Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

  • We will book an initial free 15-20 minute phone consultation where we can learn a bit more about your concerns and what you are hoping to achieve. This consultation is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. If we are a good fit for your family, then we will book the first session. You may also be asked to complete intake and developmental history forms.

  • Before starting services, we review informed consent, which outlines the nature of therapy or assessment, confidentiality, your rights as a client, and limits to privacy. You will be required to review and complete consent forms after our initial 15-20 minute free consultation and prior to your first session. You are encouraged to ask questions at any time.

  • Contact us first for your free 15-20 minute phone consultation. You can email us at admin@carepsychology.com to book or fill out the form on our contact page.

    After your initial consultation, you can book appointments here.

  • Our availability can vary depending on clinician schedules and the type of service. Please contact us directly to inquire about current wait times or to be added to our waitlist. 

    Please note: Dr. Crystal Dittrick is currently full and not accepting new clients; she has a waitlist for prospective new clients.

  • We offer a range of appointment times, including daytime, after school, evening, and weekend options. Appointment availability varies by psychologist, so we encourage you to review your psychologist’s schedule to ensure it fits your needs.
    Please note that after school, evening, and weekend appointments are in high demand and may book up quickly—advance booking is recommended.

    You can view each psychologist’s office days and availability on our Meet the Team page.

  • Our current office is located at Unit 103, 28 Gateway Drive NW, Airdrie, Alberta T4B 0J6.

  • Yes, our location was thoughtfully designed with inclusivity and accessibility in mind. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and comfortable space for everyone.

    Accessibility features include:

    • Wheelchair accessibility with ground-level/street access

    • Accessible washroom available on-site

    • Designated accessible parking stalls

    • Sensory-friendly environment, including dimmable lighting and white noise machines to reduce overstimulation

    • Service animals are welcome in our space

    If you have specific accessibility needs or would like assistance upon arrival, please don’t hesitate to contact us in advance or ring the doorbell when you arrive—someone will be happy to greet you at the door.

  • Dr. Cristina Fernandez Conde offers services in Spanish. If you or your child would feel more comfortable receiving support in Spanish, please let us know when booking so we can match you with the appropriate psychologist.

  • Sí. La Dra. Cristina Fernandez Conde ofrece servicios en español. Si usted o su hijo/a se sentirían más cómodos recibiendo apoyo en español, por favor indíquelo al momento de reservar para que podamos asignarle a la profesional adecuada.

  • We understand that feeling comfortable and connected with your psychologist is essential to the therapeutic process. If something doesn’t feel like the right fit, we invite you to share your concerns with us. Often, our psychologists are trained in multiple approaches and can adapt their style to better support your needs.

    If you feel a different psychologist may be a better fit, we welcome that feedback as well and will do our best to support a smooth transition. Please note that the timing of a switch may depend on psychologist availability. Ultimately, our priority is your comfort, progress, and feeling supported every step of the way.

Counselling FAQs

WHAT DOES A FIRST SESSION LOOK LIKE?

  • At the first session of counselling and therapy services for children, parents would be invited into the session with your child for the first 10-15 minutes. We will review consent and discuss with you and your child, what remains private in child therapy and what will be shared with parents. We will then have one-on-one time with your child to start building a relationship and help them to feel safe and comfortable. During the following sessions, we will meet individually with your child. We may ask you to come into the session at the end. It is important that children feel comfortable with the counselling process and have interest in attending.. Sessions are typically 50-60 minutes for individual therapy. 

  • At the first session of counselling and therapy services for teenagers, parents would be invited into the session with your teen for the first 10-15 minutes. We will review consent and discuss with you and your child, what remains confidential and what will be shared with parents. We will then have one-on-one time with your teen to start building a relationship and help them to feel safe and comfortable. During the following sessions, we will meet individually with your teen. It is important that teens feel comfortable with the counselling process and have interest in attending the sessions. Sessions are typically 50-60 minutes for individual therapy.

  • The first session for adult counselling and therapy services would involve reviewing informed consent, discussing your concerns further, and developing treatment goals for moving forward. Individual counselling sessions for adults are typically 50-60 minutes in length. EMDR processing sessions for adults may be recommended for 80-90 minutes in length.

  • The first session of family counselling and therapy services would involve an initial intake session where we would discuss your concerns further and gather historical information that is relevant to your family's treatment. This session is for parents/caregivers only when the family counselling involves younger children, but typically involves the entire family for older children, teenagers, or adult children. We will discuss our recommendations around who in the family would be included in this initial intake session during our free 15-20 minute consultation. It is important that children and teens feel comfortable with the family counselling process and have interest in attending the sessions. For family counselling, the first 3 family sessions are typically 80-90 minutes with ongoing sessions either 50-60 minutes or 80-90 minutes.

