MVA Recovery Program
After a car accident in Alberta, it’s not always clear what kind of mental health support fits.
This is for accidents where you’re expected to move on and manage it on your own—
but you’re still dealing with ongoing effects in how you think, feel, or function day to day.
You might be told you’re fortunate. You might even feel that way yourself.
But the impact is still present.
A structured counselling program focused on supporting you through the experience—so you can stabilize, adapt, and move forward—while building a clear, documented record across sessions for your legal or insurance file.
Five sessions. Four milestone documents. One coordinated process.
Emotional impact isn’t always visible like physical injuries—but it shows up in how you feel, think, and function.
How many of these feel relevant to you right now?
If even a few of these feel familiar, it’s worth having that impact understood and clearly captured.
Overwhelmed
Scattered or forgetful
Anxious while driving or being in a vehicle
Emotionally reactive or shut down
Physically sore, exhausted, or foggy
Before You Begin
This program builds on an MVA counselling session.
If you’re starting here, begin with an MVA counselling session.
After your first session, you’ll receive a Clinical Snapshot—a clear, structured record of how the accident has affected you psychologically and in your day-to-day functioning.
It establishes a baseline, helps you understand what’s going on, and gives you something concrete to share with your lawyer or insurer—so your experience is clearly documented and can support more informed discussions around next steps.
From here, this program provides a clear, structured next step to continue your care.
When this program makes sense
This program is designed for when you want a more defined way to continue—working through what was identified in your first session within a clear, time-bound structure.
The direction is already set. This program provides a contained process over five sessions, removing the need to decide what to do next.
It ensures continuity—your treatment is consistent, your progress is tracked, and a clear record is built as your recovery unfolds.
In most insurance and legal processes, what can be documented is what can be considered. When the psychological impact of an accident isn’t recorded clearly over time, it can be easy for it to be overlooked or underrepresented within a claim.
This means you have an ongoing, structured record of your progress that can be shared with your lawyer or insurer as your recovery continues.
Through this program, you are able to:
- work through the impact of the accident in a focused, integrative way
- have structured documentation that supports your file as it progresses with your lawyer or insurer
- take away personalized tools that support your recovery in real life—beyond coping, and beyond the sessions
How the program is structured
The program includes five counselling sessions, each an hour long, and a brief discharge call to close your file.
All sessions are held virtually—so while you’re navigating recovery and multiple appointments, this is one space you can access without needing to travel, from the comfort of your own environment.
1. Focused on what’s changed after the accident
This is a short-term program designed specifically to support the impact of your accident—how you’ve been feeling, responding, or coping day to day.
The work stays focused on your experience of the accident—so it feels purposeful and manageable, while staying centred on your recovery.
2. An integrative approach to your recovery
Alongside counselling, approaches such as clinical hypnotherapy, breathwork, and meditation may be used—where appropriate and with your consent—to support your recovery through a more holistic approach.
3. Designed with Alberta’s MVA process in mind
Recovering after an accident in Alberta often means navigating multiple appointments, providers, and next steps.
This program is designed with that in mind—so your support fits into that process without adding more complexity, while your progress is clearly documented along the way.
Documentation across the program
A key part of this program is that your recovery is documented at important stages—so what you’re experiencing is clearly recorded over time.
Your Clinical Snapshot, created after your initial MVA counselling session, serves as the starting point for this process.
It captures your presenting concerns, functional impact, and initial symptom patterns—providing a clear baseline of how the accident is affecting you at the outset.
When you step into the MVA Recovery Program, your experience continues to be documented at key points—so changes over time are clearly tracked. Each document reflects a specific stage in your journey, creating a continuous record across care.
Midpoint Clinical Summary
Provides a clear update on your progress—tracking changes in symptoms, functional impact, and overall direction of recovery.
Discharge Summary
Brings together your full counselling process, outlining overall progress, functional changes, and your current status at the end of care.
Lawyer Letter (if needed)
Summarizes your current presentation and functional impact, supporting requests for continued care where appropriate.
Attendance Receipts
Issued after each session, reflecting participation within the program and available for submission where required.
Continuing with standalone sessions vs. choosing the program
After your first MVA Counselling Session, you can choose how you’d like to continue.
Both options offer support—but they serve different purposes.
Choosing the MVA Recovery Program
This program is designed for situations where both support and clear documentation are important.
It follows a defined sequence—so your recovery is worked through over time, with consistency in how the work is approached and how your progress is recorded.
So your experience is not only supported—but also clearly documented as it evolves.
The program is offered as a prepaid package ($1,250). It includes five counselling sessions, a discharge call, and documentation created across your care.
The Clinical Snapshot is created after your initial MVA counselling session and serves as the starting point for this program.
All reports within the program are integrated into your sessions—you are not billed separately.
Continuing with standalone sessions
You may choose to continue with individual sessions focused on working through your experience at your own pace.
This can be a good fit if you’re primarily looking for ongoing therapeutic support.
MVA Counselling Sessions are $180 each, and attendance receipts are provided.
How to decide
If having a clear, consistent record of how the accident has affected you over time feels important, the MVA Recovery Program is typically the better fit.
