1. What are the formats of clinical counselling offered to clients?

Scheepers-CCC is committed to the mental and physical health of their clients. Dr. Scheepers is trained in online and telephone counselling and we offer the following options:

1. Zoom: This is a leading video conferencing services company. Download and install the app for free on any device. We will send you a link to the meeting 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the session. Just click on the link and follow the instructions
2. In-person clinical counselling services for clients residing locally
3. Phone: Please provide us with your preferred contact number.
4. Interactive email: This is a very effective and flexible way for doing on-line counselling. Elisabeth uses secure Hushmail for Healtcare (dr.elisabeth@scheepers-ccc.com) and when scheduled for this service, clients will receive a response the same day or the next. Payment for email counselling is up-front

2. What are the specializations of Dr. Elisabeth Scheepers?

Elisabeth is trained in many modalities and presenting issues, and has done additional training in anxiety and mood disorders, trauma, grief, and relationship issues.

3. How do I make a counselling appointment?

You can contact Scheepers-CCC by emailing admin@scheepers-ccc.com

Alternatively, you can leave a text message on (250) 268 7510

Someone will respond within one business day

4. What are the costs of Clinical Counselling ?

Our fees for the year 2023 are as follows: 

• The fee for a 60-minute session is $ 150.00 + 5% GST
• The fee for a 90-minute session is $ 210.00 + 5% GST
• The fee for couple therapy is $ 210.00 + GST for 90 minutes
• A trauma therapy session is in general 90 minutes in duration

Please pay at the end of the session for Zoom and phone sessions. Payment for email counselling therapy is up-front. Payment options are:

1. E-transfer - Please use the admin@scheepers-ccc.com email address for payments

2. Credit card (credit card details will need to be provided at the first session only)

3. Cheque

A receipt will be provided. Clients are suggested to inquire prior to scheduling sessions whether they will be reimbursed by their employer or insurer. Note that the designation of Dr. Scheepers is Clinical Counsellor and Therapeutic Counsellor.

5. What is the cancellation policy?

We appreciate as much notice as possible to accommodate other clients on the cancellation list. If you cancel less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled start of the appointment, we will invoice 50% of the regular fee. In case of a no-show (no notice prior to the scheduled start), the full fee will apply.

6. I am a client of Scheepers-CCC. Can I refer a family member or friend to Dr. Elisabeth Scheepers?

In general, it is best practice to avoid multiple relationships to honour confidentiality, objectivity, competency and effectiveness in professional therapeutic relationships.

Counselling therapy and Coaching need to be beneficial to the client. However, none of the codes of ethics of major professional organizations state that all multiple relationships are unethical and not all of them can be avoided. In order to protect clients, full disclosure is advisable, as this provides opportunities to setting clear appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries.

 

7. Can clients use insurance benefits for counselling services provided by Dr. Elisabeth Scheepers?

Not all clients are reimbursed by their insurance companies. Please contact your provider with questions. 

POLICIES of INSURANCE COMPANIES

1. If stated "counselling must be done by a master of counselling", your claim should be approved.

2. If stated "registered counsellor, clinical counsellor, registered clinical counsellor, psychotherapist or therapist", your claim should be approved.

If your claim is rejected and the wording as stated in #1 and 2 are in the policy, you can appeal. If rejected again, please send us your rejection letter and consent to forward your complaint to the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA) or the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT). Alternatively, and with your consent, we can call the insurer on your behalf.

Although Elisabeth Scheepers has a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) and is a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.), the services provided to you are (clinical) counselling or (psycho)therapy. Elisabeth practices as a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC) and is registered as a Master Therapeutic Counsellor (MTC). Therefore avoid the term psychological services when making a claim for counselling and therapy. 

The CPCA and the ACCT are National Competency based Professional Counsellors Associations. Only qualified professionals obtain membership. All members receive yearly ongoing supervision from a registered counselling supervisor.

Currently, the profession of counselling therapy is not regulated in every province. Five provinces in Canada have obtained regulation and others are in the process of joining the others in developing a College of Counselling Therapists. 

8. Are the counselling services offered by Scheepers-CCC confidential?

Many clients are concerned about confidentiality.

As with any counselling, therapy and or coaching services offered, Elisabeth will provide you with a consent form in which the details of the service is outlined. Confidentiality is of the highest priority. There are a few exceptions as required by law.

