1. What can I expect in the first session?
In this first assessment session, your therapist will invite you to share your story and will want to learn more about your hopes for therapy, any symptoms you are currently experiencing as well as wanting to know more about your personal strengths and any stresses in your life. If you feel comfortable with your therapist and would like to proceed with more sessions, you and your therapist will then decide how often you will meet and what you will work on together.
2. Do you have weekend and evening appointments available?
Very few and they disappear quickly. Check our online appointment scheduler for times that work best for you.
3. What do you charge for therapy?
Our team of highly trained, and experienced psychologists has been carefully chosen to help you. And we will be direct here – if you want low-cost counselling, we are not your option. Our rates run between $235 and $297 for each 50-minute session depending on which therapist you choose. If you have questions about the fees or our therapists, please feel free to contact our clinic director at 604-332-4884. If you have an extended health plan through your work, please check to see if you can be reimbursed for part of the cost of your therapy sessions. Depending on the plan from that your employer has purchased from Blue Cross or Manulife (or similar insurers), you may receive $500-5000 towards the cost of your therapy. You may also claim your remaining session fees as a medical expense on your tax return.
WE ARE NOW A TRAINING SITE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY: Dr. Korol will be supervising a number of doctoral students in clinical psychology in 2022-2023. Sessions with a student are a lower cost option at $127 per 50 minutes session. Students will meet with Dr. Korol weekly to discuss your session and make plans for your next session. Check with your extended health benefits, but most providers cover the cost of sessions supervised by a registered psychologist.
4. I've tried therapy before and it wasn't helpful? Can you guarantee that it will work this time?
If you have tried therapy before, your therapist at Vancouver Anxiety and Stress Centre will look at what you will be able to do differently this time to increase your chances of success. Many therapists say that they do cognitive therapy - but do not follow the guidelines for treatment. A cognitive therapist should review your progress each week, teach you skills such as challenging your thoughts, assign practice exercises to be reviewed at the next session and ask you for feedback at the end of each session about whether the work you did together was helpful. Research has shown that structuring the session in this way ensures that you are most likely to benefit from the skills you will learn in session. While we can never guarantee success, if you work hard in between sessions, give your therapist feedback about what is and is not working, you will increase your chances of having a positive experience this time.
5. Do you treat children and teens?
Yes! Dr. Korol is a child psychologist and is accepting a limited number of patients who are 12+ for treatment. Brittney Russell, Dana Cochrane and Raj Hayre are a doctoral students who are specifically interested in working with adolescents as well. We also offer psychoeducational assessments to help develop a detailed learning plan for 6 and up (preschool assessments are also available, but speak with Dr. Korol first).
6. Do you do medical-legal assessments?
No. We do not do medical-legal assessments or take cases from ICBC or Worksafe BC.
7. How do I get started?
Please phone us at 604-332-4884 or click here to schedule an appointment today