Thanks to technology, online counselling (a.k.a. e-counselling or cybercounselling) is more convenient, efficient, and accessible than ever before. With online therapy, you can access chat, phone, email or video therapy from the comfort of your own home. These emerging modalities are becoming increasingly popular for clients living in rural Alberta, or for those who find travelling to/from a therapist's office too cumbersome. Plus, the research is clear: online counselling is as good as face-to-face counselling for almost every issue that a person might bring to a counsellor.
You and your therapist will communicate through a secure server called OnCall Health. Using OnCall, you can live chat, email, or video call your counsellor. Once you have booked a session, you will receive an invitation to set up your OnCall profile so that we can begin to communicate.
TherapEase understands that unexpected things come up now and again. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment please ensure you provide at least 24 hours' notice. Sessions cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will be billed at the regular hourly rate.
Counselling is by self-referral. You don't need to be referred by your doctor.
At this time, TherapEase can only offer online therapy to residents of Alberta. Clients must be 18 years of age or have written consent of a guardian to engage in services. The reason services are only offered to Albertans is because each province and country has laws that require unique licensing. I am only licensed to practice online counselling in the province of Alberta.
I deeply regret any inconvenience to you. If you are not a resident of Alberta but still require services, please click the button below to find a licensed therapist near you.
Online counselling is not for everyone. If you are in crisis, have thoughts of self-harm/ suicide, or are in imminent threat of danger/violence, TherapEase is not best suited to meet your needs right now. TherapEase is not able to provide any crisis intervention to people in Alberta. Please contact 911 or click the link below to find crisis resources.
If you are not in crisis, TherapEase may be an excellent option to help work through your current struggles. Online therapy (telephone, e-chat, email, video) sessions are great for individuals that want the convenience and privacy of accessing counselling from their own home.
You can come to TherapEase with your struggles which may include, but may not be limited to: addictions; anger (non-violent); anxiety; assertiveness; family issues; career and work-related issues; conflict resolution; depression; grief and loss; marital, relationship problems; self-esteem; stress management.
Often, these issues are triggered by major life events or changes, feeling like issues from the past are unresolved, or incidents that are too private or intimate to discuss with friends/family. Or maybe there is nothing in particular going wrong at all - you just want to connect with someone about your own personal growth!
I see my role as a counsellor to help you discover solutions to your own problems, not solve them for you; acting as a guide in your decision-making process, not making decisions for you; being curious about you and your issue, not judging or blaming you for where you find yourself today; and creating a safe, confidential space for you to discuss your difficulties, not avoid talking about your difficulties; building self-reliance and self-sufficiency, not giving advice on what you ought to do.
Potential benefits of online counselling:
improved mood; increased self-esteem and confidence; increased ability to set goals and accomplish them; increased ability to manage stressful life circumstances; increased connection with self and others; increased ability to manage strong emotions and feel close to others; increased ability to communicate feelings, thoughts, and needs.
Potential risks of online counselling:
emergence of painful memories and past life events; stirring up unpleasant feelings; changes and disruptions in your relationships with others.
Privacy and confidentiality are of utmost importance in online counselling . To ensure your information is protected, all online therapy exchanges (e-chat, email, video) with TherapEase are encrypted, preventing others from reading, using the OnCall Health platform.
Conversations during phone counselling sessions are, of course, kept confidential between you and your counsellor. There are limits to confidentiality, however:
OnCall Health complies with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and all equivalent personal health information protection legislation in Alberta and the country of Canada.
You can login to OnCall from your preferred device, whether it’s a desktop/laptop computer, or your smartphone/tablet.
TherapEase offers direct billing to some providers. Once you have scheduled your first session, you have the option to provide TherapEase with your health insurance details for direct billing purposes.
Regardless of whether you'd like direct billing to your insurance provider, your credit card information will be collected through the OnCall platform when you register.
If your health insurance does not cover the entirety of the session cost, the remaining cost will be billed to your credit card once your counselling session is complete.
Session fees may be reimbursable (in whole or in part) by Extended Health Benefit plans or Employee Assistance Programs in the province of Alberta. As coverage varies among insurers, it is important to inquire about your insurance policy to see if online therapy by a Registered Social Worker will be covered.
You will be provided with a receipt after every session. Social Workers are recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as an approved medical expense for tax purposes.
Ensure that you follow the instructions in the appointment confirmation email to set up your OnCall profile. You will be asked to complete an intake and consent form - please do this at least 24 hours prior to the start of your counselling session. You will also be sent a 'Housekeeping' form with some other helpful notes and information to read before your initial session.
For video and e-chat sessions: login to your OnCall profile. Ensure you have a strong internet connection. Find a comfortable, private place to conduct your online counselling session. Please note that other apps streaming on the same internet will affect connection quality. Please refrain from having others streaming or downloading during your online session. (ie. Netflix, video chats, etc).
For telephone and video sessions, locate some headphones or earbuds for optimal sound quality during your online therapy call.
Relax and get ready to meet with your therapist in the comfort of your own home (or wherever you are)!
Should you require technical support, please contact OnCall
Email: support@oncallhealth.ca
Phone: 888- 687-9288 ext. 1