Does Canada Life Cover Therapy?
Canada Life insurance plans offer coverage for many different mental health treatments, including therapy and counselling. But keep in mind that every policy is different — what your insurance covers can differ depending on your specific plan through employer benefits or your own personal health insurance plan.
Does Canada Life insurance cover therapy?
It is very likely Canada Life covers some form of therapy, counselling, or psychological services. We are here to help you find out those specifics. For now, the answer is "it depends." The below info will help you find out for sure.
If your Canada Life plan includes coverage for mental health services? If so, your benefits will give you Canada Life insurance coverage for therapy and counselling. But the details of your coverage depend entirely on your employer's specific program, coverage options, and extended health care coverage.
Because of that, if you read just one part of this article, make it this:
Consult your company's specific Canada Life policy to determine whether:
- Your insurance offers mental health coverage
- The extent of that coverage
- The qualifications your mental health provider should have in order for you to be eligible for reimbursement or direct billing
Here is a full guide to help you find a therapist in Canada who is covered by your insurance.
Your specific policy may differ, but mental health services covered by Canada Life extended health plans typically include:
- Individual Therapy
- Couples Therapy
- Family & Group Therapy
- Online Therapy
Canada Life will only provide coverage for therapy or high-quality counselling delivered by regulated mental health professionals. Requirements for eligible coverage are covered in your Canada Life policy.
If in doubt, ask your plan administrator (or, contact Canada Life directly for specific information about your coverage)
What types of therapists are eligible for Canada Life therapy coverage?
Typically, in-person or online therapists, psychologists, and counselling professionals eligible for Canada Life insurance coverage include:
- Registered Psychotherapist
- Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
- Psychologist (C.Psych, R.Psych, etc)
- Psychological Associate
- Registered Clinical Counsellor
- Provisional Psychologist
- Canadian Certified Counsellor
- Family therapists
- Registered Social Worker
- Masters of Social Work
- Registered Clinical Social Worker
- Registered Counselling Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
The wording in your policy may be somewhat vague, unfortunately. For example "Psychologist Office Visit" sometimes show up in these policies. Basically the means Psycholgist.
Your policy may use wording like "Psychotherapist" "Certified Counsellor" or "Social Worker" which may not map to the exact license or designation in your province, but that's okay.
As a general rule of thumb, coverage is generally license or designation dependent. Air on the side of licensed professionals. If your insurance plan says "Psychotherapist", they most likely mean "Registered Psychotherapist" and will often often incldue "Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)". For more information on designations, you can read our short guide.
What types of therapy services are covered by Canada Life?
The Canada Life insurance company counselling coverage usually covers a wide range of counselling philosophies and routine services. That includes, at minimum:
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- EMDR Therapy
Again, the policy included in your workplace or group benefits plan may have specific requirements, and may not cover every counselling treatment out there. Before setting your heart on a particular counselling type, or making an appointment, check your particular insurance coverage or consult with your plan administrator.
Many therapists specialize in multiple behavioural health treatments and types. Some therapy platforms give you tools to filter available therapists by modality or issue (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, affirmative therapy, workplace stress, body image issues, counselling for youth, life transitions, distressing life experiences, etc). That can help quickly narrow your search options for high-quality counselling.
What do I ask Canada Life if I'm unsure of my mental health coverage?
If you know you have mental health coverage, but are not sure what exactly for, try asking your plan administrator, HR team, or Canada Life directly whether or not your plan have coverage for "X" therapy with "Y" provider.
For example:
- Does my Canada Life plan cover individual therapy with a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)?
- Does my Canada Life plan cover couples therapy with a Registered Social Worker?
- Does my Canada Life plan cover online therapist with Canadian Certified Counsellor?
Make sure to include your plan or policy number when you are contacting Canada Life. Also, ask them what your total annual coverage is, and whether there is a maximum per appointment that they are willing to cover.
How many therapy sessions will Canada Life cover?
Reimbursement details and coverage can range widely when your policy covers therapy.
When it comes to coverage amounts, some employers cover 100% of the cost, with yearly maximums in the $10,000 range. Others might provide a yearly maximum of $2000. It 100% depends on your employer's policy.
Check your insurance plan or consult with your plan administrator for complete details on your coverage for services and extended health plan.
Is Canada Life direct billing available?
Yes! However, it all depends on your therapist or counsellor, or clinic they work though.
How can I get extra coverage for therapy under my Canada Life plan?
