Frequently Asked Questions

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As of June 20, 2024, all fees are HST exempt, as regulated by the CRA for psychotherapy services. The fee for an individual therapy session at Linda Attoe Psychotherapy is $135.00. Please check with any extended health coverage as policies for Psychotherapy vary depending on the insurance company and type of therapy, for example.  

The duration of individual therapy sessions at Linda Attoe Psychotherapy is typically 50 minutes. Once the initial assessment period is complete (1-2 sessions), appointments can occasionally be scheduled for full or half sessions, depending upon your preference and goals for psychotherapy.  Single-session consultations of 1.5 hours are available for $200.00.

To protect and secure your health information when using technologies like video apps for telehealth, please consider the following:
1. Choose a secured spot, such as a room with a door or in your parked car, where you can control who can hear or see your conversation. If a private space is unavailable, use headphones, angle your device screen away from others, and and refrain from using speaker phone.
2. Deactivate any nearby devices that might capture your telehealth conversation . This includes home security cameras, smart speakers, or voice-activated phone apps to prevent them from recording or overhearing your telehealth session.
3. Choose personal devices that will protect your telehealth privacy during sessions. It is advisable to avoid workplace or public computers, devices, or networks, as they might monitor your activities.
4. Regularly update your device's security On most devices, you can enable automatic updates in the settings or manually install them as soon as available
5. Activate the "screen lock" feature. Set a brief duration for your screen to remain lit before blacking out. You can find this option in your device settings. This protects your telehealth privacy by hiding any information that may remain on your screen if you are unexpectedly called away from your computer.
6. Erase unnecessary health information from your devices. Regularly delete health-related data, including images or videos to minimize the risk of unauthorized access by family, friends, intruders, or computer repair people.
7. enable two-step or multi-factor authentication when available. This adds a layer of security by requiring a code to be sent to your phone or email.
8. Utilize encryption tools when accessible. Encrypting your phone, mobile device, and communication apps with your healthcare provider protects your information.
9. Avoid public Wi-Fi and USB chargins stations like restaurants or coffee houses. Public networks often lack sufficient security, and cyber -criminals can exploit these networks or USB ports to access sensitive information.
10. If using telehealth video, inquire about PHIPA. This is the Ontario Personal Health Information Act that establishes rules for the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information about individuals. (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/04p03#BK2)
11. Verify any suspicious links with your healthcare provider. If the telehealth privacy of a link sent for your telehealth appointment is uncertain, confirm its authenticity with your provider.
12. Create and use robust, distinct passwords. Create different passwords for each application, website, or device used during telehealth appointments. This reduces the risk of widespread access if a password is compromised. Regularly changing your passwords is also recommended. If you wish to have information on how to create easy-to-remember passwords, please let me know and I will send you information from Telehealth .org on this topic.