Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, both in-person and virtual therapy sessions are available. The office is located in the community of Mission, in Calgary. Virtual sessions are provided using a service called Owl Practice. Services can be provided to residents of Alberta, but recipients of services must be located in Alberta at the time the services are provided. 

All individual therapy sessions are currently being offered Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday's 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Services provided by registered Psychologists are often covered by benefit plans. Most benefit plans cover a certain dollar amount per year. While I do not direct bill benefit providers, I do provide receipts for paid session fees that can be used to request reimbursement from your insurance provider. It can be helpful to look into how much coverage is available to you if you are hoping to use your benefits to cover the session costs. 

The first session is usually reserved for assessment and treatment planning and is 80 minutes in duration. The goals for this first session are to begin building a relationship, to gain a good understanding of you and the issues that are bringing you to therapy, and to collaboratively generate a treatment plan. In the first session, we will also decide together about how frequently to meet.

Prior to your first session, you will be sent forms to complete along with a Virtual Connection Guide with instructions on how to connect for the video sessions. Please return the forms and review the guide before you attend the first session. If you have work or childcare commitments and are attending virtually, it's recommended that you find coverage or childcare for the duration of the session so you can attend without any distractions. Finally, it can be helpful to think about what's bringing you to therapy and what your goals might be for change. 

Attending therapy with an open mind and curious attitude can help you receive feedback about what might not be working for you. Willingness to try new ways of doing and thinking about things between sessions will help you get the most out of therapy. To maximize the benefits of virtual therapy, you are asked to participate in the sessions from a private space where you will not be expected to be doing other things (e.g., watching children, working, driving) and can speak openly without fear you will be heard by others. It is also recommended that you turn off or silence any text, e-mail, and social media notifications for the duration of the sessions so you can attend without any distractions. 

Change in therapy depends on a number of factors including the number and severity of the problems, the frequency of sessions, and your ability to implement skills and strategies consistently in your life. It's important to have realistic expectations for change, but to also remember that change is possible! Most of our patterns have developed over time and will take time to change. Therapy can be brief if it is focused on a specific problem or transition, but in other circumstances it can take time to make meaningful and lasting changes. We will collaborate in each session to identify clear and manageable steps you can take between sessions to help you get where you want to be. Changes can be gradual at first, but over time, once you gain some momentum in therapy, changes can feel more noticeable. 

Meeting regularly and consistently is an important part of successful therapy, but the frequency of sessions will vary for each person. Some people find it helpful to pursue therapy as they need it over an extended period and others have clear, time-limited goals they would like to focus on. In the first session, we discuss a schedule for therapy that takes into consideration the problems you are coming to therapy with, your goals for improvement, and your existing life commitments. It can be helpful to attend sessions more regularly to start (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly) to help build momentum and to meet less frequently over time when you are working to implement skills and maintain changes. I will recommend a schedule I think would be most beneficial, but ultimately it will be up to you to decide how often you can and want to come.

Psychologists focus on talk therapy for a variety of clinical and non-clinical mental health issues. Psychologists work with you to change your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions to change how you feel and function day to day. Psychologists do not prescribe medications, but may collaborate with your medical team. Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They are able to prescribe medications for mental health disorders. Some provide talk therapy along with medications and others focus primarily on providing and managing medications. 

Some people find it helpful to pursue therapy as they need it for support over an extended period of time - attending when they need to and not when they don't. Others have clear, time-limited goals they would like to focus on. In both circumstances we will discuss what's right for you. Signs that it is time to meet less often or say goodbye include no longer feeling like you have pressing issues to discuss at each session, feeling like the sessions are no longer covering anything new, and feeling like you know what to work on and just need more time to implement the skills and strategies. In some cases, clients take time away from therapy, but return in the future if there is a stressful life circumstance they would like support with.

Currently payment can be made by e-transfer to drlaurieali@outlook.com. A receipt will be provided following payment.