Counselling fees may be covered by your Employee Benefits Package, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Medical Insurance, or a public sector sponsored program (WCB, NS Department of Community Services etc.)
If you have Blue Cross, Green Shield, Manulife, Sunlife or another extended health benefit from your workplace, you likely have funding for counselling services. All insurance plans are different. So, please contact your extended health benefit provider to find out if you have coverage and for which designations you have coverage (Clinical Social Worker or Registered Counselling Therapist). Some plans offer funding specifically for Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, or Registered Counselling Therapists. Ask your insurer which designations they cover. Many will cover one or all of these designations.
Clients typically pay upfront for services and submit their own receipts for reimbursement. However, there are select policies that do allow us to bill directly to your insurance provider. Please check with your own Extended Health Benefits Provider before your first session to determine your eligibility.
The following providers cover counselling services:
Workplace insurer-based plans like Blue Cross and Greenshield provide coverage for counselling services and offer direct billing. Others, like Sunlife and Manulife, also provide coverage but require the client to pay up front and submit their receipt.
Insurance like WCB-NS and out of province Workers Compensation Providers (Ontario, Alberta, BC) along with NIHB are government sponsored insurance programs. That is, paid for by the public sector and exist to provide resources for employees injured at their workplace, or to provide counselling services for persons of indigenous descent.
Billing for Clinical Reports, Comprehensive File Requests and Letters of Support (or related)
In psychotherapy, clients often have legal or regulatory issues they are involved with as a result of their presenting or underlying concerns. In some cases, clients are working with a law firm or government agency and supporting documents related to the client’s treatment is either 1)legally required OR (2) in the best interest of the client that documents are released.
The below fee schedule outlines costs associated with the following:
1) Sending a comprehensive client file (all notes, reports, relevant information) to a law firm.
2) Writing a clinical report on behalf of the client to their insurer or interested party.
3) Writing a letter of support on behalf of the client.
4) Providing a letter of attendance or proof of attendance in therapy.
Definitions
1) Comprehensive Client File Request: When a law firm, insurer or other related body requests the entire client file (all chart notes, reports written and other files relevant to the client’s case)This is the most time intensive request and involves the clinician working with WT administration, the client and the requesting party.
2) Clinical Report or Report Summary: Clinical report requested by insurer, law firm, or other body outlining client’s clinical history, outlook and tools used.
3) Letters of Support, Letter of Attendance in Therapy: Less complex reports than a clinical report summary, often written to advocate for client needs outside of therapy or to show that client is attending therapy sessions in line with their requirements through a program or related initiative.
Court Appearances:
If a Clinician is requested to accompany a client to a court appearance or a related proceeding, the following minimum fees will apply:
Per hour: clinician hourly rate
Half day: clinician hourly rate at 3 hours
Full day: clinician hourly rate at 6 hours
We direct bill for:
If you have any other insurance you will need to pay up front and submit the payment receipt for reimbursement to your insurance provider.
For private pay, you can pay via:
Please note that once clients save their card on file, they must contact us at info@wholetherapy.ca to have their card removed from their file. In addition, if clients save a card on file, the card will be automatically billed after each unless otherwise indicated.
A limited number of our clinicians work with MVAs on a case-by-case basis. Please state in the clinical intake form that you will be using a form of insurance related to an MVA [if applicable] We require proof from your insurance company that sessions are covered along with number of sessions and reporting requirements. The case manager or case adjustor can e-mail us at info@wholetherapy.ca or send a fax to (902) 404-3250 to advise of coverage.
If there is no written proof of coverage from the covering insurer, the client will be required to pay up-front and submit their receipt to their insurer for reimbursement.
Often, assessment or other clinical reports are required for coverage to be initiated. Reports are billed at the clinician’s hourly rate at the number of hours required to complete the report. These invoices will be sent to the covering insurer only if they have provided written acknowledgement of their intention to cover sessions to info@wholetherapy.ca Otherwise, the client will be required to pay-up front for clinical assessment or related reports.
Client privacy is paramount in therapy and strict confidentiality is adhered to. Only the client and their e-mail address on file will receive a receipt. Unless written permission is given by the client, receipts will only be sent to the e-mail address on file. One exception is for child and adolescent sessions where parental consent is required for the child or adolescent to engage in therapy.
If your insurance coverage does not fully cover the cost of the session, or you are paying privately we accept two methods:
Please note: We do not accept cash or visa debit.
Phone and email communication is permitted between client and clinician between sessions. Some appropriate use of email between sessions would include:
Appropriate phone calls between sessions would also include:
Please note that therapists at Wholetherapy are not equipped to respond to crisis calls or emails between sessions. It is important to keep therapy contained to the therapy session.
If you deem your situation to be an emergency, please call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency department. Additional Resources we would encourage you to access if you are in urgent need of support are as follows: Mobile Crisis Nova Scotia: 902-429-8167, Mental Health Crisis Line Phone Dial 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free), Kids Help Phone Dial 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free), IWK Strongest Families-for children Dial 1-866-470-7111, Addictions Central Intake team at Dial 902-424-8866 OR 1-866-340-6700, Avalon Sexual Assault Centre 902.422.4240.
Often, couples and families are interested in therapy together to move through a difficult life event or are interested in improving their relationship together. Our therapists are happy to support couples and families who want to work on healing their relationships or family systems. There are a few things to consider when accessing therapy at Wholetherapy as a family.
