PRACTICAL DETAILS, THOUGHTFULLY EXPLAINED
Knowing what to expect can make reaching out a little easier. Here you’ll find session fees, insurance information, and options if the standard fee is difficult to manage.
SESSION FEES
Per 50-minute session. Appointments are scheduled for 60 minutes, including approximately 10 minutes for documentation and related administrative tasks.
A free 15-minute conversation to ask questions and get a sense of working together, in English or Italian.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation ↗Extended appointments are $290 for 90 minutes, including approximately 75 minutes of direct therapy and 15 minutes for documentation and case review.
Payment is due on the day of your session, by e-transfer or credit card. E-transfer has no processing fee; credit-card payments have a $5 processing fee per transaction.
A valid credit card is kept securely on file. If payment remains outstanding for more than 48 hours after a session, the card on file is charged the balance plus the $5 processing fee.
Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations and missed appointments are charged the full session fee. A missed consultation, or one cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, is charged $40.
Cancellation fees are your responsibility and may not be reimbursed by insurance. At least 30 days’ notice is provided for fee changes.
Full fee schedule & practice policies ↗COVERAGE & REIMBURSEMENT
Coverage depends on your plan. Ask your insurer whether psychotherapy provided by a Registered Social Worker is covered, what your limits are, and whether virtual sessions are included.
Receipts are available for reimbursement. I don’t bill provincial health insurance for psychotherapy services. If you have questions about receipts, reimbursement, or direct billing, please get in touch before your appointment.
Ask about billing ↗AE Therapy is a registered provider with the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program. Direct billing for covered services is available for eligible First Nations and Inuit clients, subject to program coverage requirements and any necessary approvals.
This option is available for psychotherapy in Burlington and online across Ontario.
Learn more about NIHB mental health counselling benefits (opens in a new tab)
SLIDING-SCALE THERAPY
Because getting support shouldn’t mean putting your financial well-being at risk.
My standard fee is $195 per 50-minute session. I reserve a limited number of reduced-fee appointments for people who may otherwise find therapy financially difficult to access.
Income doesn’t tell the whole story. Supporting family, managing debt, caregiving, and unexpected life changes can all affect what you can realistically afford.
A GUIDE TO YOUR OPTIONS
All rates below are for 50 minutes of individual therapy within a 60-minute appointment, including time for documentation.
Standard Fee
$195per 50-minute session
For clients who can comfortably afford therapy at the standard rate.
Accessible Fee
$125per 50-minute session
For clients experiencing some financial constraints.
Approximately 36% below the standard fee.
Supported Fee
$98per 50-minute session
For clients experiencing significant financial barriers.
Approximately 50% below the standard fee.
Reduced-fee appointments are limited, subject to availability, and initially offered for up to three months.
A FINANCIAL SELF-ASSESSMENT
Open a category to explore the examples. These are guides for reflection, not a test you need to pass.
This category may describe your circumstances if:
If this sounds like you: The standard rate of $195 is likely appropriate. Paying the standard rate helps make reduced-fee appointments available to people with fewer financial resources.
This category may describe your circumstances if:
If this sounds like you: The accessible rate of $125 may help make therapy more manageable.
This category may describe your circumstances if:
If this sounds like you: The supported rate of $98 may help make therapy more accessible.
Basic needs include everyday essentials such as food, housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, and necessary health-related expenses.
Disposable income, in this context, means money remaining after essential living expenses and financial obligations have been covered.
It might allow you to buy coffee or tea at a café, go to the movies or a concert, eat out, purchase new clothes or books, enjoy hobbies, or take occasional holidays.
These examples aren't intended to judge how you spend your money. They simply help you consider how much financial flexibility you have.
At the heart of this sliding scale is trust.
I recognize that everyone's financial circumstances are different, and income alone doesn't always tell the whole story.
You might be supporting family members, managing debt, navigating unexpected expenses, or facing financial pressures that aren't immediately visible.
I trust you to reflect honestly on your circumstances and choose the category that best represents your current financial reality.
You don't need to meet every criterion, and you won't be asked to provide proof of income or financial documents.
The goal isn't to judge anyone's financial choices. It's to make therapy more accessible while keeping a limited number of reduced-fee spaces available to those who need them.
A SHARED UNDERSTANDING
Reduced-fee spaces are limited and subject to availability. We’ll agree on the fee and the arrangement together before sessions begin.
After this period, reduced-fee spaces are generally offered to others who are waiting. This helps balance accessibility with keeping the practice sustainable.
Before the arrangement ends, we’ll review your circumstances and discuss next steps together. Options may include adjusting fees, changing how often we meet, or exploring referrals to other affordable services.
Any changes will be discussed in advance. The three-month period applies to the reduced fee, rather than necessarily to the length of therapy itself.
A FEW COMMON QUESTIONS
You’re welcome to ask about costs before deciding to book.
Ask whether your plan covers psychotherapy from a Registered Social Worker, how much coverage remains, whether a referral is required, and whether online sessions are included. I can provide receipts; your insurer confirms what your plan will reimburse.
Annual payment summaries are available on request. Please let me know if you need a receipt or summary for your records.
I believe financial circumstances shouldn’t automatically prevent someone from accessing therapy.
At the same time, providing psychotherapy involves ongoing professional training, consultation, and the costs of maintaining a private practice. The sliding scale balances financial accessibility with keeping my practice sustainable.
Clients who can comfortably afford the standard rate help me reserve a small number of appointments for those who cannot.
Investing in therapy sometimes involves choices about spending. Someone might dine out less often or postpone a non-essential purchase to prioritize sessions.
Financial hardship is different. If paying for therapy means struggling to afford groceries, housing, utilities, healthcare, or other essential needs, the standard fee may not be realistic.
The sliding scale recognizes that difference without making assumptions about anyone’s circumstances.
Review the three financial categories and consider which feels closest to your current circumstances.
If one of the reduced rates would make therapy more accessible, mention it when contacting me or booking your complimentary 15-minute consultation.
There’s no financial application to complete, and I won’t ask for proof of income. Reduced-fee appointments are limited and subject to availability.
No. You can ask about fees and current availability during your complimentary consultation. A reduced-fee appointment is confirmed through a conversation, rather than automatically reserved by choosing a category.
A complimentary 15-minute consultation is a chance to ask questions about working together, including fees and current reduced-fee availability.