Frequently Asked Wellness Questions

What is Maternal Health Niagara?

We are a collaboration of registered health professionals working together with shared values to support individual and their families.

Do you support outside of Niagara?

Yes! We are all in good standing with our professional regulatory bodies to practice in Ontario. That means we can provide virtual support to anyone living in Ontario.

Where is your office?

Our office is virtual. Right now, we are not providing any in person services.

**Marie-Eve has another location she practices out of.

Are your cost covered by OHIP?

Our services are not covered by OHIP. If you have extended health care benefits, you may have coverage for a registered social worker, physiotherapist. It is best to confirm directly with your insurance provider.

Does your insurance cover services provided by a Registered Social Worker (RSW)? or a Physiotherapist?

What is the total yearly coverage for therapy (clarify your annual coverage period)?

What is your balance remaining for the year?

Is there a maximum coverage per session and/or a maximum number of visits?

Do I need a referral to book?

We welcome self-referrals. A medical note is not required for services unless your insurance provider needs one. Please contact the therapist directly to book.

What payment do you take?

We accept credit card, and e-transfer

What to expect at my first psychotherapy appointment?

Prior to your appointment you will receive paperwork (consent, intake questionnaire and screenings) to be completed. At your intake appointment your therapist will gather detailed information about your health and wellness. Together we will develop a plan to achieve your goals.

We are here to support you with where you are at, we understand that you may have a child(ren) in your care during your session.

What to expect in my first pelvic floor appointment?

The first appointment is an one hour appointment. Expect to have at least 40 min to express your concerns about your specific issues and tell your story. Marie-Eve will gather your gynecological, urinary, digestive, and sexual health as the pelvic floor muscles have a significant role in the optimizing the function of those systems. Next, we perform a screen for the lower back, pelvis and hip movements. So have a yoga mat close by.

By the end of the first visit, you will have the knowledge to understand your pain or pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, a timeline to address your specific issue and exercises to start your journey to recovery.

Follow up visits are scheduled to achieve your specific goals. It can be every week or every month. These visits are scheduled for 30 min and aim to review your concerns and go over your physiotherapy “wish list”. This way, we can continue to progress your exercises at an optimum pace to rehab your muscle, ligaments, and nervous system.

Office Policy for Social Work Services

PROFESSIONAL FEES:

The rate is $120.00 for 50 minutes.

Payment for services is expected to be received on the day of your counselling session.

Clinical services provided by a social worker are HST exempt.

Service Fees for any letters, meetings, and/or telephone calls- (except for booking or cancelling an appointment) will be prorated to the hourly fee per 15 min intervals.

Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.

Payment can be made by CREDIT CARD or E-TRANSFER. The official receipt will be provided to you upon payment.

E -transfers may be sent to your therapist:

Emily Pollak: EmilyPollak@hotmail.com.

Taylor Burciul: BurciulTaylor@gmail.com

If you have extended benefits it is your responsibility to submit to your insurance the claim for reimbursement.

BOOKING/ RECORDS/ CANCELLATIONS: Maternal Health Niagara, Social Workers uses the electronic record system of “Jane App”.

https://maternalniagra.janeapp.com

Administrative record:

The information you have completed in your profile will remain part of the Jane Administrative records. This also stores your billing. The administrative information will be stored through the Maternal Health Niagara account.

Your name will be visible to the team; however, your records will remain private, and belong to your therapist.

Clinical record:

Your therapist is responsible to store your clinical records in accordance with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). Your therapist is custodial of your clinical records. If your therapists leave Maternal Health Niagara, will export your records and store them. Maternal Health Niagara will not have access to your clinical records but will maintain the administrative record.

Booking:

You will have an account with Jane which will allow you access to your therapist’s schedule. It is your responsibility to pre-book appointments at a minimum of 1 month in advance to ensure your preferred time is available for you.

When booking you have a choice of phone or video appointments.

If you have not come to therapy in a 2-month period, your file will be closed and there will be a hold on booking. If you wish to return, please reach out and we can discuss your needs and my availability.

If you require an appointment and your therapist is booked, you may add yourself to the waitlist. We do our best to offer cancelled appointments to clients on the waitlist. You will receive an email notification and you can log in and see if it is available. The system is live so it is not guaranteed that space will remain available.

Your name will be visible to the team; however, your records will remain private, and belong to your therapist.

