We offer individual, couple, and family therapy to adults and adolescents. Please visit our service page for more information.

As time goes on and you get to know your therapist, you’ll begin to experience the “real work” of therapy.  When this happens you will feel comfortable and at ease in therapy.  Sometimes you might start therapy before you feel totally ready.  You might attend a few sessions and then leave – and that’s okay.  Resistance in therapy is normal. Many people feel nervous before their therapy sessions. When change begins to happen and you make the big decision to attend therapy, you might feel nervous and not want to come to your appointment.  Faced with sharing your thoughts and deepest emotions with a relative stranger, you might want to back out from nerves and fear. Usually if you attend the session anyways, your nerves disappear and you’re glad you went.  If you’re with the right therapist, those nerves and fear dissipate as your relationship and trust develops.

The longevity of therapy often depends on the individual and how much support they need.  Some people attend a few sessions and move on; while others remain in therapy for a year or more and return as needed.  However, it is important to have some number of sessions in order to establish a therapeutic relationship and rapport.  Finding a therapist that you trust and form a therapeutic relationship with can be incredibly beneficial to well being, and is often a support you can leave and return to when needed throughout life.

Once we receive your request, we will ensure we have the information we need about your availability, the type(s) of therapy you are looking for, the concerns you would like to discuss in therapy (e.g., trust, communication, anxiety, etc.), and your insurance coverage (if applicable). With this information, the psychotherapists who manage the clinic will assess and match you with the therapist at our clinic who is the best fit for you. 

Your therapist will then send you an email to schedule an initial appointment and provide you with the online forms to fill out before the initial session. If you’re interested, we also offer a 15-minute phone consultation with you therapist prior to booking a first session.

Our therapists have set schedules and workdays at our clinic work, and they are not available every day of the week. Each therapist at our clinic has a different set of workdays of the week that they’re at the clinic. For example, one might work on Wednesday evenings and Friday afternoons. This means they are not able to offer appointment times on days other than their assigned days.

True mental health emergencies cannot be addressed at private clinics and should be treated by emergency services like mobile response teams or hospitals. Since our therapists book sessions with clients in advance we are often not able to accommodate same day sessions – but sometimes it is possible. We can offer you a session as soon as possible with the next available therapist that matches your concerns. Alternately, we can provide you with information for walk-in counselling clinics in case of emergency. You can also find this information on our contact page. 

No, we are not registered psychologists.  Registered psychologists hold a PhD in clinical or counselling psychology and belong to the College of Psychologists.  Psychologists have the ability to diagnose mental health concerns according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). We are Registered Psychotherapists with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. This ensures that the public is protected as the term “psychotherapist” is now regulated, just as the term “psychologist” is.  Only those with a degree similar to ours with specific training in psychotherapy are allowed to refer to themselves as psychotherapists. Please visit our therapists page for more information about our qualifications and education.

Psychiatrist: Went to medical school. Can diagnose according to the DSM. Can prescribe medication. Covered by OHIP. Cost: Usually free.

Psychologist: Typically has a PhD in Clinical or Counselling Psychology. Can diagnose according to the DSM. Cannot prescribe medication. Often some coverage for private insurance. Cost: Approx. 200-300 dollars per session.

Psychotherapist: Typically has a Masters degree in Psychotherapy, Counselling Psychology, or Counselling. Cannot diagnose according to the DSM. Cannot prescribe medication. Covered for some private insurance (not as much as psychologists). Cost: Approx. 100-150 dollars per session.

Social Worker: Typically has a Masters degree or undergraduate degree in Social Work. Some social workers are “clinical” social workers with more training in psychotherapy rather than “community” social work or other areas of social work. Cannot diagnose according to the DSM. Cannot prescribe medication. Covered for more private insurance than psychotherapists. Cost: Approx. 100-150 dollars per session.

Both psychotherapists and psychologists have training in counselling and psychotherapy.  The social workers at our clinic also have specific and advanced training in psychotherapy and counselling. Psychologists are often more specialized, and tend to handle client concerns that are more severe in nature.  Psychotherapists should also have specific training in counselling and psychotherapy (like a Masters degree in Counselling or training from a specific institute in psychotherapy).  They are not able to diagnose and often treat clients who are experiencing distressing life circumstances without the severity of mental health concerns that psychologists address. A therapist should help you determine if their skills and areas of competency are in line with your needs.

Some extended insurance companies do cover our services.  This should increase with the College of Psychotherapists now established. Even if your insurance does not cover our services, psychotherapists’ rates are often more affordable than a psychologist, and insurance coverage typically offers only enough money for two or three sessions with a psychologist.  The difference in rates reflects the difference in level of education and in specialization between psychotherapists and psychologists. Please visit our fees page for more information.

Our couples therapists will often offer one or two individual sessions to each partner as part of the assessment process and sometimes as part of ongoing therapy. However, it is not possible (or ethical) to do separate individual therapy work with one member of the couple, and couples therapy with the same therapist. Ethically, the couple is always the therapist’s client and the alliance with both members of the couple is integral to therapy. For couples therapy to work it is critical for the therapist to have exactly the same relationship with each member of the couple. Having individual sessions with only one partner could interfere with this equal relationship. If you are looking for both individual and couples therapy, we are happy to connect you with two different therapists.   

“While there can be benefits for couples who undergo couple’s therapy, there’s a great risk for any person who is being abused to attend therapy with their abusive partner. An abuser may use what is said in therapy later against their partner. Therapy can make a person feel vulnerable. If the abuser is embarrassed or angered by something said in therapy, he or she may make their partner suffer to gain back the sense of control. Therapy is often considered a “safe space” for people to talk. For an abused partner, that safety doesn’t necessarily extend to their home.” – National Domestic Violence Hotline (USA)