Frequently Asked Questions

We are committed to delivering quality care to all of our clients. The process of therapy is largely misunderstood and this can often lead to uncertainty with how this process works. To make things slightly easier, we have collected some answers to the most frequently asked questions.

How often & how long should I see my therapist?

The frequency of your appointments and time in therapy is dependant on various factors. Your therapist will work with you to come up with a plan that suits your needs.

@CCP we find most cases, we recommend a higher frequency of sessions for the first 3 months of work. This is often weekly or bi-weekly to help establish a connection and gain momentum. Research shows that it takes on average 6-7 sessions to build report with your therapist, so we encourage people to consider this when starting this work.

We consider the following elements when determining frequency and duration of therapy

Presenting challenge: certain diagnosis, life situations and challenges require a more intense and frequent approach to support.
Relationship to therapy: Some people view therapy as an ongoing regular part of their health care regime. They see their therapy as something that will be ongoing for them. Others may be seeking support for something short term and serving an acute need.
Scheduling limitations: Life is busy and demanding. Depending on your circumstance you may not be able to come in as often as needed or desired. Therefore sometimes both the clients and the therapists scheduling limitations impact frequency of sessions.
Financial Concerns and limitations: We are very aware of the investment required to access our services. Financial boundaries may impact the amount of sessions you can have and if that's the case we will work with you to determine the best approach.

Your therapist will discuss all of these elements in your first couple of sessions. You will work together to determine a plan that works best for you.

How do I know if therapy is helping?

We often hear from people say “therapy didn’t help“ when describing a past experience. We have identified some elements that are often present when things are ‘working’ or 'helping'. This type of work is not always easily measured so progress may be hard to spot. There are several ways to tell that therapy may be helping, here are our top 4.

1. You view therapy as a safe space: You know you have a judgement free, confidential space that feels safe and comfortable.

2. You feel supported by your therapist: Your therapist is not your “best friends,” nor do they always tell you what you want to hear. However, a good therapist can help you feel more supported and serve as a trustworthy confidant. Another sign therapy is working is if your therapist allows you to begin the process of trusting again—or maybe for the first time.

3.You're unlearning unhealthy coping mechanisms: Ultimately if you’re noticing a decline in any behaviours or patterns you were looking to eliminate, chances are therapy is helping. If you’re starting to engage in other more adaptive coping mechanisms, you’re showing growth and progress.

4.You feel better: There are risks in doing this work. It’s normal to at times feel worse before it gets better. Ultimately, you should be feeling relief or better more times than not. If you feel relief when you leave and more hopeful for even a moment, you're on the right track.

What if I don't feel connected with my therapist? Or I want to try someone new?

As hard as it is to feel like you have to start over, finding the right fit of therapist is very important. We @CCP have a variety of people working here who all come with different strengths.

Here are some helpful tips to consider:

-Consider what change you’re looking for and whether this is something you could ask of your current therapist. We are open to feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask your therapist if they’re able to shift approaches, or do more or less of something.

-Identify what qualities you feel may be a better fit, what you may be looking for.

-Reach out to the administration at CCP and let them know. We will do our best to find you an appropriate substitution. That could be someone here at CCP or someone in the community.

-Always ask for help. Finding the right fit can take a bit of time. Ask around, ask for recommendations and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions upon intake.

There are no hard feelings, we want you to feel better.

Is therapy covered? Does insurance coverall professions?

Unfortunately Psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP. Some insurance plans do cover Psychotherapy but not all. We work with our clients who do have insurance to advocate for coverage when necessary.

All of our (therapists) clinicians are regulated in Ontario and are approved to practice the act of Psychotherapy. We find some insurance companies are open to receiving a letter from us in situations where claims have been denied. Advocating for your cause is very important and can often make a difference.

For example; sometimes plans only cover Registered Psychotherapists and not Social Work and vice versa. Both professional designations are regulated to practice Psychotherapy and therefore both should be covered. At times when we point this out, there are changes that can be made.

All of your receipts from sessions may be kept and claimed at tax time under 'medical expenses'.

We truly know these services ARE essential and know the value of the time spent in our care.