Psychologist

PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY – Dr. Connie Wong

No referral is necessary.

Call 416-461-9471 ext. 4111 to book an appointment.

All of us have points in our lives when we could use some extra support and guidance. Some people may wish to learn to handle life’s challenges better. Others may be struggling to overcome particular concerns such as depression or anxiety. Or you may just wish to optimize your personal growth.

Here at Albany Medical Clinic, Dr. Connie Wong, Ph.D., C.Psych. offers the following psychological services to help you:

  • Individual therapy
  • Couples therapy
  • Personal coaching

Individual Therapy

Life can have its challenges. Here at Albany, Dr. Wong assesses and treats adults with a wide range of issues such as:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Excessive worrying
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Low self-esteem
  • Social anxiety
  • Panic attacks
  • Phobias
  • Agoraphobia
  • Hypochondriasis
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Disordered eating
  • Body image issues
  • Anger management
  • Interpersonal or relationship issues
  • Trauma
  • Grief and loss
  • Life transitions (e.g. getting married, having a baby, infertility, empty nest, menopause, etc.)
  • Maximizing personal growth
  • Career exploration

Couples Therapy

Even though you love each other, relationships can still be hard work. Dr. Wong can help you to:

  • Recapture closeness and connection in your relationship;
  • Communicate better;
  • Work more as a team when solving problems;
  • Recognize your relationship patterns;
  • Understand each other on a deeper level;
  • Deal with life transitions;
  • Separate in a constructive rather than destructive way (if your decision is to separate).

About the Psychologist

Connie Wong, Ph.D., C.Psych. is a registered psychologist in clinical and counselling psychology. She has over 22 years of clinical experience working with adults – seeing individuals, couples, and groups. Dr. Wong has worked in a number of settings including hospitals, community clinics, and universities.

Dr. Wong uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help clients address issues such as stress, general anxiety, excessive worrying, social anxiety, panic attacks, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties.

Dr. Wong was one of the CBT therapists in a treatment outcome analysis study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). This was conducted at the York University Anxiety Research Clinic. The study looked at the effectiveness of CBT in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Clients had a primary diagnosis of GAD along with other diagnoses such as depression, social anxiety, or panic disorder. GAD is one of the least responsive anxiety disorders. The average success rate for treating GAD in the literature is around 50% and that’s measured immediately post-treatment. In this research study, Dr. Wong’s success rate at treating GAD was 90% and that held true even as measured one-year post-treatment.

Dr. Wong is a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, the Ontario Psychological Association, and the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Confidentiality

Psychological sessions are confidential. This means that Dr. Wong will not disclose what you say in your sessions without your prior written permission. However, information may be shared among the doctors of Albany Medical Clinic in order to provide the most effective service to you.

Please note that there are some exceptions to confidentiality. Psychologists are legally / ethically required to break confidentiality in the following cases:

  • In situations where there is suspicion that a child under 18 is at risk of abuse or neglect.
  • In the case of a court order.
  • In the event that you may pose a risk of serious harm to yourself or to others (e.g. suicide or homicide plans).
  • If you disclose that a regulated health professional has sexually harassed or sexually abused a client.

For those clients who are doing couples therapy, please remember that couples therapy is joint therapy and no secrets will be kept from either partner. Therefore, please do not tell the psychologist anything that you wish to keep secret from your partner.

Fee

The fee charged follows the guideline set by the Ontario Psychological Association.

Psychological services are covered by most insurance companies and extended health benefit plans. Please check with your employer or insurance carrier for details. Going to see a psychologist is similar to going to see a dentist or a lawyer in that you pay as you go. A receipt will be given to you at the time of payment that you may submit to your insurance company. Whatever is not reimbursed may be claimed as a tax deduction under medical expenses. (Please ask your accountant for details.)

No referral is required. Just call 416-461-9471 ext. 4111 to book your appointment with Dr. Connie Wong.

What is your mental health worth to you?  

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I should see a psychologist?

