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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average length and frequency of therapy?

Individual Therapy

We generally book clients for one-hour sessions, which includes 50 minutes of treatment time and 10 minutes for administration.

 

Weekly or biweekly sessions are usually a good place to start, and depending on what you are struggling with, therapy may last only 6 sessions, or 20. Some clients find they improve to a great degree and then appreciate attending therapy every 3-4 weeks to continue their growth and healing. You and your therapist will talk this through given your needs, your coping, and your financial situation.

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Couples and Family Therapy

When there is more than one person in the room, we find that 50 minutes is just not enough time. For that reason, we book these sessions for a minimum of 75 minutes. For 90-120 minute sessions, 15 minutes are reserved for administration. 

 

How long your relationship takes to improve varies greatly. For families, we find that 8-12 sessions can shift things really significantly, especially when the problems within the family are fairly straight-forward.

 

With couples, dynamics tend to be much more complex. Clients will often start to see a difference in their levels of distress by about 8-10 sessions. We sometimes have clients who experience significant healing and reconnection by session 12, but at times this work takes much longer. This depends on the depth of pain that has been experienced within the relationship, how long the problems have been going on, and what other life experiences (especially traumatic ones) the members of the couple have experienced in their lives. 

What is your hourly rate?

Session Length
Registered Therapists
Student Therapist
Equity Rate
60 Minutes
185-225
100
30
75 Minutes
240-280
125
35
90 Minutes
295-335
150
45
120 Minutes
440
200
60

Do you offer sliding scale rates?

YEG Family Counselling does not use a traditional sliding scale for all clients based on income. However, we do provide a limited number of equity spots per clinician each quarter. This is one of the ways we lean into our anti-oppressive values: to provide the most help to people most in need and most harmed by traditional systems of power. This is especially true for those who are multiply marginalized due to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or neurodiversity.

 

If you are looking for general low-fee therapy, please consider one of our student therapists. They are incredibly skilled and work really hard for their clients at an amazing hourly rate. If you identify as multiply marginalized are in need of an equity rate, please call or email our fantastic and welcoming administrative assistant and she will get some basic info from you. Then one of our therapists will reach out to let you know our availability. 

Do you direct bill insurance?

YEG Family Counselling does not direct bill to insurance at this time, but will always provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your insurance provider. Most providers now have easy-to-use apps that allow for immediate submissions. Call your insurance company and inquire about coverage for psychological services or counselling.

Why are your booking times not always on the hour?

Not every therapist works best in the same way. At YEG family counselling, we believe in creating good boundaries around session times while also being flexible to what happens in session. Not all therapy is the same, and sometimes therapy isn't perfectly complete right exactly at the 50-minute mark. For that reason, we book couples and families for longer sessions quite often.

 

Even when we are working with the typical length session, we like to book a bit of extra time between clients in order to make room for things to happen in session the way they are supposed to, whether that takes 47 minutes or 54. We also use that time to get a drink of water, write our notes, send a text to a friend, or have a minute to reset before we see our next client. In short, you matter, and we matter, and sometimes that isn't neat and tidy.

What do I need to know for my first session?

It's totally normal to feel a mix of feelings leading up to your first therapy session, including, relief, fear, anxiety, anticipation, and excitement. Be gentle with yourself and rest assured that your therapist will take good care of you, no matter how you are coming. You don't have to have your story all sorted out, or even be able to explain with total clarity what is going on for you. You are a complex person and therapy is a place to get some things sorted out, with a little help.

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There is plenty of paid parking available right in the garage underneath our office building and easy access to public transportation. While you are in the area, grab a delicious chai or coffee before of after your session. We think you'll like the neighbourhood.

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Check your email for a link to your consent forms. Please have these filled out prior to the start of your session. If you can't find the forms, send us an email.

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How can I prepare for my online session?

You will receive a calendar invite within one hour of your session from your therapist. If you do not have an invite please send an email directly to your therapist or to hello@yegfamilycounselling.com and we will sort it out.

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Check your tech. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a quiet, private space to do therapy where you can feel safe. Car therapy is ok in a pinch, but it's best to find a quiet indoor room where you can connect with wifi.

What about parking and accessibility?

We are located in the Plaza 124 building on the corner of 124th street and 102 Ave. There is paid parking in the parking garage beneath the building which is accessible from 124 street. If you are unfamiliar with the area, you can find a detailed map of free parking here.

 

This is a wheelchair accessible building and a scent-aware space. If you have any other accessibility needs please let us know. ​​

What safety measures do you have in place?

We are constantly trying to balance the wellness of our practitioners and the wellness of our clients, both emotionally and physically. That means that we are always trying to be safe but not rigid around expectations for masking, physical distancing, and what to do if a client comes to session with symptoms. 

 

This also means that we do not have one hard and fast rule. We will have clear signage posted at the entrance whenever masking in the common areas is required. Then you and your therapist can decide together based on both of your comfort levels whether masking in session is going to help or harm your sense of safety.

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Please do continue to follow all public health orders and do not come to session while sick. If you have flu-like symptoms (whether or not you are COVID-positive), please get in touch with you therapist. They will gladly and quickly reschedule you for an online session. We want to work together to protect the most vulnerable, and some of the most vulnerable right now are those with limited immune systems. Thanks for working with us on this.

Ready to start heading back in the right direction?​

There are a few ways to take the next step:

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  1. It's easy to book an inquiry / intake session online. Click the link below and follow the instructions there. 

  2. You can click here to fill out an intake form online, and we will be in touch to schedule with you.

  3. If you'd like help, our super helpful administrative assistant is available. Just give them a call at 780-809-0809.

  4. If you hate the phone, you can also text 780-809-0101.

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Have a question that was left unanswered? Reach out and get in touch via phone or email.

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