools needed to confront certain obstacles and/or to have a more satisfying life. Psychotherapy can bring you to realize that it is necessary to modify certain ideas or behaviour, to gain awareness and to investigate certain internalized fears, or to address subjects that you've never discussed before.
What does psychotherapy consist of?A number of different types of psychotherapy exist (individual, in group, amongst couples or families) but the most common is individual psychotherapy.
Individual psychotherapy consists of a process of change that requires close collaboration with the psychologist/psychotherapist. The first step is the psychological evaluation, which is composed of a small number of interviews and may also include psychometric tests. The evaluation allows the psychologist/psychotherapist to better understand you as a client (your needs, your expectations, your personality, etc.). It also a good opportunity for you to break the ice and ask any questions you may have. Following this evaluation, the psychologist/psychotherapist will be able to determine with you the therapeutic objectives, the most appropriate methods to achieve those objectives and the specific conditions and modalities (the anticipated number of sessions, the frequency of these sessions, methods of payment, etc.). The psychotherapeutic approach allows you to open up and to say exactly what you're really thinking and feeling, without fear of criticism or judgement. It is important to keep in mind that to learn to live with a difficult situation, or to change a certain way of thinking or behaving is not an easy thing that just happens in a few days. As far as length of time required is concerned, each person has his or her own rhythm, and many factors come into play. Changing is not a simple thing, and this may take place over a few weeks or even more than a year. As well, although it is a meaningful process, psychotherapy is also in engagement in which people must invest themselves, and this may be a demanding process.
What distinguishes a psychologist from a psychiatrist?The main distinction between the two is found in their training and education and in the acts they have the permission and skill set to practice.
In New Brunswick, the psychologist has a specialized university education in psychology and possesses a Master's degree or doctorate in psychology. The title of psychologist is protected, which means that all psychologists must be a registered member of the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick (CPNB). This professional's work is centered on the comprehension of human behaviour. He or she may offer services in psychotherapy or assessment.
As far as psychiatry is concerned, after five years of education in general medicine, a psychiatrist must then complete a five-year specialization in the field of psychiatry. With the title of Physician Specializing in Psychiatry, he or she is able to diagnose, prescribe medicine and treat serious mental disorders.
Occasionally, a psychiatrist and psychologist may work together to treat a single individual. Their approaches complement one other but the psychologist is the only health professional who is able to administer psychological tests for diagnostic purposes.
What is a theoretical approach or orientation in psychology?Depending on the approach used by the psychologist you consult with, the progress and the techniques used in psychotherapy will differ. Four main theoretical approaches or orientations exist in psychology and they are as follows:
In the cognitive-behavioural orientation, the first step is to analyse the undesirable thoughts and behaviours as well as the environment of the person suffering from a psychological issue. In the second phase, this orientation permits learning new behaviour and replacing the undesirable thoughts or emotions with others that are more appropriate. In fact, it aims to modify and/or eliminate the symptoms.
The existential-humanistic orientation focuses on the capacity of human beings to direct their own existence and to fully achieve their potential. In this approach, self-exploration facilitated by the psychologist brings about self-awareness of one's current difficulties, the ability to understand the issues at hand and by consequence, modify behaviour or reactions. It is based on a helping relationship.
The psychodynamic-analysis orientation allows us to come to grips with the effect suppressed or unresolved conflicts with the goal of understanding and progressively freeing ourselves from them. This orientation aspires for a change from within, touching on the root causes of the symptoms.
The systemic-interactional orientation allows for the analysis of relational interactions between a person and his or her entourage with the objective of modifying the problematic situation. The psychologist can meet key members of the entourage of the client (e.g. family members, friends, work colleagues, etc.). Here, the symptoms don't belong to one single individual, but more so to the system as a whole.
What is psychology?There are several disciplines that are included in what we commonly call psychology. Clinical psychology is the intensive study of individual cases in the scope of psychotherapy context or in the field of research. The preferred tools of clinical psychology are: observation, maintenance, tests, and more generally, intensive case study. In the broader sense, psychology can be defined as a study of the human spirit. It is also the study of behaviors, patterns and thoughts of the human being.
Clinical psychology is a discipline focusing on the individual. The goal is to better understand the person (subject), his or her history (anamnesis), his or her personality, and his or her environment so as to have a complete understanding of the problem that lead this person to consult a psychologist.
What does a social worker do (SW)?Social work professionals believe in the intrinsic worth and dignity of each person. Social workers are committed to the values of acceptance, self-determination and respect for individuality. Social workers are dedicated to the welfare of individuals and the achievement of social justice for all. Social workers believe in the obligation of all people, individually and collectively, to contribute to the provision of resources, services and opportunities for the overall benefit of humanity.
Professional social work practice may intervene to:
- Enhance developmental, problem solving and coping abilities of people and systems;
- Promote effective and respectful access to/and delivery of services and resources to people;
- Link people to needed resources, services and opportunities;
- Contribute to development and improvement of social policy.
What is social work?Social work is a profession concerned with helping and empowering individuals, families, groups and communities to resolve problems that affect their well-being on an individual or collective basis. The scope of the social work profession also includes problems such as those arising from poverty, unemployment, racism or other emerging social issues.
