Another way to approach this is to ask, how many people in Toronto are using counselling services. We're a long way from acquiring this statistic, but the Ontario government has released a fascinating report called "Population Health Profile: Toronto Central LHIN," citing the rate of hospitalization for mental and behavioural disorders for 2003-04. The rate is 500.3 per 100,000 persons, slightly over half a percent.

NOTE: Rate is age-standardized, i.e., adjusted for variations in population age distributions over time and place. Result is based on inpatient data.

LHIN stands for Local Health Integration Network, a new government initiative to "plan, integrate and fund local health services," including those relating to mental health. Toronto Central is a district that includes part of Toronto, borders on Lake Ontario, and presently includes 1,146,800 people. If the above rate were applied to the current population, it would suggest about 5,700 people were currently being hospitalized for mental or behavioural disorders. (This is hypothetical, but it gives an idea of the extent to which mental health services are being used.)

Given that (a) taxpayer dollars are being pumped into LHINs and (b) governments are typically pressed to justify expenditures, we anticipate that a lot of new data on consumption of health services in Toronto, including counselling, will become available in the near future. As these data become available, we'll report them.

If you are a counsellor and have information you think would be of interest to our visitors, please send us an rather than phoning. We are developing a "Resources" page. We will give credit and provide links to reputable persons and organizations that help us expand this section. However, modifications will be made at our sole discretion, in accordance with the editorial policy of this website.

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LOCATIONS
FOR COUNSELLING

TORONTO

Bathurst / Sheppard

(nr. Wilmington)

Avenue / St. Clair

Spadina / Adelaide

Port Union / 401

The Beaches

("Beach")

THORNHILL

Bathurst / Steeles

AURORA

(Employment)

Bathurst / Henderson

Our Counsellors

NOTE: This section contains information about four of our six counsellors. For information about the others, please
give us a call.

Our president, Howard Halpern, earned his MA in psychology from the University of Regina, Saskatchewan. He has been in private practice in Toronto since 1990. He provides the following types of counselling: individual, relationship, couple, marriage, and family. Halpern has received supervision in relationship counselling from a registered psychologist.

His publications include an article on education with comments and rebuttal in the Ontario Psychologist. The article is listed in the international Psychological Abstracts.

As an undergraduate, 1967-1971, Halpern studied psychology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and York University in Toronto. At the latter institution, Halpern served as founding and executive member of the Personal Growth Workshop, Toronto's first growth centre. He co-led, with Dr. Herman Medow, an accredited gestalt group for third-year psychology students and served as a voting member of the psychology department's undergraduate studies committee.

Halpern also served as a teaching assistant for psychology students at the University of Regina.

Before entering private practice, he served as Apartment Living Supervisor, Toronto Association for Community Living, assisting adults who were developmentally challenged. During Halpern's tenure the antisocial behaviour of one client was almost completely eliminated; three increased their attendance at vocational programs; another recovered from open-heart surgery and returned to his previous job in the community.

We are honoured to count, among the distinguished members of our counselling network, former Toronto radio talk-show host Alan Mayer. A part of our organization since 2000, Alan won an ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) National Radio Award, or Nellie, for Best Program Produced by Private Radio.

Called "Radio Heartbeat," Alan's internationally syndicated show featured interviews with ordinary people who shared extraordinary secrets about the things they cherished most deeply.

Affordable Counselling ® is a network of professional psychotherapists and counsellors. As a member, Alan provides both personal and career counselling.

On June 23, 2006, he was awarded a Certificate of completion respecting 32-hours' training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Alan travelled to Ottawa in order to complete this program. EFT is a short-term, structured approach to counselling. It typically involves 8-20 sessions.

EFT's effectiveness is well-documented in scholarly publications citing a substantial body of scientific research. For details, please call us at 1 866 844 3210, and we'll let you speak with Alan directly.

Apart from his training as a personal counsellor, Alan holds the highly coveted Career and Work Counsellor Diploma from George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto, reputed as the "Harvard" of career counselling.

He is qualified to administer a wide range of career-related assessments and tests. In addition, Alan is a certified leader of the popular True Colors workshop. His professionalism and ethical standards are representative of all our members.

We are also honoured to have, as a member of our network, Linda Warman, MSW, a Registered Social Worker and member of the newly constituted College that regulates such professionals throughout Ontario. Linda has demonstrated the ability to help people overcome both individual and relational challenges.

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What sets Linda apart from her colleagues is her specialty in COURTSHIP COUNSELLING. If you have something valuable to offer a person of the opposite sex, but can't find the right person to share it with, this is for you. We are not an introduction service.

When you work with Linda, you learn the techniques and acquire the attributes needed to find the right person. Then, you receive guidance and support in developing the relationship to the satisfaction of both parties. Tired of jumping from one relationship to another? Want stability in your life? Call us now at 1 866 844 3210.

Linda's services are often covered by extended health plans. These are plans that supplement the benefits of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Similarly, the services of our female registered psychologist are frequently covered by extended health plans. Unfortunately, none of our providers are covered by OHIP itself.

