Bedford Psychologists - How We Are Different
Note: This page is fairly long, but we believe that it is definitely worth reading if you are searching for a good psychologist in Bedford or Halifax. We are confident that you will not find this information at other psychological clinics.
Not a lot of time right now? Just want to learn about our services and how we can help you? Please feel free to read more about our approach to Therapy or Assessment and send us any questions you may have.
Not a lot of time right now? Just want to learn about our services and how we can help you? Please feel free to read more about our approach to Therapy or Assessment and send us any questions you may have.
Choosing a Psychologist – You Have Many Options!
At Bedford Psychologists we realize that you have many options when choosing a mental health professional for counselling or assessment. For important issues like psychological health, personal happiness, or the assessment of learning disabilities and ADHD, how does one choose the right psychologist or counsellor?
Searching for the Right Psychologist in Bedford or Halifax
Assuming that you are starting your research online we suppose that one way would be to simply do a Google search for “best psychologist in Bedford”. No doubt this would produce many psychologists in Bedford and Halifax all offering treatment for depression, anxiety, relationship issues, etc.
But how do you choose which person or service to work with? Almost all of us provide treatment for mood-related issues, stress, self-esteem, and so on. The fees for psychological service are virtually identical between clinics and generally follow the rate recommended by The Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia. We all have either Masters or Doctoral degrees in psychology. It makes selecting someone kind of difficult, doesn’t it?
But how do you choose which person or service to work with? Almost all of us provide treatment for mood-related issues, stress, self-esteem, and so on. The fees for psychological service are virtually identical between clinics and generally follow the rate recommended by The Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia. We all have either Masters or Doctoral degrees in psychology. It makes selecting someone kind of difficult, doesn’t it?
The "Fit"

Are all psychologists the same? Does it really matter who you choose?
To answer the first question, no, we are not all the same…and yes, it really does matter which psychologist you choose to work with.
Why?
Research consistently shows that one of the most important factors in successful psychological treatment is the relationship “match” or “fit” between the therapist and the client.
In essence, a good match occurs when:
With this in mind, we would like to talk about how we may be different from other mental health clinics or psychologists in Bedford / Halifax so that you can get a better sense of whether there is a “match” between our styles, our services, our philosophies, our personalities…and you.
To answer the first question, no, we are not all the same…and yes, it really does matter which psychologist you choose to work with.
Why?
Research consistently shows that one of the most important factors in successful psychological treatment is the relationship “match” or “fit” between the therapist and the client.
In essence, a good match occurs when:
- There is a working alliance that is built by both individuals
- You trust your psychologist and know that he/she genuinely cares about you
- You know that your psychologist always has your best interests in mind
- Your psychologist respects you and your goals for therapy
- You actually like your therapist as a person (this is very important!)
With this in mind, we would like to talk about how we may be different from other mental health clinics or psychologists in Bedford / Halifax so that you can get a better sense of whether there is a “match” between our styles, our services, our philosophies, our personalities…and you.
Care & Support

First and foremost, we genuinely care about the well-being of our clients and are focused on helping you achieve the personal goals you have set for therapy. We understand that starting therapy can be somewhat stressful (or even scary) and we are committed to creating a caring, comfortable, friendly, and supportive experience that you actually look forward to.
Always Respect, Never Judge

In the past, there was somewhat of a stigma associated with seeking help from a psychologist. Thankfully, this has changed and therapy is now seen as a healthy activity that many people use to make positive changes in their lives. At Bedford Psychologists, we place the highest priority on always treating our clients with genuine respect and never (never) making you feel judged or ashamed.
The Goal is Change

Why are you considering working with a psychologist? For most people, it is because they wish to change something about their lives, their mood, their relationships, or their reactions to events around them. While “just talking” about problems can sometimes be helpful, we believe that some form of positive, concrete change is usually the goal of therapy. This change may come from new insights, effective techniques to manage emotions, new life goals, healthier responses to difficult situations, or other changes. We are committed to helping you make and maintain these changes.
Honest & Realistic, Not Just Positivity

This may sound strange, but if we are working with someone who is depressed (for example), our goal is not necessarily to “cheer up” this person. Although we are optimists by nature, we believe that it is very important to be honest and realistic about the challenges our clients may face. How often has hearing someone say “It’s not that bad” or “Cheer up!” actually made you feel better? We would guess not very often. Instead, we believe that it is far more productive to be honest about our clients’ challenges and identify realistic and practical ways to effectively overcome them.
Ask a Question, Get an Answer

