Anxiety Counselling in Vancouver: Tips for Working with Your  Therapist While Your ICBC Claim is Ongoing

If you are currently experiencing anxiety or other mental health issues as a result of a car accident, you likely have an active ICBC  claim to help cover the costs of counselling and treatment. While going through the ICBC claim process and receiving therapy  support, open communication between you, your therapist, and the ICBC claim adjuster can help make everything run smoothly.  Here are some tips for working effectively with your therapist when an ICBC claim is ongoing: 

• Inform your therapist about your ICBC claim from the start. Letting your counsellor know from the first session that you are  going through ICBC and need counselling costs covered will allow them to coordinate billing properly from the beginning.  They can also provide guidance on documentation and progress updates needed by ICBC. 

• Sign any consent forms needed to share your treatment plan and progress with ICBC. Your therapist may need to submit  periodic updates to your ICBC claim adjuster to confirm the ongoing medical necessity for counselling. Signing a release  of information form gives your permission for this. 

• Discuss treatment goals and timelines with your therapist. Work with your counsellor to find if therapy forms like EMDR or  Somatic Therapy are for you and establish realistic short and long-term goals for your therapy. Provide an estimated  timeline for achieving milestones. Having defined goals and expected timeframes helps demonstrate the medical  necessity of counselling to ICBC. 

• Check-in regularly on your treatment progress. As you work through counselling, touch base with your therapist  periodically to assess how your symptoms and functioning are improving. You and your counsellor can use these check ins to document any positive changes for your ICBC claim. 

• Speak to your ICBC adjuster about extended authorization if needed. If you feel you require additional sessions to recover  fully after several months of counselling, discuss this proactively with your ICBC adjuster. Extended authorization may be  granted with the support of your therapist. 

• Be open about additional stressors from the ICBC process. The frustrations of an ongoing car insurance claim can  exacerbate anxiety or depressive symptoms. Keep communication open with your counsellor so they understand all  factors affecting your mental health recovery. 

• Be prepared for periodic ICBC file reviews. Your ICBC claim undergoes periodic reviews to reassess ongoing medical  necessity. Assist your therapist by gathering any new documentation on your progress, setbacks, or revised goals over  that time period. 

• Let your counsellor advise on return to work timing. Work with your therapist, treating physicians, and ICBC adjuster  together regarding a safe and gradual return to work after your accident and recovery period. 

Don’t Let Insurance Worries Hold You Back From The Counselling You  Need 

Are you struggling with anxiety or depression following a car accident and unsure how counselling will fit into your ICBC claim  process? Contact Allium Clinic today. 

Take the first step to regained wellness - book your complimentary 15-minute consultation today. With experience in Somatic and  EMDR Therapy, I can answer your questions, help navigate potential insurance coverage, and get you on the path to feeling like  yourself again.