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About Us
Ruth-Ann Stewart
Carol Crabtree
Heather Jassy
Stewart and Associates Counselling and Consulting Services Inc. (SACCS)
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Introduction to SACCS
SERVICES OFFERED
Stewart and Associates provide counselling to a
broad range of clients. We treat stress, anxiety, addiction, First
Nations issues, Gay and Lesbian issues, chronic illnesses, relationship
problems, anger management, personal growth and more. (For a more
complete list, see the Services section below). Stewart and Associates
are able to offer a variety of services to their clientele, which
include one-to-one, couple, family, and group counselling. The company
has a number of associates available with expertise in areas such as
family violence, cultural issues (interpreter services available), and
ritual abuse. We also have a diversity of therapeutic styles represented
including art therapy, brief solution focused, family of origin, Satir
model, and play therapy. Stewart and Associates pride themselves on
their ability to provide counselling at affordable prices for most
income levels in the Lower Mainland.
MISSION\POSITION STATEMENT
Stewart and Associates strive to provide the
most affordable, competent, and culturally sensitive counselling
services to Lower Mainland residents and visitors who need help
effectively coping with personal crises and past or present relationship
conflicts . Our main responsibility is to establish and maintain
surroundings that support productive work, satisfy community needs and
value, and honour the dignity of each human being.
CUSTOMERS
The individuals, couples, and families that come
to us are often experiencing some form of trauma or life transition. It’s
nature may relate to their past, present, or future, and short or long term
therapy may be required. We also work with government agencies who contract
our services.
VISION STATEMENT
• To create relationships of mutual acceptance
and understanding with those individuals, children, and families being
served.
• Building strength while implementing strategies to promote individual,
family, and community health.
• We believe that an individual’s optimistic and practical vision of
their future is essential to the process of positive change, and that we
can help them build and maintain this vision.
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POSITIONING STATEMENT
Our main responsibility is to establish
and maintain surroundings that support productive work, satisfy community
needs and value and honour the dignity of each human being.
COMMITMENT
STATEMENT
As a company that works in the complex
field of family violence, sexual abuse, and associated traumas, we
commit ourselves to maintaining personal balance and harmony, practicing
lifelong learning, strengthening the family, and promoting community
wellness.
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BUSINESS HISTORY
Stewart and Associates was founded as a
corporation in 1992. Overall, our clients come from all walks of life.
Our clients are individuals, couples, and families who are experiencing
some form of crisis, trauma or transition in their lives. It’s nature
may relate to their past, present, or future, and short or long term
therapy may be required.
Many therapists work part-time for agencies. In contrast, Stewart and
Associates are devoted to their private practices on a full-time basis.
Working as a collective also provides our clients with a choice of
therapists.
There are three counselling services in Greater Vancouver that can offer
counselling at a greatly reduced rate as they receive subsidies through
United Way and various government Ministries. There are also a number of
counsellor training institutes that offer inexpensive or free services
to the population. These services usually have a waiting list.
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SERVICES
Stewart and Associates pride themselves on their
ability to provide family therapy at affordable prices to all income
levels in the Lower Mainland. The company competes in a lower price
range than the majority of its competitors, with professional rates of
$75–$120 per hour. Psychological services start at $120 per sessional
hour. Our internship program offers counselling with hourly rates
ranging from free to $65. Stewart and Associates fill a market need that
seeks more affordable and prompt therapeutic services. Stewart and
Associates is unique in that it is able to offer services to a broader
range of clientele while maintaining synergy with other organizations.
