Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services

Policy Statements

All Are Welcome

Mental Health and Addictions Edmonton

Land Acknowledgement

The office of Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services sits on the traditional lands of the Cree, Dene, Stoney, Saulteaux, and Blackfoot. Family is the foundation of these peoples and it hoped that Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services Inc. can continue in the enhancement of their traditional values.

Aboriginal Cultural Sensitivity Statement

It is acknowledged by Edmonton Therapy Services Inc. that measures must be utilized to overcome the harm of collective cultural genocide that stemmed from European Colonization, Residential Schools, the 60s Scoop, and all overt/systemic racism in all it’s forms. Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services Inc. supports the implementation of the 94 Calls to Action proposed by the Trust and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Inc. offers aboriginal people, both on and off reserve, as well as members of the Metis Nation, the opportunity to incorporate any cultural practices they feel is appropriate in their healing journey. While traditional office based counselling sessions are the primary intervention in Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services Inc., it is possible to arrange for services to be conducted outside in nature. Smudging ceremonies are encouraged along with elder involvement. Visits to sweats are also possible. Speak to staff about creating a culturally relevant journey for you and you loved ones.

Acceptance

All are welcome at Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services Inc. Including All Ages, Ancestry, Colours, Family Status, Legal Status, Immigration Status, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Marital Status, Mental Disability, Physical Disability, Race, Religious Beliefs, Sexual Orientation, Source of Income, and Place of Origin.

All will be accepted and validated except in the cases where explicit hatred and calls for violence are directed from one group to another.

Confidentiality Policy

Basically, what is said in therapy stays in therapy. Psychologists work hard to ensure that they protect your confidentiality and not breach your privacy. There are strict ethical codes Psychologists must strive to follow. If specific Codes of Conduct are not followed around your confidentiality and privacy then psychologists can be held accountable by the College of Alberta Psychologists with some form of reprimand or sanction.

However, there are several instances where your confidentiality may be breached without your consent.

If you are at immanent risk of committing suicide.
If you are at immanent risk of seriously harming another person.
If you disclose an instance of child abuse where a minor is in need of immanent intervention.
If a judge subpoenas the testimony or records from the providing psychologist.
If a workplace injury is reported it may need to be report to Alberta Workers Compensation Board.

Confidentiality of Minors

The rules around what parents can be told about what is discussed in session with their minor children is complicated.

Overall, Psychologists will attempt to act in the best interest of the child.

On one general level a Psychologist may not tell a parent about the contents of a session, regardless of the child’s age, if telling the parent puts the child in danger. Example: If a child discloses in a session that a parent is abusing them. The potentially abusing parent would not be told about this disclosure as it could put the child in danger. The decision to disclose to a parent is based on the ethical decision of the Psychologist.

On a more specific level the Courts deem that teens 16 years old and older have the broad ability to make decisions about their medical care. A therapist would generally only break the confidentiality directive of a 16 year old or older in exceptional life or death situations.

Youth that are younger then 16 may also be grated the designation of a “Mature Minor” in specific situations where they do not want their information discussed in counselling sessions to be shared with a parent. The designation of “Mature Minor” is made by a Psychologist for a specific instance and is not a long-term label.

Prior to the start of counselling there should be a discussion between the Psychologist, youth, and Parent around how confidentiality should be handled and what everyone is comfortable with.

Diversity

Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services Inc. will strive to support youth and parents in the 2SLGBTQIA communities by fostering a culture of humility, acceptance, and openness.

Tailored supports will be available for parents and other members struggling with the coming out process.

Queer and transgendered clients will have their pronouns respected.

Neural Diversity is understood, accepted, and welcomed at Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy services.

Harm Reduction

Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services Inc. supports the use of Harm Reduction strategies in the reduction of harm caused by the Opioid Epidemic. Harm Reduction can be beneficial at the individual level as well as the societal level for additional types of addiction related issues.

The use of Harm Reduction Strategies with youth is complicated. There are instances where a Harm Reduction strategy may work for your family and times when it is not appropriate. If you have strong feelings on the utilization of Harm Reduction feel free to bring it up with the Psychologist.

Parental Consent

In Alberta the College of Alberta Psychologists requires at least one legal guardian to provide written consent for a minor to participate in therapy. A second guardian has the power to rescind the consent of the first guardian.

When both guardians of a minor are married or live together one signature will be acceptable to start therapy. When convenient the second guardian’s consent should be obtained as soon as possible.

In situations where there is a physical geographic separation, or some ongoing legal process, between the guardians, one guardian signature providing consent is still acceptable to start treatment. However, unless there is a good reason, such as a parent is under investigation for child abuse, or is homeless and unreachable, the second guardian’s written consent should be provided.

Older youth may be deemed a mature minor and can receive therapy without a guardian signature.

Duel Roles

In the style of Family Therapy utilized at Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services Inc. subgroups of the family are often seen separately with the goal of later bringing them back to the wider family therapy process. For example parents may be engaged in a limited number of couples therapy sessions. Siblings may be seen without their parents. Individual family members may be seen in one on one sessions. There will be openness and transparency with the whole family system when this occurs. If subgroups in the family system need longer term therapy a referral to an outside provider will be made.

Family Secrets

Family Secrets involve one family member excluding another family member from important information. A family member holding a secret may impact the emotional functioning of the family system. A family secret told to the therapist and not other adult family members can destroy the trust the other family members have in the family therapy process. A family secret may include an intention to leave a marriage, or the loss of a job, infidelity, parentage, sexual fetishes, addictions, mental illness, etc. In situations where family members tells the therapist a family secret the therapist will work with the family members to disclose the secret. An expectation of keeping a secret long-term is not ethically tolerable and may result in the therapist referring the family to a new therapist.

Direct Bill Insurance Payment Details

Currently, Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Services Inc. has connected with the following insurance companies for direct billing:

Alberta Blue Cross
Beneva
BPA
Canada Life
Canada Life – PSHCP
Canadian Construction Workers Union (C.C.W.U.)
Chambers of Commerce (Johnston Group)
CINUP (Johnston Group)
Claim Secure
Coughlin & Associates Ltd.

D.A. Townley
Desjardins Insurance
Equitable
First Canadian (Johnston Group)
GMS Carriers 49 and 50 (Express Scripts Canada)
GroupHEALTH
GroupSource
Industrial Alliance
Johnston Group
LiUNA Local 18

LiUNA Local 506
Manion
Manulife Financial
Maximum Benefit (Johnston Group)
MDM Insurance Services
People Corporation
RWAM
Simply Benefits
TELUS AdjudiCare
Union Benefits
UV Insurance

*No Direct Billing with SunLife is currently possible.

Sliding Scale

Edmonton Addiction Family Therapy Inc. has a limited capacity for enrolling clients on a sliding scale. Currently there is no capacity for further sliding scale clients. Ask if any slots have opened up.