Questions & Answers

I currently offer direct billing through just about every service that allows Alberta psychologists to do so. This includes Alberta Blue Cross, Medavie, Canada Life, WCB, IFHP, Telus Health, Green Shield, Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs, First Nations & Inuit NIHB/IRS RHSP programs, and RCMP. I will issue you the receipts and other information you may need to apply for reimbursement from your insurance if I cannot direct bill. Many plans cover all or part of sessions with registered psychologists.

Cultured Psychology Services accepts all major credit and debit cards, cheques, as well as e-transfer.

The confidentiality of sessions is legally protected, except in a few rare instances such as a court order, if someone is at imminent risk of harm, or if there is a suspicion of child abuse/neglect. Tom will review privacy and confidentiality with you in your first session.

The number of sessions you will need will depend on your goals, and will be decided jointly between you and Tom. There is no obligation to subscribe to a set "package". Clients can often achieve results on a particular problem with short-term or ‘solution-focused’ therapy, which typically lasts between 4 and 10 sessions. However, broader, more lasting change, or help for complex problems may require longer-term therapy.

If you can’t make a session, Tom needs 24 hours’ notice in order to be able to offer the spot to someone else who may be on the waiting list. Cancellations without adequate notice will be subject to a cancellation fee up to the price of a full session.

Most clients start with 50-minute visits once per week, though more often or less often are usually also possible. Once people get more effective at making progress on their own, they won't need therapy as often or at all. Tom believes that good psychologists empower people to become their own therapists.

I treat couples using several popular therapies, including Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT).

Yes. I have been involved extensively in the assessment and treatment of PTSD, so I do treat most people with PTSD, complex PTSD, burnout, and all sorts of stress conditions.

I provide services in Polish and English, as well as depression, anxiety, trauma, and solution-focused therapy in Mandarin. I am currently the only psychologist in Canada offering the first, evidence-based depression treatment adapted for Chinese culture. This promising new treatment was found to provide approximately double the treatment benefit of regular therapy in an initial "RCT" effectiveness study. Please contact me for more details.

While the majority of people feel better from therapy, there are some potential risks. Sometimes discussing difficult feelings may feel worse in the moment before it gets better. Tom will be present to support you if such distress comes up, and you will not be obligated to participate in activities or discussions that make you feel uncomfortable. Also, sometimes when we gain a strong sense of direction, our lives may end up changing more than we expected. However, most people find that they build happier and more meaningful lives as a result of therapy.

While you are encouraged to tell Tom what you need if you have thought a great deal about your goals, most people need some time to get settled in. The first session will usually has a greater focus on getting to know each other, establishing a relationship, and getting started on building a shared sense of direction.