I’m increasing my rate for the first time in nine years to be more in line with going rates for clinical counsellors.

Effective May 1st, my rate will be $150 for a 50 minute session.

I also offer shorter sessions for people who don’t need a full session or who are on a budget. When you book, you can choose 45 mins or 25 mins. In all my sessions if you feel done with the session we can end early, and sometimes can go over if I have time. Either way I’ll prorate my rate to the session length. 

Regarding my rate increase:

Current clients: I’ll chat with each of you individually to see if you have benefits, what your benefits are like, and what rate feels right for your financial situation between your current rate and the new rate. If it is best for you, I’m happy to provide services at my old rate ($110 per hour) plus a few dollars inflation (which I’ll now adjust yearly). If you are in a sliding scale spot, the same applies. Nothing changes until May 1st. 

Old clients that haven’t booked in a while: I may not have contacted you directly but you are afforded the same accommodation as current clients.

New Clients: At the moment, until I finish. my book, I’m not taking new clients. When that’s done, I will be accepting new clients again but I’ll have all my sliding scale spots full, so all new clients will be at the new rate. I wish I could keep my rates as low as they have been in the past, however, my attention is being turned to humanitarian/community projects. I do understand how out of reach counselling can seem, but there are actually a number of resources that are little known that you can take advantage of. If you scroll down, you can find multiple ways that you can access inexpensive therapy. 

Regarding My Sliding Scale Spots:

If you: 

• do not have benefits
• work on the front line directly with hurting people
• feel a particular affinity for working with me but are under financial hardship

      … you can contact me to and I can place you on a waiting list.

 

FINDING AFFORDABLE COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT

Affordable Therapy Network: This is a great new website showcasing therapists across Canada who offer low cost counselling. Many are new therapists, or people who are operating from a social work mindset, who want to offer sliding scale spots to people as part of their practice. You can filter for people to see in person or online, as well as many other factors. Click here to go to the page.

Insight Online: This Canadian online therapy group has a portion of their services devoted to affordable therapy. (On the main page, scroll down to the box “Affordable Therapy”) Click here to go to their main page.

Distress Centre: You can not only get crisis support 24/7 from calling or texting 403-266-4357, you can also get one to six free crisis counselling face to face, at their downtown office. Click here to go to their crisis counselling page. 

Calgary Counselling Centre: For individuals, child/youth, families, and couples. You can get online or in person counselling with the Calgary Counselling Centre located in the beltline, south of the Calgary Tower. They have a sliding scale and no one is turned away. Click here to go to their counselling page. 

Jewish Family Service: For individuals, child/youth, families, couples and groups. You can be of any faith to get support here. You can receive three sessions for free, and then an additional 10 sessions offered on a sliding scale. To find out more information, click here to see the mental health support page, or call 403-287-3511 to start an intake. 

Catholic Family Service: For individuals, child/youth, families, couples and groups. You can be of any faith to get support here. You can get a free or low cost 75 minute session, usually within 3 days, and you can come back anytime you need more support. Click here to see the Rapid Access Counselling page, or call 403-233-2360 to book your appointment.

Insight Counselling and Therapy Centre: This organization is offering affordable sliding scale counselling online or in person at their south location. Click here to go to their page, or call 403-210-0334. 

Eastside Family Counselling Centre: You can get free single session therapy as well as call their crisis line. Click here for their website or call the crisis line to ask about an in person therapy session. You can also text, and live chat with them. Click here to go to their website or call 430-299-9699, or walk in at their NE location. 

The Summit Centre for Child and Adolescnet Mental Health: Walk in anytime between 10 am and 10 pm for free sessions at this location at the Children’s Hospital. Click here to see their site. 

Calgary Connecteen: Phone, text and chat peer support for teens and youth 24/7. Click here for their website.

Recovery College: More than 30 free courses on recovery and well being. Some are drop in, some are registered. Click here to see their site. 

Carya: For families and seniors. Available at 10 community locations. Click here for more information.

CIWA, Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association: For younger and older immigrant women. Youth (13-24) and elders (50+) who are permanent residents. refugees or CUAET holders. Click here for their webpage, or email the youth coordinator or the senior coordinator. 

Sunrise Native Addictions Services: Free family counselling program for families (of all colours) in recovery. Click here to see their family counselling page on their website. 

CASA: Get free counselling after experiencing a sexual assault. Click here for their website. 

Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter: 403-234-7233 24 hour line

Calgary Elder Abuse Hotline: 403-705-3250

Alberta Health Services: AHS has a referral and information service to connect you to either community resources or AHS programs. To get connected with any AHS service, call Access Mental Health at 403-943-1500 or 811. They will help you figure out what programs you may be eligible for. Here is a sampling of a few of the programs offered, you should be able to access most of them directly at the page I’ve linked. Click here to see a full list of what is available. 

• Urgent Mental Health Screening: Get an assessment and single session for free at Sheldon Chumir. Click here for more information. 
• Adult Addiction Services: Get connected with resource for addictions for alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex, whether you are the person suffering from the addiction or a support person who is concerned about someone else’s use. Click here for more information.  
• Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team: Care, support, reporting options, forensic examination and evidence collection for those who have been assaulted in the last 7 days. For more information click here. 
• Indigenous Mental Health Program: Culturally appropriate care and support for Indigenous people. Holistic approach. Click here for more information.  
• DBT: The Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program is a wonderful modality to treat people suffering from severe C-PTSD (childhood trauma). A 15 to 18 month program including weekly individual therapy, weekly group skills workshop, daily journalling and weekly homework. Click here for more information. 
• Eating disorder program: If you are having trouble with your relationship to food and may have anorexia, bulimia or another kind of ED, there are inpatient and outpatient services here as well as support for people caring for someone with an ED. Click here to access the information page.
• Looking for a Psychological Assessment? You can get access to this AHS program by picking from the list of referring agencies.
• Street Mental Health Team: If you are experiencing homelessness or are newly housed, meet with the SMHT, who provide short term counselling as well as other supports. Click here to go to the SORCe page or walk in at their downtown location.

Remember these numbers: When you don’t have access to this list but you need help simply call 911 for emergencies, 811 for mental health support and 311 for other city resources.