How do I schedule a session? What is the intake process?

To schedule a consultation, you can email or call any of the therapists in our practice. We offer free 15-minute consultations to help you determine mutual good fit. When you decide to schedule a session, we will send you an electronic intake package to your email that includes secure links our consent to services, financial agreement, and a brief intake form that helps us prepare for your time together. This intake package becomes part of your electronic health record.

If you are seeking couples therapy, all members of the relationship will need to connect with the therapist to consent to services. Each member will have their own health record. Documentation relevant to couples therapy will be filed in both health records. All members of the relationship will be sent the electronic intake package to complete individually.

You will receive an email from your therapist confirming your session and providing details on how to find our office, parking and contact information of your therapist.

If you book your first session via the Owl Client Portal, you will receive this email as well as the electronic intake package within 48 hours of booking.

What can I expect from my first individual session?

Your first meeting will be an opportunity for you to tell your therapist about yourself and what brings you to therapy, to share your strengths, and to help identify goals for therapy. The therapist will ask you questions about your current life circumstances as well as questions about your personal history that are relevant to your therapy goals.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions about your therapist, their approach and collaborate with them to create a treatment plan that works for you. Our goal of the first session is to help you feel safe and comfortable to explore your challenges and to begin to work on skills and strategies that may improve symptoms and strengthen your coping. For more information about individual therapy click here.

What can we expect from our first couples session?

Your first couples session will be an opportunity for you and your partner to tell your therapist about your relationship, the relationship’s strengths and joys, as well as your challenges. Your therapist will be asking questions about your life together to gain information on your concerns and create a plan for therapy. Your therapist will explain the process of emotionally focused couples therapy, what to expect and answer any questions you have about the process. For more information about couples therapy, click here.

Is virtual therapy available?

Yes, we offer secure virtual online therapy with Owl Practice Client Portal. If you wish to have flexible therapy options, we can easily switch in-person sessions to online sessions. Owl Practice is PHIPA and PIPEDA compliant and each client has their own secure profile in the Client Portal. The benefit of using Owl Client Portal is that you can see your therapist’s schedule in real-time, schedule sessions, cancel sessions, view your session history, send secure messages to your therapist, and view/download financial documents.

Are therapists available in the evening and weekends?

We endeavour to be flexible in our scheduling to meet client needs and we do have evening sessions available and limited weekend availability.

What is the fee schedule?

Brooke Bertrand, MA RP

50-minute individual sessions are $155

50-minute couples sessions are $175

Clinical Associates

50-minute individual sessions are $155

Master’s Student-Therapists

50-minute individual sessions are $85

Do you have a cancellation policy?

If you cancel a session with at least 24 hours’ notice, you will not be charged for the session. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will be billed at 50%. No-show sessions will be charged at the full session amount.

Is sliding scale fee therapy available?

Bright Raven does not wish to create barriers to clients seeking therapy if there is financial hardship. Please speak with your therapist to determine if you qualify for sliding scale fees.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept credit card, e-transfer or cash following completion of the session. We provide downloadable PDF invoices when a session is completed and receipts when payment is received to clients by email. Invoices/receipts will have all the relevant information needed for you to submit to insurance.

Do you accept insurance?

Most extended health benefits and private insurance plans accept the credentials of Registered Psychotherapists. It is important that you review your insurance plans details about its coverage and its potential limits. We provide invoices and receipts for you to submit to your benefit provider for reimbursement.

Direct Billing is available for clients of Brooke Bertrand, MA RP with the following benefits:

Non-Insured Health Benefits
Medavie Blue Cross

In January 2025, we will be able to do direct billing with insurance companies under the umbrella of Telus Health eclaims.

What are the risks and benefits of therapy?

Bright Raven Psychotherapy and Consulting is committed to providing quality service that is client-centered, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed and guided by the principles of harm reduction and recovery-oriented practices. We are steadfast in our efforts to ensure cultural safety and providing a safe space for all clients to grow and express to their highest potential. Psychotherapy is a professional relationship between you and your therapist, devoted to your well-being and psychological healing. Relieving your emotional pain, reducing your symptoms, improving relationships, or changing your behavior or lifestyle may be parts of that goal.

The main way we achieve the goals of psychotherapy is by talking together. Clients are most likely to improve if they trust their therapist and feel understood and support by their therapist. Clients can help this by sharing any questions or concerns they have about psychotherapy or about the therapist’s perceptions or comments. Psychotherapy is tailored to the individual and your goals and needs; therapy methods are designed to help you learn something new about yourself, practice new skills or improve coping. You have a right to be informed and to understand the purposes of therapeutic activities, as well as any risks, and reasonable chances of success of any approach.

Occasionally people may report feeling worse as therapy progresses especially as unresolved or repressed issues are identified. Therapy may bring up old memories, buried thoughts or feelings, and the pain associated with them. Couples therapy may increase tension or conflicts between people as each begins to be more open about their feelings or dissatisfactions. It is important that you tell your therapist whenever this happens. You have the right to change or discontinue any therapy that you feel is harmful or ineffective. There is no guarantee that therapy will be effective, or that it will help you achieve all your goals.