Fees & insurance
No hidden costs and no sales pitch. Here is exactly what therapy costs, what your insurance is likely to cover, and how to check before you book.
Session fees
| Service | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | 20 minutes | Free |
| Individual Therapy | 50 minutes | $150 |
| Couples Therapy | 50 minutes | $200 |
| Family Therapy | 50 minutes | $200 |
Psychotherapy services provided by a Registered Psychotherapist are exempt from HST. Payment is due at the time of the session. I ask for 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule.
Using your insurance
Most Ontario extended health plans cover psychotherapy delivered by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP). Annual coverage commonly falls between $500 and $2,000, and many plans have increased their mental-health limits in recent years.
I do not bill extended health plans directly. You pay at the session and receive a receipt showing my name, my CRPO registration number (14315) and the date of service. You submit that to your provider, usually through their app, and most reimburse within a few business days.
If your care is funded by an auto insurer, VQRP+ or the IFHP, none of that applies. Those programs approve treatment up front and are billed directly. See how third-party funding works.
Before you book, check three things
- 1Does your plan say "Registered Psychotherapist"? Some older policies only list psychologists or social workers. The exact wording matters.
- 2What is the annual maximum? This tells you roughly how many sessions are covered before you are paying out of pocket.
- 3Is a doctor's referral required to release funds? No referral is needed to see me, but a few plans still ask for one before they pay.
Other ways sessions get paid for
Not everyone pays for their own therapy. If you were hurt in a collision, harmed by a violent crime, or are here as a refugee, the cost may already be covered by a program built for exactly that. I am an approved provider for all three.
- MVA
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Therapy after a collision, paid for through your auto insurance claim.
Ontario accident benefits cover psychological treatment no matter who was at fault. Fear of driving, replaying the crash, broken sleep and low mood are treated as real injuries, not as something you should be over by now. I prepare the treatment plan, submit it to your insurer for approval, and the approved sessions are funded through your claim rather than out of your pocket.
Who it's for Anyone injured in a collision in Ontario: drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Accident benefits and the claims process - VQRP+
Victim Quick Response Program+
Short-term counselling for victims of violent crime, funded by the province.
VQRP+ exists so that nobody waits months for support after a violent crime. It is arranged through your local Victim Services agency and funded as a last resort, meaning it steps in where no other coverage does. There are time limits after the offence, so it is worth calling early, and the sessions it approves are billed to the program, not to you.
Who it's for Direct victims, witnesses and immediate family members of a violent crime that happened in Ontario.
Find your local Victim Services agency - IFHP
Interim Federal Health Program
Counselling for refugees and protected persons who are not yet on OHIP.
The IFHP covers mental health care for refugee claimants, resettled refugees and other protected persons, and Registered Psychotherapists are named directly in what it will pay for. Sessions need approval in advance, which I request on your behalf before we begin. Clients pay a small share of the cost; I will tell you exactly what that comes to before your first session.
Who it's for Refugee claimants, resettled refugees and protected persons with a valid IFHP certificate.
IFHP coverage details
Each program has its own eligibility rules, approval steps and deadlines, and those rules change. Bring your situation to the free consult and I will tell you which route applies and what I need from you to start it.
Questions
Questions about cost and coverage
The things people ask before they book. If yours is not here, just ask.
Is psychotherapy covered by my insurance?
Most Ontario extended health plans cover services provided by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP). Coverage typically ranges from $500 to $2,000 per year. Check your plan for the words "Registered Psychotherapist" specifically, since some older plans only list psychologists or social workers. I issue a receipt after every session that you submit to your provider for reimbursement.
Do you bill my insurance directly?
Not for extended health plans. Payment is made at the time of the session and you receive a receipt with my CRPO registration number on it, which you then submit to your insurer. Most providers reimburse within a few business days. Third-party funding works the other way round: for motor vehicle accident claims, VQRP+ and the Interim Federal Health Program, the treatment is approved first and billed to the funder rather than to you.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No referral is needed to see a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario. You can book a free consult directly. Some insurance plans do ask for a doctor’s note to release funds, so it is worth checking your specific policy.
How much does a session cost?
Individual therapy is CA$150 per 50-minute session. Couples and family therapy are CA$200 per 50-minute session. Psychotherapy services provided by a Registered Psychotherapist are exempt from HST. The initial 20-minute consult is free.
Can I use my car insurance to pay for therapy after an accident?
Usually, yes. Ontario accident benefits cover psychological treatment after a collision regardless of who was at fault, and you do not need a lawyer to access them. Bring your claim number and your adjuster’s contact details to the free consult and I will prepare the treatment plan your insurer needs in order to approve sessions.
Do you bill VQRP+ or the Interim Federal Health Program directly?
Yes. I am an approved provider for both, and in each case the funder is billed rather than you. VQRP+ is arranged through your local Victim Services agency and IFHP sessions need approval in advance from Medavie Blue Cross, which I request on your behalf. Tell me at the consult which one applies and I will handle the paperwork.
Not sure whether you're covered?
Bring it to the free consult. I can tell you exactly what appears on your receipt so you can check with your provider before committing to anything.