Frequently Asked Questions

You may click on BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION at the bottom of any page. You will be taken to my booking site and see my availability. Please note, all new clients must book a free consultation first. 

My usual rate is $230 per hour. There is no tax on the provision of psychological services in the province of Ontario. I have a limited number of pro bono and sliding scale spaces for clients who do NOT have insurance through parents, employers, educational institutions, or partners AND are members of an equity deserving community (e.g., Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, etc.). 

• Public health insurance providers (RAMQ and OHIP) generally do not reimburse psychological services obtained in private practice. 

• Individuals who have access to health insurance through their/their spouse's/their parents' employer are usually covered for a certain percentage of each session (often 80%), up to a certain yearly limit (e.g. anywhere from $500 to $5000 with Canada Life). 

• University students often have a few sessions covered each year, providing they have subscribed to their school's health plan. 

• Students under 25 years old are often covered under one or both of their parents' policy. 

Appointments must be cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the time they are scheduled to begin. Otherwise, the full fee for the appointment will be charged. 

Psychologists

Psychologists are scientists who study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments. They use their findings to help improve processes and behaviours. There are many different fields in psychology, such as organizational psychology, sports psychology, rehabilitation psychology, etc., each with their own experts. 

Clinical Psychologists

Clinical Psychologists are experts in the branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and psychological problems. They have completed a specialized Bachelor degree in psychology and graduated from a recognized doctoral program in Clinical Psychology (D.Psy) or Clinical Psychology and Research (PhD). Their training includes thousands of hours of theoretical classes, practice, and internships in at least three different settings. They assess and diagnose mental health disorders, formulate treatment plans and recommendations, and improve clients' well-being by offering psychotherapy aligned on evidence-based approaches. 

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D.) who pursued a specialization in psychiatry after completing the general curriculum. Like clinical psychologists, they assess and diagnose mental health disorders, formulate treatment plans and recommendations, and aim to improve clients' well-being, though they usually do so through the prescribing of medication rather than through psychotherapy. They are the only professionals on this list who are allowed to prescribe medication. That being said, most people who are prescribed medication for mental health issues get it from their nurse practitioner (NP) or general practitioner / family doctor (GP). A referral is usually only made to a psychiatrist if the NP/GP has tried several medications or combinations thereof without significant improvement in the client's condition. 

Psychotherapists

Psychotherapists are persons who have a Masters degree in Counselling or Psychotherapy (please note, their Bachelor degree may be in an unrelated field, outside of social sciences) and have met the requirements of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario in terms of credits and supervised hours (please see crpo.ca for more information).  

At the risk of providing the most cliché, unsatisfying answer of all time: it depends. Mostly, it depends on the issue you want to work on, the approach I think would be best suited for it, and how directive you need me to be to remain engaged in therapy. This can be discussed during the free consultation. 

One thing I can say is that I tend to let sessions unfold fluidly, following the client where they lead me, occasionally pausing to ask some clarification questions, directing their attention towards a thought that should be explored further, making connections with things we've discussed in previous sessions, etc. Some therapists' approaches and personal preferences lead them to follow a similar series of steps at each session (e.g., 5-min update on the past week, review of skills practiced, review of homework, etc., etc.), and they have great success that way, but it is too restrictive a structure for me.

I recommend that we meet weekly or every other week to begin with. Holding sessions three or more weeks apart at the start of therapy complicates and lengthens the establishment of therapeutic rapport between us. Moreover, so many things take place during an interval of 3+ weeks that most of the session ends up being used to get me up to date on the recent developments in your life, rather than working on your goals. 

By "Dr. Zonato" or "Amelie", depending on your preference. My younger clients sometimes opt for "Dr. Z"; my military / veteran / police clients for "Doc" or "Doctor". All of those options are appropriate, no matter your age or field of work! 

I'm so glad you asked, because now I can geek out about it! In Greek mythology, Nyx is the personification of night. She is thought of as a primordial deity, preceding both the Titans (Atlas, Cronus, Rhea, etc.) and the Olympians (Athena, Hera, Zeus, etc.), representing one of the fundamental aspects of the universe. 

There are loads to unpack in that symbolism, and I could wax poetic about it, but for our current purpose, let me summarize its importance to my work this way: I think we only fear the dark because we don't know what it hides, and avoiding it only makes our fear grow. I see my role as that of a guide accompanying you as you explore the darker parts of yourself and your experiences and try to make sense of where they fit in your life.