Cathy MerrittLiving in Toronto isn’t exactly a breeze. With bills stacking fast and long winters keeping folks isolated, even the most resilient get worn down.
And there’s proof of that. Recent data from the city flagged a decline in mental well-being, which often leads to problems such as addiction, depression, loneliness, anxiety, and burnout.
Fortunately, effective counselling services (and psychiatry treatments) are accessible, and they’re usually tailored to different life stages, relationships, and cultural contexts.
If you don’t know where to start, though, we made a review-slash-guide here. Only names with consistently positive outcomes made the cut.
How much do counselling services cost in Toronto per hour?
The hourly cost of counselling services in Toronto usually varies by profession, with psychologists costing $220–$250, social workers and psychotherapists priced at $180–$190, and clinical therapists charging around $200.
Keep in mind that therapy fees in Toronto or Ontario aren’t normally covered by OHIP, but eligible Ontario residents can opt for publicly funded therapy to lower costs.
How We Chose
Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation
Address: 1810 Avenue Rd #200
Contact Details: +1 416-629-7410
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 8 am to 8 pm
- Sat to Sun – 9 am to 6 pm
At its core, Toronto Family Therapy & Mediation is about providing families and individuals with structured support.
Credentials aren’t lacking with this lot. For starters, Joanna Seidel (the director and founder) is a qualified child/family therapist and Accredited Family Mediator with over two decades in her resume.
The rest follows suit. Clinical therapists and Registered Psychotherapists (RP) make up the team (more of the latter are found here).
As for outcomes, most lean positive, especially their work involving little ones in sensitive situations like supervised parenting time. Past and present clients say the staff are warm and non-judgmental, often leading to emotional growth.
Beyond that, many go here for specialised services, including divorce counselling, couples/individual therapy, and therapeutic reintegration. That’s why we consider them a “one-stop support system” for families.
Those late email follow-ups hurt their comms score, sadly.
Billing errors have been noted as well, and it’s the last thing you need when going through therapy.
Highly Recommended
I’m so grateful for Regina and the support she’s given me. She’s been there whenever I’ve needed someone to talk to — always kind, understanding, and patient. With her, I never feel judged; instead, I always feel heard and cared for. She has this way of making difficult conversations feel safe and manageable, and her guidance has truly helped me grow through some tough times. Regina genuinely cares about her clients and goes above and beyond to be there for them. I can’t thank her enough for all the warmth, compassion, and encouragement she’s shown me. Highly recommend her! 💛
Jivantika Patel (Jivan), Google Review
Truly Helped My Child
I was searching for support and guidance to help my child adjust to the new family dynamics along with adjusting to all the new changes at home and school. I wanted my child to feel heard, supported, and encouraged. We had the pleasure of working with Regina Kotoviets, she has been working with my child since the beginning of the year, and we have seen immense improvements and support. My child is now thriving and advocating for themselves and loves going to see Regina. After the divorce she truly helped my child adjust and also helped with part of the co-parenting process. Thank you Regina, you are the best ❤️
valerie martinez, Google Review
Wiseman Counselling Services
Address: 1450 O’Connor Dr, Building #2, Suite 217E
Contact Details: +1 647-404-2429
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 8:30 am to 7 pm
- Thu – 8:30 am to 5 pm
- Fri – 8:30 am to 6 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 4 pm
Wiseman Counselling Services is among the GTA’s most well-rounded psychotherapy clinics. They have services for children, families, and individuals.
Suzanne Wiseman, a trauma-informed psychotherapist, takes charge of nearly everything. We’d describe her style as multi-dimensional, as it combines plenty of evidence-based therapies.
EMDR is one of the highest-rated treatments. Through bilateral stimulation, it’s claimed to instill positive beliefs while reprocessing negative memories.
Neurofeedback is another popular service, and it’s best for correcting habits that result in mental health concerns, like PTSD, insomnia, and anxiety. The therapy is non-invasive, only reading brainwaves without stimulating the brain directly.
The problem is availability. Given Wiseman’s one-person setup, slots can run out.
Clients not seeking therapies related to trauma or attachment might not find a perfect fit here either.
If we’re talking rates, however, the clinic’s Toronto-friendly pricing is good news. Suzanne usually charges $70–$140 for 45–90 minutes of individual therapy.
Felty Very Comfortable
Suzanne is amazing! I took up her neurofeedback services and I am so happy with the results! Not only am I sleeping better but am more focused and productive at work!
She was very helpful guiding me through the process and I felt very comfortable throughout the brain training journey. I highly recommend her!
Laukik Patil, Google Review
Very Grateful
I’ve been using Neuro Feedback for a couple of months while I navigated a very different time in my life. Also, using Suzanne’s many therapy skills during this time. I’m very grateful to have her by my side. Thank you 🙏🏻
Beth Ernst, Google Review
Well Beings Counselling
Address: 1920 Yonge St #200
Contact Details: +1 647-490-2522
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 8 am to 8 pm
- Sun – 9 am to 5 pm
Scope and size are rarely an issue with Well Beings Counselling. They’re a massive team of MCs, RCCs, RPs, and MACPs who deal with several concerns using evidence-based approaches.
