Frequently Asked Questions
a) Getting started
Therapy can provide a safe and supportive space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Through therapy, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your challenges, and learn new strategies for managing difficult emotions, improving your relationships, and achieving your goals.
Therapy can be especially helpful for addressing long-standing issues or patterns that may be holding you back in your personal or professional life. Even if you’re not sure what specifically brings you to therapy, your therapist can work with you to identify the areas you want to focus on and help you make progress towards greater well-being and happiness.
You may choose to work with your therapist in the form of individual, couple or family sessions.
Psychotherapy is a professional working relationship, with the goal to address your presenting emotional and relational concerns. The primary method used will be verbal interactions although non-verbal activities may also be used at times. The therapeutic process will involve self-disclosure and introspection, which may be uncomfortable at times.
You will be provided with a safe place for your self-exploration and to deepen your self-understanding in your current context, hence empowering you towards relating better with yourself and with others.
With individuals, we do what is called a diagnostic session, where we ask specific diagnostic questions to assist in understanding the individual’s psychological profile. With organizations, we meet with their select team to get a better understanding of their needs, and then develop a specific training program tailored to meet that need.
You can look at our clinicians’ profiles and come to us with your preference.
Or you can call us and have a ‘smart screening’ conversation. This is our screening process to find you the best match based on your preferences, needs, and goals.
You can also send us a message explaining the type of support you’re looking for, and we will pair you with the clinician who is most professionally qualified to meet your needs.
Once you’ve shared with us your particular preferences, needs, and goals – whether it may be through a call, email, or an enquiry message – we’ll pair you with the doctor/therapist of your choice or a doctor/therapist best suited for your needs.
Once matched, you will be able to arrange a session at your convenience and begin your path towards better mental health.
Not much can be expected after the initial assessment of an individual, as it is mainly information gathering. Also, therapy is a process, not a one-time affair. As for organizations, they can expect immediate changes after one seminar, once recommendations are followed.
b) About CALM International
CALM International offers its services both in-person and virtually through video calls. Although we prefer to interact with clients in person, we understand that this is not always possible and have adapted to holding therapy sessions online. Our clients have found this to be a convenient option and appreciate the added privacy and discretion that it offers.
At CALM International, we offer a wide range of psychotherapy services for the varied needs of our clients. These services are offered by our roster of professionally trained clinicians whom we will match; to meet the needs of our clients. Prices for a 50-minute session can range between US$200 to US$400.
CALM International accepts a variety of mental healthcare insurance.
To learn more, send us a message here with your information request. A member of our team will work with you to help answer any questions you may have regarding your mental healthcare insurance benefits.
Beyond the fact that our professional team are all experts in the field, we treat all customers/patients as if they are our only customers or patients; meaning, they are a priority. Also, we tailor pieces of training to meet the specific needs of the organization, and not just regurgitate generic material.
As members of the American Psychological Association (APA), we are governed by the ethics of that body, and confidentiality is a key ethical consideration. As such, we are not obliged to report to any employer on the mental health reality or diagnoses of employees, even if the employer is paying for the service. We will however speak to an employee’s ability or capacity to perform their duties, but this will always be discussed first with the employee.
c) Mental Health and Specific Terms
Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology dedicated to studying how people think. The cognitive perspective in psychology focuses on how the interactions of thinking, emotion, creativity and problem-solving abilities affect how and why you think the way you do. Cognitive psychology attempts to measure different types of intelligence, determine how you organize your thoughts, and compare different components of cognition.
Mental health includes your psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It affects how you make choices, relate to others, handle stress, and so much more. Everyone has mental health, just like everyone has physical health. Conditions such as stress, depression, and anxiety can all affect your mental health and create challenges.
A mental illness, or mental health disorder, is defined as patterns or changes in thinking, feeling or behaving that cause distress or disrupt a person’s ability to function.
Mental wellness refers to a state of mental health that is characterized by positive thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It goes beyond just being free from mental illness and encompasses having a sense of balance and stability in one’s thoughts and emotions. When you are mentally well, your mind is able to function optimally and in your best interest, allowing you to think, feel, and act in ways that positively impact your physical and social well-being.
Mental wellness exists on a spectrum, and it is something that can be continually nurtured and improved upon. At CALM International, we are committed to providing you with the highest quality of care and support so that you can achieve optimal mental wellness and live a more fulfilling life.
Prioritizing mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood all the way through adulthood. Poor mental health can affect your mood, behaviour, and thinking, and can also negatively impact your relationships and physical health. This link also works in the other direction – your relationships, physical well-being, and habits can all affect your mental health. The impact of mental health on physical health and quality of life – and vice versa – is why mental health is so important.
Usually, a psychologist has a PhD or PsyD in one of the psychological disciplines, while a counsellor usually has a Master’s level degree in counselling or psychology. Both sets of individuals may be referred to as therapists, once they engage in psychotherapy and not just talk therapy. All psychologists, therapists, and trained psychological counsellors are known as clinicians.
The number of psychotherapy sessions required depends on your needs and goals. Mental health and psychological growth, as well as relationships improvement, are life-long goals that require life-long commitment and efforts. As you improve, follow-up sessions may reduce on a weekly basis to monthly and even yearly check-in.