FAQs

Therapy is a highly tailored service and process. There are no requirements for attending therapy. Folks often come to us to help them in regards to achieving goal(s), managing and better understanding mental health, getting unstuck, and/or resolving issues and conflicts. At Your Story Counselling Services we do our absolute best to match you with the right therapist and modality in order to better fit your needs and goals. All of our therapists offer a free 15 minute phone consultation in order to answer any questions and address any needs or concerns. ​ It is important for you to feel comfortable with the person you are working with. All our our therapist's email and phone number extensions are listed on our contact page, you can feel free to contact them directly or contact our intake coordinator to be matched to a therapist that fits your needs and schedule availability.

Our services are by appointment only. Give us a call at 416-473-3333 ext. 1 or email us at info@yourstorycounselling.com to arrange an appointment. Once a time has been confirmed we will send you a link to our online client portal where you will receive a welcome package with all of our information and forms to sign before your session.

It really depends! The amount of time one spends in therapy depends on the goals or concerns one is trying to achieve and resolve in therapy. Our goal in therapy is to help you develop a deeper awareness and insight into your life in order to better know which tools and strategies to utilize. Once these steps are achieved, we will then work with the you to determine together whether the next steps are to continue with therapy and set new goals or to complete therapy for the time being.

For those curious or wanting to have a certain number of sessions to expect, we typically say that the average length of therapy before seeing long term sustainable results will be 5 to 8 sessions (each session being 50-60 minutes long, sessions spaced apart weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly). These numbers can certain change depending on the particular matters you are bringing to the therapy room. For couples or family therapy, the length of time in therapy can also be longer (around 4-6 months is the average with weekly or bi-weekly sessions often times) as matters brought on can be more complex and there are more concerns and dynamics to consider with more people as well.

Your right to privacy and confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us. When outside the confines of the therapy room, your therapist will not acknowledge or try to approach you. This is done to ensure that we do not jeopardize your privacy. However, if you would like to approach your therapist, you will be more than welcome to do so. Please be reminded thought that these conversations will be brief and short and that your therapist will not be able to speak with you in regards of your therapy and process in public. We encourage you to not engage in any lengthy discussions in public or outside of the therapy office.

Psychotherapy services are strictly confidential and are regulated in the Province of Ontario in order to protect your privacy. The conversations you have with your therapist will be strictly confidential. We do not release any information about you to anyone without your permission, except as required by Ontario law. In incidents where one or more of the following is present, confidentiality may be broken and appropriate authorities would be contacted: harm to self or others child abuse (physical, sexual, neglect, emotional abuse, witnessing of intense fighting) court ordered release of records sexual abuse or harassment by a registered health professional extended health insurance claim via psychologist and/or social worker individual therapy within couple therapy (your couples therapist may see each partner individually for a few times, whatever was discussed in the individual sessions will be summarized and brought back to the couple session) We will always let you know of our need to break confidentiality prior to reporting to the required authorities, with the exception of time sensitize and/or crisis incidents.

You're welcome to request a specific therapist, though availability may vary. Rest assured, all of our therapists are highly skilled and compassionate professionals experienced in supporting a wide range of concerns. Whoever you work with, you’ll be in caring, capable hands.

We offer affordable therapy through virtual sessions by video or phone. In-person appointments are also available with select therapists at our Vaughan and Markham locations, serving clients across York Region.

Our masters level therapist interns all offer a sliding scale of $20-$75 for individual therapy and $75-$95 for couples or family therapy. Head to our team page to learn more about them and book a free consultation to see if they are the right fit. Our associate therapists also offer a sliding scale, typically from $80 and up. Please email or contact the specific therapist you are interested in to learn more!

We take payment at the end of your appointment. Your receipt can be submitted to your insurance policy to receive your claim. Payments can be made by cash, cheque and credit cards (Visa & Mastercard) at the end of each session. We also accept E-Transfer, payments can be made to info@yourstorycounselling.com ​​ If an appointment is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged a for the full session fee. We make exceptions for emergencies, sickness, and extenuating circumstances.

It depends! All insurance companies have multiple types of policies, please check with your policy to see if you are covered for Registered Psychotherapists (R.P.). Many of our clinicians also work with Social Workers (R.S.W.) and Psychologists (C.Psych. or C. Psych. Assoc.) in order to provide coverage under those titles, please contact us to find out more. Extra fees may apply.We do not have the ability to directly bill your insurance policy for you at this moment in time. Some exceptions can be made for certain insurance companies tha allow us to do direct billing. Please speak to your therapist or our intake for details.

Unfortunately, no, most people we work with pay either out of their own pocket or via insurance policies they hold. We do have select spots for sliding scales available for individuals that are finding finances a barrier to accessing services, please contact us to find out if there are any current spots available.

Reduced fees are low-cost rates offered to support those experiencing financial difficulty.

A sliding scale refers to a fee structure provided to clients who do not qualify for reduced fees but still face challenges in affording standard rates. The fee is determined on an individual basis, taking into account your unique financial situation.

If you believe that your would benefit from the assistance of a therapist or mental health professional but the financial means to afford standard fees, you are eligible to utilize these services. This might apply to students, unemployed individuals, individuals with limited income, those struggling to support family, or those between jobs, among other circumstances that make it difficult to pay full therapist fees.

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) or RP (Qualifying): Our therapist interns are individuals who are in the process of becoming fully registered psychotherapists. The term "Qualifying" indicates that these individuals have completed the necessary educational requirements and are actively working towards meeting the remaining criteria to obtain full registration as a psychotherapist. The specific requirements may include completing a specified number of supervised clinical hours, fulfilling continuing education obligations, passing licensing exams, and adhering to the ethical standards and guidelines set by the regulatory body. During the qualifying period, individuals may be allowed to practice psychotherapy under supervision. At Your Story Counselling Services, our master level therapist interns are supervised by our Clinical Director, Judy Lui, and Associate Therapist and Clinical Supervisor, MacGyver Kou.

When selecting a therapist, consider any areas of expertise that best fit your situation and needs. Choosing a therapist is a subjective process, as everyone has different requirements. The best way to determine if a therapist is a good fit for you is to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation and gauge how comfortable you feel with them. Please remember that our masters level therapist interns come from diverse backgrounds and training. It's important to inquire about their training and background to ensure their approach, and style align with your needs. Our team page includes an in-depth overview of each therapist intern, as well as, a link to schedule a consultation with them. Feel free to change practitioners at any time if you feel it necessary.