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Experience With Therapy In Canada

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theshadowoftheliving

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Asking for a friend.

What had your experiences of the Canadian health care system, particularly with trauma therapy? Positive or negative? Has it been easy to access? What about emergency services?
 
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It depends where in the country, but I can write about my own experience.

Trauma therapy is pretty well non-existant through the health care system. They do have some good counselors and some have some trauma therapy training, but I have yet to hear of one who specialized in the field and worked in the system. It's free and it's unlimited, but it really isn't trauma therapy. They may exist and I just haven't gotten lucky. I've had to go private to find trauma therapy of any quality.

Now, there may possibly be an exception to the above. There is a victims' aid program that provides trauma therapy for survivors of sexual abuse for something like a year, if they are willing to make a statement and fulfill a few other criteria. I don't know a whole lot about it, but it's something to inquire about if this is your friend's case.

It depends where you are and what your situation is, how fast you can connect with a therapist. I would advise not going through the mental health system if your friend has another option... they are incredibly slow. Instead see if there is a community service organization, women's advocacy centre, or DV shelter (not sure about your friend's situation, but what I am getting at is these places may know what is available and be much faster at making something happen than the mental health system would be).

Emergency services would depend on where your friend lives. Where I live they are not much to speak of, but possibly in a large city they would be better.

If you have more specific questions, I might be able to answer them.
 
Trauma therapy is pretty well non-existant through the health care system.
This about sums it up. Although 180 per 40 minutes will get you a qualified therapist as long as you are willing to drive into the city (like Toronto or Vancouver or Calgary) to get the therapy.

USA has better therapy, more open mindedness, no public health insurance plans that are draconian in nature insofar as treatment plans allowed, Is there a particular area this friend is looking for treatment in?
 
Although 180 per 40 minutes will get you a qualified therapist as long as you are willing to drive into the city (like Toronto or Vancouver or Calgary) to get the therapy.
You're talking about private care, right? It really depends on the area. Some places it's a lot cheaper. I know of places where the going rate is around $80-100 an hour. Still pricey, I know. Is your friend near a big urban centre or out in the middle of nowhere? That does make a difference.
 
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Do you mean with Insurance? Or EAP? Public health visit is free, referral to a shrink to prescribe meds is free, (meds are not), then the shrink gives one follow up visit.

GP's are free, T's are not. Not sure how anyone could get a free T.
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. My friend is in Montreal, I'm not sure if that helps at all. It is also good to know that there aren't many trauma therapists in the system ... And that it is slow. Perhaps self-pay is the best way to go. Among those therapists, are they typically well-trained in. C-PTSD and dissociative disorders? That is what she is dealing with.

Also - is going to the private sector similar to the U.S., where you just find someone and then pay them? Or is there any issues with connecting?
 
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