Before booking your first appointment at Willow Psychology, we do a telephone consultation to find out about you and what is bringing you to therapy. This helps us to make sure that we have the experience you need. In the event that we don’t have the availability or experience you need, we will provide referral options.
After booking an appointment with us, we will send you information about counselling psychology, our office policies, and information on how to access your appointment.
Below are some frequently asked questions about seeing a psychologist:
When should I see a Psychologist?
The moment at which someone decides to reach out and get support is different for everyone. Often, people seek out a psychologist when the issues they are struggling with begin to negatively impact their relationships, work/school performance, or capacity to engage and experience their life in a way that brings them meaning and joy. To help with your decision to see a psychologist, the Canadian Psychology Association has some helpful information on Deciding to See a Psychologist.
How long will therapy take?
This varies for everyone and depends on the nature of your presenting concerns, therapeutic goals, and needs. Many clients begin to notice some positive changes within the first 4-6 sessions and some feel that therapy is complete sometime between 6-18 sessions. In cases when clients have struggled with a long-term issue, it is possible that further sessions may be beneficial. In the first few sessions together, your psychologist will work with you to establish your counselling goals and get a better sense of what a possible time frame for counselling will look like.
Is the information I share kept confidential?
As Registered Psychologists, we have a strict standard for confidentiality set out by the College of Alberta Psychologists. Within the context of therapy, confidentiality means that all information clients provide in session remains confidential with a few exceptions to this rule, which will be thoroughly discussed at the beginning of your first session.
Do you offer online counselling?
To meet our clients’ needs and preferences, our psychologists offer both in-person and virtual sessions using telepsychology. For clients who live in Alberta, and want an online option, we are happy to accommodate you by offering virtual sessions through our secure online platform. Online therapy is effective and a helpful way to access therapy when living in a rural area, working long hours, coping with health concerns, or simply for convenience of care.
How long is a session?
Generally, an individual therapy session is 50 -60 minutes. Many couples and family therapy sessions can be 80-90 minutes.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed, please feel free to contact us at any time.