Motor vehicle accident (MVA) support in Alberta
After a car accident, your mind needs to heal too
With Megan Emery, MA, MS · Canadian Certified Counsellor · EMDR trained · Online across Alberta
Anxiety. Sleepless nights. Fear of driving. Reliving the moment. Even when your body heals, the emotional aftermath can quietly take your confidence and your peace.
01 · You’re not imagining it
The crash lasted seconds. Your nervous system may still be there.
Common signs of trauma after a car accident include:
- Your heart races every time you get in a car
- You replay the accident in your mind, even when you don’t want to
- Sleep feels impossible and your body won’t let you rest
- You feel on edge, irritable or disconnected from the people you love
- You avoid driving, certain routes or getting into cars altogether
- You feel anxious about things that never bothered you before
- You feel detached from your own life, going through the motions
- Pain from whiplash, headaches or back injuries is wearing on your mental health
Everyone around you may think you should be “over it by now”. But your body doesn’t know the danger has passed. These aren’t signs of weakness; they’re normal responses to trauma, and with the right support, healing is possible.
02 · Two ways to get support
Choose the path that fits where you are.
PATHWAY 1
MVA assessment + therapy
For insurance claims and documentation
- A 90-minute assessment session about the impact of the accident and how life has changed since
- A written report we send directly to your adjuster to request approval for a recommended number of sessions
- Clear, individualized treatment recommendations
- A smooth transition into ongoing therapy
IDEAL IF YOU’RE
Making an insurance claim, working with a lawyer, needing documentation, or wanting a clear roadmap for recovery.
PATHWAY 2
Start therapy directly
For those ready to begin healing now
- Skip the formal assessment
- Start processing and healing right away
- EMDR therapy focused on accident-related trauma
- Flexible, personalized support
IDEAL IF YOU’RE
Not making an insurance claim, ready to begin now, and looking for coping tools and a return to confidence and peace.
03 · Insurance
Will my Alberta car insurance cover counselling?
Coverage depends on your claim, so check with your adjuster. Here’s how it usually works:
1. Assessment
After your 90-minute assessment, Megan sends a report to your adjuster to request approval for sessions. You can claim the assessment through your personal health benefits or your MVA insurer.
2. Personal benefits first
Many adjusters ask that personal benefits be used first. You pay by card and submit your receipts to your private insurance.
3. Then we bill your adjuster
Once your personal coverage runs out, send your explanation of benefits (EOB) to us and your adjuster. We then bill your adjuster directly.
04 · Our approach
Car accident trauma therapy that addresses the root, not just the symptoms
Talking about the accident isn’t always enough. EMDR helps your brain actually process it.
EMDR for accident trauma
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an evidence-based approach that helps your brain process and release traumatic memories, without needing to describe them in graphic detail. Learn more about EMDR.
Clear, measurable progress
Standardized questionnaires such as the PHQ-9 and PCL-5 give you, and your insurer if needed, a clear picture of your symptoms and how they change over time.
A personalized plan
Every recovery is different. We’ll build a plan around your goals and adjust it as you heal.
Coordination handled
Working with a lawyer, adjuster or other healthcare providers? We help with the paperwork and communication so you can focus on healing.
No referral needed
Book directly. There’s no need to wait for a doctor’s referral or adjuster approval to get started.
Online across Alberta
Secure video sessions with daytime and evening availability, from wherever feels safest for you. See online counselling.
05 · Why it matters
The cost of waiting.
An MVA assessment and therapy help make sure your emotional recovery is supported alongside your physical healing. Without support, symptoms often don’t fade. They compound.
Symptoms spread
- Anxiety moves from driving into other areas of life
- Sleep problems become chronic
- Avoidance becomes a habit
- Relationships suffer from irritability and withdrawal
Your life shrinks
- You stop going places you used to love
- You turn down opportunities because driving feels impossible
- Work suffers when you can’t focus
- You lose confidence in yourself
Healing gets harder
- Unprocessed trauma roots more deeply
- What could take weeks can stretch into months or years
- Secondary issues like depression or chronic anxiety can develop
The good news: starting now changes the trajectory. Healing isn’t linear, but it is possible, and the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll recognize yourself again.
06 · The assessment process
What an MVA assessment looks like.
- REFERRAL OR CONTACT
Reach out yourself, or your adjuster, lawyer or healthcare provider can refer you.
- 90-MINUTE ASSESSMENT
Meet with Megan by secure video for an initial 90-minute session to talk about the impact of the accident, your current symptoms and how life has changed since.
- QUESTIONNAIRES
Standardized questionnaires (such as the PHQ-9, OASIS and PCL-5) give a clear, objective picture of your symptoms.
- REPORT TO YOUR ADJUSTER
Megan sends a report with her findings and treatment recommendations directly to your insurance adjuster, to request approval for a recommended number of sessions.
- NEXT STEPS
If therapy is recommended, you can continue with Megan. Learn more about trauma therapy.
07 · Common questions
Questions you might have, and honest answers.
Does Alberta auto insurance cover counselling after a car accident?
Often, but it depends on your claim, so check with your adjuster. After your 90-minute assessment, Megan sends a report to your adjuster to request approval for sessions. Many adjusters ask that personal benefits be used first, so you pay by card and claim your receipts through your private insurance. Once that coverage runs out, send your explanation of benefits (EOB) to us and your adjuster, and we bill your adjuster directly.
Do I need a referral to book?
No. You can contact us directly without a referral from your doctor or insurance company. If your adjuster or lawyer has asked for an assessment, we can coordinate with them, but it isn’t required to book your first appointment.
How long after a car accident should I seek support?
The sooner the better, but it’s never too late. Many trauma symptoms, like anxiety, sleep disruption and avoidance, don’t peak until weeks after an accident, and some people don’t realize they’re struggling until months later. If you’re making an insurance claim, there can be time limits that affect documentation, so it’s worth reaching out early.
I’m not sure I’m “bad enough” to need this.
If you’re asking, support is probably worth it. You don’t need to be in crisis to deserve help, and catching symptoms early makes recovery easier. If the accident has changed how you feel, sleep, drive or show up in your life, that’s worth addressing. Many people arrive saying they “should be over it by now”, and leave understanding why they aren’t, and what to do about it.
I’m worried about reliving the accident in therapy.
That’s one of the most common fears, and it’s completely valid. EMDR doesn’t require you to describe the accident in graphic detail, and you won’t be pushed to relive anything. The process helps your brain work through the memory at a pace that feels manageable, with support the whole way through.
Are MVA sessions in person or online?
MVA support is offered by secure video anywhere in Alberta. Many clients find this easier while driving still feels hard, and it means you can attend from home.
Start your healing journey.
Our goal is to help you heal, build lasting coping tools and return to living your life fully, with the skills to handle whatever comes next.
Call or text 403.488.8912 · info@corepsychology.com
Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm · Saturday, 8am to 3pm