Dec 2008                                                     

This information bulletin describes: 

·       my beliefs and approach to psychological services

·       the nature of my practice;

·       my fees policy;

·       what to do if you find yourself in an emotional emergency; and

·       an abbreviated summary of my credentials, training and experience.

My Psychological Services

In my practice, psychological assessment and psychotherapy are collaborative ventures.  My client and I work together to clarify and achieve the client's goals.  Openness and honesty facilitates a rapid progression towards, and increases the likelihood of, an effective outcome. 

Your task is to talk about whatever is on your mind. Together we will explore your thoughts and feelings in areas related to the reasons that led you to seek assistance.  Part of our work together will include discussion of your experience of our professional relationship, and of the progress and process of the therapy.

As your psychologist my task is to listen carefully; to look for patterns in your life experiences, as well as your thinking, feelings and behavior; and to point out alternative interpretations of events or strategies for problem solving.  I will ask evocative questions and provide and promote intellectual, emotional, and behavioral learning experiences to stimulate you to move your thoughts, feelings and actions in more suitable and satisfactory directions.  It is not usually my job to tell you what to do or to give direct advice; rather, I may suggest that you consider specific ideas, exercises and other actions, but the final decision, of course is yours to make. Human behavior is frequently a reaction to unconscious needs and conflicts; psychotherapy is intended to help you to come to conscious decisions about courses of action that will promote your own best interests.

My aim is to be an objective sounding board, a trained, knowledgeable listener who is present and here for you. In a successful therapy relationship a genuine, appropriate and caring bond develops between therapist and client (technically known as the "therapeutic alliance") which focuses on nurturing the psychological development of the client.

Everything you say is confidential and no information is released to anyone without your consent.  Exceptions include the legal obligation the psychologist has to inform a potential victim of violence of the client's intention, and to inform the Children's Aid Society if a client is placing a child at risk for sexual or physical abuse.  In rare cases,  a court of law could subpoena clinical records.

It is my belief that psychotherapy should be tailored to the client's need, using approaches and methodologies appropriate to the issues and the client's personality and functioning, as well as the client’s situation.   My first job is to assess what psychotherapeutic approaches would be most useful to you.  Usually this is done by my asking you questions. Sometimes I also use questionnaires and/or structured experiences.  From this information I formulate an approach.  Then I explain the process and suggest what approximate time frame you may expect. However, you have the right to work at your own pace, and to be an active participant in discussing the progress of your psychotherapy.  Different clients of the same psychologist will progress at different rates and may be receiving different types of psychotherapy.  What matters is what works for you.

                                    My approach to psychotherapy

The Process of Therapy

Because we are together to help you deal with personal issues of importance, it is  necessary to discuss matters that may be  considered 'private'.   While I encourage clients to be as open and honest as they can, I also take the view that at no time should you consider yourself obliged, within our sessions, to do or say anything.  I do ask that you inform me directly of any hesitation on your part to respond to any of my questions, requests or suggestions.  It is particularly important that you not tell me anything that you know or believe is not accurate or truthful, as far as you are consciously aware.  If you do not wish to reply accurately and truthfully to any question that I may ask, just tell me that you prefer not to answer that question, rather than tell me anything you know is untrue or incomplete.  To do otherwise would be to precipitate and participate in pseudotherapy, which is, at the least, a waste of our time and your money.

Therapeutic Approaches

I may employ a variety of theoretical and practical assessment and therapeutic approaches within our sessions, depending upon what appears, in my clinical judgment, likely to be most effective and efficient.  Generally I employ a Transactional Analysis / Gestalt Therapy / Mental Imagery/ Behavioral/ Reintrojection Therapies orientation, one that also goes by the name Redecision Therapy.  I began training in Redecision Therapy in over 35 years ago (in 1972) with the originators of this approach, Dr. Bob and Mary Goulding, co-directors of the Western Institute for Group and Family Therapy, in Watsonville, California.

