5 Helpful Resources When Finding a Therapist
Finding a therapist can be difficult.
There’s so much support available that it can feel hard to sort through everything. Luckily, some resources can simplify and sort that information!
You can use resources like private insurance directories, local organizations, or provincial directories.
These resources can still be intimidating to approach if you don’t know what to expect. So we’ve laid out what to expect from each of these resources!
How to Find a Therapist Through Insurance
If you have private insurance, there are some specific resources that you can use to find a therapist. Most insurance companies have directories for services they cover.
Your insurance provider likely has an insurance directory for therapists in Ontario that they cover.
The extended health benefits from your insurance may cover the entire cost of the therapy session or just a portion of the cost.
Insurance typically reimburses you after you pay for your therapy session.
After you pay for your session, your therapist can give you an invoice for you to submit to your insurance company for that reimbursement.
You should check directly with your insurance provider and policy. While these are general guidelines, any specifics or critical information would be useful to get straight from your insurance.
If you do not have private insurance, there are options for you through public insurance.
Unfortunately, most private therapy is not covered by public insurance or the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
The only private therapy covered by OHIP is therapy provided by a medical doctor, like a psychiatrist or family doctor. However, therapy from medical doctors is very uncommon.
Luckily, resources are available to help you find OHIP-covered therapy.
This guide has great information for those in the GTA and southwest Ontario regions.
The guide lists the resources that are either fully or partially OHIP funded or use a sliding-scale rate that considers your income and financial situation.
These resources are good options if you do not have private insurance to support the cost of therapy. The last option for financial support in finding a therapist is tax credits.
The Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) may be available to help you reduce the tax you pay if you attend services, like therapy, provided by registered social workers or psychotherapists.
You can find more information about the METC on this website here.
Local Resources for Finding Therapy
If you don’t have private insurance, there are still local resources available.
Some workplaces have workplace wellness programs. So, check with your employer to see if your workplace has something similar.
These programs may include access to therapy or counselling services, or even wellness sessions like reflection hours or group exercise classes.
Looking at the wellness program associated with different workplaces and jobs can be beneficial when you’re looking for a new job!
There are also local advocacy organizations and community services.
Advocacy organizations may provide confidential individual and/or group therapy for different groups. You can check out a list of social advocacy groups in Toronto here!
Organizations and social services in the community may also offer group therapy, skills workshops, or drop-in counselling.
This may be less structured than typical therapy, but it’s still an option for support.
If you’re currently a student at a college or university, your school likely has counselling or wellness centres on campus.
You should have access to social workers, therapists, or a psychologist through your university/college counselling centre.
You may also have some insurance covered in your tuition fees, so check if your tuition includes extended health insurance!
Another local resource for mental health support is faith-based treatments.
Churches, mosques, synagogues, and other spaces of worship may offer individual, faith-based therapy.
Faith-based therapy may be a very supportive option for those looking for spiritual guidance or those who value their faith.
Resource Directories for Finding a Therapist
Finding a therapist can be challenging, even with insurance directories and local resources. So, here’s a list of different directories that can help you locate the support you need within Ontario.
Psychology Today is a very widely-used and widely-known platform for psychology!
The link above allows you to input your city and will produce all support available in that area. It even includes the location of treatment centres.
Whether you’re looking for a support group, therapist, or psychiatrist, this directory can help you locate ones nearby.
If you’re looking for a social worker, this guide can help.
This directory primarily includes Ontario social workers in private practice.
The fees associated with therapy may vary by social worker, so ensure you’re looking for a price or speaking with the therapist about their rate.
3. Ontario Society of Psychotherapists
This directory includes psychotherapists in private practice around Ontario.
Similarly to the social worker directory, the rates of psychotherapists in this directory vary. Be sure to speak with the psychotherapist directly to learn their rate.
4. Psychotherapy and Counselling Program
This program can help you find a psychotherapist and/or a counsellor in Ontario. This directory is less limited than the first two, as it includes more than one mental health professional. Again, the fees vary by each psychotherapist/counsellor, so try to find something within your budget.
5. Medical Psychotherapy Association Canada
The final directory is Canada-wide.
The Medical Psychotherapy Association Canada (MDPAC) website has a search function to “find a psychotherapist”.
If you input your city, the website can help you find a physician who is currently taking on clients and also practices psychotherapy.
This source may also be helpful for those without insurance, as physician services are covered under OHIP.
There are so many helpful resources available for those seeking therapy.
These resources can simplify the process of finding the right therapist for you.
Finding mental health support can be challenging, but it is there for you.
Understanding what resources are available to you when looking into therapy is just one step in discovering how to find a therapist in Toronto who’s right for you. Click the link below to find out more.
