We provide evidence-based treatment for a wide range of child, adolescent, adult and family challenges, including:

• Anxiety (e.g., generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, panic, separation anxiety)
• Selective mutism
• Depression, low mood, and self-esteem concerns
• Stress management
• Bullying
• Acting out behavior
• Repetitive behaviours (e.g., hair pulling, skin picking)
• Tics/Tourette syndrome
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Gender (diversity, questioning, trans-)
• Adjustment to stressful life events or circumstances
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma reactions
• Parenting challenges (e.g., parenting anxious children, effective discipline, positive parenting, parent-child interaction therapy)
• Pain management and adjustment to illness (e.g., gastroenterological concerns, migraines)
• Encopresis (soiling) and enuresis (bed-wetting)
• Sleep difficulties
• Picky eating/ARFID
• School avoidance and school refusal

Our treatment approaches incorporate scientifically-based therapies including cognitive-behavioural therapy.

We do not have psychologists at this time who specialise in

• couples counselling/marital conflict
• managing difficult separations/divorce
• effective coparenting after separation
• eating disorders other than ARFID

Comprehensive psycho-educational assessments are conducted to assess your child’s learning strengths and challenges.  These assessments often measure cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and academic functioning using a variety of psychological tests and procedures. Areas typically assessed include (but are not limited to):

• Intelligence (thinking and reasoning skills)
• Problem solving and conceptualization
• Executive functioning (e.g., planning and organization)
• Attention and memory
• Language skills
• Academic skills
• Perceptual and fine motor abilities
• Personality
• Social-emotional functioning
• Behaviour
• Adaptive functioning (life skills)

The goals of an assessment may be to:

• better understand your child’s learning strengths and challenges
• provide practical suggestions to optimize your child’s functioning within home, school and other settings
• provide tailored recommendations regarding school supports and placement

At Cornerstone we recognize that individuals families in British Columbia who live outside the lower mainland can sometimes struggle to find evidence-based care. To address this gap, our psychologists offer services by telehealth (e.g., Zoom) for many challenges. These services are sometimes stand-alone, and sometimes an add-on to a briefer, more intensive course of therapy in person. If you’d like to discuss whether this might be an appropriate type of care for you or your child, please give us a call! It is important to note that in cases of high risk (e.g., dangerous behaviour, suicidal concerns) this type of therapy may not be appropriate.

Another option for out of town families is to visit Vancouver for a period of a week or two to work intensively on a problem. For example, for a child who struggles with a severe phobia of dogs, sessions might be set up over several days in a row to build good momentum that can often lead to more rapid change. Again, if this is of interest you don’t hesitate to reach out to us to discuss.

We provide an intensive summer camp for children aged 4-9 with selective mutism. Taking place for a week each summer, with lead-in sessions the week before to prepare your child for this day camp, Camp Brave can be an excellent way to help children new to selective mutism treatment or boost gains for children who are already receiving services. Children at Camp Brave practice their brave talking in a fun classroom-like setting and participate in fun field trips. Children receive very intensive support as they participate in the camp, allowing them to increase their verbal participation over the week. Parents attend group sessions to learn skills for helping their child with topics like preparing for the new school year, hosting playdates, and practicing brave talking in the community. Please note that to participate in camp, children must participate in lead-in sessions the week before camp and be able to talk to at least two new adults, and in front of one child. While most children are able to achieve this during the lead-in week, it is not guaranteed. This camp is run under the direction of Dr. Annie Simpson and Dr. Rosalind Catchpole, who together have treated over 100 children with selective mutism! Please get in touch to learn more about Camp Brave and whether it might be a good fit for your family.

Cornerstone is happy to offer group therapy for a variety of common presenting concerns. Group therapy can be an affordable and effective way to receive evidence-based treatment for a variety of concerns that present in children/youth such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.

Cornerstone offers a range of group opportunities including parenting groups and groups for anxiety. We also have a number of additional groups in development.

If you are interested in learning more about the groups currently being offered at Cornerstone, please get in touch.

A variety of consultation services are available including:

• Consultation with schools
• Individualized Education Plan (IEP) review
• Consultation with medical teams and other child/youth resources

In select circumstances, Cornerstone psychologists provide supervision and consultation services to clinicians who are in the process of registering with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia.

Cornerstone psychologists are committed to disseminating information about evidence based practice.  We provide talks, presentations and workshops on a wide range of topics to professionals, families, schools, and other organizations.  We are enthusiastic and dynamic speakers who provide interactive and hands-on workshops where participants come away not only with a theoretical understanding of the topic but also with hands-on applications of skills.

Feel free to contact us with your workshop requests.

A physician referral is not necessary.  You can contact the clinic directly if you are interested in seeing a psychologist at Cornerstone. A few extended health plans may require a physician referral for reimbursement of psychological services, so we encourage you to check with your extended health plan first. Although a physician referral is not necessary, referrals from physicians, schools, or other healthcare professionals are accepted.

Individual therapy Effective January 1, 2022: $240 per 50 minute session for PhD-level registered psychologist, $225 per 50 minute session for MA-level registered psychologist; $215 for PhD-level providers in process of registration, and $200 for MA-level providers (including registered clinical counsellors) under the supervision of a registered psychologist.

Assessment Fees are based on the complexity of the referral question(s) and will be determined individually with your Cornerstone psychologist.

Group Therapy Please contact Cornerstone regarding fees for a specific group therapy program.

Workshops Please contact Cornerstone regarding fees for workshops.

Consultation $240 per 50 minute session (shorter sessions billed at the proportional rate).

Many extended health insurance plans provide coverage for psychological services. Contact your extended benefits provider to learn more about your specific plan. When talking to your provider, it might be helpful to ask the following questions:

• Does my extended benefit plan cover the services of a registered psychologist?
• How much reimbursement is each family member entitled to per year?
• Is a referral from my family physician necessary?

Psychological services not covered by insurance are a tax deductible medical expense.

Complete payment for therapy is due at the end of each session. A fee schedule for psycho-educational assessments will be discussed at or before the first session. Payments can be made using cash, cheque , e-transfer, or credit card.

It is usually not possible to fill appointment spots on short notice, so the clinic requires 48 hours notice for cancellations. Late cancellations and missed appointments are charged at the regular rate.