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FAQ

ARE YOUR SERVICES COVERED BY MY INSURANCE?

Most extended healthcare plans offer some amount of coverage for seeing a Licensed Psychologist. It is recommended that you be in touch with your insurance provider to confirm the amount of coverage before attending your first appointment. While we do not offer direct billing to insurance carriers, you will receive an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursement, at your request.

WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT?

A psychological assessment seeks to understand your current mental health functioning (e.g., depression, anxiety, trauma, personality), any associated personal or work limitations as well as outlining interventions that could help to better manage your symptoms. Sometimes a diagnosis(es) is rendered, if appropriate and useful, but sometimes symptoms may be sub-threshold for a diagnosis, but still warrant treatment, even if simply from a preventative standpoint. Usually a comprehensive psychological assessment is composed of a lengthy clinical interview as well as a variety of psychometric measures designed to capture the nature and severity of any mental health symptoms.

WHAT IS A NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT?

A neuropsychological assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of an individuals cognitive abilities (e.g. memory, problem-solving, visual-spatial skills, attention, processing speed) as well as mental health (e.g., acute and chronic mental health and coping) that is completed to understand brain-behaviour relationships (i.e. how the brain works). It must be done by a licensed psychologist who has specific training in clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology.

None of the testing is invasive. The information is collected primarily through paper and pencil type tests, practical problem solving tests (some may be computerized) and answering of questions. There are often psychological or behavioural questionnaires to complete. The tests are carefully chosen depending on the needs of the patient and are well-researched, taking into consideration the individuals language and cultural factors.

The information gathered helps the neuropsychologist understand how the individual thinks, behaves and navigates the world around them.

Typical domains assessed include:

Intellectual functioning (IQ)
Academic functioning (reading, writing, mathematics)
Language/verbal skills
Visual-spatial skills
Sensorimotor abilities
Memory
Attention/Concentration
Processing speed
Executive skills (e.g. organization, planning and problem-solving)
Behaviour, adaptive skills and social-emotional functioning

After completing the testing and questionnaires, the individual’s test scores are then compared to the results from a sample of people of similar age and background as well as to estimates of the individuals baseline functioning. These comparisons helps determine the strengths and weaknesses of the individual.

The pattern of results across the various tests is analyzed and interpreted along with the person’s educational, occupational, social and medical history to exclude or diagnose a disorder, explain the consequences a disorder, and make recommendations on how to best help the person being assessed.

*Always check the credentials of the clinician offering cognitive assessments and ensure they have clinical training from APA- or CPA-accredited University clinical programs. Only a clinical neuropsychologist, which requires doctoral level training in clinical neuropsychology in Canada, can perform a neuropsychological assessment and fully comment on your neuropsychological functioning.

https://cpo.on.ca/cpo_resources/appendix-c-definition-of-practice-areas/

WHEN IS A NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT USEFUL?

When someone is experiencing any of the following concerns, and requires diagnostic and causation clarity, direction for interventions and / or understanding of occupational functioning or need for accommodations:

Traumatic Brain Injury, including concussion
Acquired Brain Injuries (e.g., stroke, infection)
Age-related cognitive-impairment and dementia concerns
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Mental illness and substance use
Medical issues affecting brain health (e.g., medical condition or procedures)

CAN I ACCESS SERVICES IN A CRISIS?

We do not offer crisis services. If you find yourself in an emotional crisis please contact local crisis services, call 9-1-1 or take yourself to your nearest emergency department.

WHAT IS YOUR NEW PATIENT PROCEDURE?

Once a referral is made (self-referrals or clinician referrals), our executive assistant will be in touch with you, send you an orientation package, walk you through the intake forms and discuss scheduling options. Please contact us at info@c2centre.come to start the process.

DO YOU DO ADHD ASSESSMENTS?

Yes, apart from concussions / mild traumatic brain injuries, ADHD referrals are our most common referral. Although many clinicians offer ADHD assessments, we believe that a formal and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment is required to rule in / out ADHD given the complexity of factors that need to be considered, such as mental health factors, sleep, learning disabilities, medical issues, substance misuse, sensory issues, etc., particularly given the role medications may play in symptom management and the importance for diagnostic clarity to target the right treatments. Misdiagnosis could result in needless use of medications or treatment for the wrong symptoms. To be sure, only a neuropsychological evaluation can delineate the above factors and influences, potentially alongside additional medical consultation if required. https://www.neurodevelop.com/adhd_testing

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

We require 24 hours notice for cancelling an appointment. Missed sessions and late cancellations will be billed at the full rate.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEES FOR EACH SERVICE OFFERED?

Therapy:

Ranges from $180 - $275 per 50-min session, depending on the clinician.

Neuropsychologically-informed therapy:

Ranges from $225 - $300 per 50-min session, depending on the clinician.

We reserve part of our practice for reduced-fee services that are negotiated based on a client’s financial circumstances.

*Payment for treatment is due at the end of each session and can be made by cash, Visa, Mastercard, E-Transfer and Debit

Assessments:
Please call to confirm the fee schedule for assessments as they can vary widely depending on the referral question, amount of testing required, report type generated and complexity of needs. Payment for assessments is typically made in increments with portions due following the interview, testing and report generation / feedback components of the assessment. We have an established fee structure to ensure expectations around fees are clear prior to any service delivery.

IS A REFERRAL REQUIRED?

Referrals are not required to book an appointment at our centre.

If you would like to involve another practitioner (e.g. your family physician, your psychiatrist) in your care and give consent, your psychologist will be pleased to consult with them as needed.

HOW LONG WILL THERAPY TAKE?

This is a very common question and, unfortunately, there is no standard answer. The length of psychotherapy can vary considerably depending on variables such as the complexity of your concern(s), the severity of your issues and/or symptoms, and the nature of the work you would like to do in therapy. After a few sessions, your psychologist will have a better idea of how long therapy may take for you to reach your goals and will openly share this information with you.

WHAT ABOUT PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY?

Everything that you share in therapy (including the fact that you are in therapy) is confidential. Other than under very rare and specific circumstances, your personal information cannot and will not be released without your explicit written consent. Your clinician will review the limits to confidentiality and other issues related to privacy with you in detail prior to commencement of services, and your informed consent is considered an ongoing process.