In addition, we offer EMPLOYMENT and job-search counselling by Marian Bernard, a Certified Employment Interview Professional and Certified Professional Résumé Writer. Both designations were awarded by the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches, an international organization headquartered in Florida.

Marian is also an Internationally Certified Job and Career Transition Coach and a Certified Professional Secretary.

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Howard Halpern in Aug. 2004 - I'm younger now, but this still looks like me

Howard Halpern, MA

Introduction to Counselling

Just talking seems to help. When people talk, they start to feel better.

Why, then, don't people just talk to their friends? The answer is that friends have emotions relating to the situation, and they don't have training that allows them to keep their own feelings out of the discussion. Even if they did, keeping their own feelings separate would be difficult. This is why therapists generally avoid accepting their friends as clients.

How I Counsel People

The first thing I do is listen to a person talk about his or her concerns. Sometimes people don't have anyone else to talk with. Sharing the burden seems to bring immediate relief.

If the counsellor shares the burden, doesn't this have a negative effect on the counsellor? It can. This is why it is important for the counsellor to know how to detach, so that the client's concerns don't weigh the counsellor down after the session. Detachment does not mean not caring. It means not allowing other people's problems to become one's own. Because I have training in Eastern, as well as Western, psychology, I can do this. Consequently, after more than 20 years of counselling, I am as eager to assume new challenges as when I began.

To be listened to is good. But not good enough. You need to know you've been listened to, heard, and understood. You need to be acknowledged. I acknowledge my clients and communicate to them the fact that they've been heard. I accomplished this through the communication of empathy, a process developed by psychologist Carl Rogers and his followers. I underwent empathy training, attending a series of workshops in the early 70s.

For many, acknowledgement is also not sufficient. "Counselling" comes from the root word "counsel," which means to "advise." Ironically, most counsellors don't counsel. The reasons for this vary. One counsellor expressed concern that if clients followed his advice but did not get expected results, there would be complaints. Other counsellors simply do not like receiving advice themselves and therefore, in fairness, refrain from giving it to others.

I don't give advice to people who don't want it. But I've never met a client who didn't.

When I see a client, usually, by the end of the first session the following things have happened. The client:

Has communicated the problem to the counsellor, and the counsellor has communicated that he understands, achieving rapport.
Draws solace from this and feels hopeful.
Has a basic plan and knows, generally, what to do to improve the situation and feel better.
Has at least one specific technique (usually more) that can be employed, to this end.

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Relationship Counselling

Couples like to tell stories. The stories serve a purpose by conveying important information. But they don't generally help me understand what caused the problem. This is accomplished by observing the parties interact. Problems are not caused deliberately. People hurt each other without understanding what they do that causes pain.

My job is to identify the things people do that hurt each other. If they love each other, chances are that once they understand, they will either stop or reduce the offending behaviour to a bearable level. Identifying such behaviour is the most important thing I do.

The second most important thing is to teach the parties to communicate empathy, in other words, do with each other what a good counsellor does with a client. Members of couples listen to each other, but do not communicate the fact that they have listened. From the point of view of the speaker, that's as good as not listening at all.

LOCATIONS
For Counselling

TORONTO

Bathurst / Sheppard

(nr. Wilmington)

Avenue / St. Clair

Spadina / Adelaide

Pt. Union / 401

The Beaches

("Beach")

THORNHILL

Bathurst / Steeles

AURORA

(Employment)

Bathurst / Henderson

Fee for Counselling Services

Our network of counsellors has six professionals whose fees vary according to several criteria (click here for details).

MY FEE

$60.00 — the lowest per-session fee offered by the Affordable Counselling ® network.

The following information applies to people who elect to use my services (as opposed to those of another counsellor in my network):

During the initial meeting, you will receive, at minimum, three things:

Assessment: my view of the situation

Prognosis: what to expect from counselling

Suggestions (if desired): specific techniques to overcome obstacles presented

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All this happens within 45 minutes. How can I do this in such a short time?

I avoid small talk and get to the point.
Whereas psychotherapy is traditionally process-oriented, my approach is practical and result-oriented.
I speak my mind (if people want to know what I think).
Having been in private practice since 1990, I've learned to size up people and situations quickly. There is a great deal of repetition. People find themselves in similar situations, and many of them find their way to my office. There is little I have not seen.

Many will find 45 minutes sufficient. Others will want extra time, which is billed not in fifteen-minute or thirty-minute, but one-minute increments. My hourly rate is $80.00 or approximately $1.33 per minute. You pay for the time you use, not more.

The above-cited rate applies to all modes of counselling, including that involving relationships, regardless of the number of persons attending. Some ask whether the fee has to be paid by each attendee. The answer is no. The above fee covers all participants. Who pays is immaterial, as long as the agreed-on amount is received.

