wHAT ARE ICBC COUNSELLING SESSIONS and “no fault” benefits?
ICBC offers counselling sessions to individuals involved in motor vehicle accidents ( MVA) to support their recovery from the mental health issues related to their accident. These sessions will be provided by service providers authorized by ICBC such as Roya Counselling.
No fault benefits means you are entitled to receive benefits regardless of who was at fault in the accident. Even non-drivers like pedestrians and cyclists are covered as long as they are a BC resident. The benefits are not limited to therapy and include access to chiropractors, massage therapists, physiotherapists and other health care providers.
You are eligible for 12 counselling sessions in the 12 weeks following your accident. If it`s been more than 12 weeks since your accident, you can still access ICBC counselling sessions ( we will support you in this process. Contact us for more details).
The benefits are not limited to counselling and include other services to assist clients on their recovery journey. These services include physiotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture and other health related services. If you can`t work because of your accident, you may also be entitled to income replacement. You can learn more about these services here on the ICBC website.
SIMPLE STEPS TO FOLLOW TO START ICBC COUNSELLING SESSIONS AT ROYA COUNSELLING
We know that being in a motor vehicle accident can be stressful and we have tried to make the process of starting your ICBC counselling sessions as easy as possible. The steps are as follows:
1)Book an initial free consultation with Roya at www.royacounselling.com and bring your ICBC claim number to your free consultation (If you don`t have a claim number, you can get one online through icbc.com/claims or by calling ICBC at 1-800-910-4222)
2) Let us know if you decide to start counselling sessions with us after your free consultation. We will contact ICBC with your claim number and will support you.
THE BENEFITS OF CHOOSING ROYA COUNSELLING FOR YOUR ICBC SESSIONS:
-Direct billing with no top-up fee: In other words, you only have to show up for your session and focus on your recovery. We will bill ICBC directly and never charge a top-up fee from our ICBC clients . You don`t have to pay out of pocket to cover the cost of your sessions.
-Working with trauma-informed therapist: We take pride in our experience and our knowledge in the field of trauma and only work with clients who we believe we can support. You can be assured that the counselling services you receive are professional and ethical.
-Convenience: We offer online sessions through a secure online platform, which makes access to ICBC counselling sessions more convenient for you. We also offer evening and weekend availability to be able to support more clients.
What if you need more than 12 counselling sessions?
The 12 week and 12 counselling limitation is to streamline the process and helps you access your health services such as counselling faster and without having to go through your adjuster or your family doctor first.
If you and your counsellor decide you need more counselling sessions to fully recover, a new revised treatment plan must be submitted to ICBC and a note from your doctor might be required. As always, we will help you in this process to ensure you are fully supported to get the care you deserve.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE COUNSELLING AFTER BEING IN AN ACCIDENT?
There are many reasons starting therapy after being in a motor vehicle accident is crucial. These are some of the reasons believe how counselling will help:
- Addressing the trauma and the emotional impact of the accident. Big or small, accidents can leave us with difficult feelings such as anxiety, low mood or phobias related to driving or being in a car. Some clients might experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD such as flashbacks, nightmares, avoiding cars and driving, or insomnia. Therapy can help individuals process and cope with the trauma experienced during the accident.
- Emotional recovery: Chronic pain, losing the ability to engage in tasks you once enjoyed, and physical limitations that many people face after an accident can take a toll on their emotional health. Many clients experience a range of emotions including grief, sadness and frustration and need help developing acceptance about how their accident has altered their ability to work, exercise or even enjoy time with their children and family. Therapy is crucial in helping clients process these emotions and find a new sense of meaning and purpose.
- Coping mechanisms: An important part of recovering from a car accident is learning coping skills to cope with difficult emotions, intrusive thoughts, or avoidance behaviours. Therapy can help you assess your current coping mechanism and add some new coping tools to your toolbox.
- Processing Guilt and anger: Feeling guilty for being at fault, especially in a serious accident, is a common feeling for many clients involved in an accident. On the other end of the spectrum, some clients experience an intense anger and frustration when they believe their life has changed because of someone else`s mistake. Therapy is a safe space in which you can explore these emotions and process them with a professional.
- Preventing Long-Term Psychological Issues: Untreated trauma can lead to long-term psychological issues. Therapy can help prevent the development of chronic, long-term mental health issues.
WHAT IF YOU REQUIRE TREATMENT BEYOND THE 12 WEEKS?
If your clinical counsellor indicates that you need to extend your care, they’ll submit an additional treatment plan to your support and recovery specialist. It will generally include additional treatment recommendations or new ones and explain their expected benefits to your recovery.
What Is An ICBC Counselling Initial Report?
The initial report is an overall assessment of your current functioning, your symptoms, along with therapy goals and treatment interventions. This report will be submitted to ICBC upon receiving your consent.
WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED WITH ICBC?
We will obtain your consent prior to starting therapy sessions in order to ensure you are aware of the information that will be shared with ICBC. Your session notes will not be shared with ICBC whereas the progress report and the initial report will be shared.
Click here for more information.
WHAT OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE OFFERED BY ICBC?
Recovering from an accident requires a holistic approach. Below are some of the other health services offered by ICBC. Click here for the complete list.
SCHEDULE YOUR ICBC COUNSELLING SESSIONS WITH ROYA COUNSELLING
Roya Counselling offers online and in person ICBC counselling sessions (in downtown Vancouver) at no cost to our clients ( we direct bill ICBC).
All BC residents are entitled to 12 counselling sessions fully covered by ICBC within the first 12 weeks of their accident. Even if you were a pedestrian and regardless of who was at fault, you can take advantage of these counselling sessions to improve your mental health after an accident.
We have years of experience supporting clients with issues related to their accident and other mental health issues and take pride in offering professional, ethical, and client-centered care. You can learn more about our team here.
If you have any questions about accessing your ICBC counselling sessions or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us here. You can also directly book an initial consultation to discuss your goals.
0 Comments