Information For New Clients
Location and Parking
We are located in South Calgary at Suite 830 – 10201 Southport Road SW. Our office is in the 12 story building at the southwest corner of the intersection of Macleod Trail and Southland Drive. There is free 2-hour parking in the parking lot in front of the building.
The Southland C-Train station is a short walk from our building. From the C-Train station, take the pedestrian overpass east into the parking lot, and walk around the buildings to the main doors on Southport Road.
Our office is located on the 8th floor of the Southland Plaza building. When you arrive at our office, there is no need to knock – please come right into our waiting room and make yourself comfortable until we come to meet you.
Confidentiality
All of the information that you share with your psychologist is treated with the utmost care and respect for your privacy. You have the legal right to confidentiality of your sessions and records. Your confidentiality and privacy is also protected by the rules and ethics of the profession of psychology.
In general, your psychologist will not disclose your information without your consent. However, there are some situations in which confidential information may be released to others without your consent:
1. If you have been referred here by the Court, correctional services, your medical doctor/psychiatrist, or another agency (e.g., an employee assistance program), you can assume that they may wish to receive some type of report or evaluation.
2. The Court has the right to subpoena relevant records.
3. If you threaten to harm yourself, or someone else, and your threat is considered to be serious, your psychologist is professionally obligated to take whatever actions seem necessary to protect people from harm.
4. If any kind of current child abuse or abuse of a dependent person is revealed, your psychologist is obligated to report this to the appropriate government agency.
In order to provide you with high-quality treatment, your psychologist may consult with other psychologists or professionals. Your name and identifying information will not be revealed during these consultations without your consent.
For clients who are under 18 years of age, the law provides parents with the right to examine psychological records. Because effective therapy requires trust and privacy, it will be important for the psychologist, parent(s), and minor to agree on how information will be exchanged during the course of therapy. Even if parents have agreed to maximize the privacy of the minor, they will be notified about any issues that compromise the physical safety of the minor.
What to Expect in the First Therapy Session
The first session is usually one and a half hours long. During this session, you and your psychologist will review your background, your present circumstances, and the problems you are experiencing. Your psychologist may ask about topics such as your family background, medical history, current relationships, and specific psychological symptoms that you may be experiencing. You will have the opportunity to share any other information you feel is important, and to ask any questions you may have. Your psychologist will explore your understanding of the problems you are experiencing, and your hopes or goals for therapy. You and your psychologist will begin to develop a collaborative therapeutic partnership. By the end of the first or second session, your psychologist will be able to share his or her impressions of the problems you are experiencing. Together, you will discuss and develop a treatment strategy to help you make positive changes in your life.
We would invite you to bring a notebook or electronic recording device (e.g., an iPad) to your sessions.
Rescheduling or Cancelling Appointments
We consider our appointments with you very important, and we ask that you do the same. If you cannot attend your appointment for any reason, please be sure to provide your psychologist with at least 24 hours notice. Even on short notice, there may be another client in need of our services who can use that appointment time.
Any session cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will be subject to a $50.00 cancellation fee. A missed session will be charged at $50.00 for a first occurrence, but any further sessions missed without notice will be charged at the regular hourly rate.
Contacting Us Between Sessions
Our psychologists each work different hours and keep different schedules. If they are out of the office, or in session with other clients, they may not be able to answer the phone. Please leave a message on our confidential voicemail, contact us by email, or complete the contact form on this website, and we will make every effort to get back to you within 24 hours.
If you have issues that you wish to discuss with your psychologist between sessions, we recommend that you make an appointment. If you are in crisis between sessions, you should phone 911, phone the Distress Centre 24-hour Crisis Hotline at 403-266-4357(HELP), or go to the nearest emergency room at your local hospital.
Risks and Benefits of Therapy
As with any treatment, there are some possible risks as well as many benefits to therapy. Therapy may involve discussing negative aspects of your life or recalling unpleasant memories. You may experience periods of uncomfortable emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, loneliness, frustration, or helplessness. You may make decisions and choices that lead to major changes in your life, such as changing your relationships or your lifestyle. Some clients notice that their problems temporarily worsen in the beginning of treatment, when they have increased awareness of their problems but have not yet developed new strategies to deal with them. Most clients accept these risks of therapy in order to start making important positive changes in their lives. You are encouraged to discuss any negative effects of treatment with your psychologist.
Although there are possible risks of therapy, there are also many known benefits. These benefits are supported by research as well as the personal comments of our clients. Therapy can help you find solutions to specific problems and feel more prepared to deal with the challenges of life. Therapy can provide a safe and supportive place to explore new perspectives and develop new skills. Therapy often leads to reductions in negative feelings, improved relationships, and resolution of longstanding problems. Clients often report that their lives are more meaningful and satisfying due to the positive effects of therapy.