FAQ’s

We are open 7 days a week from 8 am to 9 pm. Day, evening and weekend appointments are available.

We have therapists available both in-person and virtually. Please let our Client Care Coordinator know what you would prefer so we can be sure to set you up with the right clinician.

Depending on the clinician, and client availability, an appointment can generally be within 48-72 hours.

No, you do not need a referral to book an appointment at West Island Therapy and Wellness Centre.

All sessions are 50 minutes long. If you require a longer appointment, please advise the administration so that they can book accordingly.

Our Client Care Coordinators are trained to match you with a therapist on our team based on your needs. For recommendations, please send an email to info@westislandtherapycentre.com or call us at 514.696.0948. Our clinician roster is available here https://www.westislandtherapycentre.com/our-team/ for you to browse through, should you wish to select your therapist on your own.

Following booking, the Client Care Coordinator, will send you forms via email which must be completed prior to your appointment. These forms give the therapist more information about you and your needs for therapy.

Prior consultations with a therapist is not part of the services we offer. However, if for whatever reason you are not satisfied with the therapist you have been matched with, we can make a recommendation for another therapist on our team.

A minimum notice of 24 hours or more is required to cancel or reschedule any appointment. Cancellations under the 24-hour time frame will result in the session being charged in full. For psychiatry services, a minimum notice of 48 hours is required to cancel or reschedule any appointment. Cancellations can be done through our online portal, by email: info@westislandtherapycentre.com or by calling us at: 514.696.0948.

You can re-schedule your appointment for a more convenient time up to 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. If you cancel your appointment altogether, are unable to provide 24 hours’ notice, or if you miss your scheduled appointment, you will be charged the full session fee.

If you arrive late to your appointment, your session will not be extended to make up for the missed time. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late, your therapist will no longer be available, your session will be considered a missed appointment, and you will be charged the full session fee.

We provide receipts which can be submitted to your insurance company. You will need to verify directly with your insurance company which clinicians are covered through your insurance plan.

We accept payments by debit, credit card, cash and e-transfer.

We have a variety of practitioners on our team:
● Psychiatrists
● Psychologists
● Psychotherapists
● Social Workers
● Clinical Counselors
● Marital and Family Therapist
● Eating Disorder Specialist
● Life Coaches
● Mental Health Performance Coach
● Sleep Consultant
● Special Care Counselors
● Dietician/ Nutritionist
● Occupational Therapist

A psychiatrist holds a medical degree with a specialty in psychiatry and can provide a diagnosis and prescribe medication. A psychologist holds a PhD in psychology and can provide a diagnosis as well as provide psychotherapy services. While, psychologists primarily provide counseling services they also provide psychological testing for schools, courts and other entities Other therapists and counselors such as social workers, clinical counselors, and psychotherapists, are licensed to assess individuals, couples, and families, and their situations, and provide therapy and counseling. Typically, therapists have their master’s degree, and are required to attend yearly continuing education classes and are part of a professional order.

The length of individual therapy depends on your needs, resources, motivation, and goals for therapy. When determining the length of therapy, it is important to consider:
● How long have you had the issue?
● How many goals do you want to achieve?
● How complex are the goals?
● What resources and sources of support are available to help you reach your goals?
● How motivated are you to work towards your goals during the therapy sessions, and also between therapy sessions?

Weekly or bi-weekly sessions help to develop a strong therapeutic relationship and establish momentum toward your treatment goals. Session frequency may be tapered as you progress and become more comfortable applying what you have learned in therapy.

We all go through ups and downs in life. It’s normal to feel downright awful one day and sublimely happy the next. But if your feelings are becoming overwhelming, or you’re having trouble functioning in your daily life, it might be time to see a therapist.
Signs it’s time to see a therapist include:
• You have been diagnosed with a mental illness
● You just don’t feel like yourself
● Your relationships are suffering
● Your emotions feel out of control
● You’re altering aspects of your life to accommodate your feelings
● You’re spending a lot of time thinking about your emotions and challenges

If the fit doesn’t feel right, we can absolutely match you to another therapist on our team. We recommend a minimum of three sessions before making a decision on if the fit feels right or not. If you feel your practitioner doesn’t work for you, for whatever reason, please do not hesitate to let them, or us know. All our practitioners know that it is important for you to work with someone that suits you and your personality and way of working. They will not be upset and can advise you further so that you get the support you need.

The first therapy session is unlike other sessions as it’s a time for both the therapist and the client to get to know one another. The majority of the session is spent collecting information about your past, and specifically your experiences related to what you’ve come to therapy to work on – when did it start, what’s happened since what have you tried that works and doesn’t work, etc. We will also discuss what your goals, or what you’d like to achieve from your sessions. Then together we will create a plan of how we’ll work to meet your goals together in therapy.

Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of therapy. Knowing that you can say anything to your therapist, and it will remain between you and the therapist helps you feel safe and builds trust. For this reason, all therapists are legally and ethically bound to keep their sessions confidential and not share with anyone else what was talked about. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if your therapist has reason to believe that you are a danger to yourself or others, then they must break that confidence in order to make sure that you (or others) are safe from harm. There may also be times when you would like your therapist to consult with someone else about your treatment, such as your family doctor or psychiatrist. Your therapist must get your written permission for you to release personal health information about you to any other member of your health care alliance. However, there is no confidentiality for children under 14.

A: For any children above the age of 14 years old, they must consent to having a parent or guardian in their therapy session with them. For children under the age of 14 years old, the therapist typically meets with the parent for the first 15-20 minutes of the appointment, before leaving the room to allow the child their individualized time with the therapist. Parents can also book a session with the therapist before bringing their child to the session should they feel they require the full session to discuss their child’s needs.

Most certainly, we offer may forms of psychoeducational evaluations. Dr. Yaniv Elharrar and his psychometrician Tina Balasov-Vech can complete any assessment you or your child may need. The assessments we offer include:
• Psychoeducational Assessments
• Psychological Evaluations
• School Derogations
• Adoption Evaluations
• Psychosocial Evaluations
• Public Placements Assessments
• Youth Protection Assessments

Parents often wonder if their child needs a psycho-educational assessment. Sometimes, it is difficult to tell whether a child is having difficulty with learning due to a lack of motivation, disinterest or because they potentially have a learning disability.

Problems with focus, listening, remembering or even anxiety can affect one’s capacity to learn.

While ADHD can be the culprit, even students without ADHD can experience difficulties with these skills. Students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may have trouble communicating what they want or understanding others’ emotions.

Some students with developmental delays may struggle with processing language and speech. Some children with dyslexia may have trouble reading. Others may have problems with math or writing. Many students with emotional disturbances may have trouble coping with stress and may become easily frustrated. Students with certain personality traits, like aggression or impulsiveness, may act inappropriately in stressful situations.

If you suspect that your child may have a problem with learning, a psycho-educational assessment could be beneficial.