Psychotherapy in Toronto: How to Choose a Psychotherapist and Start
Registered Psychotherapists. In person at Yonge and Eglinton. Video sessions across Ontario.
Midtown Toronto at blue hour, in two planes. Both city plates are AI-generated and disclosed on the AI disclosure page.
Finding a psychotherapist in Toronto should not take a month of tabs. This page answers the questions people ask us before they book: who is actually qualified, what a session costs here, whether your benefits will pay, in person or online, and how to tell within a few calls whether someone is the right fit.
What psychotherapy is
Psychotherapy is structured, confidential talk-based treatment with a regulated professional. You meet, usually weekly at first, to understand what is keeping a problem in place and to change it: a pattern of thinking, a way of handling emotion, a relationship habit, a response to something that happened to you. It is not advice from a friend and it is not a lecture. It is a working relationship with a method behind it.
In Ontario, treating a serious mental health disorder through psychotherapy is a controlled act, restricted to members of six regulated health colleges. Some counselling falls outside that definition and can be offered by unregulated providers, which is why the letters after a therapist's name are worth checking.
Who provides psychotherapy in Toronto
Several kinds of regulated professional can offer therapy in this city, and there is a free public route as well. These are the ones you are most likely to meet.
Registered Nurses and Occupational Therapists may also be authorized to practise psychotherapy. Get Reconnected is a practice of CRPO-registered therapists. You can verify any of us on the CRPO status check at https://crpo.ca/resources/registered-psychotherapist-status-check/.
What psychotherapy costs in Toronto, and who pays
Nobody likes finding this out on the booking page, so here it is in one place.
- Private practice.
- Fees are set per session by each therapist. Toronto fee guides published in 2026 put Registered Psychotherapists at roughly $150 to $250 for a 50-minute session, with Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying) and supervised interns lower, often in the $50 to $125 range. These are published market figures, not our prices. Get Reconnected lists each therapist's fee on its booking page at https://getreconnected.janeapp.com/ before you confirm anything.
- OHIP.
- OHIP does not generally cover psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist or a psychologist in private practice. It covers physicians. Family doctors can be seen directly; psychiatrists require a referral and often have long waits.
- Extended health benefits.
- Many employer and school plans reimburse Registered Psychotherapists, in full or in part, up to an annual maximum. Coverage depends on your plan document, not on the therapist. Look for "psychotherapist" or "registered psychotherapist" in the list of covered providers, or call the insurer and ask. Most Toronto universities offer a student health plan through the student union; check whether it names RPs.
- Sliding scale and lower-cost options.
- Ask each practice directly whether it offers sliding-scale spots or supervised Qualifying therapists at lower fees. Many Toronto practices have supervised Qualifying therapists whose fees are lower, and some hold sliding-scale spots. Sliding-scale availability at Toronto practices changes month to month, so ask on the consultation call. Get Reconnected lists every therapist's current fee on its booking page at https://getreconnected.janeapp.com/.
- Free.
- The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program offers free, publicly funded CBT-based care for adults with depression and anxiety-related concerns, with self-referral, delivered by hospital and community partners across Toronto. Most people start with guided self-help and step up if they need more.
How to find a therapist in Toronto
Name the problem in one sentence. "I cannot switch off after work and I snap at my partner" is a better search than "anxiety". It tells you which specialties matter.
Decide the format. Midtown office, video, or a mix. If you are commuting from Scarborough or Etobicoke on a weeknight, video may be the difference between starting and not starting.
Shortlist three registered people. Directories help, but check every name on the CRPO, CPBAO, or OCSWSSW register before you book anything.
Use the free consultation. Most Toronto practices offer one. Use the script below.
Book two sessions, then judge. One session is an introduction. By the second you know whether you feel understood and whether there is a plan.
The first-call script
A free consultation is fifteen minutes. These seven questions get you what you need in that time.
-
"What do you work with most, and what do you not work with?"
A good therapist names limits without hesitation.
-
"How would you approach what I described?"
You are listening for a method, not a promise.
-
"What does a typical course look like with you, and how will we know it is working?"
Expect a range and a review point, not "as long as it takes".
-
"What is your fee, and are you a Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying, or something else?"
Then check the register anyway.
-
"In person, online, or both, and what are your evening or weekend options?"
-
"What happens if I feel it is not a fit after a few sessions?"
The right answer involves helping you find someone else.
-
"Is there anything I should prepare for the first session?"
If the call leaves you feeling sold to rather than heard, that is your answer.
In person at Yonge and Eglinton, or online across Ontario
In-person psychotherapy and video psychotherapy produce comparable outcomes for anxiety and depression: a 2021 systematic review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found video-delivered therapy effective across conditions, and a meta-analysis of twelve trials found video not inferior to in-person delivery on symptom reduction. The question is what you will actually keep doing.
