What to Expect
The first time you call to book an appointment, you will be greeted by our front desk staff. Each clinician has specialty areas of practice and to match you to the right one, you will be asked for a very brief description of the reason for seeking counselling or a specific assessment. You are also welcome to book via email if that is your preference. At True North, keeping confidentiality is an ethical and professional responsibility we take seriously. Any information you disclose during the booking process is kept private.
Referrals
We are currently accepting self-referrals, as well as referrals from physicians, hospital groups, governmental agencies and other health professions (i.e. massage therapists, chiropractors, etc.) for our counselling, and assessment services.
Your First Visit
We kindly ask that you arrive 5-10 minutes prior to your appointment to fill out some intake and consent forms at your first visit. If you are covered under an insurance provider, please bring your insurance information with you.
Session Length
Counselling appointments consist of a 50-minute session and 10 minutes of written documentation by the clinician (client not present). If you are seeking a specific assessment, please consult our full list of services and costs.
How many sessions will I need?
This number depends on your individual needs. After your first session, your attending psychologist can provide you with more information about the ideal frequency of your sessions. Some clients may benefit from 2-3 sessions, while others prefer to come weekly or monthly. Of course, it is always up to the client and their financial parameters.
Rates
The hourly rate for psychological services is $210 in Nova Scotia. This is the recommended rate as per the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia (APNS) for psychologists registered with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology (NSBEP).
Click here for a full list of our services and costs in Nova Scotia.
For pricing in New Brunswick please contact your office directly.
Insurance Coverage
Please be aware that MSI does not cover the costs of seeing a psychologist in Nova Scotia. If you have private health insurance, psychologist appointments may be fully or partially reimbursable. However, it is a good idea to review your policy with your insurance provider before your appointment. We are able to direct bill to most insurance companies, however not all of them. Please bring an alternate payment method, such as a debit or credit card (Visa & Mastercard), should we be unable to direct bill or if your policy has any restrictions.
We are happy to provide you with an invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Getting in Touch
If you think counselling is the right path for you, one of the first things to do is make an appointment. True North Psychological Services, and our group of companies, has five locations in Nova Scotia to best suit your needs, including Halifax, Dartmouth, Kingston, Bridewater and New Minas. We also have two clinics in New Brunswick, in Fredericton and Lincoln, and 4 locations in Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa (Downtown and Kanata) and Trenton). If you would like to see one of our clinicians, we accept self-referrals, referrals from physicians, hospitals, and other health services.
Visit our locations page to get in touch with our team at your desired location.