Clinique Altera is a bilingual psychotherapy, wellness, and professional development clinic offering in-person services in Montreal and virtual care across Quebec and Ontario where applicable. We provide compassionate, evidence-informed, and trauma-aware support for individuals, couples, families, and professionals seeking meaningful change.

Our services include individual psychotherapy, couples therapy, and family therapy for concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, ADHD, burnout, relationship difficulties, life transitions, grief, and emotional regulation.

We also offer specialized and growth-oriented services including therapy intensives, executive and leadership coaching, clinical supervision for therapists and helping professionals, psychosocial assessments, anger management support, parent and co-parent coaching, and executive functioning or ADHD coaching.

For clients seeking nervous system and somatic approaches, we provide the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), trauma-informed therapy approaches, and integrative care that may include relational, attachment-focused, psychodynamic, and body-based methods.

In addition to direct client care, our clinic offers group workshops, training opportunities, and continuing education for professionals and organizations.

Whether you are looking for support with personal wellbeing, relationships, trauma recovery, family dynamics, or professional growth, Clinique Altera strives to create an inclusive, affirming, and thoughtful space where healing and development can occur.

Getting started is simple. You can book an appointment online or contact Clinic Altera and we’ll help guide you through the process.

Once you reach out, we can help match you with a clinician based on your needs, goals, language preference, schedule, and budget. After booking, you’ll receive intake forms and appointment details through our secure client portal.

Your first session is a chance to explore what brings you in, discuss your goals, and begin building a plan for support at a pace that feels right for you.

We offer in-person sessions in Montreal and virtual care across Quebec and Ontario where applicable.

Yes. Clinic Altera offers relationship therapy for partners and relational systems at all stages of connection.

We work with couples, dyads, queer couples, interracial couples, ethically non-monogamous relationships, polyamorous partnerships, blended families, and other alternative relationship structures. We aim to provide an affirming, non-judgmental space that respects identity, culture, values, boundaries, and the agreements unique to your relationship.

We support clients navigating communication challenges, conflict, trust repair, intimacy concerns, jealousy, attachment wounds, parenting stress, family dynamics, life transitions, separation decisions, and reconnection after difficult periods. Our approach is relational, practical, and grounded in helping all parties feel heard, respected, and understood.

We also offer focused relationship intensives for those seeking deeper work in a condensed format.

Sessions are available in person in Montreal and virtually across Quebec and Ontario where applicable.

The length of therapy depends on your goals, needs, and the kind of support you are looking for. Some clients come for a few sessions to work through a specific challenge, while others choose longer-term therapy for deeper patterns, trauma healing, relationship work, or ongoing personal growth.

At Clinic Altera, therapy is collaborative and tailored to you. We regularly check in about progress, goals, and what feels most helpful so that care can evolve over time.

Some clients attend weekly at first and transition to biweekly or monthly sessions as things improve. Others may choose focused intensives or short-term support during a difficult season.

There is no required timeline. Therapy can be brief, ongoing, or somewhere in between, depending on what feels right for you.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Brainspotting are trauma-focused therapy approaches designed to help the brain and body process distressing experiences, reduce emotional intensity, and support healing.

EMDR uses guided bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, tapping, or sound while working through memories, beliefs, and emotional responses. It is commonly used for trauma, anxiety, phobias, grief, and performance-related blocks.

Brainspotting is a focused, body-based approach that uses eye position and mindful attunement to access and process unresolved experiences stored in the nervous system. Many clients find it helpful for trauma, anxiety, chronic stress, relationship wounds, and creative or performance blocks.

At Clinic Altera, these approaches are often integrated with talk therapy, attachment-based work, and nervous system regulation strategies to create care that is personalized and paced safely.

Not every client needs EMDR or Brainspotting. During the intake process, we can help determine whether these approaches are a good fit for your goals.

Therapy progress can look different for each person. Sometimes change feels noticeable and immediate, while other times it happens gradually through small shifts that build over time.

Signs therapy may be working include feeling more aware of patterns, responding differently in situations that once felt overwhelming, improved relationships, stronger boundaries, reduced anxiety or distress, greater self-understanding, or feeling more connected to yourself and others.

Progress does not always mean feeling better every session. Some sessions involve difficult emotions, reflection, or processing experiences that can feel uncomfortable before relief emerges.

At Clinic Altera, therapy is collaborative. We regularly check in about your goals, what feels helpful, and whether the approach still fits your needs. If something is not working, it is important to talk about it so care can be adjusted.

Often, the clearest sign of progress is noticing that you are relating to life, stress, or relationships in new ways.

Confidentiality is a core part of therapy. What you share in session with Clinic Altera is kept private and handled with care in accordance with professional ethics and applicable privacy laws.

Your information is not shared without your consent, except in specific situations where clinicians may have a legal or ethical duty to act. These can include concerns about immediate risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else, suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable person, court orders, or other circumstances required by law.

At the beginning of therapy, your clinician will review informed consent, privacy practices, record keeping, and the limits of confidentiality so you know what to expect and can ask questions.

We also use secure systems for scheduling, documentation, and virtual sessions to help protect your personal information.

