Each of our clinicians include virtual services as part of their practice. Virtual services offer increased access to care to those in rural areas, and/or greater convenience for appointments. Research suggests that virtual therapy can be as effective as in person therapy, and it can be done from the comfort of your living room or home office.
Depending on the nature of your case, your clinician may request that you attend a few in- person sessions to build a connection with one another, and to assess your suitability for virtual services. Should virtual services be deemed appropriate for your care, your clinician will ensure that you are comfortable with the technology required to use this service, that you both use a confidential and distraction free area for our sessions, that a secure internet connection (not public/free wi-fi) will be used, and that we know how to contact one another should a session be interrupted due to technical difficulties.
Each clinician at SCPP uses Zoom for Health Care. Zoom for Healthcare is a reliable and secure platform for telehealth, which is designed to keep your health information secure. This platform is endorsed by the New Brunswick Department of Health, the Regional Health Authorities, and the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick.
Psychotherapy often involves the sharing of very personal information. The privacy of your information is essential for the development of a sense of safety and trust between you and your clinician. In accordance with our professional associations, we provide a written confidentiality agreement that outlines our commitment to not sharing your information outside of the therapeutic office unless we are required to by law or professional obligations. There may be times however, when you would like us to share some information with another person that is on your support or health care team (e.g., Physician, Dietician, Naturopath). Such sharing will only occur with your consent.
Federal and provincial laws, as well as our professional association, do mandate that we share information (with and without consent) under the following circumstances:
For our booking and individual electronic health records, we use Jane Management System. The data stored in Jane Management system is encrypted using 256-bit encryption (same level of bank information) and the data is securely stored on SOC 2-audited servers in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Our email system is Microsoft Outlook 365 E3, this system allows for end-to-end encryption when sending personal health information/documents. Our website is hosted on secure server with firewall protection, anti-malware detection, SSL certificates, and secure HTTP.
Dr. Burgess Moser, L.Psych., and Ashley Broderick MSW, RSW, work exclusively with adults 18 & over and couples.
Sarah Thompson, MSW, RSW works with children, teens, adults, couples and families.
People come to therapy for various reasons and thus the therapy process will be different for everyone. During a session, you will be invited to talk about the relevant issues and any pertinent related history. Various therapeutic modalities will be used to support finding solutions, developing insight, and enhancing coping. Clients are always encouraged to share their needs and expectations of the therapeutic process, to ensure that the therapy provided is best aligned for their goals.
The therapeutic process may be short term if there is a desire to work on a specific issue. Longer term therapy may be helpful when there is a desire for self-development or the shifting of more difficult patterns. Sessions will typically last from 1 to 1.5 hours. Regular appointments may be recommended initially; however, sessions may be spread out once the necessary supports and skills are put into place.
People who actively engage in the psychotherapy have been found to enjoy an increased sense of self-understanding and confidence, improved relationships, better quality of life, improved problem-solving and stress management skills, and better communication and improved relationship satisfaction. People also learn and practice new healthy/helpful behavior patterns after courageously letting go of old patterns that no longer serve them.
Both psychologists and clinical social workers are regulated mental health professionals trained to work with individuals to improve health and well-being. Both have studied how to understand and treat a variety of mental health issues using a variety of treatment approaches.
Psychologists have extensive training in psychological assessment and are licensed to provide mental health diagnoses. They are also trained more extensively in psychological test design and the use of psychological tests for assessment. Lastly, the current educational requirements for licensure in New Brunswick for psychological are doctoral level studies (PhD or PsyD).
Clinical social workers have extensive training on the societal, cultural, and social demographic factors influence not only mental health, but ones' global well-being (i.e. physical, mental, emotional, and for some, spiritual). This allows them to bring a broad and multi-faceted understanding to the therapeutic process. Lastly, the current educational requirements for licensure in New Brunswick for social workers are bachelor level studies. That said, at Securing Connections, our social workers have graduate level studies (i.e., MSW).
Please see bio page for post-graduate trainings and specializations for our team members.
Psychotherapy, medication, and the combination of both, are helpful in treating emotional and behavioral problems. The treatment option that is best for you should be chosen following careful consideration of what research is saying about a particular disorder, and what treatments you are willing to try and commit to. Medication and psychotherapy take time to have an effect, so consistency with any treatment is generally required before results can be seen.
Although both psychotherapy and medication prove effective in treating mental health disorders, psychotherapy is generally more effective than treatment with medication alone. For example, in the case of depression, both the Canadian Psychological Association and APA states that outcomes are highest in those treated with both medication and psychotherapy. The CPA further notes that dropout rates are lower for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression than medication, and the relapse rates are lower for psychotherapy due to the acquisition of new skills. With respect to anxiety, the American Psychological Association (APA) summarizes studies suggesting that anxiety is best treated by psychotherapy and that medication does not significantly improve outcomes over those found with just undergoing psychotherapy alone.
For the treatment of issues around grief, loss, marriage or adjustment, psychotherapy can be seen as the first line of treatment.
Psychological services and psychotherapy are most beneficial when you actively participate in the process. Participation involves sharing your ideas and thoughts, asking questions when you have them, and being willing to try suggestions offered by your clinician. To enhance what is covered in sessions, your clinician may suggest some activities that you can do outside of session. These options could include grounding exercises, journaling, reading an article, recording certain habits, or practicing a certain behavior.
Ultimately the process of psychotherapy is most effective when you are desiring change and are wanting to take some action towards that change, but may lack the knowledge, skills or support to approach the task at hand.
If you are unable to make your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible so we can reschedule. If 24 hours notice is not provided, a fee may be applied at your clinician's discretion.
Our clinicians are covered under most private insurance plans (e.g., Blue Cross, Sunlife, Great West Life, Manulife). However, it is always a good idea to call your insurance carrier to determine if you have coverage for mental health. Some helpful questions to ask are:
It is normal for individuals to have misunderstanding and disagreements, and this occurs in psychotherapy as well. All our clinicians are aiming to provide you the best service possible. However, even with that intention, we recognize that there could be times when you are unhappy with your treatment.
Each of us is dedicated to monitoring your ongoing changes and outcomes in psychotherapy, either by asking for regular verbal or written feedback. We are also open to hearing about how we can better serve your needs and/or answer any questions about your process of psychotherapy.
We are open to discuss any misunderstanding, disagreements, or complaints, and we encourage you to bring them up directly with your therapist should they arise. This provides both you and your clinician the opportunity to repair any relationship missteps, an important life skill, in and outside, of the therapeutic relationship.
If you feel as though your clinician has not been open to your feedback, or if you do not feel safe communicating your needs to your clinician based on their behavior towards you in previous sessions, please note that our regulatory bodies have formal complaint processes for your protection.