FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I know I want help but I don’t want to keep talking about it…
You will never be pressed for details of the experience, or forced to talk about anything you are not ready to discuss. Your counsellor will be interested to know how you are doing, and if there is anything in particular you wanted to cover in that day’s session, but you do not need to keep talking about the incident itself.
Do I have to report my assault?
At SAFFRON, all individuals under the age of 18 are required to report to either Child and Family Services or the Police in order to get counselling. NOTE: If reporting to the police, you will have to report to the authority officials in the city that the incident happened (eg. if the incident happened in Sherwood Park report to the RCMP, if the incident happened in Edmonton report to the Edmonton Police).
If you are over the age of 18, you are not obligated to report. There are certain advantages to reporting, including possible financial benefits through the Victims of Crime fund. We do provide Police and Court Support.
How do I get an appointment?
Please call the office at (780) 449-0900 and request an intake, we have a two part intake process.
The first is your initial phone call which will take about 10-15 minutes. We will ask for your basic contact information and to confirm that you are seeking support for a sexual violence related incident(s). Once we have all the required information, we will schedule you an intake with one of our intake workers that will generally be over the phone, however, video or in-person intakes are also available.
(Please note: in-person intakes are currently unavailable due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols)
Regardless of whether it is via phone, video or in-person, intakes are scheduled for 60 minutes and they generally take 45-60 minutes. During the intake you will be asked a series of questions that will help us to ensure that we are able to pair you with a therapist that is best for you and your personal needs. Once your intake is complete, you will remain on our waitlist until we are able to assign you a therapist. Once an appropriate therapist is available, we will contact you by phone to schedule your first appointment. Once you have seen your therapist for the first time, you are then able to contact us to book your appointments.
What should I expect?
Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for your first appointment, as there is some paperwork which needs to be done. You will also need to bring proof of income, such as a pay stub or record of automatic deposit, to qualify for the sliding fee scale. Appointments may be paid for by cash, cheque, credit or debit card.
If you find you are not comfortable with your counsellor, you may request a transfer. SAFFRON is committed to providing quality care and has no problem allowing you to switch to another counsellor who may be a better fit for your needs.
NOTE: SAFFRON has a “Clean Floor” policy, so wet or muddy footwear will need to be removed at the door. Please bring socks or slippers with you to wear in the waiting area and counselling rooms. We do have some handmade knitted slippers available for you to borrow as well!
What if I need to cancel?
If you need to change or cancel your appointment, there is no fee if you cancel 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. Please call the receptionist at (780) 449-0900. If you do not give us a 24 hour notice, a $50 fee for your session will be charged and will need to be paid before you can book another session.
How much does counselling cost?
Some workplaces offer benefits for counselling. Please contact your place of employment to find out who they will allow as a provider, how many sessions they cover, and what percentage of the visits they will pay for. Some companies will only cover a certain amount for each session and will usually only pay for a few sessions. The highest a fee will ever be is $170.00 per session and can be as low as $20.00 per session, depending on the client’s income. Appointments may be paid for by cash, e-transfer, credit or debit card.
NOTE: If a cancellation is made 24 hours before the scheduled session, there will be no cancellation fee charged. Otherwise, the regular fee for your session will be charged and will need to be paid before you can book another session.
Do you have child care?
Unfortunately, child care is not available.
What does SAFFRON mean?
Saffron is Greek for ‘crocus’, which in flower language means ‘abuse not’. The crocus is one of the first flowers that emerge out of the snow in the spring. This symbol celebrates the emergence of renewed life for the participants of our Seeds of Healing Program.