  • We often explain counselling to children and youth as having someone to talk to who will focus on them and can help with their feelings. It helps some children to better understand by using the metaphor that a psychologist is a “Feelings Doctor” who helps with how we think and feel similar to how a medical doctor treats a broken leg. It can also be helpful to explain that we have lots of things in the office to help them feel more comfortable, including toys, fidgets, and art supplies, and it is ok if they don't feel like talking right away. You can help by normalizing any nervousness or jitters – It is ok to be nervous – it is our job to build a relationship and help them become more comfortable!

  • The length of treatment depends upon a variety of variables including the nature and severity of the concerns, treatment goals selected, readiness for treatment, and motivation for change.

  • Most counselling sessions are between 50 to 60 minutes, allowing for a natural and meaningful conclusion to your time with your psychologist.

  • Session frequency is flexible and based on your goals and availability. Most clients begin with biweekly sessions, which will shift over time depending on progress and need.

  • Everything discussed in counselling is considered confidential with a few exceptions. Psychologists are legally required to report the following (these are called limits to confidentiality):

    • if an individual indicates that they are planning to hurt themselves or someone else,

    • if there are reports of abuse/neglect to a child, elder, or vulnerable person,

    • and in the case of a court order

    If a child or youth disclosed concerns related to harm to self or others, parents would be contacted and then we would notify/involve the appropriate services, as necessary.

  • Counselling and therapy is most effective when a trusting relationship exists between the psychologist and the child or youth. Privacy can be important in securing and maintaining that trust. At CARE Psychology, when we are providing individual counselling and therapy with children and youth, we ensure the caregiver/parent is involved in the process through consultation with them. 

    At times, the parent/caregiver may even participate in the sessions. However, to ensure a child/youth feels they have a place where they can openly discuss their concerns and have some privacy, we will not provide detailed information to the parent/caregiver regarding what the child/youth shared unless the child/youth provides assent or is within the limits to confidentiality. Instead, general themes, ideas, and recommendations will be provided as well as support and encouragement to the parent/caregiver.

Assessment FAQs

WHAT DOES A FIRST SESSION LOOK LIKE?

  • The first session for assessment services would typically involve a parent intake meeting, where we would discuss informed consent and go over your child's developmental, medical, educational, and social/emotional history to inform the assessment. This initial parent intake session is 60 to 90 minutes in length. We would then book the remaining sessions including interviews with your child or youth, any standardized assessment administration with your child or youth, and plans for sending questionnaires to parents, the child/youth, and teachers. We would then book a debrief session after we have gathered all the information.

  • The first session for assessment services would typically involve an intake meeting, where we would discuss informed consent, and go over your  developmental, medical, educational, and social/emotional history to inform the assessment. This intake session is typically 60 to 90 minutes in length. We would then book the remaining sessions including any standardized assessment administration, and make plans for sending questionnaires. We would then book a debrief session after we have gathered all the information.

  • We will often talk with children and youth about how an assessment helps us better understand how their brains work, what things they are really good at, and how to help them with some of the things that may be hard for them. You can explain how there will be a bunch of different things during the process, which will include some conversation, some tasks like puzzles and questions, and academic tasks like reading, writing, and math. They are just asked to try their best as some things may be easy for them and some may be hard. You can help by normalizing any nervousness or jitters – It is ok to be nervous – it is our job to build a relationship and help them become more comfortable!

  • The number of assessment sessions required will vary depending on the type of assessment, presenting concerns, and length of each appointment. Each assessment will typically involve an intake session, 2 to 5 testing sessions, a teacher/school meeting, and a debrief session. Assessments also include hours your psychologist spends on scoring and report writing. Your psychologist will provide you with an estimated number of hours for your assessment; any changes to this estimate will be discussed with you ahead of time. Assessments are billed hourly on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Fees & Insurance FAQs

  • The Psychologists’ Association of Alberta (PAA) sets the guideline for fees for psychological services and there is no GST charge on psychological services. Fee recommendations are based on a 50 minute session.

