A couples specialist. Make sure your therapist has specific training, experience and continued focus on working with couples.

Couples counselling demands a very different set of skills than individual therapy. Individual therapists generally help people identify and process feelings so they can achieve personal goals. Couples therapists, on the other hand need to be skilled at helping people overcome the differences that naturally arise in intimate relationships. They need to know what makes a relationship work and how to get it back on track.

Working with couples also has a different dynamic than individual therapy. With individual therapy, for example, a therapist can often quietly draw out an individual by saying, “Tell me more about that.” In couples therapy, the exchanges can be volatile and emotionally intense and the stakes can be much higher.

The couples therapist needs to be able to see both sides and navigate an angry party of two and establish boundaries and guidelines to make the counselling experience a safe and successful one.

A therapist who is committed to helping you work through the difficulties to come out the other side.

You need a therapist who is committed to your well-being and to your success, even when the way forward isn’t clear to you.

There is an important practical consideration, here, too. For many reasons, not the least of which are the dramatic emotional and financial costs that would be imposed on the couple and on other family members by a divorce, your couples counsellor should be the last one in the room to encourage divorce.

Feel free to ask about the point at which a therapist sees divorce to be a viable alternative. You need a therapist committed to helping you find solutions to your problems rather than helping you leave your relationship when things get rocky.

A counsellor who helps you focus, set goals and make progress.

You need a therapist who will help you to set specific goals, to you a focus over time and to serve as a benchmark for your progress. If you don’t begin to see and feel some progress within three or four sessions, you should address your concerns with your therapist.

A counsellor who puts the power of your relationship back in your own hands.

The first step for couples is to make progress in overcoming their immediate issues.

At the same time, you want a therapist who helps you put the power of your relationship back in your hands. This happens by learning skills of communication, how to look at problems from both points of view, how to fight constructively and how to negotiate a path that is agreeable to both of you.

With this, couples gain confidence and deepen their ability to experience a more fulfilling ongoing relationship together.

We will spend time getting to know each other, discuss why you are here, start to explore what prompted the session and what you want to gain from counselling.

From there Dr. Ottawa will begin to work together with you to gain a clear understanding of what is happening in the relationship, the various issues that are being presented and some of the factors that have led to the development of the issues.

Depending on what information is given and what is needed, and the time left in the session, Dr. Ottawa sometimes is able to give a specific skill that will help to stabilize the situation.

The first session is about getting started. 75 minutes does not allow all the history of the relationship to be discussed or does it allow time for specific resolutions or closure to the issues described. It is about getting started to move forward towards a happier relationship.

The session ends with an assessment of your situation, and a discussion of your options and recommendations for moving forward. Specific homework questions to your situation will be given after the session. At times, we may agree that it is necessary to take certain actions outside of regular sessions, and/or read a book or to seek one on one individual to expedite the couples counselling process.

Dr. Ottawa endeavors to work together with couples to finding the solutions to their problems.

SERVICES – Individual, Couple, and Family Sessions are available on a fee-for-service basis.

Individual sessions – InOffice and Online
Edmonton In Office Rates Only
50minutes – InOffice – $170.00
75minutes – InOffice – $255.00

Regular Sessions
Anyone Online Rates
50minutes – Online – $160.00
75minutes – Online – $240.00

A Traditional 50 minutes sessions, helps nearly all types of problems, working at a steady pace for solutions and ideal for a weekly meeting structure. We leave plenty of time between Individual appointments, so if an individual finds that they need more than their 50 minutes, that can be available, however we charge for the time that is used after the 50 minutes. In addition to the minutes purchased for your session, Dr. Ottawa, after a session usually provides homework and recap notes of the session and any skill or technique learned in that particular session. You are able to download and track how you are progressing in each session.

Couples’/Sessions – InOffice and Online
Edmonton In Office Rates Only
75minutes – InOffice – $255.00
90minutes – InOffice – $300.00
2 Hrs – InOffice – $400.00

Regular Sessions & Extended Sessions
Anyone Online Rates-
75 minutes – Online – $240.00
90 minutes – Online – $288.00
2 Hrs. – Online – $384.00

For couples we recommend a longer session as with two people it takes longer to get into depth on the issues than it does for one person in a traditional 50minute session. It has been our experience that couples get about twice the benefit with a session 50% longer. For maximum impact, we recommend 75minutes. There may be some time available after the 75 minutes, however extra charges will apply for the time that is used. Be mindful that other clients are waiting for their scheduled appointment. If you require more time and are not wanting to feel rushed in the session, please call the office for the longer sessions so that we can schedule an appointment that fits your needs. Thank-you for your understanding. You will also be receiving homework and recap notes of what was covered in the session and recommended resources.

Extended Makeover Relationship Couples’s Therapy – InOffice and Online

Edmonton InOffice Rates Only
2.5Hr. – InOffice – $500.00
3Hr. – InOffice – $600.00

Anyone Online Rates-
2.5Hr. – Online – $480.00
3 Hr. – Online – $576.00

These session are a benefit to couples who are traveling from traveling from longer distances. Who Work away from home and only have a limited time to work on things or in RELATIONSHIP DISTRESS and are in need of quick intervention.

It is of benefit to those couples who want the time to POWER THROUGH and RESOLVE those concerns that have been weighing the relationship down and breaking the GRIDLOCK and want the OPPORTUNITY of time to enjoy being able to relax in a longer session format. These extended makeover therapy sessions can involve two or more hours on a single day or on multiple days. Once you have completed at least one extended makeover session, future sessions can be at a standard 75 minute to 90 minute duration or you may continue these extended sessions until the situation is fully resolved. The longer sessions offers quicker results than the usual weekly session. Each session will be followed up by a recap of sessions, or homework or resources or all will be given depending on what is needed. Please call the office for the longer sessions or contact us infor@newstartcounsellingservices.com, so that we can schedule an appointment that fits your needs. A 50% deposit at the time of booking will be required to hold your time and the remainder paid when attending the sessions. We are making this time available for you and arranging our schedules for this session. If you are unable to keep your appointment time, as per our cancellation policy of 48 hours, you will be fully refunded. If it is cancelled on the day of the appointment the deposit will be non-refundable.

