Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

My name is Rachel Lingnau, and I use they/them pronouns. New Perspectives is a dream of mine that I am so proud and excited to say is finally real! New Perspectives is not only my new (haha) private practice, but also what I hope to help provide in counselling. Let's face it, we can all use a new perspective sometimes, can't we?
I recently graduated with my Master of Counselling degree from City University of Seattle. Before entering into the masters' program, I completed an undergraduate degree in psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton.
I am currently registered, in good standing, with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), as a Registered Provisional Psychologist.
Aside from my academic qualifications, I have extensive experience providing support services, including counselling and crisis intervention, in community-based organizations.
Yes! I believe that receiving supervision and engaging in professional consultation is incredibly important.
I am currently supervised by Meg Hasek-Watt (she/her), a Registered Psychologist, who has her own private practice and created an amazing collective of mental health professionals (Riverwest Therapy Collective).
Not only do I receive supervision from Meg herself, I also have numerous opportunities to consult and engage with the other therapists, Registered Provisional Psychologists and Registered Psychologists, Registered Psychotherapists, and counsellors at the collective.
Alongside this, I am active within forums specifically for mental health professionals in Edmonton and Alberta.
I am located in Edmonton, Alberta. I was born and raised here, and I plan on staying here for the foreseeable future.
Since I am located in Alberta, I am able to provide counselling services to Albertan residents currently located in Alberta.
My office is located at 104-10335 172 Street NW, Edmonton. For specific directions, please see the “wayfinding” section (at the bottom of this page and on the ‘Contact’ page)
Since Nova Scotia allows telehealth services to be provided by practitioners outside of Nova Scotia, I am also able to provide support to those residing there.
I do provide in-person counselling in Edmonton. My office is located on the first floor of 104-10335 172 Street NW, inside of Indigenous Psychological Services. For specific directions, please see the “wayfinding” section.
I also provide telehealth services to those outside of Edmonton, or who simply prefer the virtual platform.
Telehealth is a term for virtual counselling. This means that counselling sessions will be held over a secure, online platform. Telehealth is a convenient, accessible option for a lot of people.
I primarily offer individual counselling at this time. I have recently started providing couples counselling as well.
Although I am interested in family and group counselling, I want to pursue further training and education around providing those services before doing so.
At this time, I am not taking clients who are under 18 years of age. This is due to a number of factors, including the complexity of working with individuals who legally cannot provide their own consent for services since they are under the age of majority. Additionally, I would prefer to only work with those under 18 once I have the guidance of a local regulatory body (such as CAP) as well as appropriate supervision from another professional with extensive experience working with individuals under 18.
Unfortunately, I am not currently in a position where I am able to offer much of a sliding scale. As part of the Riverwest Therapy Collective, a portion of the money I pay for my supervision agreement goes toward funding its barrier-free, low/no cost programs.
However, if cost is a serious barrier, please reach out to me and we can discuss more accessible options. I am also able to provide information on low-cost or no-cost/barrier-free options that are available.
Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get sessions covered. It is important that you check your benefit plan or with your insurance provider, as I cannot guarantee coverage. Additionally, you must be aware of your coverage amounts (annual coverage amounts, per session coverage, etc).
You can check your benefit coverage by connecting directly with your insurance provider or reviewing your plan documents. If your plan specifically refers to “psychological services” or “psychologists” as being covered, then you should be able to get coverage for our sessions, but again, I cannot guarantee this.
Currently, I do not provide direct billing services. I am in the process of registering with the insurance companies I am able to in order to provide direct billing, however this may take a bit of time.

Booking FAQs

You can book your complimentary consultation here: https://heartbodymind.janeapp.com/locations/riverwest-therapy-collective-edmonton/book#/staff_member/39
First, you will need to decide if you want to schedule your consultation for in-person or virtual. This is done by selecting either “New Client - Individual Complimentary Consultation (In-Person)” or “New Client - Individual Complimentary Consultation (Virtual)” and then selecting a date and time from my posted availability that works for you.
Although you do not have to book a consultation session, it can be really helpful to do so.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if a therapist will be the right one for you in terms of their style and approach in therapy without meeting them. By booking a free consultation session, you can determine whether I am a good fit for you without having to spend any money.
Even if you are someone who knows exactly what they’re looking for and feel a consultation is not necessary, we can still use the time in a consultation to talk about what has brought you to therapy and create a plan together for how we can best use our future sessions. This means for our first full session, we can usually jump right in.
When you go to book a session, it will show you a calendar with available dates and times.
Generally, my availability is:
Wednesdays 4:30pm — 7:30pm
Thursdays 12:15pm — 7:00pm
Fridays 12:30pm — 7:00pm
Sundays 4:00pm — 7:00pm
* all times listed in Edmonton, AB time zone - Mountain Time - be aware of daylight savings time changes (MST vs MDT) *
However, this may change on occasion, so it is best to view my current availability through the booking link. I will always do my best to provide notice ahead of time when my schedule is expected to change.
If you have any questions about my availability, please feel free to reach out to me directly, and I would be more than happy to answer any questions.
Once I receive a notification of a new booking, I will typically reach out via email, and send you some forms to complete via the Jane platform. It is a good idea to keep an eye out for these emails, especially as they can sometimes get filed into the junk/spam folders.