We require a valid credit card number to hold your appointment. Your credit card information will be securely held through our on-line booking system, JANE. You will not be fully booked until you have your credit card on file. Your credit card will not be charged at the time of booking, and you are welcome to pay by using an alternative approved payment at our appointment (e-transfer).

CANCELLATION

Late cancellations and missed visits impact other clients who could have used the session. We require 24-hour notice for cancellations. Clients who do not contact their therapist in accordance with our cancellation policy will have their credit card charged the FULL fee of the appointment.

MATERNAL HEALTH NIAGARA:

The providers at Maternal Health Niagara are all private practitioners responsible for their own clients, billing, and record-keeping.

We have a shared fax line, general email account, social media, and website.

There is a confidentiality agreement between providers about the communication we receive through fax and email.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

All services provided to you are confidential. There may be times when it would be beneficial for your therapist to speak with other service providers in your life, such as your health care provider. If this is appropriate, they will request your consent.

In accordance with best-practice standards, your therapist may utilize supervision as part of their practice. In supervision, your therapist may provide information about you and your sessions. Your therapist may use peer consultations. It is your right to withhold or withdraw consent, or to place conditions on the information shared about you. If you have any conditions for clinical supervision, please share this with your therapist.

There are a few circumstances where your consent may not be required:

A) If it is required by law to do so.

B) If your therapist assesses that there is an active risk of suicide or harm others, and we are not able to come up with a plan to keep you safe. Ex: you have a plan to commit suicide and wish to die by suicide.

C) If your therapist assess that a child may have been harmed in the past, or that a child is at risk of harm in the present or future. In all cases, your therapist has a legal duty to report this. Circumstances this may include is physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence. (anything subject to the Children and Family Services Act.

D) Social Workers are bound by law to report a colleague to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers for professional misconduct, including having sexual relations with a client of theirs.

E) If there is a complaint filed with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, your social worker will be required to share information about their work with you.

DISTANCE THERAPY/ COMMUNICATION/ PRIVACY:

Telephone calls: Therapists make their best efforts to return calls within their business hours. Each therapist has their own set working days. Please ensure that your current contact number(s) are up to date in Jane.

It is important that you are aware that our therapists use their cell phones which are not as secure as landlines. If you are concerned about this, please speak with your therapist.

Virtual Therapy: We are currently using an on-line platform that is compliant with professional standards. It is important to note that although the servers are secure, there is a risk for privacy breaches.

For your sessions, please find a space where you feel comfortable and safe talking. Please note it is your responsibility to ensure that you are in a private space on your end. If you have any concerns about domestic violence please communicate this with your therapist.

In the event of technological issues, that prevent us from proceeding with your appointment you will be billed in accordance with the time of your session. Less than 10min- No fee. If the appointment ends before 50 minutes, we will prorate your service.

Texting/ Emails/ Social Media:

Therapists may use texting and emails to communicate about appointment times or changes. JANE (booking system) will send you an appointment reminder via email and text unless you select otherwise.

Please remember that emails, texts, cell phones and social media are not secure ways of communication.

Any form of communication may become part of your clinical file as per our standards of practice.

Social Media is a forum to network and share information that may be relevant to the public. Therapists will not share any information about their clients. If you are on social media, it’s important to remember that posts/ comments are not private in nature and may be used by others. Your therapist may see your posts if you are an active member of any of the same groups. If this is a concern to you, please speak with your therapist.

Social Workers have strict professional guidelines that we need to adhere to, as such we are not able to be connected, i.e.:“friends” with anyone on social media.

CRISIS SERVICES:

MHN does not provide a crisis service. For emergencies, please contact one of the services below:

If you feel you’re at imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.

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

BENEFITS & RISKS:

Your participation in therapy comes with benefits as well as risks. Although no one can promise a specific result, there are some potential benefits from engaging in the therapeutic process. We will talk about your goals, what you hope to gain from services and any difficulties that you wish to address. The benefit(s) from treatment depend on the amount of time, the goal(s) and the level of follow-through. During therapy, it is possible that you may not make improvements towards reaching your goals. If this is the case, your therapist may discuss what other treatment options are available, change the clinical intervention, readjust goals, discontinue treatment, or refer you to a different service provider. When you start therapy, you may have some feelings or behaviours that get worse. It is important that you discuss these issues with your therapist if they arise, so they can help you with ways to handle them.

YOUR RIGHTS:

Therapists make every attempt to provide services in a professional, ethical, and respectful manner. Your therapist would be pleased to discuss any concerns that you have in an open and honest fashion. The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers regulate the services provided by Social Workers.