The actual services that Stewart and Associates provide include, but are
not limited to:
1. Personal growth
• improving self esteem
• developing assertiveness
• building confidence
• anger management techniques
• dealing with loneliness
• overcoming confusion
2. Relationship counselling
• pre-marriage counselling
• blended family issues
• relationship development
• interpersonal communication in relationships
• marriage/partnership counselling
• separation
• divorce
3. Substance abuse
• prescription drug abuse
• street drug addiction
• alcohol addiction
• food addiction
• gambling addiction
• sex addiction
• internet addiction
4. Sexual and ritual abuse
• emotional and psychological effects of child abuse
• signs and symptoms of child abuse
• working with survivors of abuse
• anger management in children
5. Loss and grief
• stages of dying
• stages of grief
6. Depression
• different forms of depression
• unipolar and bipolar depression
• ways to alleviate depression
7. Anxiety and stress
• anxiety treatment
• sleep anxiety disorders
• anxiety stress symptoms
• anxiety panic attacks
• stress management
• post traumatic stress disorder
8. Chronic and debilitating illnesses
• herpes
• aids
• cancer
• brain injuries
9. Life transitions
10. First Nations issues
• residential school
11. Gay and Lesbian issues
• resolving relationship problems
• adoption
• marriage
• divorce
12. Training and workshops
• life skills training workshops
• training for health professionals
13. Professional consultation and clinical supervision
Stewart and Associates are able
to offer a variety of services to their clientele, including one-to-one,
couple, family, and group counselling. The company has a number of
associates available with expertise in areas such as improving self esteem,
anger management techniques, couples counselling, family violence, Gay and
Lesbian issues, cultural issues (interpreter services available), ritual
abuse, and native issues. We also have a diversity of therapeutic styles
offered, including art therapy, brief solution focused, family of origin,
Satir model, and play therapy. Because of the three to six week waiting
lists at other agencies, clients are often referred to us for prompter
service. Some non-profit referring agencies include Women against Violence
and Battered Women’s Support Services. We also contract through insurance
companies and government agencies such as Criminal Injuries, Aboriginal
Health Services and Residential Historical Abuse Program, and the Ministry
for Children & Families.
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SLIDING FEE SCALE
Our regular rate for cash, VISA, or MasterCard
payment is $120 per hour. The fee scale for private clients has been
designed to help people in lower income brackets find relief from their
emotional symptoms. The scale ensures prompt therapeutic services without
having to wait months for a good psychiatrist, or being put on a long
waiting list at other agencies.
The fee scale is proportional to the amount of income a client makes before
deductions.
At present, Stewart and Associates is able to offer services to clients at
all levels of the scale. However, when a waiting list occurs, there will be
a freeze on the number of clients seen at each level of the scale. This
ensures a proportional number of client hours are reserved for people that
are underemployed. We offer free and very low cost counselling by our
student interns, all of whom are Master of Counselling candidates. Their
work is supervised by our Clinical Director, Ruth-Ann Stewart.
Visa and MasterCard are welcome.
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WORKSHOP
FEES
The preparation time required for presentations,
workshops, and training is substantially higher than for regular therapy
sessions, thus necessitating higher hourly rates. When providing
workshops to agencies, the company requires a fixed amount for each
workshop or training package regardless of the number of participants.
There is some flexibility in pricing, depending on the agency or
organization requesting our services. Non-profit societies often have
fewer financial resources available for hiring trainers, which we take
into account. Generally speaking, training costs start at $1,000 per
day, which includes preparation time. All expenses are to be paid for by
the organization including transportation, accommodation, and meals.
BILLING
POLICIES
Individual clients are required to pay prior to
their therapy hour. Clients being covered by their extended health
coverage need to first obtain a doctor’s referral, then pay before the
session and send in their receipt for reimbursement. Payment through
insurance companies is $120 per hour. We charge $10 for NSF cheques.
We accept payments by cash, cheque, VISA, and MasterCard.
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LOCATION
Vancouver is the fastest growing city in BC.
Life in the city, while exciting, can also bring with it anxiety and
stress. Often people have moved away from their family of origin to an
unfamiliar environment. Lacking community and family supports, many
experience alienation and isolation, often leading to inner reflection
and self-analysis.
Stewart and Associates has chosen the Yaletown area of Vancouver for its
location. Yaletown has a sense of community that is not as easily
recognizable in other parts of the urban centre. There is a sense of
sharing amongst residents and a pride in their community. We want our
practice to have the spirit of community that is pervasive in Yaletown.
Our office is close to public transit, accessible by both SkyTrain and
bus.
We are located at Suite 227–1118 Homer Street, between Davie and
Helmcken.
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REPUTATION
We place the utmost importance on our company’s
reputation and all precautions are made to prevent dissatisfaction or
liability from either clients or referring agencies. To ensure ongoing
healthy relationships with community referral sources, we communicate
with them annually to review how best to service their needs in the
future.
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PUBLIC RELATIONS
Through involvement in local boards and
committees, we are able to stay abreast of the needs in our community
and network with other professions. We regularly contact new
professionals as well as established referral bases. We want to provide
them with information about our services and learn what needs their
patients and clients may have so that we can better serve them.
APPOINTMENTS
Individual appointments are 50 minutes in
length. It is important to be on time, because your appointment will not
be extended beyond the scheduled time as a result of your late arrival.
Your appointment is held exclusively for you. It is agreed upon that the
full fees will be charged for a “no-show” and half the full fee charged
if less than 24 hours notice of cancellation is given. These charges do
not apply to Employee Assistance Program clients; however, 24 hours
notice of cancellation is still appreciated.
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