Session FAQs

Well, firstly, welcome! I am so glad you are here and that you are thinking about starting this journey.
I know it can be quite intimidating to start this whole process so lets take a breath and start simple.
I would recommend taking a look at some of the information on other pages of this site. In the About Me section, you can get a sense for who I am, the style of my work, and my values. On the Services page, you can see whether the types of services I provide are a good match for what you are looking for.
Another great way to get started is to book a complimentary consultation with me. During a consultation, we can talk, you can ask any questions you may have, and we can see if we seem to work well together.
Just know, although this decision can feel really big, it is not a permanent choice. You can always change your mind. You may decide to book a few sessions and then realize you want something else, and that is perfectly fine! What's important is taking the step to try it out, and going with what feels best to you.
You have a choice here, you can either choose in-person sessions (if you are in the Edmonton area), or virtual sessions (from wherever you are in Alberta).
In-person sessions will be held at my office, located at 104-10335 172 Street NW, Edmonton.
For virtual sessions, ideally, you will have access to a private space where you feel comfortable and secure. If you do not have access to a fully private space, there are definitely ways to make it as private as possible. This might involve using headphones, turning on something that makes noise (could be a fan, a sound machine, playing music on another device, etc.).
That depends a little on you and what you want, but I like to start sessions with a brief check-in to see how things have been for you. Depending on your goals and needs, we may have more or less structured sessions. Often, I will ask you what feels important to discuss during our session. For some, this will mean consistently working on specific issues, and for others it will mean addressing various issues as they may arise. In my experience though, it tends to be a mix of the two—where we will work toward your goals consistently, addressing a few specific issues, while also holding space for anything else that comes up.
Toward the end of sessions, I will give you a heads up about how much time we have left, and check in to see how we can best use the remaining time. This could include wrapping up a conversation, writing down anything we did not get to that you want to address next time, doing some grounding exercises together, and/or checking in about how you're feeling about our work together.
That really depends on you and your needs. Some people find that they need more regular sessions, while others do not. Sessions can be booked weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or in other frequencies. This might also change during your therapeutic journey. Together, we can make sure that you feel you are attending as frequently as you want or need to.
I do want to highlight that therapy is an active process, taking energy and requiring time and space for reflection. Outside of our sessions you may find yourself thinking about and processing things we explored, and this is an important part of the process. This can also be really tiring, which may be an indicator that we need to adjust the frequency of our sessions.
I totally get it! Life happens sometimes, and when things pop up suddenly, it can be stressful to re-organize. I do my absolute best to be understanding and empathetic to situations that arise and impact your ability to attend sessions. If you communicate with me, I will always do my best to accommodate and ensure you receive whatever support you may want or need.
If you are going to be late for a session, please email me and let me know. If you are going to be more than 15 minutes late, it might be better to reschedule, depending on your circumstances. While I do not charge any fee for showing up late, I also do not reduce my session fee when you arrive late.
If you need to cancel a session, please do your best to give me 48 hours notice. This helps me to make sure my schedule is organized, and allows other people to book in sooner if they need to. It also helps me to know that, while something might be going on in your life, you are at least surviving, even if you are not thriving.
If an emergency comes up at the last minute and you cannot give me the 48 hours notice for a cancellation, please send me an email letting me know that there has been an emergency, and if you want to reschedule. Even if you cannot email me until after the session time, please just do your best to communicate with me. This is highly preferable to simply not showing up for your appointment, because I will worry since that is who I am as a person.
If you cancel late multiple times or no-show for appointments, then you will be charged a cancellation fee and your ability to re-book with me may be limited or restricted. A reminder of this policy will be given and discussed after an initial late cancellation or no-show.
I will always do my best to keep you updated and stick to our scheduled sessions. Perhaps unfortunately, I am only human, and sometimes I will get sick, experience emergencies of my own, and have other things that might come up and impact my ability to attend our sessions. In these situations, I ask for your patience and grace.
I will always communicate via email, so please ensure that you receive my emails and either check them regularly or have your notifications turned on.
If I am having troubles (in life, with technology, whatever it may be) that might result in my being late to our session, I will give you as much notice as I can, as well as an estimate for when I should arrive. If I am late, I will do my best to provide you with an option that works for you to make up any missed time. This may include offering to end the session slightly later (this is where it also comes in handy that I allocate 10 minutes at the end of sessions for my administrative tasks), or adding some additional time to a future session.
If I need to cancel a session, please know that my policy also applies to me. I will do my very best to give you a minimum of 48 hours notice that I need to cancel and re-schedule our session.
If an emergency occurs, and I am unable to provide you with 48 hours notice that I will be unavailable, I will give you as much notice as I can. If this happens, I will offer times to reschedule, or inform you of when I expect to be able to return to work, and offer alternative options for support in the meantime.

