Fees & Policies

Payment for private counselling is not covered under Alberta Health Care. However, most benefit plans provide coverage for therapy under Psychological Services. 

ACS service fees are guided by the Recommended Fee Schedule endorsed by the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta, which can be viewed here. Rates listed are effective as of January 1st, 2023 and are subject to change. Our administrative staff will confirm the fee schedule when you contact us.

We recommend couples and family counselling sessions are 1.5 hours in length.

Telephone consultations with clients, parents, teachers, and physicians will be charged in 15 minute increments of the therapist's hourly rate.

Formal reporting requests by clients or 3rd parties (e.g., insurance companies, lawyers) will be billed according to our fee schedule.

Please note that the fees for some of our specialized therapies may be different. We will discuss them prior to your session.

We are happy to take payment in the following forms:

• Credit Card (VISA, Mastercard, American Express)
• Internet Bank Transfer
• Direct Deposit

Our online Client Portal system allows you to book or reschedule your appointments.

If you need to cancel an appointment, please inform us at least 48 hours prior to your appointment time. We are happy to find a new appointment time that works for you.

Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be will be charged 100% of the session fee. Clients who do not show up for their appointments will be charged 100% of the session fee. While we send SMS text and email notifications of your appointments, it is the client’s responsibility to remember to attend their appointment time.

Please note that fees for psychological services may be claimed under Tax-Deductible Health Care Expenses on your personal income tax return. We can provide an account summary to you upon request.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on our fees and accepted forms of payment.

Some EHB and PHB insurance companies will reimburse you for psychological services if you submit your receipts to them but currently do not allow direct billing for psychological services. When you set up direct deposit with these companies, this can make the process of reimbursement as quick as within a few days. Some of these insurance providers include:

• CINUP
• Cowan Insurance Group
• Johnson Inc.
• Sunlife

Registered Provisional Psychologists cannot direct bill for Alberta Blue Cross, Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP) (Teachers and School Support Staff), TELUS Health, Canada Life (formerly Great West Life), and Desjardins Insurance. However, you can pay and submit for reimbursement.

Indigenous clients may have access to coverage for mental health counselling services through Express Scripts (FNIHB) or the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program (IRS RHSP). These programs provide counselling services to Indigenous people who qualify:

• Express Scripts (FNIHB) Benefit Program provides eligible people with coverage for mental health counselling to address short-term crisis situations.
• The goal of the IRS RHSP is to provide former students of residential schools and their families with mental and emotional support.

Any psychologist or social worker who provides counselling under these programs must be approved and registered with Indigenous Services. You can find more details on both programs on the First Nations and Inuit Health Guide to Mental Health Counselling Services website.

Employer Health Benefit (EHB) and Personal Health Benefit (PHB) insurance plan providers often cover mental health services. Plans provide a fixed dollar amount for services, a pooled account for "paramedical services" including psychology, or a coverage based on a percentage. You can find your specific coverage in your online account, benefits book, or by contacting your human resources department or plan provider. Some plans provide a Health Spending Account that gives the employee flexibility to cover the services they need individually.

Not every insurance plan offers direct billing and not every plan covers every type of mental health therapist, so it's important to confirm your coverage before you schedule an appointment.

Questions to ask your insurance provider are:

1. What types of clinicians (e.g. Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Canadian Certified Counsellors) do I have coverage for?
2. Does my plan offer direct billing for all clinicians?
3. Is there a maximum coverage amount (per year/lifetime)? If so, what is it?
4. When does my insurance coverage 'roll-over' or 'renew'?

Please note that only your insurance company can provide this information to you. As a service provider, we are unable to request your plan's details.

You are responsible to pay any outstanding balance that is not covered by your insurance plan.

We are pleased to offer direct billing for several EHB and PHB plan providers for our services. Each plan is different so check with your health care provider to confirm if they cover psychological services from Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, and/or Canadian Certified Counsellors.

• All of our clinicians can direct bill for Green Shield.
• Registered Psychologists can direct bill for Alberta Blue Cross, Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP) (Teachers and School Support Staff), TELUS Health, and Canada Life (formerly Great West Life).
• Some of our clinicians can direct bill Medavie Blue Cross (RCMP, Canadian Forces, Veterans Affairs Canada).
• Some of our clinicians can direct bill for clients with treaty status through ISC or NIHB.

If we are unable to direct bill your health benefit plan for any reason, you will have to pay for your session and submit your receipt to your insurance provider for reimbursement. It is important that you ensure your plan covers psychological services before you come in for your appointment, as payment is always due at the time of your appointment.

Registered Provisional Psychologists cannot direct bill for Alberta Blue Cross, Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP) (Teachers and School Support Staff), TELUS Health, Canada Life (formerly Great West Life), and Desjardins Insurance. However, you can pay and submit for reimbursement.

Please check with your health care provider to confirm if they cover psychological services from your Registered Psychologist, Registered Provisional Psychologist, or Canadian Certified Counsellor.

In some cases, our fees may be covered through and billed directly to a third party payors. In the past, we have worked with legal firms, Section B, and community not-for-profit organizations. Prior to an appointment being booked under this arrangement, the ACS accounting department will contact the third-party payor to confirm billing procedures.

When you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident (this means any accident involving a motor vehicle, even if you were a cyclist or pedestrian), you are entitled to medical benefits, regardless of who is deemed at fault for the accident. Section B benefits provide a maximum of $600 per person of psychological services up for to two years from the date of the accident. These are "no-fault" benefits, so using them will not affect your insurance rates and are, in the opinion of the insured person’s attending physician and in the opinion of the Insurer’s medical advisor, essential for the treatment or rehabilitation of the injured person.

Your insurance company is obligated to reimburse you for treatments given under the Section B portion of your policy, which are advised by your medical doctor. The Alberta Insurance Act requires that the individual’s employer or private health benefit (EHB or PHB) plan is exhausted before Section B coverage can be accessed. As such, the first sessions may be the responsibility of the claimant. After exhausting your health benefit spending, any portion not paid by your health benefit plan will be billed to your auto insurance through Section B.

If the insurance company or the health benefits plan do not allow direct billing, the client will pay ACS directly and submit their receipts for reimbursement. If we can direct bill for services, we will do so.

If you don’t have health benefits, ACS will bill your auto insurance company directly.