By Lenka Pitonakova, PhD, RPC-C
Fees and FAQs
My fee is $170 + GST for a 60-minute session.You will be able to pay for your session at the time of booking or within 7 days after your appointment time.
Please allow 48 hours notice for cancellations so that your place can be offered to someone else. You will be charged a full session fee with less than a 48-hour notice.
Read the full Terms and Conditions.
The counselling process
Will all I share with you remain confidential?
Maintaining confidentiality is one of my strongest principles.
I will not share anything you say or write with anyone, unless I need to take action to keep you or someone else safe.
I will explain your right to confidentiality during our first session.
You can also read my Privacy Policy and contact me if you have any questions.
What if I don't want to talk about something?
It is natural to want to keep certain thoughts and emotions private and I absolutely respect that.
My therapy session is a safe, private and supportive space designed specifically for you.
You do not have to share what you are not ready to share and I will never push you to do so.
Will psychotherapy change me as a person?
Yes and no. I understand psychotherapy as a process through which we collaboratively uncover the person beneath your unhealthy habits and unhelpful defenses.
Through this process, we will discover what thoughts and behaviours help you grow in a direction that is authentic to you.
So yes, your behaviour and the way you perceive yourself and the world may change. And no, your innate self will likely not change - instead, he or she may come to the surface more often.
So yes, your behaviour and the way you perceive yourself and the world may change. And no, your innate self will likely not change - instead, he or she may come to the surface more often.
I've tried counselling before - with mixed results. Will it be different this time?
I will ask about your previous counselling experiences during our first session. We will discuss what went well and what did not, so that we can focus on doing better this time. It is important to remember that every therapist is different and that the theoretical approach and interventions that they use can have a significantly different effect on you. Moreover, you may also have changed since you went through counselling the last time. In my approach, it is my goal to learn what works the best for you today by actively listening and regularly asking for your feedback.
What will my first session be like?
The first session is a dedicated space for you to tell me what has been going on in your life and how you imagine working with me. My primary goal in this session is establishing a therapeutic relationship with you, within which you can feel safe and supported. We will also spend some time going through your work, medical and family history, so that I can get a comprehensive first impression of who you are.
Please keep in mind that it is completely up to you how much you want to reveal when we meet and I will patiently let you share what you feel comfortable with. I will also be happy to answer any questions that you have.
Please keep in mind that it is completely up to you how much you want to reveal when we meet and I will patiently let you share what you feel comfortable with. I will also be happy to answer any questions that you have.
What will my subsequent sessions be like?
Following the first session, I will create a preliminary plan for how I can help you achieve your goals.
In the second session, we will discuss the plan together and collaboratively decide on what the next best course of action is.
I am an eclectic counsellor and during each session, I will apply a number of counselling therapy and career counselling theories and intervention techniques. Counselling is a process of discovery for both you and me. I am dedicated to learning what fits you the most and how I can facilitate improvement of your well-being and your growth.
I am an eclectic counsellor and during each session, I will apply a number of counselling therapy and career counselling theories and intervention techniques. Counselling is a process of discovery for both you and me. I am dedicated to learning what fits you the most and how I can facilitate improvement of your well-being and your growth.
The practicalities
Do I need to do anything before my session?
Please fill in the Intake and the Informed Consent forms that you receive via email prior to your first appointment.
Your details will be stored in a secure online platform. You can learn more about security of your data on my Privacy Policy page.
Follow the instructions in the email and do not reply to the email directly with any of your details.
If you have not received the form, please contact me and let me know.
If you have booked a video session, please make sure that you are in a quiet and private space. I encourage you to use a fully charged device with a strong internet connection to minimize technical difficulties. You will have a chance to test your video and microphone when you login to your session.
We may agree on homework for you to do between our sessions. It is important for your progress and for my services to be effective that you make your best effort to do so. That being said, I understand that sometimes life happens and we cannot complete everything that we set out to do - this is absolutely fine and we will work together during your next appointment to plan ahead better.
If you have booked a video session, please make sure that you are in a quiet and private space. I encourage you to use a fully charged device with a strong internet connection to minimize technical difficulties. You will have a chance to test your video and microphone when you login to your session.
We may agree on homework for you to do between our sessions. It is important for your progress and for my services to be effective that you make your best effort to do so. That being said, I understand that sometimes life happens and we cannot complete everything that we set out to do - this is absolutely fine and we will work together during your next appointment to plan ahead better.
Does insurance cover your appointment fees?
You may be covered via your Extended Healthcare Insurance (for example Manulife, Pacific Blue Cross, etc.). Please remember that every insurance plan is different and will provide different levels of coverage. I recommend that you check with your insurer about whether they reimburse for sessions with professionals who have the RPC-C designation.
I am more than happy to work with your insurance provider if they have any general questions about my practice. I am also able to provide them with details about your treatment once you sign an information release form. It is my policy to only share information on a need-to-know basis and reveal as little as possible when communicating with insurance companies. Please contact me if you would like me to collaborate with your insurer.
I am more than happy to work with your insurance provider if they have any general questions about my practice. I am also able to provide them with details about your treatment once you sign an information release form. It is my policy to only share information on a need-to-know basis and reveal as little as possible when communicating with insurance companies. Please contact me if you would like me to collaborate with your insurer.
What other fees do you charge?
Outside of sessions, I charge the following fees:
- Email follow-up after a session and support with homework: $0
- Writing reports and letters to 3rd parties: $120 + GST per hour
How many sessions do I need and how often?
That depends on your goals and your readiness level and we will discuss this topic regularly in our sessions together. If you are looking for help with your professional skills or with a medium amount of stress at work, you may see good progress after 3-6 sessions. More complex issues, such as life-long depression and anxiety may require anything starting from 8 sessions. I recommend weekly or bi-weekly sessions to start with so that you can gain momentum.
Many people find that they prefer to work on particular goals at different points of their life and they keep coming back for short bursts of frequent sessions over the course of many years. Whatever your goals may be, I will work with you on what feels the most important to you first, so that you can start feeling a positive difference as soon as possible. You are never under any obligation to book more sessions.
Many people find that they prefer to work on particular goals at different points of their life and they keep coming back for short bursts of frequent sessions over the course of many years. Whatever your goals may be, I will work with you on what feels the most important to you first, so that you can start feeling a positive difference as soon as possible. You are never under any obligation to book more sessions.
How does video counselling work? Is my data safe and kept confidential?
I use secure encrypted software called Practice Better to schedule appointments, to connect with you via video and to store your data.
Practice Better is HIPAA, PIPEDA and GDPR compliant and keeps your data in Canada.
Visit my Privacy Policy page to learn more.
Once you book your appointment, you will receive a link for joining our video session.
It should be noted that no online system is perfect and complete privacy of your data can never be guaranteed. Please consider what you share when you communicate electronically, especially if you are doing so via email.
Once you book your appointment, you will receive a link for joining our video session.
It should be noted that no online system is perfect and complete privacy of your data can never be guaranteed. Please consider what you share when you communicate electronically, especially if you are doing so via email.
What should I do if I experience issues with the video call during my session?
Please refer to Practice Better's troubleshooting FAQs
if you cannot connect at all, or if you cannot see any video / hear any sounds.
If your connection drops during your session, and you get disconnected, please follow these steps:
If your connection drops during your session, and you get disconnected, please follow these steps:
- Close your browser window and try to reconnect into the session via your Practice Better portal
- If you still cannot connect, wait by your phone and I will contact you in a few minutes on the number that you disclosed on the Consent Form.
