Got a question?
Here is a list of our most frequently asked questions.
What is the difference between a Psychotherapist and a Psychologist?
Psychotherapists are professionals who received specialized training to help people with their emotional problems. In the province of Ontario, only professionals registered with The College of Registered Psychotherapists may use the designation Registered Psychotherapist. Depending upon one's academic degree (minimum being a Master's Degree), psychotherapy may be provided by social workers, psychologists or psychiatrists.
Psychologists often hold a Ph.D. in psychology. In addition to providing psychotherapy, psychologists are also able to conduct psychological assessments. While a number of psychologists work in community agencies or in private practices, some psychologists also work in academic settings conducting research.
Are your services covered by my Extended Health Benefits or Health Spending Accounts?
As per my personal experiences, the following insurers may cover the services provided by Registered Psychotherapists:
GreenShield
Great-West Life
Manulife
Sunlife
Desjardins
Insurers who offer Health Spending Accounts
Although the above insurance companies have been ones identified that may cover Registered Psychotherapists, it is recommended that you check with your insurance provider the type(s) of coverages you have as each plan is different.
What are your hours?
I split my time predominantly between two practices. One in Whitby and one in Toronto. My hours at present are Saturdays from 12:00 to 5:00 pm in the Toronto practice. However, I am hoping to expand my hours and days in the near future to provide my services to meet your needs.
What should I do if I am unable to attend our scheduled appointment?
Please note that once we have mutually agreed upon a time for our session, the time is reserved just for you. If you need to re-schedule or cancel your appointment, please do so at your earliest convenience. A cancellation fee for the full cost of the session will be required for appointments canceled with less than 24 hours notice.
Should you be running behind schedule, please inform me as soon as possible. If 20 minutes has passed and I am not informed in a timely manner, I will reserve the right to consider it a missed session and a full fee will be charged.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Currently, I accept cash or e-transfer. For e-transfer, please send payment to hattyhtwong@alumni.utoronto.ca
Are services provided by Registered Psychotherapists on the CRA list of eligible medical expenses for income tax purposes?
“Registered Psychotherapist” is now listed on The Government of Canada Website as an authorized medical practitioner for the purposes of the medical expense tax credit, for residents of Ontario.
To access this list, you can click here and search for “Registered Psychotherapist”.
I do not have Extended Health Benefits and I am unable to afford the full fee for psychotherapy, do you offer a sliding scale fee?
No one should be denied or being turned away from psychotherapy or mental health needs due to financial difficulties. For clients with financial challenges, I offer a limited amount of sliding scale bookings. Please feel free to contact me so we may discuss how to go about assisting you further.