Choose the office if: you want a room that is not your apartment, you find it easier to be honest face to face, you live or work in midtown, or privacy at home is hard to get. Our office is at 120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 202-A, a short walk from Eglinton station on Line 1 and the Line 5 Crosstown. In-person sessions are by appointment, and in-person availability varies by therapist and is shown on each therapist's booking page.
Choose video if: your schedule moves, you are outside the core, you have care responsibilities, or you would rather not commute after a hard day. All you need is somewhere private and a device with a camera. Video sessions are available to anyone in Ontario.
Do both if: you want to start in the room and move to video once the work has a rhythm. Many clients do.
-
What Get Reconnected helps with in Toronto
Our therapists work with adults and couples on:
- Anxiety, including generalized worry and health anxiety
- Depression and low mood
- Burnout and chronic stress, with a particular focus on healthcare workers and high-achievers
- Adult ADHD, the planning, overwhelm, and self-criticism that build around it
- Trauma and PTSD, delivered trauma-informed and at your pace
- Phobias, including agoraphobia, driving, and animal phobias
- Self-esteem, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
- Relationship difficulties and couples counselling
- Fertility and pregnancy loss
- Narcissistic abuse recovery
- Life transitions, migration, and identity, including 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care
-
Registered Psychotherapists do not provide formal diagnoses. If an assessment or a report is what you need, we will say so and point you to the right professional.
How we work
We are an evidence-based, trauma-informed practice. Depending on the person and the goal, sessions draw on cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, emotionally focused therapy for couples, the Gottman Method, internal family systems, exposure therapy for phobias, somatic and mindfulness-based approaches, and accelerated resolution therapy. Your therapist will tell you which they are using and why. Your therapist changes the approach when a modality is not helping.
You will not be handed a worksheet and left alone with it, and you will not be told to think positive. You will be asked to notice, test, and practise, with someone in your corner while you do.
-
The therapists
Six therapists practise at Get Reconnected, all registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario: two Registered Psychotherapists and four Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying). Each name links to a full profile.
-
Delia Petrescu, MA, Registered Psychotherapist, founder.
Perfectionism, burnout, people-pleasing, attachment wounds, trauma, high-achievers; couples. CBT, DBT, ACT, accelerated resolution therapy, Gottman Method.
https://getreconnected.ca/get-reconnected-team/delia-petrescu/
-
Adam Adivi, Registered Psychotherapist.
Phobias including agoraphobia and driving phobia, anxiety, emotion regulation, BPD, eating disorders, relationship difficulties, LGBTQ+. CBT, exposure therapy, DBT, mindfulness.
-
Sep Nikmanesh, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).
Anxiety, low mood, stress, self-criticism and self-esteem, relationship difficulties, sexual trauma. CBT, DBT, ACT, somatic approaches, mindfulness.
https://getreconnected.ca/get-reconnected-team/sep-nikmanesh/
-
Janki Shah, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).
Anxiety, health anxiety, ADHD, depression, self-worth, boundaries, emotion regulation. CBT, DBT, internal family systems, attachment-based and somatic work.
-
Katayon Qahir, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).
Narcissistic abuse, infertility and pregnancy loss, couples, anxiety, depression, self-worth, boundaries. Internal family systems, emotionally focused therapy, narrative therapy, trauma-informed CBT, Brainspotting, somatic work.
https://getreconnected.ca/get-reconnected-team/katayon-qahir/
-
Shakiba Fadaee J., Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).
Trauma, life transitions, migration and cultural adjustment, identity, LGBTQ2S+ and racialized communities, couples including ethical non-monogamy, grief, fertility, body image. Existential, psychodynamic, internal family systems, emotionally focused therapy, ACT, narrative and expressive arts.
https://getreconnected.ca/get-reconnected-team/shakiba-fadaee-j/
Your first session, and what session four should feel like
Session one is an assessment conversation. Your therapist asks what brought you in, how it shows up day to day, what you have tried, and what you want to be different. You leave with a first map of the problem and one or two goals in your own words.
By session four you should be able to say yes to most of these:
- I feel understood, not judged.
- I can describe what we are working on in a sentence.
- I have tried at least one thing differently between sessions.
- My therapist has asked how it is going and adjusted.
- I know roughly how long this is expected to take.
If you cannot say yes to any of them, say so in the session. A good therapist welcomes it. If nothing changes, switch. You are allowed to switch therapists at any time, including within the same practice.
How to book
Book a free 15-minute video consultation at https://getreconnected.janeapp.com/ or call (905) 439-6734.
