Resources

FAQ, Emergency Contacts, Blog

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

Individuals come to therapy for a variety of reasons. Some people are going through a difficult period in their life and would like to better understand the thoughts and behaviors that may be impacting their lives. Other individuals seek an interest in self-growth and personal development. Our Psychologists have experience and training in a wide range of issues and will work collaboratively with you to determine what your needs are.

To book an appointment, you may call the clinic at 780-453-9816, send an email to info@nova.onbooking.ca or book directly through our Jane portal, https://novapsychology.janeapp.com/

For a brief informal discussion about your needs, please call and one of our Psychologists will provide you with a free 15-minute consultation to assess how we can help you with your difficulties and think your needs are within our area of competence and expertise.

Nova Psychology is able to direct bill to several insurance providers in Alberta. You may wish to confirm your coverage with your insurance provider in advance. For Registered Provisional Psychologists, partial and full coverage may be offered. We are pleased to inform you that our psychologists are equipped to facilitate direct billing for services through Alberta Blue Cross, ASEBP/ARTA, Canada Life, Green Shield Canada, Medavie Blue Cross, and SSQ Financial.

If your insurance coverage includes a health spending account, you may be able to submit claims to offset therapy fees. Upon payment of your scheduled appointment, a receipt will be provided to you for reimbursement. This receipt can be submitted to your insurance company or may be tax deductible.

For insurance providers such as Manulife and Sun Life, we recommend that you settle the session fee and subsequently submit the receipt to your respective insurance company for reimbursement. 

The initial session is designed to get to know one another. We will begin by reviewing consent forms and discussing confidentiality and its limits. Based on the presenting concerns and information gathered during this assessment, we will then discuss therapy goals and options for treatment planning. We ask that you carefully consider your comfort level during the initial session as the therapeutic relationship is a fundamental part of therapy

✓ Learn effective coping skills and strategies to manage life stressors
✓ Gain insight, self-awareness, and new perspectives in life
✓ Increase overall happiness, balance, and life satisfaction
✓ Improve feelings of empowerment and resilience
✓ Improve mental function and productivity
✓ A safe, non-judgemental, objective lens
✓ Develop social and communication skills to improve relationships
✓ Improve physical symptoms
✓ Find resolution to issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
✓ Build confidence and self-esteem
✓ Change old behavioural patterns

The services offered at NOVA are not exhaustive. You are welcome to call for a free 15-minute consultation to see whether an assessment session could be helpful.

We encourage our clients to reflect on their presenting concerns, and potential goals that they would like to gain from therapy. This helps each psychologist create a tailored and personalized treatment plan that will focus on your primary issue.

It is also perfectly okay to not know why you are seeking therapy. Many clients seek out services to simply explore the therapeutic process and assess whether it would be beneficial to them. Booking an appointment with NOVA is your first step.

The amount and duration of sessions will depend entirely on the service provided. This will be addressed in the initial session with your psychologist. Some clients will require a short-term intervention, while others may require a lengthy approach to treatment.

It is important to note that everything in session will remain private and confidential.  As per the Canadian Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, our communication is strictly confidential and no information will be released without your knowledge and written consent.  However, there are limits to confidentiality which will be discussed in great detail by your psychologist during the initial session.

NOVA upholds a firm cancellation policy: 24 hours’ notice is required for cancellation of scheduled appointments.  This time frame allows for appointments to be offered to those clients who may be on a waiting list.  Appointments that are not canceled within this timeframe may incur a charge of the full appointment fee.

Psychologists undergo extensive education, board examinations, and adhere to ethical guidelines set up by their regulatory body. In Alberta, the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) is the regulatory body for the profession of psychology. Their requirements to become a Registered Psychologist include:

  • Successful completion of a minimum of a Master’s level degree from an approved Psychology program (which would have included a 200-600 hour practicum)
  • Completed a minimum of 1600 hours of supervised hours in the practice of Psychology.
  • Successful completion of the Examination of the Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) and passed the LEAP Examination.

The term “provisional psychologist” or “registered provisional psychologist” is a legally restricted term in Alberta.  This means that only individuals who have been approved by the College of Alberta Psychologists to be on the provisional registry may use these titles.

A registered provisional psychologist is a therapist who has completed a minimum Master’s level psychology or related degree and is practicing to become a registered psychologist. As a requirement of the regulatory body, CAP, all provisional psychologists must present a supervision plan as part of their application requirements.

During this supervised practice period, provisionally registered psychologists are overseen by a fully registered psychologist. Provisional registration means that the psychologist will continually report to and be mentored by a psychologist. This process and mentorship adheres to the strict regulations set in place by College of Alberta Psychologists regarding the application of knowledge, method, principles, techniques and ethical standards.

The connection between social work and therapy holds great importance. Social workers occupy diverse roles, even at the bachelor’s degree level, within various community agencies, including hospitals and schools. Upon advancing to the master’s level, they acquire the qualifications needed to provide therapy, much like psychologists. This amalgamation of roles highlights the holistic approach of social work, addressing a wide range of challenges, including those related to mental health.

Overall, social workers can play a crucial role in your mental and emotional well-being by addressing both personal and social factors that impact your life.

1. Providing counseling: Social workers are trained to offer individual and group counseling, addressing a wide range of emotional and psychological issues.
2. Assessing needs: They can assess your social, emotional, and environmental needs to develop a tailored treatment plan.
3. Connecting to resources: Social workers can help you access community resources, support services, and financial assistance to address life challenges.
4. Advocacy: They can advocate for your rights and needs in various systems, such as healthcare, education, or legal settings.
5. Building coping skills: Social workers can teach you coping strategies and life skills to better manage stress and challenges.
6. Offering support: They provide emotional support, a safe space to discuss concerns, and guidance on decision-making.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Want to find out about helplines? Contact 211 Alberta or visit: https://ab.211.ca/how-we-help/helplines/

ADULTS

Children & Youth

Seniors

BOOK A SESSION NOW