Frequently Asked Questions

Our counselling hours range per practitioner please consult the online booking calender here to see the availabilities https://speakeasycounselling.janeapp.com/ After-hours and emergency sessions may be available upon request. If you have an emergency and are unable to reach me please call the crisis hotline in your area. http://portfolio.allisoncordner.com/crisis-hotlines

How many sessions and how often they will be scheduled will depend on several key factors: the type of problem you wish to address, your current level of resilience, your availability, and your finances. We can discuss this during your consultation.

How long do sessions last?

Sessions are generally 50 minutes long but some clients choose to extend their session time to 80 minutes at an additional fee. The first few sessions sometimes take longer as we are just getting to know one another and I will be assessing your history and goals.

What method of payment do you accept?

Visa & Mastercard, American Express

 If sessions are covered by insurance please contact your provider for details.

I accept Interac e-transfer 48 hours before scheduled sessions. 

What happens if I can’t make a session?

My cancellation policy is simple: you need to provide a minimum of 48 hours notice for all cancellations. Appointments that are cancelled or missed without 48 hours notice will be charged the full amount of the scheduled appointment. You will be charged a half session fee for missed or cancelled appointments unless you have given 24 hours advance notice by telephone or email. I will wait for the entirety of the session if I have not heard from you. Should I, as a counsellor, miss a session or have to cancel within 24 hrs of our session, when we reschedule you will only be charged half price for the next session. The exception to this policy is in the unlikely circumstance that an unforeseeable and unpreventable situation occurred in the last 24 hours that did not allow either party to cancel or attend (accident, injury, illness emergency). In the case of ongoing illness that may foresee-ably cause you to miss our session I would rather have you cancel ahead.

Late arrival

Should you happen to arrive late to a session, we will begin the session when you arrive and still end at the pre-arranged end time. Should I as a counsellor arrive late to a session, we will begin the session when I arrive and you will either be provided with the time on the end of the session, or reimbursed for the time missed. Cancellations or changes to your appointment can be made by emailing or calling my office at (438) 496-8312.

In the case of a declared weather emergency, it is possible for your in-person session to be held at the appointed time by using ZOOM on-line video conferencing.

Contact Between Sessions 

You may contact me between sessions by phone, text, or by email. I will contact you back within 48 hours and during office hours. Should it be needed, I provide 10 min of contact between sessions included in the regular session fee. If you need more time than 10 min. you can schedule another 1 hr session between our planned sessions. 

Referrals to Specialists 

From time to time I will make referrals. When I believe that another professional (doctor, psychiatrist, naturopath) would be therapeutically beneficial for you, we will discuss the suggestion together and I will support the two of you in making contact. 

Social media

You are welcome to connect with me on my business Facebook page, while my personal Facebook page is for my personal life and I limit that to family and friends. Please do not message me through the social media (facebook, skype, linkedin, etc.) – contact me through my business email or phone please. 

Does on-line counselling cost the same as in-person counselling?

Yes. Fees are charged for counselling time not the method. On-line counselling is provided as a convenience to you.

How do I know if you are the counsellor for me?

You can book a free 30 minute video consultation to see if we are a good fit. I will ask you your goals and let you know if I need to refer you to someone who can better help you.

Will details of our session be shared with anyone?

Before we begin any session we will sign a confidentiality contract. It stipulates that what transpires in our sessions is private and cannot be shared unless you provide consent in writing.There are legal requirements regarding revelation of details that I am bound to follow if one of the following should occur:

The courts subpoena my files.
I am subpoenaed as a witness in court.
I suspect a case of child abuse that has not been previously reported. In this case I am required by law to report to the Ministry for Children and Families.
If you threaten to harm yourself or another. In this case I am also required to report this to the proper authorities.

*Note: These duties override all other claims of confidentiality.

Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Client 

It is important for you to understand that you are the primary decision-maker in the direction your therapy takes, and therefore you have the right to full and active participation in the decisions that affect you. In addition, you have certain rights, which include: 

1. the right to refuse treatment. 

2. the right to end our therapeutic work at any time. 

3. the right to receive an appropriate referral to other resources as needed. 

4. the right to accept or reject any task, exercise or procedure suggested by me. 

5. the right to be made aware of the rationale, risks, benefits, alternatives, and interpretations of any and all counselling interventions.