FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
1 What is Psychotherapy?
2 What types of Psychotherapy are there?
3 Why choose Psychotherapy instead of talking to my friends or family?
4 Why Choose Markham Psychologists?
5 How do I make an appointment?
6 What happens in the first session?
7 Is there a waiting list?
8 How much does it cost?
9 What about my privacy?
10 How can I make the most of Psychotherapy?
11 What if I want to stop therapy and switch to a different psychologist?
12 Can I call you in the event of a crisis for suicidal thoughts/behaviour?
13 What are suicidal thoughts?
14 What is suicidal behaviour?
15 What are the symptoms of suicide?
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a process in which you enter a relationship with a trained professional for the purpose of helping you with symptoms of emotional problems, behavioral problems or personal growth. The process involves you and the therapist sitting in a room talking, which is why it is often called “talk therapy.”
What types of Psychotherapy are there?
There are a variety of therapeutic approaches available. At Markham Psychologists, these include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy. Couples Therapy and Family Therapy. Each psychologist will employ a different combination of therapies based on their training and your needs.
Psychotherapy may be conducted individually, with two people (e.g. a couple, or two family members), or with a family.
Why choose Psychotherapy instead of talking to my friends or family?
Family and friends are important people who can support you through a difficult time. A trusted family member or friend can patiently listen to your problems and may be able to identify with you or feel empathy. They can provide basic support and are usually available when you need them However, in order to actually solve a difficult problem, the friend or family member might not have the knowledge or skills to deal with a problem beyond their own experience. They can sometimes maintain the problem because they do not confront the issue(s), or, confront them but inappropriately. This can jeopardize your relationship or friendship without solving anything. A trained psychologist provides support but also confronts issues appropriately by applying years of training and experience, so that you can work through the problem, rather than simply venting about it.
Public Information about Seeking Psychological Treatment
www.cpa.ca/public
Why Choose Markham Psychologists?
All practitioners at Markham Psychologists are fully registered Psychologists, many with years of experience (please refer to individual bios for details). Although we do from time to time have psychology students working towards registration under the supervision of a psychologist, these individuals charge a significantly reduced fee.
We are able to attract and retain highly skilled and experienced practitioners at Markham Psychologists because, unlike most practices that collect a percentage of the practitioners fee to the profit of the clinic, the practitioners at Markham Psychologists are completely autonomous in both the clinical and business aspects of their practice and are only required to contribute towards the expenses of running the practice. In other words, Markham Psychologists is a group of psychologists with different areas of expertise who enjoy the benefits of a collegial team environment while sharing operating costs.
The other benefit of a large practice such as Markham Psychologists is that we are a one stop shop for psychological services. Within our group we are able to provide service across the lifespan for most emotional and psychological issues and are able to offer daytime, evening and weekend appointments. We also provide peer support for one another, which enhances the quality of service for you.
How do I make an appointment?
If you do not have a preference for a particular psychologist, please call our main telephone number (905.472.9568) and leave a request for an appointment in the General Mailbox. Please indicate whether we can leave a message for you if someone else answers the phone or we get voicemail.
If you would like an appointment with a particular psychologist, please contact them directly via their phone extension. Each psychologist sets their own appointments and offers different hours. For the phone directory, please click here.
What happens in the first session?
Usually in the first session, your psychologist will gather a lot of information about you, your situation, and your background. Your psychologist needs this information in order to accurately understand what the main issues are before creating an individualized treatment plan. She/he may use assessment tools, such as a paper and pencil questionnaire, to help clarify a particular issue.
This first session is also important for you to get to know your psychologist as well as the therapeutic approach that is proposed for your problem. Please feel free to ask questions either during this session, or at any time during your therapy.
Is there a waiting list?
There is sometimes a short wait for evening or weekend appointments; however, daytime appointments are generally available within a few days. Please call to find out the current waitlist for a particular psychologist.
How much does it cost?
Fees range from $100 to $250 per session. Students and Psychotherapists are at the low end of the fee range; individuals who are completing their year of supervised practice towards registration with the College of Psychologists of Ontario are in the mid-range; and fully registered independent Psychologists are at the high end of the fee range. We recommend checking your private or extended health care benefits plan prior to calling to see if you have coverage for Psychological Services or the services of a Registered Psychotherapist.
Payment is accepted primarily by cash or cheque, though some practitioners also accept VISA, Mastercard and Debit – please enquire. Although we do not offer a sliding fee scale, some practitioners in the practice supervise psychology students who are in the process of becoming registered as psychologists. If you choose to receive service from a student under the supervision of a Psychologist, you will be charged a significantly reduced fee.
What about my privacy?
Please ask us for a copy of our privacy policy regarding how we handle personal information. You may also wish to view the information from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
How can I make the most of Psychotherapy?
As a client, most of what happens in therapy depends on you. You are hiring your psychologist to help you change things in your life.
It is important to be completely honest with your psychologist. He or she can’t help you if you withhold important information.
Take some time after the session to review what was said and to think about how to act on it. A therapy session usually lasts about an hour, but you have many more hours in the week to follow-up on what was said.
Be sure to do any homework that you were asked to do. Not all psychologists assign tasks to do between sessions, but when they are assigned they are important to the process.
Pay attention to your emotions between sessions. Let your psychologist know about any patterns that you notice, especially anything out of the ordinary.
Write things down and take them to the session if you need to.
Psychotherapy is a partnership. It will be more effective if you are an active partner.
What if I want to stop therapy and switch to a different psychologist?
At any time, if you wish to stop therapy, it is your right to withdraw from treatment. If you think that perhaps another psychologist or therapist may be better suited to help you, it is also your right to switch treatment providers.
In order to best serve you, it is important to give feedback to your psychologist along the way. If there is something you are dissatisfied with, please let your psychologist know so that she can review the situation with you. It is common for different issues to arise during the course of therapy; as such, it may be necessary to review the therapeutic goals and approach. If need be, your psychologist can refer you to another colleague or professional who may be better suited to assist you.
Can I call you in the event of a crisis for suicidal thoughts/behaviour?
Markham Psychologists provides outpatient services by appointment only. As such, we are unable to attend to crisis situations.
If you are currently having thoughts about hurting yourself or ending your life, please call 911 for emergency support. You may also call your family doctor, or your local telephone crisis hotline for assistance. In York Region, please call 1-855-310-2673.
What are suicidal thoughts?
Suicidal thoughts include ideas or images about ending your own life. These thoughts can range from passive to active. Passive thoughts are experienced by many people on occasion when under tremendous stress. Usually, these thoughts are about escaping pain rather than a direct desire to die. Active thoughts are much more detailed, repetitive, and long-lasting. Active thoughts may involve planning out an actual suicide attempt (e.g. when, where, how).
What is suicidal behaviour?
Suicidal behaviour is any deliberate action with potentially life-threatening consequences, such as taking a drug overdose or deliberately crashing a car.
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can accompany many emotional disturbances.
They can occur as a response to a situation that the person views as overwhelming, such as death of a loved one, emotional trauma, serious physical illness, growing old, unemployment or financial problems, guilt feelings, and alcohol or other drug dependence.
Suicide attempts should always be taken seriously and mental health care should be sought immediately. Dismissing these thoughts as attention-seeking can have devastating consequences.
What are the symptoms of suicide?
Early signs:
Depression
Statements or expressions of guilt feelings
Tension or anxiety
Nervousness
Impulsiveness
Critical signs:
Sudden change in behavior, especially calmness after a period of anxiety
Giving away belongings, attempts to “get one’s affairs in order”
Direct or indirect threats to commit suicide
Direct attempts to commit suicide