Calgary Institute of Counselling launches Black Friday low-fee therapy push

The Calgary Institute of Counselling is highlighting its supervised intern program as a lower-cost way for Calgary children, teens and adults to start therapy during the Black Friday shopping season. The practice says the program is meant to reduce cost barriers without lowering clinical oversight.

Why it matters: - Cost is a common reason people delay counselling, especially when insurance does not cover enough sessions or benefits have run out. - The low-fee program gives Calgary clients a cheaper entry point for care at a time when many households are focused on spending. - The practice says each intern session is supervised by a Registered Psychologist, which is meant to keep clinical oversight in place while lowering the price.

What happened: - The Calgary Institute of Counselling is promoting its low-fee counselling program as Black Friday opens the holiday spending season. - Low-fee sessions are available to children, teens and adults at the practice’s North and South Calgary offices. - New clients start with a free 20-minute consultation. - Clients can ask about low-fee counselling when they book. - The practice matches clients with a counselling intern who is completing supervised training hours. - Each intern works under the direct clinical supervision of a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists.

The details: - Interns support clients dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, grief and loss, self-esteem, life transitions and relationship difficulties. - The program uses evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy and Internal Family Systems. - Sessions are offered in English. - One intern also offers sessions in Portuguese. - Many extended health plans in Alberta cover sessions with a registered psychologist, but coverage varies and is often capped by session and by year. - People without benefits, or whose annual limit has been reached, often wait longer before booking counselling. - No physician referral is needed to start counselling in Calgary. - Fees paid to a registered psychologist can be claimed as a medical expense on income taxes. - A standard 50-minute session with a psychologist in Calgary typically costs $200 to $235, according to the Calgary Institute of Counselling. - The practice follows the fee guidelines of the Psychologists' Association of Alberta. - The practice charges $235 for a 50-minute session with a psychologist. - Group therapy costs $110 per person or $220 per couple. - The low-fee intern program offers a reduced rate for clients who need a more affordable option.

Between the lines: - The push positions supervised interns as a bridge between no care and full-price care. - The model may appeal to people who want support but cannot wait for benefits to reset or for finances to improve. - The program also signals a strategy to reach first-time clients who may be hesitant to start with a higher-priced psychologist.

What's next: - The practice says it currently has no waitlist for new clients. - If the first session with a psychologist is not the right fit, the practice covers one session with a different specialist. - Appointments are available in the evenings and on weekends. - Clients can choose in-person or online video sessions. - For sessions with a psychologist, the practice direct bills Blue Cross and provides receipts for other insurance plans. - The Calgary Institute of Counselling says more information is available at the practice's website.

The bottom line: - Calgary clients looking for lower-cost therapy now have a supervised intern option that aims to preserve clinical standards while reducing the barrier of price.