Yes. Clinic Altera works with children, adolescents, and families in a supportive, developmentally informed way.

Services may include child and teen therapy, family therapy, parent coaching, and ADHD coaching or psychoeducation for children, teens, and caregivers. We often help families navigating emotional regulation, behavioural concerns, school stress, communication challenges, parenting transitions, and family conflict.

We have a dedicated family therapy, creative arts therapy, and play therapy room at Clinic Altera. It is a spacious environment thoughtfully designed to support non-directive exploration, family connection, and emotional expression. Families can work collaboratively with their therapist and child to explore emotions, routines, difficult topics, boundaries, and repair through art, play, and shared activities, even something as simple as a game of Jenga or Uno.

The space also includes a library of resources, children’s books, and mental health materials for parents and caregivers.

Additionally, we offer the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a listening-based nervous system support program that may be helpful in promoting regulation, resilience, and connection for both children and parents alike.

We are actively expanding our family and children’s services to continue offering warm, creative, and evidence-informed support for young people and the people who care for them.

Many clients are able to use extended health insurance benefits for services at Clinic Altera. Coverage depends on your individual plan and the professional designation of the clinician you are seeing.

Most clients pay for sessions directly and receive an official receipt to submit for reimbursement. Receipts include the clinician’s name, professional title, license information, and payment details where applicable.

Because insurance plans vary, we recommend confirming your coverage in advance and asking whether your plan reimburses services provided by social workers, psychotherapists, counsellors, or Canadian Certified Counsellors.

If you are unsure which clinician best matches your coverage, we are happy to help guide you.

Clinic Altera works with a range of third-party payers and reimbursement programs, depending on the service and clinician.

For IVAC / IVAC-REB, CNESST, NIHB, and Medavie Blue Cross, eligibility and billing options can vary. In many cases, clients pay for sessions upfront and submit receipts for reimbursement. Some providers at our clinic may be eligible under specific programs such as NIHB.

Because these systems can change and each case is unique, we recommend contacting us directly so we can review your situation, explain current options, and help match you with an appropriate clinician.

We are happy to discuss coverage, documentation needs, and practical next steps before you begin.

Fees at Clinic Altera vary depending on the clinician, service type, and session format.

Our standard therapy fees currently range from $165 to $200 per session for most individual, couples, and family therapy services. Reduced-fee therapy with supervised clinical interns is available between $50 and $100 per session, with sliding scale options based on need and availability.

Extended sessions, therapy intensives, assessments, and specialized services may have separate pricing, which we are happy to review with you in advance.

If cost is a concern, please reach out. We aim to make therapy as accessible as possible and can help match you with a clinician whose fee structure best fits your needs.

Yes. Clinic Altera offers reduced-fee and sliding scale therapy options to help make care more accessible.

Through our robust clinical training program, we actively teach, mentor, and supervise carefully selected interns who provide therapy at significantly reduced rates. This creates more affordable access to quality support while allowing clients to work with emerging clinicians who are closely supervised and integrated into a strong learning environment.

Our interns are selected with care, including attention to diversity, lived experience, relational skill, and a commitment to trauma-informed, inclusive practice. Many clients appreciate the warmth, dedication, and thoughtful care that comes from working with a clinician who is deeply engaged in training and ongoing supervision.

Reduced-fee sessions are typically available between $50 and $100 per session, depending on the clinician and service needs. We are happy to help you explore options and find a fit that works for your goals and budget.

Yes. Clinic Altera offers both in-person and virtual therapy, and many clients choose a hybrid approach that includes both.

Depending on your clinician, goals, and location, you may be able to alternate between in-person sessions in Montreal and secure online appointments when life gets busy, travel comes up, weather is difficult, childcare is needed, or convenience matters.

Some clients prefer to meet in person for deeper relational or experiential work and use virtual sessions for continuity and flexibility. Others primarily attend online and come in person when helpful.

We are happy to discuss what format best supports your needs and whether a hybrid arrangement is available with your clinician.

Therapy can offer a supportive space to better understand yourself, navigate challenges, and create meaningful change. The benefits look different for each person, but many clients come to therapy to feel more grounded, connected, and equipped to handle life.

Common benefits of therapy may include reduced anxiety or stress, improved mood, stronger relationships, healthier boundaries, greater self-awareness, increased confidence, and more effective coping skills. Therapy can also help with trauma recovery, grief, parenting stress, relationship conflict, ADHD-related challenges, and major life transitions.

Many people find that therapy helps them notice patterns, heal old wounds, improve communication, and respond to life with more clarity and intention.

At Clinic Altera, therapy is tailored to your goals and can be practical, insight-oriented, body-based, relational, or trauma-informed depending on what best supports you. Sometimes the greatest benefit is simply having a consistent space where you do not have to carry everything alone.

In most cases, no. You do not need a doctor’s note or referral to begin therapy at Clinic Altera. You can contact us directly to book an appointment or discuss which clinician may be the best fit.

Some insurance plans may request a physician’s referral for reimbursement, even though a referral is not required for care itself. Because coverage varies, we recommend checking with your insurer if you plan to submit claims.