Tell us what is going on. We tell you how we would approach it and who on the team fits.
Book your first session, in person or by video. Fees and available times are shown before you confirm.
Frequently asked questions about psychotherapy in Toronto
How much does a psychotherapy session cost in Toronto?
Toronto fee guides published in 2026 place Registered Psychotherapists at roughly $150 to $250 per session and Qualifying therapists and interns lower. Fees are set per therapist. Get Reconnected shows each fee on its booking page before you confirm.
Is psychotherapy covered by OHIP in Toronto?
OHIP does not generally cover psychotherapy delivered by a Registered Psychotherapist or psychologist in private practice. OHIP covers physicians, including psychiatrists, who require a referral. Free psychotherapy is available through the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program for adults with anxiety or depression.
Is psychotherapy covered by insurance in Ontario?
Extended health plans often reimburse sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist, up to an annual maximum set by the plan. Check your plan document for "psychotherapist" or call your insurer.
What is the difference between a therapist and a psychotherapist?
"Therapist" is a general word anyone can use. "Psychotherapist" in Ontario is a regulated title that requires registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Check the register.
What is the difference between a psychotherapist and a psychologist?
A psychologist can diagnose and conduct formal assessments and generally charges more per session. A Registered Psychotherapist provides talk therapy and does not diagnose. For ongoing therapy without an assessment, an RP is the more common choice in Toronto.
Do I need a referral to see a psychotherapist in Toronto?
No. You can book directly with a Registered Psychotherapist. A referral is needed for a psychiatrist.
Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?
No. Most people start therapy because something is not working, not because they have a label for it.
How do I find a good therapist in Toronto?
Name the problem in a sentence, decide on office or video, shortlist three registered people, use the free consultations with the questions on this page, and judge after two sessions.
How do I know if a therapist is a good fit?
You feel understood rather than judged, you can describe what you are working on, and there is a plan with a review point. If that is missing after a few sessions, say so or switch.
What happens in the first psychotherapy session?
An assessment conversation: what brought you in, how it shows up, what you have tried, what you want to change. You leave with a first map of the problem and one or two goals.
How long does psychotherapy take?
The length of a course of psychotherapy depends on the concern and the therapeutic approach used. Structured approaches such as CBT usually run between five and twenty sessions, according to Psychology Today Canada and the NHS; longer-standing concerns take longer. Your therapist should give you a range and a review point.
How often are sessions?
Weekly at first is typical, moving to every two weeks as things stabilize. Sessions are typically 50 minutes; length is shown on the booking page.
In person or online: which is better?
In-person psychotherapy and video psychotherapy produce comparable outcomes for anxiety and depression, according to a 2021 systematic review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Choose the one you will keep doing.
Where is Get Reconnected's Toronto office?
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 202-A, Toronto, ON M4P 1E2, in midtown near Yonge and Eglinton, a short walk from Eglinton station. In-person sessions are by appointment.
Is there free or low-cost therapy in Toronto?
Yes. The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program is free for adults with anxiety or depression. Many Toronto practices have supervised Qualifying therapists at lower fees, and student health plans often cover Registered Psychotherapists.
Is what I say in therapy confidential?
Yes, within the limits set by law. Registered Psychotherapists must keep your information private; the exceptions, such as risk of serious harm, are set out in the consent information you receive before you start.
Can I switch therapists?
Yes, at any time, including within the same practice. A good therapist will help you find a better fit.
What is a Registered Psychotherapist?
A regulated mental health professional registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Verify anyone at https://crpo.ca/resources/registered-psychotherapist-status-check/.
Does Get Reconnected offer evening sessions?
Some therapists offer sessions outside standard business hours. Get Reconnected shows each therapist's available appointment times, including any outside standard business hours, on its booking page at https://getreconnected.janeapp.com/.
Does Get Reconnected work with couples?
Yes. Three of our therapists work with couples. Details on the main site at https://getreconnected.ca/.
Start psychotherapy in Toronto with Get Reconnected
If you are in Toronto and ready to work with someone registered, direct, and on your side, book a free 15-minute video consultation. There is no obligation after it.
Book a free 15-minute consultation
Book online: https://getreconnected.janeapp.com/ Get Reconnected Psychotherapy and Counselling Services (905) 439-6734 info@getreconnected.ca 120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 202-A, Toronto, ON M4P 1E2 Video sessions across Ontario. In-person sessions in Toronto by appointment. Main site: https://getreconnected.ca/
If you are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 any time.
Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Delia Petrescu, MA, RP, founder of Get Reconnected Psychotherapy and Counselling Services, Toronto. Last reviewed September 2026.