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
Matthew Lam
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Matthew Lam
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
He/Him
ADHD, Addiction, Anxiety, Career guidance, Competitive anxiety, Managing ADHD symptoms, Men's issues, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, BIPOC
ADHD, Addiction, Anxiety, Career guidance, Competitive anxiety, Managing ADHD symptoms, Men's issues, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, BIPOC
Lauren McCarley
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Virtual Sessions in ON, YT, MB, NU, SK, BC, NL, and NT.
Waitlist
Lauren McCarley
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She/Her/Hers
Anxiety, Depression, Self-esteem, OCD, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Burnout, Identity and Self-Exploration, Imposter syndrome, Depression coping skills, Stress, Negative thinking and ruminating, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Perfectionism, Relationships, Navigating challenging relationships, People pleasing, Life transitions, Fears and phobia, Health anxiety, Panic attacks, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Decision making, Grief and Loss
Anxiety, Depression, Self-esteem, OCD, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Burnout, Identity and Self-Exploration, Imposter syndrome, Depression coping skills, Stress, Negative thinking and ruminating, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Perfectionism, Relationships, Navigating challenging relationships, People pleasing, Life transitions, Fears and phobia, Health anxiety, Panic attacks, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Decision making, Grief and Loss
Kelsey Mathison
Professional Art Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Kelsey Mathison
Professional Art Psychotherapist
she/her
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Building Self-Care Routines, Coming out and identity, Creativity, Depression, Depression coping skills, Dissociation, Emotional regulation, Empowerment, Grief and Loss, Grief Processing, Group Therapy, Habits, Identity, Identity and Self-Exploration, LGBTQ2IA+, Life transitions, Mindfulness, Negative thinking and ruminating, Neurodiversity, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Building Self-Care Routines, Coming out and identity, Creativity, Depression, Depression coping skills, Dissociation, Emotional regulation, Empowerment, Grief and Loss, Grief Processing, Group Therapy, Habits, Identity, Identity and Self-Exploration, LGBTQ2IA+, Life transitions, Mindfulness, Negative thinking and ruminating, Neurodiversity, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Kelsey Rogers
Registered Social Worker
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Kelsey Rogers
Registered Social Worker
She/Her
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Depression coping skills, Life transitions, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Depression coping skills, Life transitions, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Samudyatha Hiremagalore
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in AB, BC, NB, and ON.
Waitlist
Samudyatha Hiremagalore
Registered Clinical Counsellor
She/Her/Hers
Break-up recovery, Attachment, Relationships, Couples, Conflict resolution, Cultural Challenges, Dating challenges, Deep connections, Family issues, People pleasing, Separation and divorce, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), BIPOC
Break-up recovery, Attachment, Relationships, Couples, Conflict resolution, Cultural Challenges, Dating challenges, Deep connections, Family issues, People pleasing, Separation and divorce, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), BIPOC
Sonya Salonen Cornies
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Sonya Salonen Cornies
Registered Psychotherapist
Building Meaningful Connections, Boundaries and boundary setting, Caregiver burnout, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Depression coping skills, Maternal mental health, Prenatal care, Perinatal, Pregnancy, Postnatal Care, Relationships, Conflict resolution, Familial and social relationships, Parenting, Family Conflict, Emotional regulation, Effective communication, Thought Restructuring, Interpersonal dynamics, Goal Setting, Highly Sensitive Person, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness Practices, Overwhelm, Personal Growth
Building Meaningful Connections, Boundaries and boundary setting, Caregiver burnout, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Depression coping skills, Maternal mental health, Prenatal care, Perinatal, Pregnancy, Postnatal Care, Relationships, Conflict resolution, Familial and social relationships, Parenting, Family Conflict, Emotional regulation, Effective communication, Thought Restructuring, Interpersonal dynamics, Goal Setting, Highly Sensitive Person, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness Practices, Overwhelm, Personal Growth
Michèle Dawn
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Michèle Dawn
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
She/Her
ADHD, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Burnout, Building Self-Care Routines, Career guidance, Creativity, Dating challenges, Decision making, Emotional regulation, Goal Setting, Life transitions, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness, Imposter syndrome, Overwhelm, Stress, Wellness Counselling, Negative thinking and ruminating, Nervous system regulation, Habits
ADHD, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Burnout, Building Self-Care Routines, Career guidance, Creativity, Dating challenges, Decision making, Emotional regulation, Goal Setting, Life transitions, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness, Imposter syndrome, Overwhelm, Stress, Wellness Counselling, Negative thinking and ruminating, Nervous system regulation, Habits
Kristin Kurian
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in MB, NT, SK, BC, and ON.
Waitlist
Kristin Kurian
Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her/Hers
Anxiety, Children/Teens, Depression, Emotional regulation, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Dating challenges, Family Conflict, Childhood trauma, Familial and social relationships, Life transitions, Navigating challenging relationships, Parenting challenges, Parental divorce, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Stress, Parenting
Anxiety, Children/Teens, Depression, Emotional regulation, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Dating challenges, Family Conflict, Childhood trauma, Familial and social relationships, Life transitions, Navigating challenging relationships, Parenting challenges, Parental divorce, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Stress, Parenting
Becky Hills
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in AB, BC, MB, NT, NU, ON, SK, and YT.
Waitlist
Becky Hills
Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her/Hers
Addiction, Stress, Relationships, Burnout, Christian counselling, Conflict resolution, Existential questions, Identity and Self-Exploration, Meaning and purpose, Self harm, Separation and divorce
Addiction, Stress, Relationships, Burnout, Christian counselling, Conflict resolution, Existential questions, Identity and Self-Exploration, Meaning and purpose, Self harm, Separation and divorce
Brant Stachel
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in AB and ON.
Waitlist
Brant Stachel
Registered Psychotherapist
Eating disorders, Men's issues, Mental performance, Performance anxiety, Sports Performance
Eating disorders, Men's issues, Mental performance, Performance anxiety, Sports Performance
Sheema Khan
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in ON, AB, and MB.
Waitlist
Sheema Khan
Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her
ADHD, Attention and Impulsivity, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, Attachment wounds, Borderline Personality Disorder, Caregiver burnout, College or University Coaching, Burnout, Career guidance, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Boundaries and boundary setting, Assertiveness, Cultural Challenges, Dissociation, Identity and Self-Exploration, Domestic violence, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Attention and Impulsivity, BIPOC
ADHD, Attention and Impulsivity, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, Attachment wounds, Borderline Personality Disorder, Caregiver burnout, College or University Coaching, Burnout, Career guidance, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Boundaries and boundary setting, Assertiveness, Cultural Challenges, Dissociation, Identity and Self-Exploration, Domestic violence, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Attention and Impulsivity, BIPOC
Shane Pokroy
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Shane Pokroy
Registered Psychotherapist
Mindfulness, Overwhelm, Motivation, Perfectionism, Goal Setting, Stress, Burnout, Productivity, Relationships, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Negative thinking and ruminating, Career guidance, Dating challenges, Existential questions, Decision making, Couples, Creativity, Emotional regulation, Habits, Imposter syndrome, Life transitions, Men's issues, Meaning and purpose, Nervous system regulation, Spirituality
Mindfulness, Overwhelm, Motivation, Perfectionism, Goal Setting, Stress, Burnout, Productivity, Relationships, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Negative thinking and ruminating, Career guidance, Dating challenges, Existential questions, Decision making, Couples, Creativity, Emotional regulation, Habits, Imposter syndrome, Life transitions, Men's issues, Meaning and purpose, Nervous system regulation, Spirituality
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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