FAQ

Well, it is just what it sounds like. You get to access services from wherever you are. Village Therapy offers counselling via telephone or video call. These emerging modalities of offering therapy are becoming more popular as many clients either live in areas where access to services are scarce or find traveling to and from appointments overly cumbersome. Virtual therapy allows you to access mental health support, whether by telephone or video, from the convenience of your own home.

At this time Village Therapy can only offer therapy to residents of Alberta. If you are not a resident of Alberta but still require services we would be happy to try to help connect you to an appropriate resource in your area. ​ Please also note, clients must be 18 years of age or have the written consent of a guardian in order to engage in services.

No, virtual therapy is not suitable for everyone. If you are having any immediate thoughts of self-harm or suicide, Village Therapy is not best suited to meet your current needs. Village Therapy is not able to provide any crisis intervention. If you are in need of immediate mental health services please contact 911, proceed to your nearest emergency room, or contact your local distress centre. ​ If you are not in crisis, Village Therapy may be an excellent option to help work through your current struggles. Telephone or video sessions are great for moms and mamas-to-be’s who find it difficult to attend traditional therapy sessions. No packing up the baby, no parking in the winter, stay at home in your pyjamas if you want, and access the same professional support you would in person.

Face-to-face counselling is different from virtual therapy and is more suitable for some issues. If you are in crisis online therapy is not the best choice for you.

Online sessions are billed at a rate of $200 /hour. Longer sessions and paperwork/letter writing will be prorated at the same hourly rate. A sliding fee may be available if cost is a barrier to treatment, please contact us for more information.

Payment is collected through the Jane App Platform. Your credit card information will be collected when you register but your session will be billed upon completion. If you would rather arrange payment through e-transfer please call us prior to booking.

An invoice with your therapist's registration number will be provided for sessions. Counselling services are often covered by extended benefit plans. Each client's benefit plan is different and therefore it is important you check with your insurance provider to see if online therapy by a Registered Social Worker will be covered on your plan. Social Workers are recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as an approved medical expense for tax purposes.

Village Therapy uses a telemedicine platform called Jane. Jane complies with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and all equivalent personal health information protection legislation in Canada.

Confidentiality in virtual therapy is the same as it would be in a traditional therapy setting. Information disclosed to your therapist is confidential and cannot be disclosed without the client’s consent except under certain circumstances. These circumstances are referred to as the “limits of confidentiality”. The primary limits to confidentiality include situations where a therapist is led to believe the patient may harm himself; situations where there is information to believe there may be harm to someone else, including but not limited to child abuse; or a situation in which a court subpoena's the therapist's records.

Jane is a telemedicine platform that is easy to use and most importantly, will ensure that our sessions remain private. You can log in from your preferred device whether it’s a desktop or laptop computer, or your smartphone or tablet. Jane handles all of the booking, billing, invoicing and video function for your therapy sessions.

You will click on the Book Now page which will take you to a booking calendar. Select the service and time that works best for you. Upon booking you will receive an email with a link to the session. Jane will send email reminders and the link for you to connect to your session. You will have a Jane account so you can go on and change your appointment or set new reminders at any time.

It's simple. Ensure that you follow the instructions provided in the email to set up your Jane profile. Complete the intake form and consent for treatment (please do this at least 1 hour prior to your live session). Find a private place to connect with your therapist.

If you have any questions along the way, Jane has a great support team who is always available to help. You can contact them by emailing seejanerun@janeapp.com or calling +1 844-310-JANE (5263)