  • $235 per 50 to 60 minute session

  • $110 per 50 to 60 minute session, per person

  • Initial Family Therapy Session

    $352.50 per 80 to 90 minute session 

    Ongoing Family Therapy Session

    $235 per 50 to 60 minute session 

    $352.50 per 80 to 90 minute session 

    Please note: The first 3 family sessions are recommended for 90 minutes unless otherwise discussed. After the first 3 sessions, we can discuss what works for the family for ongoing family counselling

  • (without an accompanying assessment)

    $120 per 25 to 30 minute session

    $235 per 50 to 60 minute session

  • Additional psychological services, such as letters, documentation, phone calls, and form completion are charged at the hourly rate. 

    For services under 60 minutes, the fee is $60 for every 15 minutes (rounded up). For services 60 minutes or longer, the fee is the $235 per hour rate, with additional time calculated in 15-minute increments.

  • The fees for an assessment vary depending on the type of assessment requested. Each assessment is billed per hour at $235 per hour.

  • A typical psycho-educational assessment ranges from $2585 to $3290 (11-14 hours at $235 per hour, including intake, standardized testing, interviews, scoring and interpreting assessment materials, report writing, and a feedback meeting). 

    Psycho-Educational Assessment plus Autism Assessment

    Additional testing for Autism includes the Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS 2). The autism testing (including scoring and interpretation) along with the psycho-educational assessment typically ranges from $3760 to $4700 (16-20 hours at $235 per hour; 11-14 hours for the psycho-educational assessment plus 5-9 hours for the autism assessment).

  • A typical mental health assessment ranges from $1410 to $2115 (6 to 9 hours at $235 per hour, including intake, interviews, interpreting results, report writing, and a feedback meeting) *please note: mental health assessments do not include psycho-educational testing

    Please talk to your provider for a quote for your specific assessment needs.

  • Your appointment time is reserved specifically for you. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we ask for at least 24 hours’ notice.

    • Late cancellations (less than 24 hours’ notice) are subject to a cancellation fee.

    • No-shows (missed appointments without notice) will be charged the full session rate.

    We understand that unexpected situations and illness can arise. If something comes up, please contact us as soon as possible. In some cases, we can switch an in-person session to a virtual one.

  • CARE Psychology wants to ensure equitable access to mental health support. We have a limited number of sliding scale spaces available at our practice. Individuals with financial need and who do not have extended health benefits or FSCD (or have exhausted these benefits) may be eligible for a sliding scale. 

    Please note: Our Sliding Scale spaces are currently full. 

  • Please check with your insurance provider. Many insurance providers offer coverage for services provided by a Registered Psychologist or a Registered Provisional Psychologist. A receipt will be provided for all services and can be used to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement if your insurance covers psychological services. We also direct bill to a variety of extended health insurance companies. Also, psychological services can be used as a Tax Deductible Medical Expense.

  • We direct bill to a variety of extended health insurance companies. 

    Registered Psychologists are able to direct bill to the following health insurance providers: Alberta Blue Cross, Green Shield, Medavie Blue Cross, Co-operators, and insurance companies within the Telus E-Claims, such as Canada Life, Claims Secure, Desjardins, Equitable Life, Group Source, Industrial Alliance, Johnston Group, Manulife, My-Benefits, People Corporation, and Simply Benefits. 

    Registered Provisional Psychologists are able to direct bill to the following insurance providers: Alberta Blue Cross and Green Shield. Many insurance companies cover Registered Provisional Psychologists, but do not allow direct billing (such as companies using Telus E-Claims, Medavie Blue Cross, and Co-operators). Please check with your insurance provider to see if a Registered Provisional Psychologist, supervised by a Registered Psychologist, is covered. In these cases, a receipt will be provided and you will need to self-submit to your insurer. 

    Please contact us if your insurance company is not listed and you are interested in direct billing at admin@carepsychology.com. 

    Note: Sunlife does not allow direct billing of psychology or mental health services at this time. 

  • Yes, all psychologists at CARE Psychology are FSCD-approved providers. We can direct bill to FSCD if you provide your FSCD contract and case worker information. Please discuss these services with your psychologist if you have an FSCD contract.

    Note: We charge our standard rate for all sessions and you will be responsible for any fees not covered by FSCD. Be sure to check if your extended health benefits can cover these additional costs.

  • Currently, Dr. Crystal Dittrick, Dr. Marisa Van Bavel, and Dr. Cristina Fernandez Conde are NIHB-approved providers. If you're eligible for NIHB services, please let us know as soon as possible.

    NIHB has specific eligibility requirements for mental health therapy services. After an initial intake session, we will need to submit a treatment proposal to NIHB for approval before additional sessions can be covered. Once approved, we can direct bill to NIHB.

    Note: We charge our standard rate for all sessions and you will be responsible for any fees not covered by NIHB.

Resources FAQs