A limitation to confidentiality occurs when a client discloses the intend to cause serious harm to themselves or another person and in particular when this involves children or elderly. In these cases the counsellor and coach has a mandated responsibility to take action to ensure the safety of the client and the community.

Although Elisabeth uses secure email with the option to have emails encrypted on both sides, there are no absolute guarantees that communication over the Internet is confidential. We all have a responsibility to safeguard the appropriate use of internet (and phone services).

Some things you as the client can do is to obtain an affordable email address from Hushmail.com. Hushmail offers the option to send and receive encrypted messages. Other things you can do is to keep passwords at a safe place if you are afraid that you will not remember them. Finally, it is important to use different user names and passwords for different Internet services.

Please feel free to email if you have more questions.

9. What are Dr. Scheepers's Academic Qualifications?

Dr. Elisabeth Scheepers has the following Academic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, with Distinction.Title of dissertation: Psychotherapists' Use of Outcome Measures in Psychotherapy Practice:  Differences Related to Academic Background.

• Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Elisabeth received an award for academic excellence.

• Graduate Diploma in Counselling.

• Diploma in Advanced Professional Counselling.

• Bachelor of Arts with an extended major in Psychology.

10. What is the difference between counselling and coaching?

Counselling in general is most beneficial for those who struggle with issues related to grief, trauma and other "unfinished business" that affects daily functioning and relationships at home and work.

Coaching, on the other hand, is most beneficial for those who are well-functioning people, but who feel that they can do better in personal life (Personal Coaching) and career (Executive Coaching).

As is obvious from the above given explanation, there may be some overlap, but in general the distinction between counselling and coaching is that the former takes the past into account to explore unfinished business before developing a plan for healing. The latter immediately delves into where someone is right now and where they want to be.

Dr. Scheepers provides individualized services based on an assessment and the client's wishes to ensure a good fit. 

11. Is Dr. Elisabeth Scheepers professsionally trained in the services offered?

Formal training: degrees, diplomas and certificates

• BA from Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia with a major in psychology
• An Advanced Diploma in Counselling, Australia, with a major in Child Behaviour, and Career Counselling
• A Graduate Diploma in Counselling, Australia, with a major in Trauma and Addiction
• A Master's Degree (MACP) in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, N.B., Canada
• A Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) from Capella University: Harold Abel School of Psychology (HASOP), Minneapolis, MN, USA, with a focus on Clinical and Research Psychology 
• Cybercounselling: Offered by the Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
• Personal and Executive Coaching: Offered by the College of Executive Coaching, CA, USA
• Post. Grad Certificate in Sex Therapy and full University course in Advanced Sex Therapy: University of Guelph, ON, Canada
• Ongoing: Certificate Training in Sex Therapy provided by the Buehler Institute, CA, USA
• Certificate in Clinical Supervision - Dr. Jeff Chang, Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology, University of Alberta

12. Does Dr. Elisabeth Scheepers hold memberships in Professional Organizations?

Dr. Elisabeth Scheepers is a certified member of the following professional organizations:

• Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA). Elisabeth is a Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC) and a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling and supervisor (MPCC-S). #3205
• Association Cooperative Counselling Therapists (ACCT). Elisabeth is a Registered Therpeutic Counsellor (RTC) and a Master Therapeutic Counsellor (MTC) and a Registered Counselling Supervisor (RCS). #2060

Other memberships: 

• American Psychological Association (APA) #6767 6533
• Canadian Federation of Clinical Hypnosis and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis

13. Can I become a Counsellor and how does Supervision work?

The above is indeed a Frequently Asked Question, so here we go.....

Traditionally, most people providing counselling therapy had a degree in Social Work or Psychology. Most graduates, however, benefit from ongoing training to advance their counselling therapy skills. Ongoing professional development and supervision is required of every certified professional throughout their career. 

More recently, in addition to university degrees in Psychology and Social work, diploma-level courses as well as university degrees in counselling offer excellent training in how to become a counselling therapist. When in doubt, please contact any of the national counselling associations such as the CPCA, the ACCT and the CCPA, to inquire whether the training is accredited and accepted in Canada and in your province.

When training is done online, a supervised practicum or internship is very important. Once you are in training however, you can already become a member of the above mentioned organizations to gain support and you have an opportunity to network with colleagues.

Good Luck!!

Elisabeth