what will happen in the first session?
Your therapist will greet you in our waiting area and offer you a refreshing beverage to start. We want you to feel welcome and comfortable in this space. Above all, therapy is most effective when you feel safe and connected with your therapist, so we will start with that. You may even be greeted by one of our resident therapy dogs (after their handler asks about your comfort level).
Your first session is really about getting to know each other. Your therapist will ask what’s bringing you in, what life looks like right now, and what you’re hoping might be different. You don’t need to show up with perfectly organized thoughts, a list of goals, or your entire life story ready to go. We’ll ask questions, you can share at your own pace, and we’ll figure it out together.
By the end of the session, we want you to have a better sense of what might be going on, how we can help, and what therapy could look like from here.
Do you direct bill?
We can direct bill to Blue Cross and Green Shield with your consent.
For other insurance providers, you’ll pay for your session and we’ll give you a receipt to submit for reimbursement. Coverage varies quite a bit between plans, so it’s always a good idea to check yours before your first appointment.
Some of our psychologists are also approved providers for NIHB and Veterans Affairs.
How often should I attend therapy?
This is an excellent question and one we are asked frequently. Therapy is a collaborative process, meaning that you and your therapist work together to figure out what might be the best plan to help you reach your goals. You are the expert on YOU and your therapist is the expert on mental health.
Figuring out how often to attend doesn’t have a magic formula, but there are a few factors that will help us determine the answer, such as:
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Are you currently experiencing a crisis? If so, frequent attendance may be most helpful
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Finances
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Scheduling (if you are extremely busy we need to think carefully about how much we can reasonably add to your plate)
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Motivation
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Your individual pace
The most common attendance rate for our clients is either weekly or biweekly appointments. For those who like a little extra time, we do 90 minute sessions. Some individuals attend once a month and find this to be helpful maintenance of non-pressing issues.
Ultimately, we can work with whatever is manageable for you.
How do i schedule sessions?
You can book online yourself, or reach out and let us help.
If you already know who you want to see, go ahead and book with them. If you have absolutely no idea who to choose, that’s okay too. Take our therapist-matching quiz or contact us and tell us a little about what you’re looking for. We’ll point you in the right direction.
Once you’re booked, we’ll make sure you have everything you need before your first appointment.
what is a provisional psychologist?
A Provisional Psychologist has completed their graduate education in psychology and is working toward becoming independently registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. During that process, they practice under the supervision of an experienced Registered Psychologist, complete 1,600 hours of supervised practice, and meet the College’s other registration requirements, including required examinations.
In practical terms? You’re still seeing a psychologist. They just have another experienced psychologist behind the scenes reviewing their work and supporting their development.
where is the admin team?
Some day our Office Administrator is in the office. Some days he's working remotely. Either way, he's around.
Pav can help with booking, billing, finding the right therapist, or figuring out pretty much anything else you’re not sure about.
Call or text us at (780) 708-7335 or email welcome@landrypsychology.com. If you don’t hear back right away, we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
how much does therapy cost?
We follow the recommended fee schedule from the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta. A standard 50-minute individual therapy session with a Registered Psychologist is currently $235.
We also know that cost can be a real barrier to accessing therapy. Our therapists each keep some room in their caseload for sliding-scale (reduced-rate) sessions, depending on availability and individual circumstances. Please don’t be afraid to ask. We genuinely mean that.
Ruth currently offers sessions at a reduced rate of $180 while she completes the requirements for full registration.
From time to time, we also have student therapists completing supervised placements with us. When available, they offer very low-cost therapy, typically around $50 per session, under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist.
Do i need a referral?
Not at all. While another health professional can absolutely send you our way, but you don’t need a referral to see us. You can just decide you’d like to come to therapy and book an appointment.
Do you offer virtual therapy?
Yes. We offer secure video appointments through Jane, as well as phone sessions if that works better for you.
Therapy can be tailored to work around your actual life. If getting to the office isn’t convenient, you don’t have to. We also offer Walk Therapy, if getting outside is more your thing.
Can i switch therapists if it doesn't feel like the right fit?
Feeling safe, comfortable, and connected with your therapist matters enormously. Many of our therapists offer no-fee phone consultations if you would like to connect with them and ask some questions before booking your first session. This can often be helpful in deciding who is your ideal match. If you meet someone and it just doesn’t feel like the right fit, you are completely allowed to try somebody else. Nobody’s feelings are going to be hurt.
And switching therapists doesn’t necessarily mean starting from scratch. You can talk with your therapist about sharing relevant information or providing a summary for your new therapist, with your consent, so you don’t have to retell your entire life story from the beginning.
Finding the right therapist matters more to us than keeping you with the first person you happened to book.
What is your cancellation policy?
Life happens. If you need to cancel or reschedule, we prefer 48 hours’ notice whenever possible.
As long as you give us at least 24 hours’ notice, there’s no cancellation fee.
With less than 24 hours’ notice, or if you don’t show up for your appointment, you’ll be charged 50% of your usual session fee. Of course, actual emergencies happen too. If something genuinely unexpected comes up, talk to us and we’ll figure it out with you.