F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book my first appointment?
You’ll be in good hands with our Care Team on your journey with Scattergram. Our Administrator offers a welcoming introduction and schedules your first free client consult with our Client Care Coordinator who will connect you to one of our therapists, services or groups. Therapy is all about the right fit and we’ll ensure you find the right fit with us, where neurodivergence is normal.
For general questions you can contact us here.
Do you offer therapy in languages other than English?
Some of our therapists speak French, Spanish, Urdi and Hindi. Visit the Team page, select a therapist and view their profile page to see if they offer additional languages.
How often will we meet?
It depends on your situation. When you first begin seeing us, we recommend meeting weekly or biweekly. As you make improvements through counselling, you may switch to seeing us monthly.
Are evening or weekend sessions available?
Yes, some of our practitioners provide evening or weekend appointments. Check with your therapist to confirm.
Do sessions take place in person or online?
What is your cancellation policy?
Appointments that are not cancelled 48 hours in advance will be billed the full fee.
What type of payment do you accept?
We accept payment by eTransfer and credit card. As this practice only offers virtual sessions, cash and cheque are not feasible.
Will my insurance cover our sessions?
Most Canadian insurers will cover the cost of services of therapists who are registered with a college (e.g. registered psychotherapists, registered social workers, registered occupational therapists).
Which age groups do you work with?
At present, we work with clients 12 years of age and older.
Some of the services we offer are specialized to certain age groups: for example, The ND Room Group is for youth in Grades 7 to 12 and there is an A.C.C.E.P.T. Group for Neurodivergent Adults > 30.
How long are typical sessions?
The length of sessions varies by type. Individual counselling sessions are scheduled for 50 minutes. Family & couple counselling sessions are scheduled for 75 to 90 minutes. Our A.C.C.E.P.T. Groups range from 90 to 120 minutes.
How long will it take for therapy to work?
Therapy can begin to have an effect from the very first session. Improvement can continue over a few sessions, a few months, or a few years. You decide how deep you want to go and how extensive the changes are that you want to make. You choose the pace. Significant change may take from 3-6 months up to 1-2 years.
Will you tell my parents / spouse / child what we talk about?
The law considers everything we discuss in counselling to be your private health information. We are required by law to keep your private health information confidential. What this means is that, under ordinary circumstances, it would be not only wrong but illegal for us to share anything you have talked about in sessions with your family, or anyone else, without your knowledge and written permission.
However, there are limits to confidentiality (as defined by the law). There are certain circumstances under which we could be required by law to share something you have said in session. These include:
- If you threaten serious bodily harm to yourself or to others;
- If you report physical or sexual child abuse (even if the victim is now an adult) AND there is reason to believe the abuser is still in a position to abuse children;
- If you report serious misconduct by any registered health professional;
- If your client file is subpoenaed by a court.
How do I access our virtual session?
You will receive a link to our meeting via Jane, a practice management system designed by and for Canadian healthcare practitioners.
How secure is my personal information?
Jane (the platform we use for our practice) operates in strict accordance with PIPEDA and PHIPA legislation. You can find more information about Jane’s privacy protection in the Jane Guide (the link opens in a new window). When you complete your intake form and in the course of therapy, any information collected is only used by your therapist, or their supervisor, for the purpose of providing care.
I live outside of Ontario. Can you still work with me?
A psychotherapist is only licensed to practice in the province in which they are registered. For example, a Registered Social Worker (RSW), governed by the Ontario College of Social Service Workers and Service Workers (OCSSWSW), is licensed to practice in Ontario. A Registered Psychotherapist (RP), governed by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), is similarly only licensed to practice in Ontario. In some cases, an RSW or RP may get permission from the college in other provinces to practice psychotherapy virtually in those provinces.
I live outside of Canada. Can you still work with me?
Please get in touch with us to discuss out-of-country services.
Topical Questions
What does it mean to be neurodiversity-affirming?
To be neurodiversity-affirming is to affirm the value of all neurotypes, from the most typical to the most divergent. It is to recognize the harm that is done by defining differences in brain types as disorders and trying to ‘fix’ or even eliminate them. It is to believe the realities of neurodivergent individuals’ perceptions and experiences. It is to put equal emphasis on environmental accommodations and correcting social misconceptions as on the insight and willingness of the neurodivergent individual to embrace change.
What does it mean to provide neurodiversity-affirming services?
To provide neurodiversity-affirming services is to have the knowledge and skills to modify one’s environment, communication style, and interventions to work in non-pathologizing ways with neurodivergent clients. First, and foremost, neurodiversity-affirming services must not do harm. Secondly, they must work to undo the harm that still permeates our educational and health and mental health systems.
Find out more about our trained team here.
What is identity-first language?
Identity-first language puts the neurodivergent identity first e.g., I am an Autistic person; my practice serves Autistic people. Person-first language puts the neurodivergent person first e.g., I am a person with Autism; my practice serves people with Autism. Most neurodivergent people prefer identity-first language which is what is used on this website. At the individual level, it is always best to ask the person how they prefer to be identified. There is an interesting history to the use of person- and identity-based language (the link opens in a new window) as responses to the historic abuses of disabled people.
Why don’t traditional therapies work for me?
What is neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is a term coined by Judy Singer in her Master’s thesis in 1996 and popularized by Harvey Bloom in The Atlantic in 1998. She needed to find a way to talk about people with atypical brains in a non-deficit-based manner. Neurodiversity refers to the natural variations in human brains and nervous systems that evolved to provide an advantage for human survival.
What does it mean to be neurodivergent?
To be neurodivergent is to have a brain that is wired in a way that diverges – is far from – the statistical average or norm. Commonly recognized forms of neurodivergence are Autism, AD(H)D, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Tic Disorders.
READ MORE on the topic of neurodiversity
Can I have more than one type of neurodivergence?
It is possible to have multiple types of neurodivergence. For instance, Autism and ADHD frequently overlap. Autism and ADHD can go hand in hand with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
What does it mean to be neurotypical?
Does your practice work with neurotypical clients?
How Can Neurodivergent Individuals Benefit from Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapists support neurodivergent individuals with participating in daily life activities that they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do. These activities could be related to self-care, productivity or leisure. Often sensory processing differences or challenges with executive functions such as planning, organization, problem-solving, etc., can impact the ability to participate in daily life activities. An Occupational Therapist can help you develop strategies tailored to your strengths and needs.
How long will it take to see changes in my life from working with an Occupational Therapist?
Everyone is unique, but most clients begin to see changes within 2-3 sessions. Changes can continue over a few sessions, a few weeks or a few months. Clients choose the goals they want to work on and the pace that is suitable for them. Clients decide when they have met their goals and whether they would like ongoing support with additional goals or whether they would like to stop sessions.
Get Support
We offer many services and resources for individuals, families, couples, organizations and therapists.
Find Resources
Here you will find the Neurodivergent Autism Adult Quiz, the AD(H)D Quiz, read informative articles or find helpful information to grow your neurodivergent-affirming practice.
