FAQ
FAQ
Our Training
Our team is comprised of registered clinical psychologists. A psychologist is a regulated healthcare professional specializing in the assessment and treatment of a variety of emotional and behavioural conditions. Being a regulated healthcare professional means that psychologists are legally required to provide their services in a competent and ethical manner, and that their work is overseen by the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Psychologists receive advanced training through the completion of a doctoral degree (PhD), including extensive research and clinical training. In addition to obtaining a PhD, our psychologists also complete advanced training in behavioural sleep medicine and have been certified by the Family Sleep Institute as pediatric sleep consultants. We are also committed to ongoing training and professional development, which allows our providers to remain abreast of the newest developments in the field.
Although various professionals provide sleep coaching, unregulated individuals are not required to answer to a governing body and consequently, there is no guarantee that they are sufficiently competent to practice in the areas they claim to. Additionally, sleep services provided by unlicensed individuals are not covered by insurance or extended health benefit plans.
Our Approach and Role of Crying in Paediatric Sleep Consulting Services
We utilize several different evidence-based approaches for sleep training in our practice, so Extinction (what some refer to as “cry-it-out”) is not the only approach we use. During your consultation appointment, we will provide you with a lot of education about sleep and work to obtain a better understanding of your goals and parenting philosophies. We will then go over the pros and cons of various approaches with you, and we may recommend which approach we think will work best for your family based on the information you provide. However, you will ultimately make the call on which method you’d like to implement with your child. Our goal is for you to be able to apply the plan consistently, as this is the best predictor for how much improvement people see because of the treatment. As such, we really want you to feel confident in the approach we select so that you can apply it consistently and get the best results.
However, while we do offer different methods with varying levels of parental involvement in the process of your child falling asleep, no method is likely to be completely “cry free.” This is because regardless of which method we use, we are changing the way you respond to your child when they are going through the process of falling asleep, and if they haven’t yet mastered the skill of putting themselves to sleep independently, they may experience some frustration during this process until they do. We will work with you to minimize this as much as possible and will help you apply the approach confidently and consistently to make the process as easy as possible for everyone involved. All the approaches we use are safe and effective when applied appropriately and have been shown to be helpful both in the short and long-term. For more information click below.
Other Services Provided by Our Team
In addition to being highly trained in the treatment of sleep difficulties, our team of clinical psychologists also specialize in the assessment and treatment of adolescents and adults with difficulties related to their mood, anxiety, OCD, body-focused repetitive behaviours, and emotion regulation. We are also specialized providers of treatments for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. If you are interested in other services provided by our team, please feel free to contact us to learn more.
Confidentiality
Your privacy and confidentiality are extremely important. Your information will not be shared with others without explicit written consent from you. There are certain exceptions to confidentiality, which will be fully discussed with you during your consultation session.
If you communicate with us by unencrypted email, please be aware that email is not completely confidential or secure. Although unlikely, please be aware of possible risks to your privacy if you communicate personal information over email.
Our Fees
If you have extended health coverage through an insurance company, you may be able to receive reimbursement for some or all of your fees paid. The amount of reimbursement for services from a psychologist will vary with each extended benefits plan, so it is recommended that you check with your specific provider to determine your coverage. Fees paid out of pocket and not reimbursed by an insurance company may be claimed on your income tax return as a medical expense. Payment for services are due at the time of your in-person consultation appointment, or just prior to your consultation if delivered remotely via video conference. You will be provided with a receipt that you can submit for reimbursement to your insurance company or retain for tax purposes. We accept cash, e-transfer, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express for services rendered in person, or e-transfer for those delivered remotely.
Referral
Although referrals for services from physicians, pediatricians, sleep clinics, and other health professionals are certainly welcome, you may also contact us directly to arrange a consultation for services. A professional referral is not required.
Our Location
Our office is conveniently located in midtown Toronto in the Yonge and Eglinton area. We are easily accessible by TTC, and there is ample street and paid parking in the surrounding area. We also offer our services through phone and secure video conferencing for those individuals unable to meet with us in person. We are licensed to work with individuals across Ontario.
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