If you’re primarily looking for ongoing support without the need for additional documentation, continuing with standalone MVA counselling sessions may be enough.
The first MVA Counselling session gives you a clear starting point—both in understanding what’s happening and deciding what comes next.
Start with an MVA Counselling session, and take it from there.
MVA Recovery Program — FAQs
Clear answers about sessions, timelines, paperwork, and how we coordinate care after a crash.
1. AB-1 Form (Accident Report)
You complete the AB-1 to notify your insurer about the accident.
It simply opens your claim.
2. AB-2: Your Treatment Plan Assessment
Your primary healthcare provider — usually your doctor, physiotherapist, or chiropractor — completes the AB-2 after assessing your physical and emotional changes.
During your AB-2 assessment, you can share what has changed for you since the accident — for example:
- Sleep or rest
- Focus or memory
- Comfort while driving
- Irritability or emotional swings
- Overwhelm or “not feeling like yourself”
Your provider can then determine whether counselling support should be added to your treatment plan. If you feel that mental-health support would help, it is completely appropriate to say so.
At this stage, your provider may choose either a diagnostic (DSM) or non-diagnostic (non-DSM) counselling route based on your needs.
3. DSM vs Non-DSM: What Does It Mean?
DSM Stream
- Diagnosis-based
- Usually offered through psychologists or psychiatrists
- Used when assessment or diagnostic clarity is needed
- Recommended when symptoms require formal evaluation
Non-DSM Stream
- No diagnosis required
- Counselling-based emotional and functional support
- Helpful for anxiety, overwhelm, sleep changes, irritability, driving fear, or stress after an accident
- Often includes more sessions at lower rates
- Ideal when you want therapeutic support without entering a diagnostic process
Can I express a preference?
Yes — you are usually welcome to share what kind of support feels most helpful for you. For example, you might say:
“If counselling is added, I’m not looking for a diagnosis — I would prefer the non-DSM counselling stream if that fits my situation.”
Your provider will decide which stream is clinically appropriate and will include it in your AB-2 if it aligns with your needs.
Where my work fits
I provide non-DSM counselling support — structured therapy that helps with emotional, cognitive, and nervous-system changes after an accident, without a diagnostic process.
If you’re unsure which stream fits your situation, your provider or insurer can guide you.
4. Section B Approval & Timing
Once your AB-2 is completed, it is submitted to your insurer for review. This is the stage where Section B benefits are assessed, including approval for treatments such as physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage, and counselling.
Approval timelines vary by insurer and by file. At this point, clients generally choose one of two equally valid paths.
Option 1: Begin counselling before Section B approval
Many clients choose to begin counselling before Section B approval because the impact of the accident already feels overwhelming, and waiting for administrative timelines can intensify that stress. In this case:
The program is paid upfront by the client
Care begins immediately, without waiting for insurer decisions
Session receipts and structured program documentation are provided as part of the program
Documentation reflects emotional and functional impact, engagement in care, and therapeutic progress over time
These documents are provided so clients have clear, organized records to support reimbursement or legal steps related to their recovery
This option prioritizes timely access to care while ensuring appropriate documentation is in place should counselling be approved retroactively.
Option 2: Wait for Section B approval before starting care
Other clients prefer to wait until Section B approval is confirmed before beginning counselling.
With The Minds Matter, waiting for approval does not change the structure or scope of care once counselling begins. In this case:
The program is paid upfront by the client
Counselling begins after Section B approval is confirmed
Session receipts and structured program documentation are provided as part of the program
Documentation reflects emotional and functional impact, engagement in care, and therapeutic progress over time
These documents are provided so clients have clear, organized records to support reimbursement or legal steps related to their recovery
This option may feel financially safer and allows clients to begin counselling with clearer information about approved coverage, while still receiving the same structured therapeutic support and documentation once care starts.
Important notes
Insurance coverage decisions are made solely by the insurer
The Minds Matter does not submit AB forms or communicate with insurance companies
Section B benefits, coverage limits, and reimbursement timelines vary by insurer
Your lawyer or insurance provider is best positioned to advise you on approvals, timelines, and reimbursement details
5. Book Your MVA Recovery Call With Me
This is a short, required call where we:
- Talk about what you’re experiencing
- Confirm that counselling is appropriate
- Discuss how the program works
- Review timelines, steps, and documentation
- Clarify any uncertainties about provider or insurer communication
6. Purchase Your MVA Recovery Program
The program cannot be purchased through the online booking page.
If it’s a good fit, I send you an invoice directly and activate the program on your profile.
7. Begin the Structured Program
Your first therapy session is part of the program.
During Session 1, we map:
- The emotional and cognitive impact of the accident
- What’s showing up in your nervous system
- What’s affecting sleep, stress, fear, or functioning
- What you need support with immediately
Then we begin stabilizing your system.
