A victim or rescuer may be entitled to the reimbursement of expenses incurred for psychotherapeutic and psychosocial rehabilitation services.
These services are intended to help the person resume their life.
To learn more about these services, you can watch the video clip produced by the Ministère de la Justice “Psychotherapeutic and psychosocial rehabilitation (French only)”.
Psychotherapeutic or psychosocial rehabilitation services
The aim of psychotherapy or psychosocial follow-up sessions is to alleviate or eliminate the psychological difficulties encountered by a victim or rescuer. The number of sessions varies depending on the category of the victim.
IVAC may request a follow-up report on the sessions.
Requirements for the health professional
Psychotherapy follow-up aims to promote the victim’s or rescuer’s recovery by treating their psychological symptoms and helping them to overcome the difficulties encountered as a result of the criminal offence or voluntary assistance. The assistance can take different forms depending on the situation and the support needs (e.g., neuropsychology, individual, couple, family or group psychotherapy).
The health professional must:
- be a psychologist or hold a valid psychotherapist’s permit issued by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec
- be qualified to practice psychotherapy
Psychosocial follow-up aims to provide the victim or rescuer with tools to help them work on the difficulties encountered on a personal, family, social and environmental level as a result of the criminal offence or voluntary assistance (e.g., return to a routine, resume a healthy lifestyle, improve stress management, etc.).
The health professional must:
- be qualified to provide psychosocial intervention services (e.g., social worker, specialized educator, psychoeducator, guidance counsellor, sexologist, psychologist, etc.)
Category of the victim
The category of the victim determines the number of sessions they may be entitled to.
A relative of the victim may have access to psychotherapeutic and psychosocial rehabilitation services. The relative must submit an application for qualification to access this assistance.
The relative of the victim may be:
- their brother or sister
- their parent
- their grandparent
- their grandchild
- their partner
- their partner’s child
- their parent’s partner
- the child of their parent’s partner
Assessment criterion
The psychotherapy or psychosocial follow-up sessions must be related to the criminal offence.
Number of sessions
A maximum of 30 psychotherapy or psychosocial follow-up sessions.
Amount
The maximum hourly rate that can be reimbursed is $94.50.
Terms of payment
The reimbursement can be made:
- directly to a health professional who has a provider number
- to the victim upon presentation of the invoice to IVAC
A victim who has suffered an injury may designate, using the appropriate form, one or more people who are significant to them (e.g., an aunt, a neighbour, a friend, a coach, etc.). In addition, the designated significant person must complete an application for qualification to access this assistance.
If the victim who suffered an injury is under 14 years of age, the significant person is designated by their parent, a person who has parental authority or any other adult responsible for representing them.
Thus, significant people may have access to psychotherapeutic and psychosocial rehabilitation services.
Assessment criterion
The psychotherapy or psychosocial follow-up sessions must be related to the criminal offence.
Number of sessions
A maximum of 30 psychotherapy or psychosocial follow-up sessions.
When more than one significant person is designated by the victim, the 30 sessions are shared between them, at the victim’s option.
Amount
The maximum hourly rate that can be reimbursed is $94.50.
Terms of payment
The reimbursement can be made:
- directly to a health professional who has a provider number
- to the victim upon presentation of the invoice to IVAC
A person who has a significant relationship with a deceased victim may have access to psychotherapeutic and psychosocial rehabilitation services. The significant person must complete an application for qualification to access this assistance.
If the deceased victim was under 14 years of age, the significant people are designated by their parent, a person who has parental authority or any other adult responsible for representing them.
Assessment criterion
The sessions must be related to the criminal offence.
Number of sessions
The number of sessions is 7 for psychotherapy or psychosocial follow-up services.
If necessary, 7 additional sessions may be granted upon presentation of supporting documents.
Amount
The maximum hourly rate that can be reimbursed is $94.50.
Terms of payment
The reimbursement can be made:
- directly to a health professional who has a provider number
- to the victim upon presentation of the invoice to IVAC