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Counselling services at Cornerstone are by appointment only.
Our office is open Monday to Saturday, with evening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The length of one session is generally 50 minutes, leaving the counsellor 10 minutes to tend to the file before the next session. You are requested to come 15 minutes early to you first appointment to fill in the intake form. You may also download the Adult Intake Form (see below) and fill it in prior to the appointment. At the first session, the counsellor will discuss future appointments. Continuity of treatment is an important part of gaining benefits through counselling. We encourage planning ahead in scheduling appointments.
When you call our office for the first appointment, you will speak to our intake worker. Initial appointments are generally scheduled within one week from the time of your call.
In addition to providing us with name, address, and appointment availability, we will also need to know the general nature of the concern for which you are seeking counselling. This will assist us in ensuring that you are assigned the most appropriate counsellor for your situation.
Because our fees for counselling are based on a sliding scale, you will need to indicate your gross household income so that the fee can be established.
Because the appointment is reserved exclusively for you, we will charge the established hourly fee for appointments that are not cancelled 24 hours in advance.
The only exception to this agreement is in the event of an emergency. If this is the case, please telephone us as soon as possible. Your counsellor will determine whether your reason for cancelling late constitutes an emergency.
(Charges for missed appointments often cannot be submitted for health insurance reimbursement.)
Fees are based on your gross household income. The sliding fee scale ranges from $80 to $170 per counselling hour. Clients who have extended health benefits through their employer may be reimbursed for all or a portion of their counselling fees. Subsidies are available for those with very limited income.
Fees are to be paid in full at the time of each appointment unless alternate third party payment arrangements have been made in advance. In addition, fees are charged for reports and letters written on behalf of clients, photocopying and NSF cheques. Receipts not submitted for insurance claims may be tax deductible. A small fee is charged for the reproduction of receipts.