The amount of extra coverage that may or may not be available under your plan is determined by the policy your employer has signed up for. Consult with your plan administrator about extra coverage for therapy (or any other care, like dental services).
How much therapy is covered per person per calendar year by my plan?
If you have a spouse or dependents, they may be covered by your plan. That means you need to determine how much coverage your plan offers each person per calendar year. The amount of mental health coverage available to each person per calendar year is based on your specific policy. It may be considerably less or considerably more (for example) than dental coverage available to each person per calendar year—so don't make assumptions. Check you specific policy or consult with your plan administrator to find out. (Note that your plan may also limit the number of practitioner per calendar year you may see.)
Does Canada Life offer comprehensive coverage options?
When it comes to comprehensive coverage options, Canada Life offers a wide range of options for different types of treatment. Visit Canada Life's health and dental coverage page for more information about complete plans, or talk to your plan administrator.
Two ways to make the most of your Canada Life mental health coverage
Word of advice: Whether your Canada Life coverage amount is $2000 or $10,000 of annual costs related to therapy, making the most of your coverage can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Doing so ensures you make the most progress possible in therapy, contributing to a healthy lifestyle and resulting in lasting and impactful changes to your mental health and quality of life.
1) Focus on finding the right therapist
The amount of annual costs covered by your plan is limited, so don't want to waste time "trialling" different counselling therapists over an extended period of time.
Whether it's for in-person or online therapy, make the time to do your research and find a licensed therapist or mental health care professional that feels like the right fit. The ideal therapist is someone you can envision working with consistently over the months ahead—possibly even for years.
Research shows that consistency (regular sessions) and therapist fit (a therapist who suits your needs and personality) are two of the most critical factors leading to lasting changes in your mental health and daily life.
Most therapist marketplaces/platforms will provide some details about a counselling therapist before you book. First Session, in particular, provides extended video interviews, helping you to figure out whether a therapist might be a good fit before you book your first session.
Again, double check the in-person or mental health care provider you decide to go with meets your health plan's requirements for reimbursement. If you have any questions, ask your plan administrator.
For more advice on finding the right therapist, read our short guide.
2) Determine your therapy schedule
Regardless of what mental health conditions you may be experiencing, consistency plays a huge role in effective therapy. To calculate an affordable therapy cadence, divide your yearly coverage limit by the cost per session, and schedule accordingly.
For example: Suppose your yearly coverage is $5000, and each session with the therapist you prefer costs $200.
5000 divided by 200 equals 25. That equals just over 2 therapy sessions per month (or, a therapy session every 2 weeks).
Find a consistent day and hour to schedule each session, and block off time for it in your daily life. Blocking off that time now ensures you won’t struggle to find a time in the future for your mental health journey.
Remember: Get to know your Canada Life policy before you book
Take 20 minutes to understand your Canada Life coverage options and to find the right dedicated counselling therapist, counsellor, or social worker. It can have a huge impact you everyday life. While every policy differs, knowing the details and nuances is pretty straightforward. As already mentioned, consult your specific policy, contact your plan administrator, or call your regional Canada Life office for further details.
When it's time to find a licensed therapist, start your search with First Session. You can search by the therapist designation(s) you are covered for, therapy type, certification, location, and coverage. Then, watch intro videos to gauge for fit before you book — so you don't waste a single dollar of coverage on trialling the wrong therapist(s).
Use First Session to find the right therapist for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the Canada Life insurance company does cover psychotherapy. Psychotherapy—aka “talk therapy”—is a common form of therapy focused on helping individuals with a wide range of mental health issues. Many psychotherapists will specialize in the types of behavioural health services listed above under “What types of therapy are covered by Canada Life?”
The term counselling can be vague, and it depends on where you live (province), what type of counselling your receiving, and what the province license or designation.
In some provinces, such as BC, a common mental health provider designation is "Registered Clinical Counsellor". If you live in BC, and your Canada Life plan has coverage for counselling, or for a "Clincial Counsellor" then you are likely covered.
There is a nationwide counselling designation called a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC). Canada Life covered for a CCC may depend on what province you live in, and your specific plan. If you are unsure, ask your plan administrator.
Yes. As long as your online therapy provider meets the professional certification and credentials laid out by your Canada Life policy, online therapy is covered the same as in-person counselling.
There may be specific details in your policy about online therapy that state otherwise, but this would be highly unusual (at time of writing—2025). Check with your plan administrator.
First Session Editorial Team
The First Session Editorial Team, composed of seasoned researchers, writers, editors, and therapists, focuses on providing content that helps Canadians find the right therapist.
