Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Does CBT actually work?
Do I need a referral from a physician to see a CBT therapist?
As we are a private (fee for service) clinic, you do not need a referral from your family doctor to see one of the therapists at our clinic. However, we do provide a referral form that your physician can complete with contact information and details about the reason for referral.
How is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy different other psychological therapies?
There are a number of factors that make CBT different from other psychological therapies. In brief, CBT is a collaborative process between the client and clinician.
CBT is not focused on finding out the ‘root cause’ of the difficulty, but instead typically focuses on current thoughts and behaviours that may be inadvertently contributing to the problem. CBT is typically, but not always, present-focused (as opposed to a historical or childhood focus). This means that we tend to focus on what is keeping the problem alive now, rather than how it might have originally developed.
Another important difference between CBT and other psychological therapies is the use of assignments that are completed between appointments. Much of the work and change in CBT comes from what is learned from these between session assignments, where new skills and understandings are strengthened and consolidated.
Is the fee for sessions covered by health care?
Is there a waiting list?
We often have several therapists who are available to see new clients almost immediately, whereas others can have a waiting list varying from a week to several months (depending upon the therapist).
When contacting the clinic, individuals can request to see a particular therapist or to see the therapist who is available soonest.
How long does treatment take?
Many people understandably want to know how long treatment will take. As you might imagine, it is a difficult question to answer with precision.
The length of treatment will depend upon many factors, including complexity and severity of the presenting problem and readiness for change. While it is typically not sufficient to address presenting concerns, you will have a good idea after 3-4 appointments if it is going in the right direction and if the approach taken by your provider is suitable for you.
What is the cost of treatment?
How do I get a referral to the Vancouver CBT Centre?
Because we are a private practice, interested individuals can contact us directly by either calling us at 604-738-7337 or emailing us at info@vancouvercbt.ca. Referrals can also be made through your family doctor or other health professional by faxing our referral form to 604-738-7339
What does a first session at the Vancouver CBT Centre involve?
A first session at our clinic is an assessment session, and this typically will last between 1 to 2 hours depending upon the clinician. The goal of the assessment is to identify what problems you are struggling with and to develop a collaborative treatment plan. For example, if you are experiencing problematic anxiety, the assessment session will allow us to determine what, if any, anxiety disorders, you are struggling with, and what we can offer you in terms of treatment.
Is there a reduced fee available at the clinic?
As we are also a training centre for mental health professionals, we typically have doctoral-level psychology students working at our clinic. The doctoral students completing a practicum at the Vancouver CBT Centre are supervised by psychologists within the clinic. We offer the option of seeing a student for treatment at a reduced rate.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Currently we accept e-transfer, cash, or cheque.
Credit cards are not accepted at this time.
