FAQs
I’ve never been to therapy. What can I expect?
We welcome everyone whether they’ve been to a different therapy office for years or have never been. You can expect a warm, welcoming environment where everything goes at your pace. Initially, we communicate however you are comfortable, through call, text or email about the brief reason you want our services and basic information about yourself. We take that information and match you with the therapist that we think would best suit you. You can also look at our team page and can request a therapist! If you decide you want to switch therapists for any reason, we honour that. Our therapists do not take any offence to clients wanting to change. We want the best care for you!
Dorchester is a small town. What is your confidentiality policy?
Yes, Dorchester is a small town. A lot of people inside Dorchester know each other in some way. While we do service a lot of Dorchester, we do offer services wherever! We have many clients from many cities. We do offer virtual services as well. If either you or your therapists recognize each other, we will switch for confidentiality purposes. If you recognize our administration + management, all records stay within the clinic, and we remain extremely professional with our interactions. All ‘personal’ interactions start with the client. For example, on our side, no other clients will know that we know each other if the client does not want to (if there’s any overlap in the clinic with clients). If you are not comfortable being in the waiting room at all for any reason – please let us know and we will arrange for you to wait outside the clinic and we will make sure there is no one in our waiting room when you arrive.
*Please refer to our policies section to read more about our confidentiality policy. If you want to discuss anything further, please contact us directly.
Do I need a referral to book? How long is the waitlist?
No! You do not need a referral from anywhere to receive our services. We currently do not have a waitlist. We try our best to offer the first available time for the therapist we match or that you request. It can be as early as the next day or 1-2 weeks.
How long does a therapy session last?
Most individual therapy sessions are between 45-60 minutes in length. We do provide 30-minute sessions that are typically for younger children who can struggle to stay engaged for the full time. 30-minute sessions are half the amount of the 45-60-minute sessions.
Can I choose my therapist? What if I don’t like my therapist?
You can! Check out our team page to read a brief bio on each therapist we have here. A reminder that the bios are brief and do not include all areas of experience. All our therapists can provide psychotherapy for all major issues. (i.e. anxiety, depression, etc). There can be times when therapists’ and/or clients’ schedules do not align, and it becomes difficult for clients to get the care they need based on many factors.
If you do not like your therapist or you don’t think they are a good fit for you, you can reach out to them and tell them if you feel comfortable. You can also reach out to management or any administration staff member you feel the most comfortable talking to. Brooke, the Clinic Coordinator is dedicated to all client care! Our therapists never take any offence if you want to switch, finding the right fit for you is the best for your care.
Are your services covered by insurance + do you offer a sliding scale?
We do not currently direct bill to insurance companies, but we are covered by most extended healthcare plans through many companies. We can give you an invoice to submit to your insurance company. If you are struggling to get approved, please reach out to us as we have Janet our Navigation & Access Specialist who is here to help you get covered! We do offer a sliding scale under specific circumstances. We never want finances to be a barrier if you need mental health services. Please reach out to us to discuss some options for your care.
Fees + Payment
Sessions are approximately 45-60 minutes in length. Every attempt is made to see clients on time. Payment is required after your session.
Payments can be made by cash, debit, credit card, or e-transfer. Administration can give you an invoice for your insurance claim if applicable. Clients are expected to attend every scheduled appointment. If you cannot attend, please contact the Clinic ASAP to cancel or reschedule. There will be a fee of 50% of your service fee applied for missed appointments. Exceptions are permitted for emergencies.
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Cancellation Policy
At Empowerment Health & Wellness, we do not require a 24-hour notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment, however, please do not abuse our system and let us know ASAP if you need to cancel or reschedule.
We understand that things come up last minute but please be respectful as we are committing our time as well. If you have missed an appointment, without notifying our clinic, there will be a fee of 50% of your service applied to your file. Exceptions are permitted for emergencies.
Clients are required to let their Clinician or Administration know if they are not wanting to continue therapy services for safety purposes only.
Clinicians will never take offence to services stopping but do have a responsibility to ensure that safety is a top priority. If Clinicians have reason to believe that a client can harm themselves and/or others, emergency measures will be executed (i.e. contacting emergency contacts and/or 911). In our intake forms, clients sign that they understand this policy.
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