That’s one reason their service list tends to be larger than most. Past the usuals, the clinic offers CVAP counselling (for crime victims), sex therapy, and targeted services for South Asian and Spanish clients.
Low-cost counselling is even offered, and it’s a steal if you don’t mind working with an intern therapist. A 50-minute and 70-minute session will only set you back $50–$75.
Just note that Well Beings’ regular fees are slightly higher than Toronto’s usual rates, with some 75-minute sessions topping $300.
Not every therapist here is received well, either. Concerns about disjointed conversations and “script-sounding” answers have been expressed.
Wide range of servicesThe good news is that initial consults are typically free, and their virtual sessions often get positive reviews.
Exceptional
My experience has been exceptional to date! Making me feel emotionally safe was paramount for me and my therapist did that so effortlessly! I would highly recommend Well Being as they will match you up with the best counsel based on what you need help with!! SWP
Sharon, Google Review
Has the Patience to Help
Growth takes time and Romina has the patience to help you heal from your long term and short term pain.
Shawn Khan, Google Review
Toronto Counselling Centre for Teens
Address: 267 Runnymede Rd
Contact Details: +1 416-565-4504
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 10 am to 8 pm
- Wed to Thu – 10 am to 8 pm
- Fri – 10 am to 7 pm
- Sat to Sun – 10 am to 6 pm
As the name implies, the Toronto Counselling Centre for Teens offers dedicated mental health services for teenagers and young adults (though parents can also get involved).
The great thing is their diverse and evidence-based approach. To sort mental health concerns, the licensed personnel and student therapists use proven methods such as narrative therapy, IFS, CBT, and EFT.
You can also access some niche offerings. For example, 2SLGBTQIA+ teens can choose to work with counsellors who share their identity.
Obviously, the centre’s main drawback is also its biggest asset: the teen-focused approach. Say you want your marriage fixed, this isn’t the right place.
It’s best to book quickly, too. The staff count is substantial, sure, but so is the demand for them.
On the upside, fees aren’t that high, thanks to the low-cost options, and you can save time by going for a virtual setup.
Helped Me So Much
the therapists here are great at what they do and make you feel so comfortable!! super accommodating. the receptionists are also super sweet and the whole place is clean and cozy. have been coming for almost a year now and feel it’s helped me so much- don’t plan on stopping 🙂
tara sidhu, Google Review
The staff are skilled
Our family is so thankful for the therapy services here! The space is welcoming, clean, calm and comfortable. The staff are skilled and our son had benefited from their support. I’d highly recommend them.
Michelle Brotherwood, Google Review
Couples Counselling Toronto
Address: 4 Forest Laneway, North York
Contact Details: +1 416-450-8054
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 9 am to 6 pm
- Sat – 9 am to 3 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 3 pm
Coming with over 10 years of experience, Couples Counselling Toronto is a proven choice for transforming, building, and mending relationships.
The couples we spoke with say it all. Many reported an increase in trust and deeper emotional connections, with a few even calling off their divorce.
Most of the credit goes to Damian May, who some refer to as “Couples Whisperer” and “Relationship Saviour.”
Style-wise, his May Method is usually described as structured but unorthodox, requiring “mini tasks” and active participation, which several find effective.
Other validated methods are also employed, so if the one above doesn’t work, you have options. EFT, CBT, and SBFT are some of the best examples.
If only they were as flexible in the setup department. In-person meetings are yet to be offered; it’s all online here.
There’s no guarantee you’ll get your first choice either, considering the clinic’s demand and tighter crew.
Effective Strategies
I’d recommend counselling with Damian to any couple, whatever the state of your relationship. The sessions with him, and the exercises he has you do, really force you to confront the weaknesses in your relationship and to develop effective strategies for making your relationship stronger.
Be prepared for an unorthodox approach: the first few sessions are highly focused on learning a specific structure — the value of which of only becomes clear as you proceed through later session.
Also be prepared to put in work if you want to see improvements: Damian gives a lot of mini, constructive assignments and expects you to do them. This is not counselling that you can coast through!
If the above sounds like something you’re ready for, give it a try. You will certainly take many good things away from it.
Lauren Heuser, Google Review
Helped Us Handle Conflicts
Damian helped my partner and I for the better part of a year, giving us tools and guidance to work on our communication issues and helped us handle conflicts and sore points.
He has a very direct way of therapy, which takes a bit of getting used to, but for us it was what we needed.
Would warmly recommend Damian to anyone going through a rough patch, wanting to build a better foundation or simply want to understand potential pressure points in your relationship.
Jos Cerelius, Google Review
