No, services offered by a psychologist are not
covered by OHIP. However, our fees are reimbursed by extended health care
insurance, which you may have through your work. The fees situation is more
like that at a dentist's office than at a physician's.
We work on a fee for service basis, and people typically pay as they go, at the end of each session, receiving a receipt suitable for submission to their insurance company. A personal cheque or cash is acceptable to all our psychologists and some accept payment by credit card or Interac. Whatever is not reimbursed by your insurance company is claimable as a tax
deduction on your income tax as a medical expense. You will find that,
when you pay for your therapy after each session, debt is not built up and
your therapy becomes a budgeted expense, like other weekly expenses such as
groceries. Why should I pay more to see a psychologist when I can pay less and see a psychiatrist covered by OHIP or a "Counsellor" or "Social Worker" who is not covered by OHIP but charges less per session?
At Gilmour Psychological Services, we stay within our area of competence and work with the other health care professionals relevant to our clients problems. Clients are given full opportunity to work on their problems without medication, but if medication is indicated, we refer appropriately and the client can see us for psychotherapy while also seeing a psychiatrist or family physician for prescription and monitoring of medication.
There are a number of very important reasons why you may want to see a psychologist rather than a less expensive or "free" therapist.
Clinical psychologists have more mental health and psychotherapeutic training and experience than any other health profession.
Clinical psychologists have studied at a university for a minimum of 9 years to earn a doctoral degree in psychology and the work placement experience. After obtaining their doctorate, psychologists must complete a postdoctoral year of supervised experience, write two sets of examinations and pass oral examinations.
Psychologists are regulated and licensed by
the College of Psychologists of Ontario, which has the power to discipline, fine and revoke the licence of psychologists who have not performed their job competently and hurt a client. As a result, the proficiency level and honour of the profession of psychology is ensured and protects you when you seek help.
Only therapists registered with the College
of Psychologists can use the title "psychologist" and the terms "psychology" and "psychological" (as in, for example, a "psychological report".) Therefore, when you see a psychologist, you can be assured that he or she is an exceptionally well trained, well experienced, and well regulated health care professional.
You also have recourse to a higher authority, the College of Psychologists of Ontario, if you are unhappy with the behaviour of
the psychologist. There is no recourse with counsellors and other therapists unregulated by law. This is why insurance companies will reimburse you for our psychologists' fees but will not reimburse you for the fees of an unregulated provider.
Many people do not want to see a
psychiatrist because they do not want a medical approach to their problems.
Many (but not all) psychiatrists are very biomedical and believe that moods
are the result of biochemical imbalances that should mainly be treated by pills. This is like saying your tension headache always requires an aspirin and couldn't be cured by relaxation, a massage or some problem solving.
