Schedule a Free Consultation with a Toronto Therapist
Browse videos, and choose your best match based on availability, and most of all, fit.
Ready to find your next therapist? Explore the list of Toronto therapists offering free consultations below – view therapist profiles, watch video clips to get a feel for their style and approach and schedule a free consultation to get started today.
Therapists
Christy McLeod
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in MB, ON, BC, SK, AB, NL, YT, NT, and NU.
Waitlist
Christy McLeod
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anger Management, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Behaviour, Building Self-Care Routines, Christian counselling, Decision making, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Empowerment, Depression coping skills, Goal Setting, Life transitions, Managing ADHD symptoms, Emotional regulation, Panic attacks, Mindfulness, Men's issues, Meaning and purpose, Identity and Self-Exploration, Overwhelm
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anger Management, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Behaviour, Building Self-Care Routines, Christian counselling, Decision making, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Empowerment, Depression coping skills, Goal Setting, Life transitions, Managing ADHD symptoms, Emotional regulation, Panic attacks, Mindfulness, Men's issues, Meaning and purpose, Identity and Self-Exploration, Overwhelm
Faraja Gaudin
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Virtual Sessions in MB, SK, and ON.
Waitlist
Faraja Gaudin
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Anxiety, BIPOC, Negative body image, Break-up recovery, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Wellness Counselling, Vulnerability, Transitioning into Adulthood, Thought Restructuring, Meaning and purpose, Overwhelm, People pleasing, Life transitions, Building Meaningful Connections, Conflict resolution, Effective communication, Couples Therapy, Goal Setting, Identity, Depression coping skills
Anxiety, BIPOC, Negative body image, Break-up recovery, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Wellness Counselling, Vulnerability, Transitioning into Adulthood, Thought Restructuring, Meaning and purpose, Overwhelm, People pleasing, Life transitions, Building Meaningful Connections, Conflict resolution, Effective communication, Couples Therapy, Goal Setting, Identity, Depression coping skills
Tej Neringer
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Tej Neringer
Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her/Hers
Relationships, Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Assertiveness, Attachment trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, Cultural Challenges, Depression coping skills
Relationships, Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Assertiveness, Attachment trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, Cultural Challenges, Depression coping skills
Andras Lenart
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Andras Lenart
Canadian Certified Counsellor
ADHD, Anger, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Motivation, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Dating challenges, Meaning and purpose, Couples Therapy, Emotional Numbness, Anxiety, Social anxiety, Decision making, Deep connections, Fears and phobia, Existential questions, Men's issues, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Productivity, Sexuality and gender issues, Psychedelic therapy, Personal Growth, Emotional Fluidity
ADHD, Anger, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Motivation, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Dating challenges, Meaning and purpose, Couples Therapy, Emotional Numbness, Anxiety, Social anxiety, Decision making, Deep connections, Fears and phobia, Existential questions, Men's issues, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Productivity, Sexuality and gender issues, Psychedelic therapy, Personal Growth, Emotional Fluidity
Caitlin Black
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Caitlin Black
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She/Her/Hers
Grief and Loss, Self-Development, Couples, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dating challenges, Family issues, Mindfulness Practices, People pleasing, Postnatal Care, Separation and divorce, Neurodiversity
Grief and Loss, Self-Development, Couples, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dating challenges, Family issues, Mindfulness Practices, People pleasing, Postnatal Care, Separation and divorce, Neurodiversity
Yidia Xin
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Yidia Xin
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She/Her/Hers
Anger, Stress, Depression, Eating disorders, Anxiety, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Mindfulness Practices, Pain management, School challenges, Specific phobias, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Anger, Stress, Depression, Eating disorders, Anxiety, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Mindfulness Practices, Pain management, School challenges, Specific phobias, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Blair McLean
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in BC, MB, NL, NT, NU, PE, SK, and YT.
Waitlist
Blair McLean
Registered Clinical Counsellor
He/Him/His
Grief and Loss, Anger, Stress, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Grief/Loss, Highly Sensitive Person, Intergenerational trauma, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mind-body connection, Productivity, Mindfulness
Grief and Loss, Anger, Stress, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Grief/Loss, Highly Sensitive Person, Intergenerational trauma, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mind-body connection, Productivity, Mindfulness
Margarita Iarovaia
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Margarita Iarovaia
Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her/Hers
Trauma, Sexuality, Relationships, Identity, Sex therapy, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Boundaries and boundary setting, Building Self-Care Routines, Dating challenges, Relationship anxiety, Sexual issues, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Mindfulness
Trauma, Sexuality, Relationships, Identity, Sex therapy, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Boundaries and boundary setting, Building Self-Care Routines, Dating challenges, Relationship anxiety, Sexual issues, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Mindfulness
Rachel D'Silva
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Rachel D'Silva
Registered Clinical Counsellor
They/Them/Theirs
Identity, BIPOC, LGBTQ2IA+, Self-esteem, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Coming out and identity, Existential questions, Intergenerational trauma, People pleasing, Sexuality and gender issues, Suicidal ideation, Trauma processing, PTSD, Trauma
Identity, BIPOC, LGBTQ2IA+, Self-esteem, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Coming out and identity, Existential questions, Intergenerational trauma, People pleasing, Sexuality and gender issues, Suicidal ideation, Trauma processing, PTSD, Trauma
Halyna Polityka
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in ON, BC, AB, SK, MB, NL, YT, NT, and NU.