Goals

The whole of the psychotherapy process is, in a sense, 'grounded in' and augmented by our developing professional relationship.  It is essential that we work as partners-in-the‑process, each with different roles and functions, yet with the same or similar goals in mind.  These goals are mutually agreed upon by us in our early sessions, although at a later date they may be modified by mutual agreement.  By keeping in mind our agreed-upon goals for both the therapy process and for individual sessions, we can assess whether you are getting what you came into psychotherapy to acquire (whether that be altered and improved feeling states, thinking processes and/or behavioral functioning). 

Frequency of Sessions

The frequency of sessions is determined by us, jointly. Sessions usually do not occur more often than once per week, and indeed, in most cases, our sessions eventually become spaced further apart as our work progresses.  (Eventually sessions may be scheduled on a once per two weeks or even once per month or quarterly basis, as needed and desired.)  Clients may stop therapy at any time; once terminated, psychotherapy may begin again at any time in the future if and as mutually agreed upon, and as both our schedules allow.

Couples

In my work with couples I state at the outset that I usually consider myself to have three clients: each partner individually and the couple-as-a-unit.  The exception is where either or both partners already have individual therapists.  My intake (initial) interviews consist of two individual appointments and a joint appointment with both partners together.  I maintain confidentiality with each client: what is discussed in individual sessions is not transmitted or communicated to the other partner without consent.  When I am with you in my office, you are my client, and my role is to be there for you.

There are several advantages in having a flexible approach that permits individual as well as joint sessions.  In the event that issues emerge that are primarily the concern of one of the partners, or that person is not prepared to discuss, or perhaps even disclose, certain matters in the presence of the partner, we may schedule individual sessions to address these matters without the  other person being present. Each of you may request and/or I may recommend individual or joint sessions at any time. 

As both partners are fully aware of this opportunity to request or have individual sessions, and as both have agreed to this arrangement, I have seldom encountered any difficulties with proceeding in this manner.  In the rare instance where there may be a major conflict of interest when operating with this approach, I will recommend a referral to another therapist for one or other partner, or the couple‑as-a-unit. 

Types of problems and clients:

I frequently work with clients who must deal with one or more of a variety of problems, including the psychological and behavioral consequences of being adult children of dysfunctional families, or the survivors or children of survivors of the Holocaust, or other severe trauma. Many clients present with emotionally and relationship-destructive states of depression, anger, anxiety, stress or other chronic negative feelings; some clients wish to deal with issues of co-dependency, compulsive behaviors, atypical theft behavior, Mid-Life and mid-career issues, couples conflict resolution, or inter-generational (usually parent/adult-child) issues. I also work with clients who have cardiac problems who want to learn to employ stress management, relaxation, and mental imagery approaches in the service of moving towards wellness.

Some clients may be having some difficulties in their inner (intrapsychic), interpersonal and/or working aspects of their lives.  Others are experiencing sexual or communications problems. Still others are dealing with needing to make important decisions (such as whether to get married or to divorce, to have a child or remain child-free, to retire, change jobs, move, and so on). 

I limit my direct client contact to clients who are over  15 years of age.

Some of my clients are executives or business owners who are dealing with work-related matters where there can be value in discussing these matters with an objective professional who has no personal investment in the business-related issue being discussed but who does have a keen, informed awareness of the personality, history and requirements of the client.

Although I was for twelve years on the staff of the forensic service of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry (where, from 1984-86 I was the Psychologist-in-Charge, Forensic Outpatient Psychological Services), the only forensic cases that I currently undertake are those involving possible ‘Atypical Theft Offenders’, who are individuals who are generally honest, frequently hardworking and ethical persons who have committed acts of shoplifting, fraud or other acts of theft. I am the author of the book, WHY HONEST PEOPLE SHOPLIFT OR COMMIT OTHER ACTS OF THEFT: ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF ‘ATYPICAL THEFT OFFENDERS’, published by Tagami Communications in 1997. The revised edition was published in 2002.