If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then you may wish to see a psychologist:

  • Are you finding it difficult to cope with the stress of everyday life?
  • Are your difficulties affecting your personal life, family, work, sleep, or physical health?
  • Are you struggling with anxiety or depression?
  • Are there changes that you would like to make in your life, but you are unsure of how to go about making them?
  • Would you like to maximize your personal growth?
  • Has someone in your life (e.g. friend, family member) suggested that you consult with a psychologist?
  • Would you like some support and guidance in dealing with your problems?

 What training do psychologists have?

What sets psychologists apart from other “talk therapists” (such as psychotherapists) is the highest standard of education and training required. To be a psychologist in Ontario, one needs three university degrees – a Bachelor’s, a Master’s, and a Ph.D. in psychology – a process that takes at least eleven years to complete. Dr. Wong has her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo, along with two Master’s degrees plus a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto.

Even after obtaining a doctorate degree in psychology, a Ph.D. cannot call themselves a psychologist until they have completed the registration process, which takes another one to two years to complete. In addition to the academic requirements, a psychologist needs to complete at least 4500 hours of supervised clinical practice and three additional post-doctorate exams. In total, a psychologist has spent over twelve years studying and practicing psychology before they are given the title of “psychologist”. This makes psychologists the most highly trained practitioner to be conducting assessments and “talk therapy” of mental, emotional, and interpersonal issues.

What does psychological therapy involve?

Psychological therapy is a collaboration between the psychologist and the client to work towards the client’s goals. Psychological therapy typically involves any or all of the following: discussion of issues, exploration of underlying triggers and insecurities, learning new skills and strategies, increasing self-awareness, changing thought and behavioural patterns, healing from past traumas, relaxation techniques, and exposure exercises to reduce anxiety. You may also be given “homework” in order to practice and apply your new skills to your daily life.

What is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Dr. Wong incorporates different therapy modalities in her practice to suit the needs of her clients. However, CBT is the primary therapy modality used by Dr. Wong in the treatment of psychological issues. This is because CBT has been demonstrated in thousands of peer-reviewed research studies to be very effective in helping people to improve their mood, reduce their anxiety, and cope better with daily life.

CBT is about learning and applying hands-on, practical skills for managing difficult feelings. Over the course of therapy, you can expect to learn how to identify and manage negative thoughts and worries, develop techniques to increase your sense of calm and balance, learn about the factors that perpetuate anxiety and depression, develop healthier lifestyle habits, and act differently in response to negative feelings rather than letting your negative feelings control you.

What will happen in the first therapy session?

The first session is an assessment session. In this initial session, the psychologist will ask you a range of questions regarding your concerns and history. Based on this discussion of your needs, the psychologist will be able to describe to you your treatment plan and to help you to set some therapy goals. This will provide a guide for the subsequent sessions.

How long is a session?

A standard psychological session is 50 minutes long. This is called a “clinical hour”. The remaining 10 minutes is used by the psychologist to review your previous session notes and to write the current session note. Longer sessions (i.e. double sessions) are available for clients who would prefer more time.

How frequent are the sessions?

Most clients attend sessions once a week. However, some clients prefer more frequent sessions (e.g. twice a week), while others prefer less frequent sessions (e.g. once every two weeks).

How long does therapy last?

There is a wide range in the number of sessions that clients attend. Some clients come for as few as six sessions while other clients come for months or even years. The most common duration for therapy is 10 to 20 sessions.

What if I can’t make it to the Albany Medical Clinic office?

That is absolutely fine. Dr. Wong also does phone appointments with clients from all over Ontario. Over the course of the pandemic, many clients have found that they actually prefer the convenience of phone appointments and have found phone appointments to be as effective as in-person appointments.

Book an Appointment

To book an appointment with the psychologist, Dr. Connie Wong, just call Albany Medical Clinic at 416-461-9471 ext. 4111 or inquire at the 4th floor reception desk. No referral is required.

 

Office hours:

Tuesday         11:30am – 4:30pm

Wednesday   10:30am – 4:30pm

Friday             11:30am – 5:30pm