Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a referral to be seen at Norfolk Psychological Services. However, some extended health benefits providers require that you obtain a referral from your family doctor in order to be reimbursed for psychological services.
Are the services covered by OHIP?
No, services of psychologists, psychological associates and other therapists are not covered by OHIP. However, many extended health benefit plans do offer some yearly coverage for Psychologists and Psychological Associates.
What are your fees?
The fees are different for each therapist. You can discuss fees directly with your therapist before you schedule an appointment.
How do I make an appointment?
For the Adult, Couple, and Family Services division, please call your therapist directly in order to set up an appointment.
How do I choose a therapist?
We invite you to browse the Staff Pages as well as the Therapist Finder in order to help you choose a therapist that would best suit your needs and preferences. If you are still unsure which therapist you’d like to see or would prefer to speak to someone directly, please call our office manager, Pauline Busby at extension 221. She can suggest which therapists would match your individual requirements.
Do you have a wait list?
Generally, new clients can be seen within 1 to 2 weeks.
What is the cancellation policy?
What if I miss an appointment?
We require 24 hours notice for cancellations. Appointments that are missed or canceled with less than 24 hours notice are subject to fees - typically, the full session rate. However, in cases of emergency or severe illness, no charges will apply. Please speak directly to your therapist in order to clarify any fees that may apply to missed sessions.
What should I expect at my first appointment?
All therapists at NPS work in slightly different ways. However, in general, you can expect to discuss the issue you are hoping to obtain help for as well as some other pertinent information about your life circumstances and family history. Some therapists might ask you to fill out some questionnaires as part of your first appointment.
How long are sessions?
Usually 50 minutes in length.
Do you offer evening/early morning appointments?
Most therapists offer some evening and/or early morning appointments.
What happens if I don’t like my therapist or don’t feel like I am getting the help I want?
In these cases, it is best to discuss the matter directly with your therapist. Together, you may be able to work out some solutions in order to ensure your needs are being met. Your therapist can also help you find another clinician that is more suitable to you.
Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a referral to be seen at Norfolk Psychological Services. However, some extended health benefits providers require that you obtain a referral from your family doctor in order to be reimbursed for psychological services.
Are the services covered by OHIP?
No, services of psychologists, psychological associates and other therapists are not covered by OHIP. However, many extended health benefit plans do offer some yearly coverage for Psychologists and Psychological Associates. In addition, some of our clinicians do work with local Employee Assistance Programs.
What are your fees?
There are differing fee structures for assessments and therapy.
There is a flat rate for a standard psychological assessment. That rate covers all aspects of the assessment (initial consultation with parents, in-class observation, individual testing sessions, as well as feedback sessions with parents or legal guardian, the individual being tested and school personnel) and the written report. The fee structure for the assessment is broken down into installments. For the rate and installment structure, please call our office manager, Pauline Busby at extension 221.
Fees for therapy are different for each clinician. You can discuss fees directly with your clinician before you schedule an appointment.
How do I make an appointment?
For the Child and Adolescent Services division, please call our office manager, Pauline Busby at extension 221 to place your child on the waitlist for an assessment. For therapy services, please contact your preferred clinician directly in order to set up an appointment.
How do I choose a clinician?
We invite you to browse the Staff Pages as well as the Therapist Finder in order to help you choose a clinician that would best suit your needs and preferences. If you are still unsure which clinician you’d like to see or would prefer to speak to someone directly, please call our office manager, Pauline Busby at extension 221. She can suggest which clinicians would match your individual requirements.
Do you have a wait list?
The Child and Adolescent Services division has a waitlist for assessments. The length of wait times for assessment fluctuate based on many factors, including demand for services, demand for a specific clinician, nature of the presenting problem, etc. For specific wait times, please call our office manager, Pauline Busby at extension 221.
For therapy appointments, new clients can usually be seen within 1 to 2 weeks.
What is the cancellation policy?
What if I miss an appointment?
We require 24 hours notice for cancellations. Appointments that are missed or canceled with less than 24 hours notice are subject to fees. However, in cases of emergency or severe illness, no charges will apply. Please speak directly to your clinician in order to clarify any fees that may apply to missed sessions.
What should I expect at my first appointment?
The first appointment of an assessment usually involves answering questions related to the history of the presenting problem, medical and educational history, previous testing, etc. Sometimes the child or adolescent is required for this session, but sometimes it is best if this information is obtained from the caregiver(s) initially. Please contact the individual clinician to find out whether you should bring your child to the initial assessment appointment.
When therapy is being sought, again, it is important to obtain a complete history of the presenting problem. Whether the child is involved in this appointment often depends on the age of the child and the nature of the difficulty being experienced. Please contact the individual clinician to find out whether you should bring your child to the initial therapy appointment.
How long are sessions?
Assessment sessions vary depending on the age of the child and his/her ability to sustain attention to the required tasks. Generally, testing sessions are 1 to 2 hours in length. Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes in length.
Do you offer evening/early morning appointments?
Most clinicians in the Child and Adolescent Services division see clients between early morning and late afternoon hours, although specific hours vary from clinician to clinician.
What happens if I don’t like my therapist or don’t feel like I am getting the help I want?
In these cases, it is best to discuss the matter directly with your clinician. Together, you may be able to work out some solutions in order to ensure your needs are being met. Your clinician can also help you find another clinician that is more suitable to you.