I do not work with other kinds of criminal cases, nor do I take multiple personality disorder cases.

At times, when it is important to the progress of my client, I may ask to see a "significant other" -- often the spouse, parent, or child of my client -- in a separate interview. Such sessions usually provide important and relevant information about my client from one who has known that person for some time.

After more than 40 years of doing counselling and psychotherapy I can truly say that virtually nothing  -- no thought, feeling or behavior that you could tell me about -- would shock me.   You are able to say virtually anything while expecting to be viewed as one who is personally deserving of concern, compassion and caring.

Part of my philosophy of client care is to rule out any physical basis for the clients' problems.  To this end, I expect my client to see his or her family physician for a physical examination.  I also promote consultations with other professionals such as psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists or other medical specialists when there is an indication that the client could benefit from the expertise of these professionals.  It is my policy to work with  the other resources of the community and to stay within the limits of my competence as a psychologist.  It is also my policy to expedite the referral of any client who wishes to transfer, for whatever reason, so that nothing stands in the way of any individual receiving the help he or she needs.

Length of Sessions

Individual sessions are 45 or 50 minutes in length, although I may continue somewhat longer at times. Payment is the same regardless, unless it has been previously agreed that we will be doing ‘one-and-one-half’, or ‘double’ length sessions. 

Fees  and Cancellation Policy

My fees are at or below those the guidelines set by the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) for psychological assessments, consultations and ongoing individual, couples and group psychotherapy.  I offer a sliding scale in regard to fees that is a primarily a function of total gross household income, although other factors may be taken into account in particular circumstances.  Generally, clients pay for their sessions at the end of each visit.  In this way, the account remains manageable and psychotherapy becomes a naturally budgeted expense.  Unless you cancel 48 hours before a session, you will likely be charged for a missed session.  I expect that your psychotherapy will become one of your top priorities.  This will be reflected in your determination to come to sessions on time even when it is difficult, and to handle your account responsibly. 

There are objectively very few reasons for which an appointment must be canceled.  Even if your car is not working there are, of course, taxis and the TTC.  One of the few exceptions is in the event of severe (usually in winter) driving conditions if you could only be arriving by private automobile; in such a case, by all means do not take any undue risk  -- merely call and let me know that the weather/driving situation is markedly risky for you.  There will be no charge for a missed session in such a situation regardless of how close to the time of the session you call to let me know of your circumstances.

If you have insurance that reimburses you for your psychotherapy expenses, I will issue or sign any document that you require for submission to your insurance company.  Usually, I do not accept cheques directly from the insurance company or submit your claim on your behalf.  There may be some exception to this general policy due to special circumstances of the client.  However, my agreement is with you and you are responsible for your account here. 

It should be noted that the major reason psychological services are not covered by OHIP is purely political.  If you would like to see psychologists covered by OHIP you could write to your Member of Provincial Parliament or the Minister of Health at Queen's Park, Toronto.

In Case of Emergency

Sometimes clients have a genuine emergency which requires attention ASAP.  The first recourse is to call my office and/or my home; my business card, on the back of which I write the times and dates of your upcoming appointments and which I give to you at the end of our sessions has both my office and home phone numbers for just such purposes. 

My business card also has my fax number.  The fax machine is located at home, should you have some thoughts or information that you want to transmit to me between sessions.  Unless I am out of the city on an extended trip (in which case you are so informed in advance by a note on the bulletin board located above the coat rack on the left side of the vestibule as you enter my office), I will most often get back to you within a few hours of receiving your call.  If you call on the weekend please use my home phone number, (416) 391-0956. You may also email me at wcupchik@aol.com; please note, however, that I do not check my email as frequently as I do my telephone answering  service.

If it is the middle of the night or if you feel you cannot wait for me to get back to you, and you are having an emotional emergency, then you should consider going to the emergency department of any of the hospitals in your area.  The Clarke  Institute of Psychiatry in Toronto specializes in emotional problems.

