How do I know if therapy is right for me?
  • It may be a good time to reach out for help and initiate therapy services if you feel that: you are struggling with your mental health; an issue is causing significant distress to you or to those around you; an issue is impacting your functioning in one or more areas of your life
  • Counselling has been shown to be quite effective for psychological, emotional, or relational concerns for most people
  • If you are unsure whether therapy is right for you at this time, please schedule a FREE 15-minute phone consultation
How many sessions will I need?
  • The number of sessions required highly varies from client to client, depending on a variety of factors (for example, each client's presenting problem, complexity of the client's current situation, client's completion of "homework" outside of session, etcetera)
  • Clients typically begin therapy by attending once per week, but we understand that this is not always possible, and we are willing to work with your schedule
What happens during the first session?
  • The first session is an initial intake process, where we gather all of the background information required to properly assess your current presenting problem, discuss your therapy goals, and create an effective treatment plan
  • We want you to get the most use out of your session time! Intake forms will be emailed to you in advance of your appointment, to optimize session time
Does a parent/guardian need to be present for their child's session?
  • The initial intake session for a child client is completed with the parent/guardian alone
  • All subsequent sessions with a child client are completed with the child alone. However, the parent/guardian must stay in close proximity to the building in case of emergency. We invite parents/guardians to make use of our comfortable lobby during the duration of their child's session. There is also a shopping centre nearby, or beautiful places to go for a walk outside.
How long is each session?
  • Each session is 50 minutes long in duration (the final 10 minutes of the therapy hour are reserved for your psychologist to update your treatment plan, complete documentation notes, process payment, sanitization/cleaning, etcetera).
  • We encourage you to arrive approximately 5-10 minutes early to your appointment, to find a parking spot and to ensure that your session begins on time. If you are late, sessions cannot be extended past the scheduled time, due to other appointments.
What is your cancellation policy?
  • If you are unable to attend a session, you are required to kindly provide at least 24 hours notice of cancellation in advance of your scheduled appointment. Appointments can be cancelled online, or via text message/email/phone call
  • If you do not show up for your appointment or you have provided less than 24 hours notice, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session
  • If you are running late to a session, please let us know via a quick text message/email/phone call
Can I become your client if I live outside of Alberta?
  • We can only provide psychological services to individuals who are residents of the province of Alberta
Are you Polyamory & LGBTQ+ friendly?
  • Yes, of course! We value all people, regardless of their differences
  • This includes differences in: relationship structures, sexual preferences, sexual identity, gender, culture, race, ethnicity, or any other factor
Do you offer therapy services in any language other than English?
  • Yes, in addition to English, Reshma is pleased to be able to offer therapy in her native tongue, Gujarati
Why do I see the company "Changing Pathways Psychological Services" listed in some areas, and the company "The Varsity Clinic" listed in other areas?
  • We are pleased to have joined the team at The Varsity Clinic to share the lovely office space with.
  • The Varsity Clinic team is comprised of several independent practitioners, including our company!
  • The Varsity Clinic offers a variety of other wellness services. For example, you may even be able to book in a relaxing massage before/after your counseling therapy session!
What are the differences between a Psychiatrist, Registered Psychologist, Registered Provisional Psychologist, Counsellor, and Therapist?
  • A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor with specialized training in the area of psychiatry and mental health. Unlike psychologists, psychiatrists are able to prescribe you medication.  Most psychiatrists tend to focus on medication monitoring and diagnosis/evaluation, rather than on providing therapy.
  • In Alberta, a Registered Psychologist holds a minimum of a graduate degree in psychology (either a Masters or a PhD), and has completed a rigorous licensing process from the regulatory body called the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). This process consists of: a minimum of 1600 hours of supervised clinical practice, an exam covering ethics, and a comprehensive 225-question multiple choice exam covering a broad range of topics in psychology from both undergraduate and graduate level coursework.
  • In Alberta, a Registered Provisional Psychologist holds a minimum of a graduate degree in psychology (either a Masters or a PhD), and is in the process of completing the aforementioned licensing process from CAP.
  • The terms Counsellor and Therapist are largely used interchangeably. These terms usually refer to someone who is offering counselling services in some manner, however, the individual is not necessarily a psychologist. The terms counsellor, therapist, or other terms (such as life coach) can be used by anyone, because there is no legal protection for these terms. Therefore, it is critical for you to check the credentials of individuals offering therapy services. You can rest assured that the term "psychologist" is legally protected, so only individuals who have met CAP's (the governing body that psychologists in Alberta are regulated by) standards of education, training, and knowledge can use the term.
© Copyright 2020 - Changing Pathways Psychological Services Inc.