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We provide professional, ethical, and compassionate counselling and psychotherapy services. Our team includes regulated practitioners in Social Work, Psychotherapy, and Clinical Counselling. We are dedicated to supporting your mental health and emotional well-being.

By attending sessions, you agree to follow our clinic policies regarding fees, attendance, confidentiality, and respectful communication. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with your therapist or our Client Care Coordinator.

Annual Review:Continue to review your policy annually and update it for any regulatory changes (e.g., scope of practice expansions, privacy law amendments)

Please note:Maternal Health Niagara does not provide crisis or emergency services. If you are experiencing a crisis or require immediate assistance, please contact emergency services or a local crisis support line.

Maternal Health Niagara provides professional services in Social Work, Psychotherapy, and Clinical Counselling. 

Our practitioners are regulated by their respective professional bodies: 

• Registered Social Workers are governed by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. 

• Registered Psychotherapists (including those in qualifying status) are regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. 

• Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) are accredited through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.  and more. Our therapists will work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your unique needs and goals.

  Maternal Health Niagara does not provide crisis or emergency services. In the event of a crisis, please contact emergency services or a local crisis support line immediately.

Our therapists provide counselling and psychotherapy for mental health and emotional well-being.

We focus on areas such as:

· Perinatal mental health (fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, parenting) 

· Pregnancy and infant loss 

· Trauma and PTSD 

· Anxiety and depression 

· Stress and life transitions 

· Relationship and family concerns 

· Grief 

· Parenting support 

· Individual, couples, and family therapy

· Eating disorders

· Substance use disorders

· Severe or ongoing intimate partner violence

· Custody or access evaluations

· Personality disorders (when specialized care is needed)

· Bipolar disorder or psychosis

· Medical diagnosis or prescription of medication

· Legal, court, or forensic services

If your needs are beyond our expertise, we will discuss this with you and help you find the right support.

Ontario Crisis Services: 

Provincial Abuse Support Lines- Assaulted Women's Helpline 1 (866) 863-0511 

Distress/Support Line- Canada Suicide Prevention Service 1 (833) 456-4566 

Kids Help Line- 1 (800) 668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 

Local Niagara Services: 

Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) Niagara: 1(866) 550-5205 ext. 1 

Niagara Region Sexual Assault Centre (CARSA): 1(905) 682-4584 

Pathstone Mental Health Services: 1(800) 263-4944 

Gillians Place 1(905) 684-8331 

Niagara Children and Family Services 1(888) 937-7731 

 Due to regulatory requirements, all clients must be physically present in Ontario during each session, whether attending virtually or in person.

 Each session is 50 minutes in length. An additional 10 minutes is allocated for case notes and administrative tasks, making the total billable 60 minutes.  

Individual Therapy: $175 Couples & Family Therapy: $210 

Practitioners: 

Emily Pollak, MSW, RSW 

Jessica Cleeve, MSW, RSW 

Randi Paxton, MSW, RSW 

Tahera Vawda, MSW, RSW 

Heidi Bercovici, MSW, RSW  

Individual Therapy: $150 Couples & Family Therapy: $185 

Practitioner: 

Shannon Wurster, MSW, RSW  

Individual Therapy: $175 Couples & Family Therapy: $210 

Practitioner: 

Lisa Marie Thompson, RP (Qualifying) 

Individual Therapy: $150 Couples & Family Therapy: $185 

Practitioner: 

Amanda Tran, RP (Qualifying) 

Individual Therapy: $175 Couples & Family Therapy: $210 

Practitioner: 

Lisa Marie Thompson, CCC 

Individual Therapy: $100 per 60-minute session 

All MSW student sessions are supervised by a registered Social Worker. 

• Clinical administrative tasks (such as completing forms, writing letters, or preparing reports) are billed at the therapist’s standard hourly rate, prorated in 15-minute increments. 

• The therapist will provide a time and fee estimate in advanceof completing any administrative work. 

• Records requests are subject to the therapist’s clinical fee and any applicable administrative costs, such as printing, photocopying, or registered mail. 

• Please note that some administrative fees are not covered by extended health benefits, and clients are responsible for any charges not reimbursed by their insurance provider. 

We accept the following payment methods:

· Credit Card

· Interac-E-transfer

· Full payment is due at the conclusion of each session. 

· A valid credit card is required on file; the credit card on file will be billed at the end of the day, if an e-transfer is not received.

· A receipt will be provided upon receipt of payment. 

· Any outstanding private pay balance beyond five (5) business days will result in the suspension of future appointmentsuntil payment is received. The online booking portal will be disabled until payment is received in full. 

· If you are experiencing exceptional circumstances affecting your ability to pay, please contact our client care team. 

· Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change. 

· Clients will be notified in advance of any fee adjustments. 

 If you have extended benefits, it is your responsibility to ensure your extended health benefits plan covers your therapist’s professional designation. 

· Please verify your coverage in advance with your benefits provider, including: 

o Which designations are covered (e.g., MSW, RSW, RP, CCC)

o Available funds and claim submission requirements

· Your therapist will provide a receipt after payment, which you can use to submit your claim manually. 

· Some therapists offer direct billing to certain benefit providers. For details, please speak with our Client Care Coordinator.

· You are responsible for any fees not covered by your extended health benefits. 

· If your insurance plan changes, notify your therapist directly. 

  Health services provided by regulated professionals at our clinic may qualify as eligible medical expenses under Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guidelines. This may include services delivered by:

· Registered Social Workers (RSWs)

· Registered Psychotherapists (RPs)

· Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCCs)

When these services are related to the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a mental or physical illness, they may be eligible for the medical expense tax credit on your personal income tax return.

Important Notes for Clients:

· Eligibility depends on the practitioner being licensed or certified by a recognized regulatory body in the province or territory where the service is provided.

· It is your responsibility to: 

o Retain official payment receipts for tax purposes

o Consult the CRA website or a qualified tax professional to determine whether specific expenses are eligible under the Income Tax Act

· Please note: We do not provide tax advice and cannot guarantee that any particular service will be accepted by the CRA as a deductible expense.

· Active clients may view their therapist’s availability and book sessions directly through the online portal. 

· We recommend booking at least one month in advance for your preferred time.

· You can opt in to email or text reminders (these are a courtesy, not a substitute for your calendar).

· A valid credit card is required on file to book an appointment. 

· If no openings are available, you may join the waitlist

· We make every effort to contact waitlisted clients as availability arises. 

· Please note that the online portal is a live booking system, and appointment slots are available to all clients. We cannot guarantee that a spot will remain open once visible. 

Please make every effort to arrive on time for your scheduled appointment. 

· If you are running late, email your therapist directly to inform them. 

· If you have not arrived within 10 minutes of your scheduled start time and have not contacted your therapist, the session will be considered a no-show and billed at the full session fee. 

· If you arrive late, the session will still end at the scheduled time, and the full session fee will apply.