Privacy Policy

Cancellation Policy for Individual Appointments

Our office requires 2 business days (Mondays to Fridays only) to cancel or change a one-on-one appointment. This amount of time will allow us to offer your time slot to someone else who needs attention.

Late Cancellation, Late change or missed Individual appointment fees

Please note that OHIP does not cover late cancellations or missed appointments. If you cancel, change, or miss a one-on-one appointment with less than 2 business days’ notice, our office will charge a $120 fee.

Patients will only be re-booked once they have paid their missed appointment fee.

Missed Group Session Policy and Fees

We reserve a spot for you when you join a group program. If you miss a session, we cannot fill your spot with another patient. Because OHIP will not cover missed sessions, you must pay a fee for any group session that you miss:

–        Missed Sessions: $85 (for a 3-hour group session) / $75 (for a 2.5-hour group session) / $65 (for a 2-hour group session).

–        Late Arrivals/Early Departures: $15 per half-hour or part thereof. Late fees are charged 10 minutes after the session start time. The same fees apply for early departures.

–        Early Withdrawal: If you withdraw from a group less than 30 days before the start of the program, or after, there will be a $260 charge.

These fees apply regardless of the reason for the missed session.

Exceptions: you can miss one session without charge due to a religious holiday, hospitalisation, or a personal health emergency that prevents even partial virtual attendance. If you miss more than one session, or if you miss a session for any other reason, the fee will apply. Please note that, being on vacation, forgetting the session, double-booking yourself with work/events/other plans or appointments, travelling, or having technical troubles will result in partial or full missed session fee(s).

Repeatedly being late, leaving early, missing sessions, or failing to pay bills may result in termination from the group.

Please email or call ahead to let Dr Hummadi know if you will be late or if you need to miss a session. Check with another group member to see what you missed.

Group Deposit

We appreciate a $150 fully refundable attendance deposit to register you in a group program.  We will refund your deposit after the last group session, less any fees for early withdrawal, missed sessions, late arrival, or early departure. If you attend every session in full, your deposit will be refunded in full at the end of the program.

Group Guidelines

Confidentiality: Everything discussed in the group is confidential. Please never share names or other information about fellow group members. Group members are also asked not gossip about other members.

Punctuality: Please be on time for the group so we can start and end together.

Giving Feedback to Others: You will learn how to give kind, constructive, and supportive feedback to others in this group. Please refrain from giving “advice” to other group members unless they ask for it.

Kind speech: Group members are encouraged to phrase all feedback to the group in a non-harmful way. Words that harm you or another group member are not helpful and are not permissible in the group. If you are bothered or angry, you will learn how to speak your truth without harming others.

Time-out: You are always welcome to take a break when you need to. If you need to leave the room (in-person or virtual), please return to the group room within 5 minutes. All group sessions will have 1-2 formal breaks.

Participation: You do not need to talk in a group if you do not want to. In this group, you can choose to speak up or stay quiet, depending on what serves you and the other group members best.

Listening: All group members deserve to be heard. Please refrain from interrupting others, talking with others, or using the virtual room chat function while someone else is speaking.

Scent-free policy: The office is scent-free. Please do not wear any perfumes or colognes. Please also ensure you do not smoke just before the group meeting or during breaks.

Individual Therapy: This course is not intended as a substitute for individual psychotherapy. You are strongly encouraged to see an individual therapist or counsellor during your involvement in the group.

Discontinuing the Group: It takes time to become comfortable in a group setting, and it is normal to need a few sessions to feel more at ease with others. Dr Hummadi strongly urges you to attend four (4) group sessions before discontinuing. However, if you wish to discontinue, here are some guidelines to make it easier for you, your fellow group members and Dr Hummadi.

1. Advise Dr Hummadi ahead of time that you wish to leave the group at the next session.
2. Attend the next session, and remain for the duration of the session. This allows you to say your goodbyes and address any unfinished business or questions. It also allows the other group members to say goodbye to you, which helps them move on as a group without you.
3. Meet individually with Dr Hummadi for at least one session. This allows you to address any concerns, questions, or grievances you may have with her.

Crisis Care Is Not Available Through Our Office

Due to the limited nature of Dr Hummadi’s office hours and group services, she cannot provide emergency crisis care to patients. Should you require medical or psychiatric services in a crisis, please call one of these crisis services, call 911, or proceed immediately to your family doctor’s office, a walk-in clinic or your local Emergency Department.

Communications

Dr Hummadi does not offer medical or psychotherapy services by email or text. Due to the sensitive nature of integrative medical care, she will only discuss confidential details with you in person. E-mails, texts, and phone calls are for administrative purposes only (e.g., making, changing &/or cancelling appointments) or for any forms requested to be emailed back inclusively by Dr Hummadi.

Forms

In general, OHIP does not pay for forms (e.g., sick notes, disability forms, etc) to be completed. Therefore, it is your responsibility to pay in advance for any form that needs to be filled out by Dr Hummadi. Please note that Dr Hummadi does not deal with third parties, such as Lawyers or insurance companies; it is your referring MD who should deal with them as needed.

Fees for forms range from $15 – $175, depending on the information required. Please contact our office for further details.

Personal Information

Please ensure that your file is kept up to date with a current phone number, cell phone number, address, OHIP number, insurance information and emergency contact information. Please inform Dr Hummadi of any changes to your personal information upon arrival at the office.

Behaviour in the Office

Please be considerate of the administrative staff and other patients, either online or in our office.  Please follow all instructions in the waiting and clinic areas regarding footwear and our scent-free policy.  Dr Hummadi will not tolerate any rude or aggressive behaviour.

If you have any problems associated with your visit, please contact our office.