If you do enter hospital, I will continue to help in any way that I can.  However, if you are admitted to hospital, you become the responsibility of the attending physician and my rights, responsibility and accountability end.  Your psychotherapy with me ends and you may or may not want to resume it later.  Resumption of psychotherapy must be discussed in light of the limitations inherent in the private practice context and what types of support you need. 

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Who am I?

I was born in Montreal and lived for my first 21 years in Quebec.  I moved to Ottawa in 1961 where I lived for five years; I moved to Toronto in 1966 and have lived and worked here ever since.

I am registered as a psychologist with both the Ontario College of Psychologists and the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.

  Registration as a psychologist in Ontario requires a doctorate degree in psychology from a recognized university, a one year supervised postdoctoral experience and passing written and oral examinations.  Registration as a health care provider in Psychology in Canada requires all of the above plus specific clinical psychology predoctoral training and two years supervised clinical psychology experience.

I have also been an extramural instructor at the Ontario Institute of Education/University of Toronto where  I taught graduate courses in group therapy.

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My formal education and working career has thus far had several distinct phases.

· My first university degree was a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) from McGill  University (1961).  I worked for one year (1961-62) as an electronic engineer doing original design work in the aeronautical field, as a  Navigational Systems Design engineer for Computing Devices of Canada, located near Ottawa. 

·I began my formal study of psychology in the summer of 1960 at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University) in Montreal.  I returned to university full-time in 1962 and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) (major in psychology) from Carleton University in Ottawa.

·In 1963 I began my first of a total of 9 years in the full-time employ of three different Boards of Education in Ontario -- Ottawa, North York and Etobicoke.  For the first six years I worked as high school science  and mathematics teacher, and as of 1964 I began dividing my time between classroom teaching and being a guidance counsellor. 

·For the three years that I worked for the Etobicoke Board of Education I worked out of the board office as an Attendance Counsellor.

·While working for school boards I acquired Ontario Department of Education’s Specialist Certificates in both Guidance and Physics.

·I earned a Masters of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Guidance and Counselling (1970),and a doctorate in Counselling Psychology (Ph.D.)., (1979), both degrees from the University of Toronto.   

· I have been registered as a Psychologist in Ontario since 1980.

·In 1969 I began training as a group psychotherapist at the North York Group Psychotherapy Foundation (NYGPF). I was a senior group therapist for NYGPF for two years, from 1972-74.  I acquired full membership in the American Group Psychotherapy Association  in 1972.      I began my private practice in 1972.

·Also in 1972, I began training in Redecision Therapy with it’s developers, Dr. Bob and Mary Goulding, co-directors of the Western Institute for Group and Family Therapy (WIGFT) in Watsonville, California, starting with a one-month intensive training program.  Thereafter I attended professional training programs at WIGFT on numerous occasions, and also worked for WIGFT as guest faculty in both California and Canada.

·In 1974, while in the doctoral program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), a graduate faculty of the University of Toronto, I began a psychology internship at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry.  I was taken on board as a part-time psychometrist in the Clarke's forensic service the following year, and in subsequent years worked as a full-time psychometrist, and then staff psychologist.   For the last two years I was employed at the Clarke Institute (1984-86), I held the title of Psychologist-in-Charge, Forensic Outpatient Psychological Services. I resigned my staff position at the Clarke in 1986 to pursue my private practice on a full‑time basis.

My belief in continuing education as a method of furthering professional competence leads me to attend conferences, workshops and/or training seminars every year.

I hold full membership in the following professional associations:

·Ontario Psychological Association,

·Canadian Psychological Association

·American Psychological Association

·Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association

·I have been awarded Diplomate status as a Board Certified Forensic Examiner by The American College of Forensic Examiners.

If You Have Any Questions

Please feel free to ask me about any aspect of your psychotherapy or any other aspect of your potential or actual experience here