WE HAVE FREE PARKING!

Maternal Health Niagara provides Social Worker, Psychotherapy, and Clinical Counselling services. We are regulated providers with our respective colleges. The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers regulates registered Social Workers. The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario regulates RPs and RP (Qualifying). The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association regulates Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC)

Professional Fees Sessions are 50 minutes and 10 minutes for case notes for 60 minutes.

Social Worker (Schedule A)

Individual Therapy: $175

Couples & Family Therapy: $210

Emily Pollak, MSW, RSW; Jessica Cleeve, MSW, RSW; Randi Paxton, MSW, RSW; Tahera Vawda, MSW, RSW

Social Worker (Schedule B)

Individual Therapy: $150

Couples & Family Therapy $185

Heidi Bercovici, MSW, RSW; Krystin Nourse, RSW

Registered Psychotherapist & RP (Qualifying) (Schedule A)

Individual Therapy: $175

Couples & Family Therapy: $210

Lisa Marie Thompson, RP (Qualifying) 

Registered Psychotherapist & RP (Qualifying) (Schedule B)

Individual Therapy: $150

Couples & Family Therapy $185

Krista Fraser-King, RP (Qualifying)

Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)

Individual Therapy: $175

Couples & Family Therapy: $210

Lisa Marie Thompson, CCC

MSW Students:

$100/ 60 minutes individuals

Shannon Bazylewski; Maxine Vigneault

Supervised by Emily Pollak, MSW, RSW

Fees are annually reviewed and subject to change.

Jurisdictions:

-We can only provide services when clients are physically in Ontario.

Payment:

- We accept credit cards and e-transfer payments.  

- Full payment is required at the end of each session.  

- Outstanding balances may pause future sessions.

- Your therapist will issue a receipt upon payment.

- During exceptional circumstances, please speak with your therapist.

Administrative Fees:

-We prorate our service fee for clinical administrative tasks at 15-minute intervals.

-Records requests will be subject to the therapist's clinical fee and other fees, such as printing, registered mail, etc.

Fees are annually reviewed and subject to change.

Attendance:

-Please arrive on time for your appointment.

-If you are running late, please email your therapist directly.

- If you have not arrived within 10 minutes, your session will be billed as a no-show.

-If you attend late, your therapist will charge the full session fee and must end the appointment on time.

Cancellation/ No-show Fees:

-We require a 24-hour cancellation notice.

If you provide less than 24 hours of notice:

-1st late cancellation- $45

-2nd late cancellation- 50% of session fee

-Any future cancellations will be a full fee

-No-show will be a full fee

-The therapist will charge the credit card on file per the cancellation/no-show policy.

*Most extended benefits do not reimburse for no-shows/ late cancellations.

Booking & Appointment Reminders:

-Active clients can view their therapist's schedule on Jane.

-We recommend booking your appointments one month in advance to keep your preferred time available.

- Opting into appointment reminders via email and/or text is an option.

- To book an appointment, a valid credit card is required.

- You can join the waitlist if you need an appointment and your therapist is unavailable. We try to offer openings as they become available.

- Please note that the system is live, so we cannot guarantee that the spot will stay available.

Extended Benefits:

-If you plan to use your extended benefits, you must verify your service coverage. This includes checking the professional designations and the funds available to you.

- Your therapist will give you a receipt when you make a payment. You can then use this receipt to submit your claim to your extended benefits

- Some therapists on our team can bill your extended benefits directly. For more information, please talk to our client care coordinator.

Personal Health Records/Collection & Use of Information:

-Maternal Health Niagara uses Jane to keep your electronic health records.

-Information collected includes your personal information, service dates, billing details, credit card numbers, case notes, assessments, and other clinical documents.

-Emily Pollak owns this account.

-Your therapist will complete the documentation according to their regulatory body and the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).

-Maternal Health Niagara manages and stores your health records in compliance with the relevant regulatory bodies.

- Jane provides integration programs such as Stripe, E-TELUS Claims

-If you have concerns, please speak with your therapist or the clinic owner, Emily Pollak.

- Your name and appointments may be visible to the team.

-All associates and contractors adhere to Maternal Health Niagara's practice policies.

Client Care Coordinator:

-Our client care coordinator has access to your administrative record, billing information, appointment scheduling, and information you provided during your brief consultation. She also assists with sending letters and faxes.

-Our client care coordinator keeps records per Maternal Health Niagara's office policy, including uploading emails and making notes for client contact.

Third-Party Programs:

-We use other third-party programs at Maternal Health Niagara to manage our practice, including but not limited to SR FAX, Godaddy, Microsoft Office 365, Ooma, Zoom, Doxy, Psychology Today, Trello, and insurance provider platforms.

