Appointments & Fees

When you call to make your first appointment, an intake worker will ask you a few questions to match you with a counsellor that best meets your needs. Your privacy is respected throughout the intake, and the information you provide is given directly to your counsellor. The intake worker will also explain a few of our policies and discuss your fee. Our fees are set with a sliding scale based on income, as well as any insurance or benefits that may cover your fee for counselling.

Before your first appointment, you need to complete our intake forms. These forms are sent to you via email for you to complete electronically. If you do not have access to a device you can complete these on, you can come twenty minutes early to your appointment and complete them in the office.

When arriving, you will first pay for your appointment and be asked to complete any additional forms. Once completed, your counsellor will come out to meet you and show you to their office.

At the first session, you and your counsellor will plan future appointments. Continuity of treatment is an important part of gaining all the benefits of counselling, so please plan ahead in scheduling appointments.

The length of one session is generally 50 minutes, leaving the counsellor 10 minutes to make notes before the next session.

Please note that counselling is available by appointment only. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate walk-ins.

We understand that unforeseen events such as car problems, traffic considerations, business meetings, illnesses, and childcare concerns (to name a few) can occur. However, since your counselling requires your therapist to reserve a significant amount of time exclusively for your benefit, we have a policy regarding cancellations and missed appointments that is fair to you, your counsellor, and other clients who need appointments.  You are free to refuse and/or withdraw from counselling at any time but because your appointment is reserved for you, it is necessary to charge your regular fee for appointments that are not cancelled at least 24 hours in advance or are missed.

Please note that charges for late cancelled and missed appointments often can not be submitted for health insurance reimbursement.

As of February 1, 2023, our standard fee for counselling is $220 per counselling hour, which is the rate recommended by the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta. We do have a sliding scale that is available to you if you do not have any benefits to cover the cost of counselling and if your gross household income is less than $100,000 per year. This rate is based on your gross household income and ranges from $60 to $220 per counselling hour.

We also have Advanced Graduate Level Intern counsellors on site. The rate to see an Intern Counsellor is based on our sliding scale and is either $20 to $50 per counselling hour. These rates are available to those without benefits and whose gross household income is less than $50,000 per year. Our intern counsellors are supervised by one of our registered psychologists or a counsellor with at least 5 years of experience. Please check with one of our receptionists to see if you qualify.

Receipts that are not submitted for insurance claims may be tax deductible.

Fees must be paid in full at the beginning of each appointment unless third party payment arrangements have been made in advance. We accept payment by cash, debit, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Interac e-Transfer.

In addition, fees are charged for the following:

• Photocopying
• Reports and letters written on behalf of clients
• Reprinting receipts
• Returned and NSF cheques ($25)
• Statement(s) of account ($5)
• Transferring your file to another agency

As of October 13, 2020, we are able to direct bill to the following companies:

• Alberta Blue Cross
• ASEBP
• Canada Life (formerly Great West Life)
• Chamber of Commerce
• First Canadian
• GroupHealth
• GroupSource
• Industrial Alliance
• Johnston Group
• Manion
• Maximum Benefit

Several local employers will pay for short-term counselling services for their employees under “Employee and Family Assistance Programs” (EFAP). Such services may include counselling, training, assessments, and workshops. Please check with your employer.

EFAP programs are designed to help employees and their families deal with issues that affect their life. Personal problems and work stress can result in increased absenteeism, lower productivity and work place conflicts. We can offer help that will get struggling employees back on track. This results in a more stable workforce and increased productivity on the job. We can also offer proactive programming to preserve employees’ wellness such as Lunch and Learns to educate them on workplace issues. Talk to your employer about setting up an EFAP to cover your counselling sessions.

In order for a minor (someone under the age of 18) to attend counselling at Cornerstone, our counsellors require the written consent of both parents or legal guardian(s).  Depending on the relationship you have with your child’s other parent, this may take a variety of forms.

1. Both parents are married to or in a relationship with each other
   We will send two electronic consent forms prior to the appointment, one for each parent to sign. If possible, both parents should attend the child’s first session, with consent signed in advance. If unable to sign these prior to the appointment, parents can sign these forms in the office at the time of the session. If both parents are unable to attend the first session, the attending parent can bring the signed consent of the other parent, if they were unable to complete it online.
2. Parents are separated or divorced and share joint custody
   • The written consent of both parents is required.  If one of the parents is unable to attend the child’s first session, they will be required to complete a consent for a minor to attend counselling form online and either send it to our office directly or give it to the other parent to bring to the appointment.
   • If your child’s other parent is unable or unwilling to consent to the child’s counselling, a court order must be obtained that states the child may come for counselling without that parent’s consent. We will retain a copy of the court order in your child’s file.
3. Parents are separated or divorced and only one has custody
   Your custody agreement must state either that one parent has sole custody OR that the custodial parent has sole decision-making power over the child’s healthcare. Bring a copy of this custody agreement to your child’s first appointment. We will retain a copy in your child’s file.
   
4. The child is the subject of a temporary or permanent guardianship order
   Bring a copy of the guardianship order to your child’s first appointment. We will retain a copy in your child’s file.
5. One parent is deceased
   Bring a copy of the other parent’s death certificate to your child’s first appointment. A copy of the certificate may be retained in your child’s file.
6. Only one parent is listed on the child’s birth certificate
   Bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate to his or her first appointment.  We will make a copy to be retained on your child’s file.

If and/or when any changes are made by the courts to your custody agreement or guardianship order, we require you to supply us with a copy of the most up-to-date documents so that a copy can be placed on your child’s file.

We understand that sometimes custody arrangements are complicated.  Please ask one of our intake workers if you are unsure what consent is required for your child to see a counsellor.