8. Predictable, Trauma-Aware Therapeutic Rhythm
Within the program, you receive:
- 1 exploratory call
- 5 structured therapeutic sessions
- 1 discharge summary call
Inside the work, we address:
- Emotional stabilization
- Driving anxiety
- Fear, panic, and overwhelm
- Sleep changes
- Irritability and emotional reactivity
- Pain-related stress
- Cognitive fog and mental fatigue
- Deeper trauma responses (gently, when appropriate)
Hypnotherapy, breathwork, and meditation are used only when supportive and always with your consent.
9. Documentation Support Within the Program
As your recovery progresses, the program includes structured documentation that reflects your participation in counselling, functional impact of the accident, observed progress, and clinical outlook where relevant.
These documents are created at dedicated points in the program so the timing aligns with your recovery and what is clinically appropriate.
Documentation provided within the program includes:
- Session Attendance Receipts
- Midpoint Clinical Summary
- Discharge Clinical Summary
- Lawyer Letter (available upon request)
If you would like clarity about how documentation is used within the program, we review this together during your MVA Recovery Call.
10. Receipts & Submission
Every session is billed under my counselling designations (Counselling Therapist –ACTA + CCC), which are accepted by most insurers in Alberta MVA claims.
You submit your receipts as you go.
1. Emotional Stabilization
Support for:
- Processing shock
- Fear, panic, or emotional swings
- Irritability or emotional numbness
- Rebuilding internal steadiness
2. Trauma & Nervous System Support
Together, we work on:
- Grounding and regulation
- Calming fight/flight/freeze responses
- Reducing hypervigilance
- Supporting driving anxiety
- Addressing emotional overwhelm
3. Functional Recovery
We support your return to daily life by addressing:
- Focus, concentration, and memory
- Returning to routines and responsibilities
- Managing fatigue and energy levels
- Pain-related stress
- Real-life coping strategies
4. Working With Deeper Stress Responses
Using counselling, hypnotherapy, breathwork, and meditation (when helpful and consented to), we may work with:
- Trauma memories
- Sleep disruption
- Fear responses
- Subconscious patterns
- Physical tension tied to emotional distress
5. Navigating the MVA System
Appointments, forms, updates, reports — it’s a lot.
You’re not doing it alone.
I help you:
- Make sense of what’s happening around you
- Prepare for next steps
- Feel steadier as you move through the process
Documentation Support
As part of your recovery, certain documentation is provided within the program to support:
- Your therapeutic progress
- The practical needs of your claim or case
These are shared at an appropriate stage so they genuinely match where you are in the recovery process.
If you’d like to know more about what’s included, we can walk through everything together on your exploratory call.
A predictable therapeutic rhythm
No emotional whiplash — sessions follow a structured flow.
A calm, spacious container
We move at a pace that protects your system, not overwhelms it.
Integrated modalities (only when supportive)
- Counselling
- Hypnotherapy
- Breathwork
- Meditation
- Trauma-aware grounding
You’re never left “open” or activated at the end of a session.
Clear communication
You always know what we’re focusing on and why.
Documentation when it’s most helpful
Provided at the right time to support both your recovery and your claim.
Steady progress over time
- Clients often notice:
- Calmer reactions
- Better sleep
- Less panic
- Fewer emotional spikes
- More confident driving
- Clearer thinking
- Improved day-to-day functioning
This is not crisis-management therapy.
It is structured recovery work.
This program is for you if:
- You’re recovering from an accident in Alberta
- Your emotional responses feel heavier than expected
- You’re struggling with panic, anxiety, irritability, or shutdown
- Your sleep, focus, or confidence has changed
- You feel overwhelmed by appointments, updates, or forms
- Your functioning hasn’t returned to your usual baseline
- You want structured, trauma-aware support
Not recommended if you’re seeking:
- Quick, single-session relief
- Non-clinical or spiritually-based healing programs
- DSM-based diagnostic assessments or psychiatric evaluations
This program is structured, clinical, and recovery-focused.
Step 1 — Book an exploratory call
We talk about what happened, what you’re experiencing, and whether the program is clinically appropriate.
Step 2 — Program invitation + invoice
If it’s a good fit, I send your invoice directly.
The program cannot be purchased through the online booking page.
Step 3 — Begin the structured program
Your first session is part of the program.
We map the impact of the accident and begin stabilizing your system.
Suggested buttons for this page:
- Book an exploratory call
- Return to MVA Counselling overview
Disclaimer
Important Information
Minds Matter provides counselling-based, non-diagnostic support focused on understanding and documenting the psychological and functional impact of your experience.
This service does not replace medical treatment, psychological assessment, legal advice, or crisis care.
Documentation provided through this program reflects observed and self-reported experiences within counselling scope. It is not a diagnostic or medico-legal opinion.
Decisions related to your claim—including coverage, approvals, timelines, and outcomes—remain with your insurer, healthcare providers, and legal representatives.
The MVA Recovery Program is a prepaid service. Once initiated, it is non-refundable.
This program operates within the scope of counselling practice. Where clinically warranted and in the client’s best interest, referrals to a Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist will be made.
This program is not suitable for crisis situations. If you are in immediate distress or concerned for your safety, please contact local emergency services or a crisis support
Have More Questions Before You Begin? Reach out to us.