-These are subject to change based on the clinic's needs.

Contact Information:

-Please ensure that your personal information remains current, including your address, phone number, date of birth, and emergency contact.

Confidentiality: Maternal Health Niagara recognizes the importance of confidentiality by following our ethical guidelines and standards of practice.

Consents to release personal information:

-Your therapist requires permission to release information about you unless legal and professional obligations exist.

-You may request that your therapist share information about you.

-Your therapist will discuss the risks and benefits of sharing your personal information in these situations.

-We use a collaborative process regarding the information released.

-You have a right to limit the information shared about you and revoke consent.

-If you wish to withdraw consent, please notify your therapist in writing; the therapist will then document that you have withdrawn consent to release information about you.

Limits of Confidentiality:

-There are exceptional circumstances where your consent to release information about you may not be required, including:

A) Legal obligations that require the release of information about you.

B) If your therapist assesses that you are at imminent risk of suicide, which may include having a plan, intention, and means, then your therapist will take appropriate actions to keep you alive, which may consist of contacting emergency services, crisis services, and your emergency contact. In these circumstances, your therapist would release pertinent information about you, such as your address, phone number, medications, disclosure of the situation regarding the risk, or other information.

C) If your therapist receives information that you or someone else poses a severe threat of bodily harm to yourself or others, including groups of people, which may result in severe injury or death, your therapist will contact appropriate services, including emergency services, and release the information required.

D) If we have information about a past, present, or future risk of harm to any child, we have a professional duty to report these concerns to the appropriate agency.

-Child protection risks may include physical abuse, threats of harm to a child, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, severe mental health/ substance abuse concerns that impair the caregiver's ability to meet the child(ren's) needs, capacity or judgement concerns for the caregiver that would pose a risk to the child(ren) and exposure to adult conflict and domestic violence.

-Regulated professionals must adhere to the Children and Family Services Act.

-The duty to report includes if there was historical abuse and if there is information to suggest that the offender may have access to another child (ren), which would put that child (ren) at risk of harm.

E) Social Workers are bound by law to report a colleague (another social worker or social service worker) to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers for professional misconduct, including having sexual relations with a client. Registered Psychotherapists with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) are required to report professional misconduct, including if they believe a client may have been or is actively experiencing sexual boundary violations by any regulated healthcare professional.

F) Canadian Certified Counsellor regulatory body The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association advises the following:  If a client informs a counsellor of the possible unethical conduct of another counsellor/therapist, they assist the client in fully evaluating their concern and with their decision of whether or not to take action. Regarding disclosures about non-CCPA members, counsellors inform clients of their rights to file a complaint with that professional’s association and/or regulatory college. In the case of unethical conduct by another counsellor who is a member of CCPA, such action may include contacting the CCPA Ethics Committee – Complaints Division 

Counsellors report their concerns about the unethical conduct of another counsellor/therapist who is a member of CCPA directly to the CCPA Ethics Committee – Complaints Division when they have directly observed the misconduct and they fail to achieve a satisfactory resolution of the issue with the counsellor concerned, or because the nature of the suspected violation warrants this direct action. 

G) If the college investigates concerns related to your therapists, your records may be subject to review.

H) If a medical emergency occurs during your session, your therapist will call 911 for a paramedic and provide any pertinent health information.

Please note that we do not provide court-appointed services, report to the court, or become involved in legal proceedings. We want to ensure the focus of your session remains on your goals; court involvement shifts the intentions of Therapy. If you are looking for a therapist to provide reports to the court, please advise, and we can refer you to other community providers.

Internal Confidentiality Practices:

-If someone sees a therapist at Maternal Health Niagara for individual and couples therapy, we will require internal consent to share information between the providers.

There may be times when other family members seek services at Maternal Health Niagara. If we are aware, we match clients with a different therapist.

-Our internal process is to denote this on the file.

Community Confidentiality:

-If you see your therapist in the community, they will not approach you to ensure your privacy.

-Your therapist will not discuss your personal information or therapeutic work outside of sessions.

Supervision & Consultation:

-Best-practice standards include utilizing consultations/supervision.

-Your therapist may provide information about your sessions for professional development.

-It is your right to withhold or withdraw consent or place conditions on the information shared about you.

- If there is a conflict of interest between the clinical supervisor and therapist, the therapist will seek supervision elsewhere.

-If you have any concerns about clinical supervision, please share them with your therapist.

-Maternal Health Niagara has internal team meetings where case discussions may occur without identifying information when appropriate.

-In some circumstances, the clinic owner is updated on important matters related to safety and other significant concerns.

