Policies
Confidentiality
All members of the RFCC team are contractually obligated to keep your information strictly confidential. The following people may have access to your file: your practitioner; management for the purpose of dispute resolution or legal proceedings; the supervisor of your practitoner for the purpose of teaching and consultations; and administration for the purpose of updating the file. If you request to have your information released to another professional such as your lawyer, doctor or pastor, we require that you sign an “Authorization to Release Information” form prior to the transfer.
Limitations to Confidentiality
Practitioners are required by law to report to the appropriate authorities if there has been physical abuse of a child under the age of 18, or if there is reason to believe a client or another person’s life may be in jeopardy. If a judge subpoenas a practitioner to testify in court or to release the contents of a file, the practitioner is required to do so by law.
The Workers’ Compensation Act (WCA) requires a practitioner to report work related psychological injuries to the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) within 48 hrs. The requirement to report remains even if the client expressly refuses disclosure to the WCB.
Termination or Refusal of Services
If at any point you determine that your relationship with your practitioner must come to an end, you have the right to request a referral to another practitioner or to stop counselling all together. Our practitioners also reserve the right to terminate or decline counselling services at any point, without notice or explanation. Your healing and growth are our priority.
Appointments
Counselling services at RFCC are by appointment only. Sessions vary in length. Continuity is vital to the healing process, so we encourage you to plan ahead when scheduling your appointments.
RFCC is not able to operate as an Emergency Response Organization. If there is an emergency, we encourage you to contact the appropriate local support services. We will do our best to give you the information needed to make these connections. Click here for a list of emergency resources.
Cancellations or Missed Appointments
We understand that unforeseen circumstances can occur. However, since your counselling requires your practitioner to reserve a significant amount of time exclusively for your benefit, we have a policy regarding cancellations and missed appointments.
RFCC charges 50% of the regular fee for appointments that are not cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments that are missed without notice will be charged in full.
*Charges for late, cancelled or missed appointments often cannot be submitted for health insurance reimbursement.
Fees
RFCC operates on a fee for service basis. Each practitioner charges a unique fee, so be sure to understand your fee before the session. The fee covers the counselling session as well as preparation time and administrative record keeping.
If you are unable to afford the fee, we encourage you to have an open conversation with the RFCC administration team to discuss available options for financial support.
Insurance Coverage and Employee Benefits
RFCC employs practitioners from a variety of educational backgrounds such as Registered Psychologists, Social Workers, Counsellors, Life Coaches, etc. These practitioners may be covered by your extended health insurance or employee benefits in Canada.
Please check with your insurance provider or employee administrator to check the types of practitioners that may be covered within your policy.
Direct billing to insurance providers may be possible from the RFCC office. If you are interested in direct billing, please speak with an RFCC administrator.
Tele-counselling
RFCC is pleased to offer services to our clients through distance delivery (“tele-counselling”) via videoconferencing. The platform used for tele-counselling services comes by way of a secure third-party software who is fully HIPAA, PIPEDA/PHIPA, and GDPR compliant.
For additional information regarding their privacy standards and tips on privacy, please reach out to the RFCC administration team.
Recording Sessions
We understand that you may want to record your therapy sessions to refer back to them later. However, creating a personal recording of your sessions, including audio, video or transcript recordings, as well as posting transcripts or any other recording of your counselling sessions online or to distribute them in any is strictly prohibited. This is done to protect you, your practitioner, and RFCC. We encourage clients to take notes and ask lots of questions to understand the context of your therapy.
Billing
A valid credit card or debit/credit card is required on your file. Your card will not be charged until the time of your session. A card is kept on file for your convenience or in the case of an unpaid balance, no show, or late cancellation. Your card information is stored in a secure system available to only the Executive Director and administration team. It may be removed at any time at your request.
To make appointments without a credit card on file, you will need to call or email the Run Free Administrator to confirm the method of payment.