Have you ever heard the term “blank wall” used to describe the psychologist’s role in therapy? It is associated with Classic Psychoanalysis and is the belief that in order to keep the session focused on the client and free from undesirable intrusions from the therapist, he or she should become a “blank wall”. In practice, this means that direct questions from the client would not be answered (Client: “How do you think I am doing in therapy…am I making progress?” Psychologist: “Why is knowing what I think important to you?”). It also means that the therapist will not disclose any personal information and will likely sidestep the client’s social pleasantries (Client: “That’s a great piece of art, do you mind if I ask where you found it?” Therapist: “I’d prefer that we talk about you.”). We understand the theory behind this approach (after all, therapy is about you, not us), but frankly we think that an extreme “blank wall” approach can make therapy cold, uncomfortable, awkward, and unnatural. So, if you ask us a question, you will get an answer.
Multiple Approaches to Treatment

You may be familiar with the phrase, “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” At Bedford Psychologists, we have experience and training with multiple treatment models. That is, we do not have a “one size fits all” approach and we adapt our interventions to fit with your specific concerns and personality style. Our theoretical orientation could be described as “integrative” as we primarily draw from elements of Person Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Counselling, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Eriksonian Developmental Theory.
Laughter, Humor, and Warmth (yes, they are allowed in therapy and assessment!)

We take our roles as psychologists and the concerns of our clients very seriously. However, we believe that treatment does not need to forgo humanity to be effective. In fact, we would argue the opposite! Interpersonal warmth and the use of humor is a large part of what makes us human and what connects us to others. Smiling, joking, (when appropriate of course), and laughing is welcomed in session.
Past, Present, and Future

Depending on the psychologist or clinic you eventually choose to work with, there will be a different emphasis on these three elements of time. For example, some psychologists devote a large majority of their sessions to events from their clients’ past with much less emphasis on the present or the future. Here is our take on this matter: We believe that it is very important to understand your personal history, as your past has shaped who you currently are and the challenges you face. However, we believe that the actions you take now (i.e., your present) set in motion the person you wish to become in the future. So, we use the past to inform the present, and we use the present to eventually define the future. Our focus is on what you can do now (today, tonight, this week) to create the future you desire.
We Don’t Treat Everything

Although we offer service for a wide range of psychological and emotional issues, we do not provide treatment and assessment for every possible condition or concern. Honestly, this just isn’t realistic for any clinic or psychologist. We feel very confident assisting our clients with many different problems, but if someone happens to have an issue that would better treated by another service, we will make sure to provide an appropriate referral. We genuinely want our clients to receive the best possible treatment, even if this occasionally means a referral to another service, specialist, or appropriate professional.
Assessments: Honest and Direct Testing Results

Many parents struggle with a lack of concrete feedback from teachers and vague results / grades on report cards. What does “meeting expectations” or “not yet meeting expectations” really mean? Is my child gifted? Is my child doing poorly compared to others in his class? Does he have ADHD or a learning disability? The frustration parents feel about the lack of useful school reports has been well documented. However, following a psychoeducational assessment at Bedford Psychologists you will have answers:
- You will have actual scores, percentile ranks, and grade equivalency levels
- You will have a clear picture of your child’s performance across multiple academic domains
- You will receive percentile scores of intelligence - including cognitive strengths and weaknesses
- You will receive honest feedback and strategies to help your child
Appointment Times to Fit Your Schedule

Although most of our appointments are during regular business hours, we do offer a number of evening and weekend appointments for those who cannot meet during the typical hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00 - 5:00.
Accessibility

Our new offices in the heart of Halifax are modern, bright, and wheelchair accessible.
Ready to Make an Appointment?
So, that is our (rather long) explanation of how Bedford Psychologists may be different from other clinics in the Halifax region.
As previously mentioned, the “fit” between client and psychologist is one of the most important factors in successful treatment. If you agree with / like our approach to psychological service and believe that there is a good fit, please contact us or make an appointment - we would love to work with you!
As previously mentioned, the “fit” between client and psychologist is one of the most important factors in successful treatment. If you agree with / like our approach to psychological service and believe that there is a good fit, please contact us or make an appointment - we would love to work with you!
Bedford Psychologists is partnered with Green Leaf Psychological Services in Halifax. Please use the form below to inquire about our services or to book an appointment at our Halifax location.