How much does counselling cost in Ontario?
Private psychotherapy in Ontario typically runs $185–$270 per session, with psychologists at the higher end. Our rates sit below that range deliberately, and we hold sliding-scale spots for people who need them.
We’ll go through your options on a free 20-minute call — including whether something free or lower-cost would serve you better.
Is therapy covered by OHIP?
Only when it’s delivered by a physician, or through a hospital-based program you’ve been referred into. Sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Service Worker in private practice aren’t OHIP-covered — ours or anyone’s.
Free publicly funded options do exist and are worth knowing about: Ontario Structured Psychotherapy offers free CBT by self-referral, and CMHA Simcoe County offers free counselling and crisis support. We’ll point you there if it fits better than we do.
Does insurance cover addiction counselling?
Yes, in most cases. Insurers cover care provided by professionals registered with a governing college. Because most of our clinicians hold those registrations, with the CRPO and OCSWSSW, the work we do together, whether counselling or psychotherapy, can fall under a category your plan covers. Commonly $500–$1,500 a year.
You’ll get a receipt with everything your insurer needs. It’s worth asking them first, “What’s my yearly maximum, and is a receipt all you need?”
What if I can’t afford therapy?
Tell us, and we’ll work it out. We hold sliding-scale spots specifically for this. You don’t need to justify asking, and it doesn’t change the care you get.
If we still aren’t affordable, we’ll point you to what is — Ontario Structured Psychotherapy is free, CMHA Simcoe County offers free counselling, and our podcast, blog and YouTube channel cost nothing and need no appointment.
Is recovery coaching covered by insurance?
Generally not. Coaching isn’t a regulated health service, so extended health plans rarely reimburse it. Health Spending Accounts sometimes will — their rules are broader, so it’s worth checking.
If coverage is what decides it, starting with counselling or psychotherapy and adding coaching later is a perfectly sensible order. We’ll tell you if that’s the better route.
What’s your cancellation policy?
We ask for 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Payment is also due at least 24 hours ahead to hold your session.
That gives someone else a chance at the slot if you can’t make it. If something genuinely unavoidable comes up, tell us — we’d rather sort it out than have you avoid the conversation.