Get The Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

It is important to do your research.

Whether you are looking for psychological services for yourself or a loved one, you can find the answers to your questions here.

General

Do you offer virtual or in-person sessions?

Both. We serve all of Ontario through secure virtual therapy sessions and in-person appointments at our Guelph office.
Access is quick and straightforward with online appointment booking and no wait lists.

Do I need a referral to see a therapist at this clinic?

No. All our services are self-referred. You can create a profile on the Client Portal and book an appointment.

How do I book an appointment?

Appointments can be booked online through our secure client portal, here.

What can I expect during my first session?

First sessions are all about building rapport and getting a general sense of client needs and expectations. This builds towards treatment formulation. Often, initial assessment tools (as required) are sent as homework following the first session.

How many sessions will I need?

Depends. Every person and concern is different. Psychological assessments often require 2-3 sessions, where structured psychotherapy (e.g. CBT for depression) often requires 8-12.

I want to perform better at work, at the gym, or in my relationships. Can you help?

Yes. Psychological science is not only applied to areas of difficulty, but can also be applied to improving performance across life domains. Specific areas of study and therapeutic interventions (e.g. Positive Psychology or MAC approach to sport performance) can be adapted to a number of applications.

Services

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist?

Both are qualified professionals regulated by their corresponding professional colleges in Ontario. Both have received postsecondary and graduate-level education in psychology and are required to have ample clinical training and supervised practice experience.

The difference lies in the specific protected acts that each can perform. Where both psychotherapists and psychologists can provide psychotherapy, only psychologists can communicate a diagnosis of a mental health condition.

Do you only offer psychological services for men?

While Cogent was founded on the principle of creating a service that would uniquely address men’s needs and expectations, we currently treat people of all genders and do not exclude anyone for whom our model fits.

Do you offer couples therapy?

No, we currently do not offer couples therapy. We do, however, consult with our clients about couples therapy needs and make referrals where necessary.

Do you offer formal reports or assessments?

Yes. Your therapist can provide reports including formal psychological diagnostic assessment reports, treatment plans and summary reports. The reports can be released to you, or, with your consent, directly to the person or agency that requires the report.

How quickly can you offer a formal psychological diagnosis?

Diagnostic assessment is a complex process using multiple tools, including semi-structured and structured interviews as well as psychometric tests. Sometimes, informants are required to participate as well. The total time required depends on many factors, but often 2-3 sessions are sufficient. Additional time may be required to produce the corresponding report.

Support & Resources

Can therapy help me improve my relationship with my loved ones?

Yes, psychotherapy has been shown in multiple studies to be effective in increasing relationship satisfaction.

Can I have my partner attend therapy sessions with me?

Yes. With your consent, anyone can attend your sessions. This is often very helpful for your therapist to better understand the context and impact of your concerns and progress.

What if I don’t feel comfortable talking to my support system about my mental health?

Your therapy is absolutely confidential. However, engaging your supporters in the process is most often helpful.

Do you offer any online resources or self-help tools?

Your therapist may recommend any number of appropriate homework exercises, which could include online resources or books. Consult our Resources page for a number of our own tools.

What should I do if I need urgent help between sessions?

Between sessions you can contact your therapist via our secure messaging feature on the Client Portal. However, we do not offer crisis care. If you are in crisis, please visit your closest emergency room or call 911.

Insurance & Payment

Do you offer services covered by third-party payers such as WSIB, motor vehicle accident insurance (HCAI) or NIHB?

No. We do not work with any third-party payors. Clients are responsible for all fees.

Are your services covered by health insurance benefits?

Psychological services are covered by most extended health benefits plans. Please check with your insurance provider. We do not provide direct billing, but most providers make it very easy to submit a claim.

How much does a psychological assessment cost?

There is no fixed fee for psychological assessment. Assessments are billed based on the number of sessions required.

How much does a therapy session cost?

Our fees are set to reflect recommended rates of our corresponding provincial professional associations, and operate under the ethical standards for billing practices by the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

Current session rates are $240 for Psychology and $180 for Psychotherapy.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept payment by credit card, debit and e-transfer.

Do you offer sliding scale fees?

No, we do not offer a sliding scale at this time.

Privacy & Confidentiality

How confidential is my therapy?

All personal information is stored in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). All client contact is kept rigorously confidential. We keep paperless offices, and keep no identifying client information outside of our practice management software.

For more detail about digital safety features of our practice management software, consult Owl Practice.

Who has access to my therapy records?

Only your therapist and their clinical supervisor can access your records.

Can my therapist share information with others, like my doctor or family members?

At your request, your therapist will share your information with anyone you chose.

What happens if I am in danger of hurting myself or others?

There are some circumstances which require your therapist to break confidentiality for reasons of safety and security, such as the imminent danger to self or others, reports of child abuse, audit by a professional regulatory body or in the case of subpoena.

You will be provided with a detailed confidentiality agreement when you book your first appointment and are free to discuss confidentiality issues with your therapist at any time.

Therapy & Treatment

What types of challenges can therapy help with?

Psychotherapy has been shown to be effective for a great number of mental health concerns (e.g. Depression, Anxiety) as well as non-clinical struggles (eg. relationship problems, work problems) and performance enhancement. Consult our Services page for more details regarding the conditions we treat and the therapies we use.

How do you support men struggling with sexual health issues?

Male sexual health issues (e.g. erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation) are complex phenomena and are specific to each person. There is no ‘cookie-cutter’ approach. A thorough assessment will dive into physiological as well as psychological factors and provide individualized treatment strategies.

Do you offer services for specific issues like depression, anxiety, or trauma?

Yes, we offer evidence-based psychological therapy protocols for a number of diagnosed mental health concerns including, depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders and trauma as well as many others. Consult our Services page for more details.

Can therapy help with relationship or family problems?

The insight and skills gained in effective psychotherapy can be applied to a number of different relationships, including family, friends, and romantic relationships.

Do you provide support for substance abuse or addiction?

We do provide support for people struggling with substance use or impulsive behaviours (e.g. gambling, sex etc). On some occasions we may provide information or referrals in cases where individual psychotherapy is not sufficient to contain substance use.

Can therapy help with grief and loss?

Psychotherapy and supportive counselling can be extremely helpful for navigating grief or loss, in the case of losing a loved one as well as the personal losses occasioned by role changes, job loss or other adverse circumstances.

Do you offer help for chronic stress or burnout?

Chronic stress or work-related burnout often also require assessments for possible underlying mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or PTSD. An individualized treatment plan can address underlying issues as well as directly address communication, performance or job satisfaction issues.

How can therapy help with anger management?

Effective psychotherapy can help you better identify cognitive or emotional precursors to angry outburst and can train skills to improve communication and problem solving.

Can therapy address issues with self-esteem or body image?

Self-esteem and body image concerns are common concerns in men, although they are often undiagnosed and untreated. Several psychotherapeutic interventions can be used to challenge long-standing negative core beliefs of self and can also promote adherence to healthy lifestyle choices.

Still Need Clarity?
Connect With Cogent Today.

As a clinic committed to clarity, we want to empower our clients with knowledge.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions and concerns before booking an appointment. We will do our best to ensure you have the information you need to make an informed decision.