Question 1

Working Together - How It Works

Accepted Answer

1.   Always you remain in charge... you have the right to ponder my suggestions knowing you have the right to decide what to accept, reject, or modify.   2.   It is my intent to keep the sessions goal oriented. I invite you to consider:  “What do I need from Dawn to make today's consultation session a good use of my time?”. I will often ask at the end of our time: "What stood out for you in our time together and is there anything you want to clarify and/or wish I might have said/done differently?".   3.   I will provide you with a service that is ethical and competent within the confines of a professional relationship. Overall, my services will be consistent with the Principles outlined by the Canadian Psychological Association.   4.   I will protect your privacy. I keep very brief notes about our meetings - focusing on the main intervention/suggestion I offered and/or take-a-way from the session. I am determined to offer you a space that you can be free to share and process what you need to - in a confidential manner, now and forever. I do not write letters for court or for regulatory bodies.  
5.   Boundaries: In my role as a consultant, I want to help facilitate what you already know and how it can be useful. You remain in charge. I will not be responsible, nor assume any responsibility, for your actions as a therapist (e.g. I will not be responsible for your: caseload, client files, ethical conduct, or the services you provide).   6.   Frequency of consults: You are welcome to contact me for a one-time consult or seek my support more frequently. Unlike a primary supervisor, I shall wait for you to check in or follow up with me. You remain in charge of when you would like to meet and for how long as well as what type of support you would like. I am ready and willing to have your back.  7.  When are consults are held:  on most days a week, with emergency consultation slots are usually offered on Sundays.  you book your slots on my booking system (e.g., OWL). by phone, or by Zoom video conferencing.  *Sometimes in-person can be offered. we will meet after you have been briefed on critical information you have a right to know before you agree to seek consultation services from me (e.g., your rights, limitations to consultation, my availability, how consultation is very different from supervision).   8.  To start the process of consultation:  Please reach out to me via my contact tab (see above) and Jolyn (my adm. assistant) will let you know the process to get started, including registering you in my booking system (e.g., OWL).    9.  Is there a waiting list?  Usually, there is a waiting list to access consultation slots but not always. NOTE: When my wait list for consultation is full, the priority of offering consultation slots off the waiting list will be given to those who have taken my ethics training, working from a first come, first serve basis (part 1 - writing session notes, part 2 - consent is much more than you think, & part 3 - advanced documentation & consent (e.g., youth/parents, couples, working with lawyers, writing insurance letters, etc.)   10. What other questions can I answer for you? I am definitely keen to hear from you. Please reach out anytime. Feel free to contact me via the above contact tab.

Question 2

Consultation Fees - Sliding Scale Options

Accepted Answer

Fees - Option #1 for those who charge clients, such as working in private practice, even if you see a few clients a week: My hourly fee simply matches, every time we connect, what you (or the agency you work for) advertises as your highest posted billing rate for clients. Thus, if you notify clients you charge $175/hr. then I charge you $175/hr. *Note consultations are for a full 60 minutes.   Fees - Option #2 for those who do not charge any clients in any of your roles (e.g., work in AHS, government agencies (non-profit), schools, or front line agencies, such as shelters):  I offer a substantially reduced rate for consultation services - you pick the rate you believe is fair to pay: $80/hr. up to $300/hr. (you select the rate that you believe is fair  to cover my time and expertise). This rate is for 1:1 support (Consultations for organizations is on a different sliding scale). *Note consultations are for a full 60 minutes.   ** This option #2  low, sliding scale rate is out of the deep respect I carry for the work you do and for knowing you are earning a much lower rate of pay than what could be obtained from working in private practice or if your charged your clients. Thank you for your social justice and awareness that not everyone can afford private counselling services.   ** If you work in private practice and also work in non-profit, then option 1 applies to you.   NOTES:  i) I am required to charge GST for all consultation services.  ii) For on-site visits, there is a travel fee of $15 for each visit to your counselling office if within Lethbridge (if outside Lethbridge then the fee varies which we will discuss) plus any parking fees, and iii) There are different rates if you are a provisional psychologist, as I offer a substantial reduced rate for those in training - please see the supervision tab.

Consultation Services