Therapy 101
1.0 Therapy basics
2.0 Types of therapists
3.0 Costs and coverage
4.0 Mental health specializations
5.0 Therapy techniques
1.0 Therapy basics
How does therapy work?How to find a therapistWhat to expect during your first therapy appointmentOnline vs. in-person therapy appointments
Go to Therapy basics
2.0 Types of therapists
Psychiatrist licensing and education in CanadaPsychologist licensing and education in CanadaSocial worker licensing and education in CanadaPsychotherapist licensing and education in Canada
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3.0 Costs and coverage
How much does therapy cost?Affordable and sliding scale therapyIs therapy covered by provincial healthcare plans in Canada?Therapies covered by workplace insurance benefits
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4.0 Mental health specializations
Anxiety disorder assessment and therapy techniquesDepression disorder assessment and therapy techniquesObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) assessment and therapy techniquesTrauma therapy techniquesPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) assessment and therapy techniques
Go to Mental health specializations
5.0 Therapy techniques
Compare popular therapy techniques: CBT, DBT, EMDR and SomaticCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) exercises and techniquesEye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy exercises and techniquesDialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) exercises and techniquesSomatic therapy exercises and techniques
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Go to Therapy 101
Additional Resources
Therapy Master ClassActualize PodcastClient storiesFor workplaces

Your workplace mental health partner

First Session creates custom workshops tailored to your employees’ needs and company goals, and facilitates positive conversations about mental health in your workplace.
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Empower employees with tools for mental wellness

Navigate the mental healthcare landscape with confidence and learn how to create a supportive and empathetic environment that puts employee needs first.

Guidance on how to find the right therapist

We’ll ensure your employees are well equipped to find the right fit in a therapist and get the most out of their sessions.

Connect group benefits to employee needs

Benefits are confusing. We simplify what your employees are covered for and how to find the right care.

How to talk to
your manager
Navigating
group benefits
Types of therapists
in Canada
Benefits of working
with the right therapist

How to talk to your manager about mental health

We provide actionable steps to create an empathetic and supportive environment so employees can feel safe discussing mental health at work.

Demystifying mental healthcare

Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social Workers… We’ll break down designations and practice types so your employees can get high-quality mental healthcare.

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What’s good for employees is good for business

Workplace resilience

Mental illness makes up almost 1/3 of short-term and long-term disability claims, but 70% of workplace disability costs. In any given week:

500,000
Canadians miss work due to a mental health illness

Be an industry leader

Experts note that successful workplace mental health strategies prevent harm, promote positive outcomes, and manage illnesses. Despite this, only:

39
%
of Canadian employers have a mental health strategy in place

Improve wellbeing, reduce turnover

Losing an employee can cost an organization 1.5 to 2.5 times the departing employee’s annual salary.

20
%
of Canadians have voluntarily left a job for mental health reasons
In 2019 this number increased to:
50%
for Millenial employees
75%
for Generation Z employees
Source: CAMH Workplace Mental Health
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Clients Include
Image created for illustrative purposes; participation of webinar is confidential
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The First Session solution

We work with you to deliver a customized workshop to fit your business needs
We use our first-hand experience working with therapists across Canada and thousands of therapy seekers to encourage your employees to seek relevant, high-quality care
We act as a facilitator to create a safe environment where employees can ask questions about mental health, whether in discussion or anonymously
We connect your employees with the best therapists in Canada and work with them to find the right fit for their needs.

Success stories from our partners

Thrilled to have had the First Session team conduct a lunch and learn about mental health and their platform. Rob Pintwala's honest and personal story about their founding, the importance of finding the right therapist, and how to have a conversation with your manager about mental health all resonated with Wealthsimplers.

Sonam Ringpa
Employee Experience and Inclusion Manager, Wealthsimple

First Session presented an engaging and informative presentation for KPMG during the 2021 Mental Health Awareness Month. The presentation focused on the topic of how to select and find a therapist. The conversation was tailored to our organization and was professional and knowledgeable. Rob and Arunie were excellent at answering our audience’s questions and even followed up with additional resources.

Casey Chung
Development Manager, KPMG

The First Session team was professional and knowledgeable in their approach. They shared personal, vulnerable stories that resonated, and also provided tangible resources to empower our staff to prioritize our mental health. This was a great investment for our team.

David Whyte
CEO, Irwin

Request a workplace session

Get in touch to see how First Session can support workplace wellness at your organization. We respond within 48 hours.
If you're looking to subsidize or gift therapy to employees, you can also request at Therapy Gift Cards.
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