Therapeutic Process:

-At Maternal Health Niagara, we acknowledge that participation in our services is voluntary and respect your personal choices. We believe that therapy can offer an opportunity for healing and self-discovery. However, we would like to emphasize that specific outcomes from the therapeutic process cannot be assured.

-During your initial session with your therapist, you will comprehensively discuss your strengths and areas of need while assessing your goals for therapy. You may seek to enhance your overall functioning and improve your ability to adapt to changes. With the guidance and resources provided by your therapist, you will have the opportunity to determine what strategies are most suitable for you as we prioritize self-determination in the therapeutic process.

-Numerous factors may influence your therapy journey, including the frequency of your sessions and any changing circumstances. If you find that you are not achieving your desired outcomes, your therapist may explore alternative treatment options with you, adjust your goals, consider pausing therapy, or refer you to another service provider to better meet your needs.

-During therapy, it's not uncommon to experience some increased distress as you navigate through your experiences. You may also observe changes in your feelings or behaviours during this process. If you notice any such changes, we encourage you to discuss them with your therapist, who can provide support and guidance.

-In therapy, your therapist may offer psychoeducation and recommendations, but ultimately, it's your choice to decide in your best interest. Social workers and psychotherapists do not provide diagnoses; consult your primary care provider or an appropriate medical facility for medical concerns.

-Our team is dedicated to providing professional, ethical, and respectful services. If you have any concerns, we encourage you to discuss them openly and honestly with your therapist. Alternatively, you can contact our client care coordinator or the clinic owner for assistance. 

File Closure:

-If you have not attended therapy in 2 months, your therapist will attempt to contact you via email to offer you a follow-up visit before file closure.

If we don't receive a response, we will consider this an indicator that you no longer need service.

-We may discuss closing your file if you often cancel or change appointments without adequate explanation, leading to service disruptions.

-Other circumstances that may deem file closure include legal, ethical/boundary issues, abusive and aggressive behaviour, and the services no longer benefit you.

Return to Services:

-Please get in touch with our client care coordinator if you wish to return to services after file closure.

-At that time, we will review our team's service availability.

-We do our best to honour requests for specific therapists; however, there are times when they may not be accepting referrals.

Scope of Practice:

-Each therapist has a professional skill set and scope of practice. If your clinical needs fall outside your therapist's scope of practice or clinical skills, your therapist will discuss this with you and develop a plan together.

-Care options may include professional consultations, transfer services to another provider, referrals, or file closure.

Therapeutic fit:

-We recognize the personal nature of therapy and the importance of connecting with your therapist. If you find your therapist not the right fit for you, please feel free to reach out, and we can work together to find the right fit for your needs. Our client care coordinator's email is hello@maternalniagara.ca.

Communication:

-Therapists do their best to return calls and emails within their business hours.

-However, each therapist's availability at Maternal Health Niagara may impact the response time.

-We call from a private number unless it is our client care coordinator.

-Our therapists use cell phones, and our client care coordinator uses VOIP, which is less secure than landlines.

-If concerned, please speak with your therapist or our client care coordinator.

Texting/ Emails:

-Therapists may use texting and emails to communicate about appointment times or changes.

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

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

Virtual Therapy

-For virtual therapy sessions, please find a space where you feel comfortable and safe to speak openly.

-If you have concerns about privacy or safety, please communicate with your therapist.

-If you arrive for your appointment and the door is locked, your therapist will greet you shortly.

Office Location:

245 Pelham Road, Unit 204A, St. Catharines

* We Have Free Parking

Illness:

-If you are ill and need to cancel your appointment, please get in touch with your therapist directly.

-Your therapist may also need to cancel at other times. We must extend compassion during these times.

-Please do not attend the office if you are unwell; we can shift to a virtual session or rebook for another time.

Service Evaluation:

-Jane App allows clients to provide a review/rating after appointments. ---The reviews are private and utilized by Emily Pollak to evaluate clinical services.

-Providing feedback is voluntary.

-It is unethical for Registered Social Workers or Psychotherapists to ask clients to write a review or testimonials.

We cannot respond to reviews on public websites. If you have any concerns, please contact us.

Social Media

-Social media is a forum for networking and sharing information that may be relevant to the public.

-Therapists will not share any information about their clients on social media.

-It is important to remember that posts and comments are not private. ----Your therapist may see your posts if you are an active member of the same groups.

-If you comment on Maternal Health Niagara's social media page, we cannot respond to those comments.

-Our team cannot accept personal friend requests from our clients.

Crisis Services:

Maternal Health Niagara does not provide crisis services.

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

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

Contact information:

Client Care Coordinator: hello@maternalniagara.ca

Emily Pollak, MSW, RSW, Clinical Director & Owner- Admin@maternalniagara.ca