I am located in Downsview postal zone, community of North York, city of Toronto:

Between Bathurst St. & Allen Rd. (continuation of Dufferin)

Between Sheppard Avenue West & Finch Avenue West

Just west of Wilmington Avenue

Here are some key elements of my policy:

You may pay by Interac (debit card or email transfer), Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB (Japan Credit Bureau) card, or cash. We regret that we do not accept cheques.
We request the courtesy of 48 hours' notice in cancelling or rescheduling an appointment.
Some extended health insurance plans recognize counsellors who hold a Master of Arts (MA) degree in psychology. We are covered by these plans and provide receipts that may be submitted for reimbursement. We do not bill the insurance company directly. Unfortunately, we are not covered by OHIP.
Interest and incurred costs are applied to overdue accounts.
Telephone counselling is billed at the same rate as in-person counselling. Arrangements for payment should be made at the time of the call. In any case, payment should be received within seven days.
The following applies to relationship counselling: if you have a private conversation with the counsellor, and you mention things that are relevant to the other person involved in counselling, you do not have the right to keep these things secret from that person. (The counsellor has to be impartial, and counselling does not work if one party is telling him secrets.)
Affordable Counselling (Reg. TM) maintains written records. However, we have the right to destroy such records following a 3-year period during which no counselling services have been provided and no formal interaction between client and counsellor has occurred.

After booking your appointment, we will send you a condensed version of our policy. We ask that you return it to us, to confirm you have read and understood it. Most people like to do this by email, but it can also be done by fax, snailmail or, if more convenient, by hand delivery. Our clients like this confirmation process because it saves time, ensures clarity, and avoids misunderstanding.

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When we talk over the phone, you will be given a tentative appointment. We send the policy to you, and you send it back to us. Then, you will have a definite appointment. We reserve the time slot just for you.

To get started, please click here.

FEE RANGE

The Affordable Counselling ® network includes six professionals. Of these, most offer therapeutic counselling. In this category, the lowest hourly rate is just under $64.00; the highest is $180.00. At the lowest rate, the minimum session length is 1½ hours, resulting in a per-session fee of approximately $95.00. This applies to individuals only (for both therapeutic counselling and career counselling).

The lowest per-session fee for couples is $60.00. This covers 45 minutes, at an hourly rate of $80.00—our lowest for couples.

Employment counselling operates under a different fee structure: please call Marian Bernard, 24 hours 7 days, at 1 877 866 54-54 for details.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COUNSELLOR

There are many factors to consider, including fee, location, counselling style, and professional orientation.

Affordability is a major consideration for most people. When choosing a counsellor, it is helpful to ask yourself whether it is important to receive the lowest per session rate or the lowest hourly rate.

Therapeutic professionals are at various levels of development, and their fees differ according to a several criteria, including the following:

Experience in private practice
Age, life experience
Education
Certification, registration, licensure
Degree of specialization
Level of responsibility

Versatility, insight, ability
Track record
Financial requirements
Overhead
Need to serve
Desire to build a practice

All counsellors are rigorously assessed, not only with respect to competence, but also credentials, character, stability, and professional reputation. Each member of our network has been known to me personally at least eight years.

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Still not clear on why fees vary, or need help deciding which counsellor is best for you? Please give us a call anytime.

Some members' fees are taxable, in which case 5% Goods and Services Tax applies. Fees are subject to change without notice.

How To Book an Appointment

Before we serve you, we will need to talk over the phone. We ask a few questions to make sure you see the counsellor best suited to your situation. Meanwhile, if you prefer to communicate by email, that's fine too.

Please request an appointment in advance. How far in advance? It depends on many factors, some unpredictable, for example, how busy our counsellors are. It is best to call at least one week in advance, although sometimes a session is available within hours. And speaking of hours, appointments are available at our head office in North York from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days. For hours at other locations, please call us at the number below.

Payment is accepted by Interac (debit card or email transfer), Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB (Japan Credit Bureau) card, and cash. If you would like to book an appointment with Howard Halpern in North York (Toronto), please click here for further information.

Our telephone numbers are listed below.

About Affordable Counselling

Affordable Counselling is a network of psychotherapists, counsellors, consultants, and other professionals, including a registered psychologist, in greater Toronto. By calling Toll Free 1 866 844 3210, you can speak to a live person anytime, day or night, year round, including holidays.

Please let the phone ring until the connection is established. Someone will answer live, usually within thirty seconds. Ours is one of the few counselling organizations in greater Toronto that offers this level of service.

Our mission is to add a little warmth to a cold city and establish a centre of tranquillity amid the din and bustle of urban life.^TM

24/7 LIVE • TOLL FREE • CANADA / US

1 866 844 3210

PRESIDENT'S 24/7 DIRECT LINE

TOLL FREE

1 866 877-TALK (8255)

TORONTO

416 398-TALK (8255)

Email:

About This Website

The Affordable Counselling site was conceived, written, graphically designed, and HTML-scripted February 4, 1998, by Howard Earle Halpern, M.A. (psychology), counsellor, webmaster, and president of Affordable Counselling. The site was developed in response to requests for written information by prospective clientele.

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