In certain cases involving workplace programs, legal matters, CNESST, IVAC, or other third-party services, additional documentation may sometimes be requested. We are happy to help clarify what may be needed for your situation.

Clinic Altera is a bilingual practice offering services in both French and English.

Our team includes clinicians who work in French, English, or both, allowing us to help match you with someone based on your language preference and comfort. Many clients also move fluidly between languages in session, and we strive to create a space where you can express yourself in the language that feels most natural to you.

We offer bilingual support for individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, coaching, and other services depending on clinician availability.

Therapy progress can look different for each person. Sometimes change feels clear and immediate, while other times it happens gradually through small shifts that build over time.

Signs therapy may be working include feeling more aware of patterns, managing stress differently, improved relationships, stronger boundaries, reduced anxiety or emotional distress, greater self-understanding, or feeling more connected to yourself and others.

Progress does not always mean feeling better after every session. Some sessions involve difficult emotions, reflection, or working through experiences that may feel uncomfortable before relief or growth emerges.

At Clinic Altera, therapy is collaborative. We regularly check in about your goals, what feels helpful, and whether the approach still fits your needs. If something is not working, it is important to talk about it so the process can be adjusted.

At Clinic Altera, we ask for at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, missed appointments, or sessions that cannot proceed due to technical or scheduling issues may be charged the full session fee. This policy helps protect reserved clinical time and allows opportunities for other clients to book.

If you are running late, please let us know as soon as possible. Sessions will usually end at the scheduled time, and late arrivals may result in a shorter session.

We understand that emergencies and unexpected circumstances can happen. When appropriate, these situations may be reviewed with care and discretion.

These titles can reflect different education paths, professional memberships, and scopes of practice, but many are trained to provide effective therapy. The best fit often depends on your needs, goals, and the style of support you are looking for.

Social Workers often combine psychotherapy skills with a broader understanding of systems, relationships, family dynamics, trauma, advocacy, and practical life stressors. They may be especially helpful when personal challenges intersect with family, work, health, or social systems.

Psychologists are trained in assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. Some specialize in evidence-based treatment for specific concerns, while others focus on longer-term therapy or psychological testing.

Psychotherapists are licensed professionals specifically trained to provide psychotherapy. Depending on their background, they may work from approaches such as psychodynamic therapy, CBT, EMDR, somatic therapy, or relational models.

Counsellors may come from backgrounds such as counselling psychology, psychotherapy, coaching, or wellness-focused training. Their role often focuses on emotional support, coping strategies, life transitions, and personal growth.

At Clinic Altera, our team includes clinicians from different professional backgrounds. What matters most is often the quality of the relationship, the clinician’s training, and whether their approach fits your goals.

If you are unsure who to book with, we are happy to help guide you based on your needs, insurance coverage, and preferences.

Yes. Finding the right therapeutic fit is an important part of the process, and it is completely okay to change therapists if your needs, goals, schedule, or preferences shift over time.

Sometimes clients realize they would benefit from a different style of therapy, a clinician with a particular specialty, a different language, or simply a connection that feels stronger. This is a normal part of seeking care and not a failure of therapy.

At Clinic Altera, we want you to feel supported and well matched. If you would like to explore a change, we can help coordinate a transition to another clinician within the practice whenever possible.

Many people find that speaking openly about fit can also be a meaningful part of the therapeutic process. Our goal is to help you access the support that serves you best.

Both assessments aim to better understand a person’s functioning, needs, and recommendations, but they are different in focus, training background, and purpose.

Psychological assessments are typically completed by psychologists and often focus on cognitive, emotional, behavioural, personality, learning, or diagnostic questions. They may include standardized testing for concerns such as ADHD, learning difficulties, mood disorders, personality structure, or intellectual functioning.

Psychosocial assessments are often completed by social workers or other qualified professionals and focus on the broader context of a person’s life. This may include mental health, relationships, family dynamics, trauma history, daily functioning, parenting, housing, employment, support systems, strengths, and current stressors. They are commonly used for treatment planning, legal or administrative matters, caregiving decisions, family situations, or support recommendations.

In simple terms, psychological assessments often emphasize testing and diagnosis, while psychosocial assessments often emphasize life context, functioning, systems, and practical recommendations.

At Clinic Altera, we offer psychosocial assessments in appropriate cases and can also help guide you if a psychological assessment may be more suitable for your needs.

Working with a student therapist can be a valuable and meaningful way to access care. At Clinic Altera, student therapists and clinical interns are carefully selected, actively trained, and closely supervised to help ensure quality, ethical, and thoughtful support.

Many clients appreciate that student therapists often bring strong curiosity, warmth, dedication, and up-to-date learning from current training programs. They are deeply engaged in developing their skills and tend to approach their work with care, preparation, and genuine investment in client growth.

Because they work within a structured supervision model, student therapists also benefit from regular consultation and mentorship from experienced clinicians. This can create an added layer of reflection and support behind your care.

Another important benefit is accessibility. Sessions with student therapists are offered at significantly reduced rates, helping make therapy more affordable for many individuals, couples, and families.

For some clients, working with a student therapist can offer an excellent balance of quality care, fresh perspective, and lower cost.