Technology FAQs

If you choose to book telehealth sessions, it is important that you have reliable access to technology for our sessions.
This includes a phone or computer which has access to the internet or data. Of course, this also means you need data or internet access.
Additionally, if you live with other people or have to attend our sessions from a less private space, I highly recommend using headphones to help maintain your privacy in whatever space you are in.
I will communicate with you through two primary methods. This will either be through email, or through Jane, the online software platform that I utilize for booking, billing, client note-taking (case notes), and sending and receiving forms (such as the confidentiality form).
If I send information through Jane, I will also typically follow up with an email to you to ensure you receive the information.
To connect with me, email is the best option.
Unfortunately, this does happen sometimes. Try not to stress about it too much.
If the technical issue can be quickly fixed (by exiting and re-entering, or restarting your device) then there is likely nothing we will need to do. You can send me an email to let me know what is going on if that happens.
If the issue persists, and another option is available, then we can find an alternative. This may mean holding our session over a phone call/video call instead of using Jane’s platform. Otherwise, if no other options are available, we may have to reschedule our session. This would not count toward a late cancellation or missed appointment.
Additionally, sometimes I have technical issues too. If that happens I will email you to let you know what is going on as I try to solve the problem.

Office Location FAQs

I am on the first floor at 104-10335 172 Street NW, Edmonton, T5S 1K9.
My office is located in the same space as Indigenous Psychological Services.
It is just north of Stony Plain Road, and just west of Mayfield Common.
Yes, of course!
At the bottom of this page you can find a “Wayfinding” section where you can see a map view of the area, as well as photographs of the building to help you identify the correct door to access the office.
I will also provide these same wayfinding directions in the welcome email you receive when booking your complimentary consultation/first session if you choose in-person sessions.
Please also feel free to email me with any questions about finding the office and I will do my best to help.
Fortunately, the office is fully accessible! It is located on the first floor of the building. There are two steps to get up from the parking lot into the building, however, there is a ramp located on the east side of the building. Additionally, from the parking lot to inside the office, there are 2-3 doorways to pass through depending on which entrance you use. The east entrance has doors that can open automatically through a push-button, however the door on the west side does not.
If you have any other questions regarding the office space or accessibility concerns, please reach out and I will be happy to answer any questions.
Yes! There is lots of free parking around the building, including some specifically-marked accessible parking spaces. In the parking lot, there are dedicated spots for IPS and visitor parking which you can use. There is also street parking just outside of the parking lot.
Yes, the office is located very close to Mayfield Common. Therefore, it is a short walk away from multiple bus stops.
However, I cannot speak to the travel time or whether bus/train transfers would have to be made. This will depend on where you are located and the specific public transit available to you in your area.
Please also note that public transit sometimes experiences service delays, and it is your responsibility to navigate these appropriately. If you are on your way to an appointment and an unexpected delay occurs, please let me know as soon as possible.

My files typically include things like a signed confidentiality form, some basic personal information (such as your name, birth date/age, address, etc.), any contact information you provide, notes about any communication we have outside of sessions, and case notes from our sessions together.
During that final 10 minutes, I am able to take the time to send you any documents or information discussed in session, complete my case notes, and give myself an opportunity to be human and ensure I am taken care of before my next session.
It is also nice to have this bit of time in case we need a little extra time at the end to wrap up or re-book.
My case notes are primarily a means of documenting the things we discuss and cover during our sessions, and keep track of our progress and anything that you want to make sure we work on in future sessions. This can also include any documents that we use in and out of sessions (for example, a coping skill record) so that I can better keep track of what we have tried, what you have felt worked well, and things that might be worth trying out and checking in about.
Sometimes I will also leave a note for myself of things that came up at the end of a session to continue talking about next time or things to check in about.
Of course, I have access to the information in your file. There is also a possibility that I may receive a subpoena for information from my files, in which case I may be required to provide them Subpoenas typically come from courts, but may also come from organizations such as WCB. If I am subpoenaed, you will be informed of this, however, your consent may not be required in these instances.
Aside from that, typically for others to access your information, specific documents would be required, where we would discuss the release of information first and sign any necessary documentation indicating your consent to sharing the information.
There are also times when I consult with other professionals. During one of these consults, I would maintain your privacy by not sharing any identifying information and the other person would not have access to your file. For example, I may ask colleagues for resources and recommended approaches for navigating a specific issue.
As required by the College of Alberta Psychologists, I maintain my files for a minimum of 10 years. There are certain circumstances which may require files to be kept for a longer period of time, and I follow those requirements.

Administrative & Note-Taking FAQs

Get in touch.

Do you have a question that is not answered here? Please use the contact form or email me, and I will do my best to provide an answer.

This FAQ page will also be updated with new questions that come up often, and to ensure the information provided is up to date and accurate.

Contact Me

Wayfinding Instructions/Directions

Address: 104 - 10335 172 Street NW, ……………..Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 1S9 ……………..on the first floor, inside of ……………..Indigenous Psychological ……………..Services