EXTREME MAKEOVER Relationship Couples Therapy (1 – 1.5 – 2days)

1 Day – InOffice – $1000.00
1.5 Days – InOffice – $1500.00
2 Days $2,000.00

These sessions can be from 1 to 1.5 days or 2 days in length.

The One day starting on Friday night (2.5 hrs) and on Saturday morning (2.5 hrs.)
The One and ½ days usually starts on a Friday night (2.5 hours) and Saturday (5 hrs.)
The Two days can start on Friday night (2.5 hrs) and all of Saturday (5hrs) and late Sunday morning (2.5hrs) or 2 (5hr days) in the week.

These makeover days includes two individual sessions where a specific treatment plan will be formulated in consultation with each partner. We will work together to work through Specific issues that each couple wants to address. Couples will immediately experience improved emotional connections. Each couple will come away with added communication skills and tools to help with communication. The sessions will help to keep conflicted discussions calm and assist in breaking through and resolving gridlock situations. It is important to learning to Strengthen and maintain the gains that you have made. Through this counselling process, couples will succeed in negotiating resolutions that they both can live with and work with. Homework questions to enhance each session, and Resources will becommended.

Please Call to book your Extreme Makeover or contact our office info@newstartcounsellingservices.com to find out more. These sessions can also be available online. A 50% deposit will be required to hold the appointment at the time of booking and the remainder collected when attending the sessions. We are making this time available for you and arranging our schedules for this session. If you are unable to keep your appointment time, as per our cancellation policy and notify us 48 hours before and you will be fully refunded. If it is on the day of the appointment the deposit will be non-refundable.

Online Makeover Sessions can be arranged at a lower cost.

FAMILY THERAPY Sessions – (for 3 people or more)

InOffice – Edmonton Only
90minutes – InOffice – $300.00
2 Hrs – InOffice – $400.00

Any Family Online
90minutes – Online – $288.00
2 Hrs. – Online – $384.00

For family counselling we recommend a longer session as with three or more people it takes longer for everyone to say what they need to say, and then start the process of negotiating for solutions that work for the family and its members. New communication skills will be introduced to help with the negotiations. The therapist will mediate, give feedback and insight. As well as create a safe emotional environment where each other’s side can be heard. Agreed solutions can be mutually achieved through constructive conversations o where each person is heard.

Please call our office @ 780-991-5117 or reach out to us by calling info@newstartcounsellingservices.com to make sure that we can block the right amount of time for you.

When 3 or more individuals are involved in the session usually more time is needed than the allotted 90 minutes. In addition to your session, you will also be receiving homework and recap notes of what was covered in the session.

Special Classes For Pre-Marriage, Court Relationship Classes, Anger Management Classes, are available for individuals or couples. Please call our office to schedule these sessions (ph. 780-991-5117). This is a 6hr. individual classes or (two) 2.5 hr. segments or 6 individual sessions. When you call the costs will also be given. These classes can be offered online at a lower rate.

• You will be provided with class notes, and if requested, when completed, you will receive a certificate of completion.
• Any extra assessments or letters for lawyers or court will be an extra cost of $125.00 each.

• Plans vary widely but on a typical private plan “core” insurance plans might cover as little as 25% or more of the cost of counselling depending on the plan. It can also be less if there is a cap on the number of sessions covered. (which is often the case)
• It can get complicated. Most insurance providers recognize Registered Professional Counsellors to be qualified for insurance reimbursement. CPCA Counsellors have been reimbursed by insurance providers across Canada, such as 1) Pacific Blue 2( Pacific Life, 3) Sunlife, 4) Great West Life and 5) Manulife to name a few, who recognize members of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association and provide reimbursement of expenses for their clients.
• So, Rule #1 save yourself disappointment and do not assume. Check your coverage in advance. Dr. Ottawa Easingwood is a Registered Professional Counsellor and Psychotherapist @ New Start Counselling Services, #211 12907 97 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5E 4C2, 780-991-5117
• Please note that full payments to your counsellor is at the time of the session. Your reimbursement comes upon submitting your receipts to your insurance provider. If your specific insurance provider still refuses to reimburse your counselling expense, your counsellor can also send a letter to your insurance provider (with your written permission) to advocate on your behalf.
• You could be eligible for more coverage through your Health Spending Account, or “Wellness Spending Account” if you have one.
• If all the above is not an option for you, please keep all of your counselling receipts for submission on your personal taxes as a health care expense.

Direct Billing
At this time New Start Counselling does not offer direct billing, and that could change in the future.

In Summary
We recognize that, too often for many couples, and/or individuals, counselling could be their last good shot at changing the course of their relationship or personal lives. It helps to get administrative matters like insurance, right. However, we should never allow a focus on administration matters to detract from what is most important getting the individual and couples counselling therapy help you need when you need it.

How do you know when it’s time to end treatment? A simple answer is, when your goals have been met. We will make recommendation to you as to what’s required, options for achieving your goals and an assessment of progress as we go along. And you decide

Fridays, and Saturdays can be available on select days. Please call to schedule your appointment. We usually recommend longer sessions on those days, as Dr. Ottawa is coming in on her days off. You may be asked for a deposit to hold the session.