Waitlist
Halyna Polityka
Registered Psychotherapist
Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Attachment, Behaviour, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Couples, Decision making, Early childhood, Familial and social relationships, Family Conflict, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mind-body connection, Mindfulness, Negative thinking and ruminating, Nervous system regulation, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Trauma
Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Attachment, Behaviour, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Couples, Decision making, Early childhood, Familial and social relationships, Family Conflict, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mind-body connection, Mindfulness, Negative thinking and ruminating, Nervous system regulation, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Trauma
Michal Goldstein
Registered Social Worker
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Michal Goldstein
Registered Social Worker
Grief and Loss, Children/Teens, Parenting, Relationships, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Behavioural Issues, Building Self-Care Routines, Caregiver burnout, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Effective communication, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Navigating challenging relationships, Parenting challenges, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Grief and Loss, Children/Teens, Parenting, Relationships, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Behavioural Issues, Building Self-Care Routines, Caregiver burnout, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Effective communication, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Navigating challenging relationships, Parenting challenges, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Therapy is hard work.
Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be. Over 10,000 Canadians found their new therapist with First Session.
Frequently asked therapy questions
Do all therapists offer free consultations?
It is common for therapists in private practice to offer free consults with potential clients, though some therapists may not offer them when they aren’t accepting new clients or they might charge for the initial consultation.
You can schedule a free consultation with nearly all of the therapists listed in our directory. It’s very helpful to be able to meet a potential therapist, learn about their values and approach, and to get a feel for overall compatibility.
What happens during a free consultation with a potential therapist?
A free consultation is similar to an introductory meeting, and is not a full therapy session. You’ll speak with the therapist about your mental health, what brings you to therapy, and they’ll share with you how they approach therapy, what to expect in full-length sessions, and more practical matters like scheduling, payment, and confidentiality.
What should I be ready to share with the therapist during the consult?
Be prepared to briefly discuss what brings you to therapy and what you hope to achieve. Sharing any relevant personal history or current challenges can help the therapist understand your needs.
How will I know if I found the right therapist for me?
The biggest piece of advice: trust your instincts. Are you looking forward to the idea of speaking with them again? How do you feel when you think about opening up to them? Was there anything in particular they said during the consultation that stood out to you?
What happens if I don’t want to continue seeing a therapist after the free consultation?
If you choose not to proceed, that's perfectly okay. Therapy is very personal, and finding the right fit is crucial. You're under no obligation to continue after a free consultation.
How do I start booking sessions after a free consultation?
The therapist will likely leave it up to you to book a full-length session after your consultation – it’s about you feeling ready to start, not about being sales-y or trying to convince you.
What are the different types of therapists in Ontario?
In Ontario, there are four regulated types of therapists:
- Psychiatrists are practicing doctors and are able to both diagnose mental illnesses and disorders and prescribe medication.
- Psychologists in Ontario have earned a PhD in psychology (“psychology associates” will have a master’s degree). Psychologists can diagnose mental health conditions as well as offer psychotherapy.
- Psychotherapists in Ontario are regulated by provincial law. They can provide therapy and counselling services using a specialized approach or by combining different modalities.
- Social workers in Ontario hold either a bachelor’s degree (RSW) or master’s degree (MSW), and many social workers offer counselling services through private practice.
Is therapy covered by OHIP? Can I use my work health insurance?
There are a few scenarios where therapy is covered by provincial healthcare (OHIP), including:
- a visit to a psychiatrist via a doctor’s referral
- a family doctor who also provides psychotherapy services
- a therapist working in a hospital or another public health setting.
The Ontario government also has a resources page with affordable and accessible mental healthcare options.
Workplace insurance benefits can reduce or even fully cover out-of-pocket expenses to see a therapist in private practice. After paying for your session, you then submit your receipt as a claim to your insurance plan for reimbursement.
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Use First Session to find the best therapist for you.