Children and adolescents under the age of 18 cannot provide consent for therapy. Adolescents aged 14 and over may be considered “mature minors” and, in those situations, may be able to consent to therapy on their own. We require that older adolescents that we cannot deem “mature minors”, provide their written assent in therapy. Typically, we require parental/caregiver consent for therapy from children’s primary caregivers. Usually, this is from two adults who are parenting the children. Where a custody agreement is in place, we require a copy of this agreement as well as written consent from both parents/caregivers of the child. If you are unsure how to navigate your situation regarding consent, please do not hesitate to contact our office for more clarification.
A 15-minute consultation with a mental health professional is a free of charge phone or video call between the client and the clinician. The purpose of the consultation is for the clinician to get a better idea of the services the client is looking for and for the client to determine whether the clinician is a good fit for their needs. This is not a therapy session and is designed only to determine that there may be a therapeutic fit between client and clinician.
Since our world has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, many therapists have expanded their modalities of service to include telehealth sessions. At Wholetherapy, we provide telehealth therapy through our secure clinic management platform, “Jane”. To prepare for your telehealth appointment, we recommend seven steps to ensure sessions proceed smoothly.
A Registered Psychologist (R.Psych) is a protected legal designation in Nova Scotia and is covered by many insurance providers. Regulated through Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology (NSBEP). Psychologists are legally able to provide diagnostic services as well as counselling services, whereas RCT, RCT-C and RSW cannot provide a psychological diagnosis. However, they can provide diagnostic impressions and related diagnostic analysis.
Psychotherapist is a legally protected term in Ontario, not Nova Scotia; but does act as an umbrella term for therapy services of a clinical nature. All three designations may from time to time refer to Psychotherapy services.
A Registered Counselling Therapist is a protected legal designation in Nova Scotia and is covered by many insurance providers. It is regulated by the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT).
A Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate is a protected legal designation in Nova Scotia and is covered by many insurance providers. It is regulated by the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT). The therapist is a Candidate and is still under clinical supervision by an approved supervisor.
A Clinical Social Worker (RSW) is a protected legal designation in Nova Scotia and is covered by many insurance providers. RSWs are Regulated through Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. (NSCSW)
People of indigenous descent are eligible for counselling services under First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada. If you are the descendent of a residential school survivor, a day school survivor, a Sixties Scoop Survivor or are related to any Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, you likely have access to coverage for long-term counselling through this program. Our clinicians are registered FNIHB providers, and we would be honored to work with you.
As a Veteran you likely have psychotherapy coverage through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), you may have general coverage (up to 25 sessions per annum) or be accessing coverage through the Rehabilitation program for which your Case manager approves sessions and treatment plans in consultation with your clinician and broader healthcare team. Please consult your case manager or support at Veterans Affairs Canada for further information.
Newcomers to Canada have access to psychotherapy coverage through a Federal program, IFHP. This program is administered by Blue-Cross on behalf of the Government of Canada. With a Physician referral for psychotherapy services, (often from the Newcomers Clinic in Halifax) clients are then eligible for 10 sessions contingent of their resident/refugee status being consistent with IFHP criteria.
Victims of violent crime may have access to $4000 worth of psychotherapy through the NS Department of Justice Criminal Injuries Program (CIP). Please consult Victim Services NS through the following link for more information:
As an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) you have access to psychotherapy services starting at 20 sessions per annum. CAF members are limited to seeing Clinical Social Workers (RSWs) and require prior approval from your CAF case manager. Our Clinical Social Workers are trained in working with active military members and would be honoured to work with you. Sessions are approved in increments of 10 and are approved by your CAF case manager.
Our clinicians have substantial experience in working with folks injured in the workplace, particularly first-responders and health care workers. We work closely with WCB-NS and your assigned case manager to develop a treatment plan that is uniquely tailored to you. All our clinicians are approved and registered with WCB-NS. Please note that approved psychotherapy sessions are subject to approval by your assigned case manager.
As an employee of the Government of Canada (Unionized or non-union) you have access to psychotherapy services through Canada Life, which recently became the insurer for health benefits for federal employees. Plans range in coverage and level of funding, please consult your health plan or contact Canada Life directly. Please note, Canada Life does not permit direct billing for psychotherapy, but a receipt will be provided post session which the client can submit for reimbursement.
Employees in the provincial and municipal sectors have access to psychotherapy coverage through Medavie Blue-Cross. We offer direct billing for Blue-Cross. Please consult your workplace plan for coverage levels and renewal dates. Coverage amounts range from $1000 to $2000 per annum in most union and non-union plans.
Our clinicians have substantial experience in modalities to help recovery from MVAs and related events. We have worked with a wide variety of clients and cases linked to MVAs. We require written approval from your law firm/insurer for coverage of sessions. This can be faxed or e-mailed to us. We will work with your case manager or insurance adjustor to ensure sessions are approved and well-planned in line with your needs.
As a healthcare professional (nurse, x-ray tech, physician etc.) you have access to a program entitled Personalized Assistance to Health (PATH). PATH is sponsored by the NSAHO Long Term Disability Plan Trustees (comprised equally of employee and employer representatives) as part of their commitment to creating a healthy workplace and ensuring that disability benefits remain available to health care workers in Nova Scotia at a reasonable cost.
If you would like to know more about path, please call the Program Manager toll free at 1-888-824-3273 or email path@healthassociation.ns.ca.
If you wish to make a path referral or self-refer, please email path@healthassociation.ns.ca and include the following information:
Name:
Phone number:
Place of employment:
Last day worked (or working full days and/or duties)
