1. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY?

 

PSYCHIATRY

 

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have additional specialized training in mental health and related disorders. Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medication to help their clients manage their mental health concerns. Psychiatrists may also offer treatment in the form of psychotherapy. Psychiatric assessments offered by Dr. E. Adriana Wilson and Dr. Lesley Kirkpatrick provide  diagnostic clarification, medication and therapy recommendations and suggestions for resources tailored to your personal circumstances.

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*Please note:  Dr. E. Adriana Wilson and Dr. Lesley Kirkpatrick only provide follow up in the form of group therapy. This consultation and group model maximizes the number of patients they can see in consultation and follow up, allowing them to be of greatest service to to the community and to clinicians in a time of limited resources. 

 

PSYCHOLOGY

 

Psychologists hold either a masters and/or doctoral degree in psychology that typically involves 6 to 10 years of university study of how people think, feel, and behave. Psychologists who hold doctoral degrees can use the title “Dr.” A practicing psychologist is trained to assess and diagnose problems in how people think, how they handle emotions, and how they act, as well as how to overcome or manage these problems. A psychologist is uniquely trained to use psychological tests to help with assessment and diagnosis. Psychologists help people overcome or manage their concerns using a variety of treatments or psychotherapies. Registered psychologists have expertise on a clinical level in treating children and adolescents, and also have competency in treating a wide variety of adult concerns. There are some distinctions between psychologists depending on how long they went to school and for what specialization.

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Dr. K. Ryan Wilson completed his PhD at Dalhousie University and  is a Registered Psychologist. He has specialty training in Somatic Symptom Disorders

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2. WHO CAN WE WORK WITH?

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We provide assessment, recommendations, and treatment for adults dealing with issues such as:

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• Anxiety

• Depression

• Interpersonal Difficulties

• Medical conditions with high rates of psychiatric comorbidity (that often have mental health implications)

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 

• Panic Disorder

• Persistent Depressive Disorder

• Physical Complaints secondary to mental health

• Post Traumatic Symptom Disorder

• Social Phobia

• ADHD

• Somatic presentations

• Sexual dysfunction 

• Sleep issues 

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Dr. Ryan Wilson also works with couples for marital therapy / couples therapy and will see teens in the context of family therapy.

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3. IS THERE ANYONE WE DO NOT WORK WITH?

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There are some cases where it is not possible to provide optimal patient care in a part-time private practice setting. 

 

Individuals with the following diagnoses should be referred to the hospital mental health system for their best care:

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• Primary Personality Disorders, moderate to severe impairment

• Primary Substance Use Disorders, severe

• Bipolar Disorder (we can provide diagnostic clarification if BD is in question, however we do not see already diagnosed BD to provide management recommendations)

• Autism Spectrum Disorder, (*NEW: we no longer provide assessments for this condition)

• Neurocognitive Disorders (ie. dementia)

• Eating Disorders, severe 

• Psychosis (including suspected psychosis)

• Acquired Brain Injuries

• People with a history of significant violence or volatility

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ie. Intellectual disability)

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4. DO I NEED A REFERRAL TO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST?

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YES you need a referral in order to be assessed by a PSYCHIATRIST (Dr. E. A. Wilson or Dr. L. Kirkpatrick).

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You must be referred by your Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner and the referral is triaged based on the information provided.

 

Appointments are provided to those who fall within our patient criteria. If you have been seen by Dr. E. Adriana Wilson or Dr. Lesley Kirkpatrick previously and wish to be seen again, if it has been over 1 year since you were last seen, you must be re-referred by your family physician due to MSI regulations.

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NOTE - A referral does not guarantee you will be seen. 

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5. DO I NEED A REFERRAL TO SEE A PSYCHOLOGIST?

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NO. You may self-refer for an assessment for psychology services (Dr. K. Ryan Wilson).

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Referrals from other practitioners are also accepted. If you have been seen by a different practitioner in the past (psychiatrist, psychologist, physician, therapist, counsellor, social worker) feel free to send us a copy of any relevant reports that may be helpful for your initial assessment.

 

6. WHAT IS THE WAIT TIME FOR AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT?

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PSYCHIATRY:

Dr. E. A. Wilson is not currently accepting new referrals until September 1, 2023. 
Dr. Lesley Kirkpatrick is currently accepting new patients and the wait time is approximately 9 months. 

We will triage your referral from your family physician as appropriate and our office will contact you once your referral has been reviewed.

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PSYCHOLOGY:

Dr. K. Ryan Wilson is currently accepting new clients and the wait time is approximately 6 weeks.

6. WHAT IS THE COST OF YOUR SERVICES?

PSYCHIATRY:

The cost to see a psychiatrist is covered through your provincial health care system (MSI). You must be referred by your family physician in order to be seen. For more details about this process and psychiatry services offered, click here.

Please note that you cannot self-refer and pay privately for psychiatry services.

 

If you are requesting an Independent Medical Exam for insurance or legal purposes, this may only requested through a third party (i.e. lawyers, insurance organizations, rehabilitation facilities, etc.) For more details, click here.

PSYCHOLOGY:

Services provided by a registered psychologist are not covered by provincial health care (MSI). Most private insurance plans (provided by your employer or school) have coverage to see a psychologist.

 

Coverage will vary depending on your plan, please check with your provider. We do not offer direct billing services, however, we will provide you with a receipt including the necessary details for submitting a claim for reimbursement to your insurance provider.

The hourly rate for an assessment with Dr. K. Ryan Wilson is:

$210 per therapy hour (50 minutes of therapy time, 10 minutes for reporting), initial assessments are typically 2 hours ($420).

 

Please note: payments are accepted by CREDIT CARD, VISA DEBIT, MASTERCARD DEBIT, E-TRANSFER.

7. IS THERE PARKING AT YOUR OFFICE LOCATION?

Yes! There is a free parking lot available for patients/clients of 998 Parkland Drive.