Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of therapy do you offer?
We provide Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy and Family Therapy. We work with kids, teens and adults dealing with a wide range of emotional, mental health and relationship struggles including the following: anxiety, depression, grief, stress, trauma (PTSD), ADHD, separation and divorce, blended families, infidelity, self-esteem, eating disorders, addictions, parenting, behaviour management, sexuality, pregnancy and postpartum depression/anxiety, and relationships issues between parents and children, couples, and adult sibling groups. If your issues create emotional and relationship distress for you, we can help.
Do you only offer in-person therapy?
We are happy to offer both in-person sessions at our Belleville Therapy Centre and online therapy virtual sessions via Video Session or Phone Session across Ontario.
How does therapy work?
We have outlined the Therapy Journey for people working with The Relationship Centre seeking Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy & Family Therapy – we call it Therapy Pathways to Healing & Growth. They each include 3 phases of therapy that build upon the stage before it. Our Therapy Journey is designed to help people make deep positive changes in how they feel, both within themselves and in their important relationships. And this change is designed to last long after therapy has ended.
What is the difference between a Social Worker, a Psychotherapist, a Psychologist, and a Psychiatrist?
a) Social Workers and Psychotherapists have a Graduate Degree in a Counselling/Psychotherapy/Social Work discipline, are registered with a Provincial Regulatory College, and are trained to provide therapy to address wellness, relationships, personal growth, career development, mental health and psychological illness or distress. And therapists on our team, have all pursued Advanced Clinical Therapy Training to provide the highest caliber therapy to our clients.
b) A Psychologist has a Ph.D. in Psychology or a Doctorate in Psychology, so they are referred to as Dr. They can perform psychological testing and assessments and make a diagnosis of mental health disorders, and like social workers and psychotherapists, they also provide therapy.
c) A Psychiatrist is a Medical Doctor who has then specialized in psychiatry to become a psychiatrist. They can diagnose mental illness and they are able to prescribe and manage medication to treat mental health conditions.
Can therapists prescribe medication?
No, therapists are not able to prescribe medication. Medical Doctors, typically a Family Doctor or a Psychiatrist prescribe medication for emotional or mental health needs. Our Therapists are happy to collaborate with your doctor related to your potential need for medication if that would be helpful.
Does it matter which type of therapist I work with?
There are several factors to consider when selecting your therapist:
Do they have the training and experience to help specifically with the issues you are dealing with – we match clients with therapists who are skilled and trained to help you with your unique needs.
Professional Designation to be Eligible for Insurance Reimbursement (if applicable) – many clients have Extended Health Benefits that covers all, or a portion of their therapy costs. Clients need to contact their Insurance Provider to determine the specific details and requirements for their coverage. Once we know that information, we will match a client with a therapist who is covered by their insurance.
Fit & Connection – for therapy to be effective, you must have a good “fit” or “connection” with your therapist. We take care to match you with a therapist we feel you will be a “good fit” with, however, if you don’t feel that “good fit” in the first session or two, we want you to share that with us so we can explore another option where you will feel that. It is that important and we want to ensure that we get that right for you.
Can you tell me about The Relationship Centre?
Our therapy practice specializes in working with individuals, couples, and families using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Trauma-Informed Care. Both require additional training and are considered the “Gold Standard” in helping people overcome emotional and relationship distress.
We have therapist who offer a specialized form of Trauma Therapy called EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. It is highly effective in treating many forms of trauma, including PTSD quickly and effectively, especially with First Responders and others who have experienced various forms of trauma.
We also have therapists with advanced clinical training in working with Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety including Pregnancy and Infant Loss, and Infertility.
Our team is highly trained providing a high caliber of therapy that is designed to create deep, long-lasting change. We go far beyond symptom reduction and help clients heal the underlying root issues impacting how they feel about themselves and their relationships.
Do you take insurance and provide direct billing?
Most insurance plans cover the services of our therapists (Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers), but we strongly suggest you have a conversation with your insurance provider to confirm your coverage. The following are helpful questions to ask your insurance provider:
Does my plan cover me to see a Registered Social Worker or a Registered Psychotherapist?
What is the maximum amount covered per therapy session?
What is the maximum amount covered per year?
Are there any deductibles?
Do I need a prescription from my family doctors for coverage for therapy?
Who else in my family is covered for this service?
Does my plan renew at the end of the calendar year (December 31st) or the end of the fiscal year (March 31st), or at a different date?
We are registered to provide direct billing with the following insurance programs and companies:
NIHB (Non-Insurance Health Benefits)
Green Shield through portal both MSW Therapist and Registered Psychotherapist
Telus- eClaims – for MSW Therapist only:
Canada Life
Canada Life – PSHCP
Chambers of Commerce
Alberta Blue Cross
Beneva by La Capitale
BPA
Canada Construction Group
CINUP
Coughlin
D.A. Townley
First Canadian
Industrial Alliance
Johnston Group
Liuna Local 183
Liuna Local 506
Maximum Benefit
People Corporation
RWAM
Telus Adjudicate
Union Benefits
UV Insurance
WSIB
The following is a list of Insurance Providers/Companies we are unable to provide direct billing to currently (we regularly check to determine if we are eligible for direct billing and will update this list accordingly):
Sunlife
Manulife
Desjardin
Cooperators
OTIP – Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan
Claim Secure
COWAN
Equitable Life
GMS – Group Medical Services
Group Health
Group Source
Johnson
Manion
You may be eligible for coverage with these Insurance Provides and, in that case, you would submit the claim on your own behalf.
Do you work with EAP’s (Employee Assistance Programs)?
There are a small number of EAP programs we are registered with – please call our office at 613-848-3683 to inquire about your EAP program.
How much does therapy cost?
Think of therapy as an investment in your wellbeing. There is a cost, however, it provides you with a road map and an opportunity to be happier and more confident in every aspect of your life and in your important relationships. And for couples in distress, it can save your relationship.
Our fully trained and registered therapists’ session fees range from $190 – $220/session depending upon the therapist you work with. We are also pleased to provide the option of working with a Supervised Student Intern at a cost of $100/session. Our students are supervised by an experienced and fully trained therapist who will be collaborating with the student during each phase of your therapy journey.
What hours do you work?
We have therapists who provide sessions during the day, evenings, and weekends. We strive to be available when our clients need us.
How often will I need to come for sessions?
Our goal is to help you get the best results as quickly as possible – that will last even after therapy has finished. To achieve this, we recommend starting your therapy journey with weekly sessions to build the foundation for the healing and growth pathway your therapist will support you with. Once the foundation is established, you and your therapist will determine the plan to continue at weekly sessions or transition the frequency to bi-weekly – this will depend upon your goals and the progression of your therapy journey.
Think about this – if you were building a new home for your family, would you want to rush to throw together the foundation so you could build the pretty rooms upstairs? We want to focus on building a strong foundation for your journey, so your change will be long-lasting and not have you slipping back to old patterns once therapy ends.
We understand what is needed to make the long-lasting change you want, and we set up your therapy journey so you can achieve that.