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Home » Recent posts » The Best Psychotherapists in Toronto Using Proven Science-Backed Therapies

The Best Psychotherapists in Toronto Using Proven Science-Backed Therapies

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We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.

Lately, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by my responsibilities, both at work and at home. This constant pressure has left me anxious and emotionally unsettled, which has begun to adversely affect how I view myself and others. 

To find balance and peace, I’ve decided to seek help from a psychotherapist. I believe that with professional guidance, I can better manage my stress and develop healthier coping strategies for the future.

You can also get started on your path to mental clarity and wellness by getting in touch with these experienced psychotherapists in Toronto!

How much does it cost to see a psychotherapist in Toronto?

On average, you can expect to pay $200 per hour to see a psychotherapist in Toronto. However, this fee may change depending on your personal case and your preferred psychotherapist’s qualifications.

How We Chose

Qualifications and experience – We chose CRPO-certified (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario) psychotherapists with more than three years of experience. 
Approach and techniques – We also prefer those who are knowledgeable in different methods, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches.
Professionalism – We evaluated whether these psychotherapists treat patients with respect and are always on time for their appointments. We also looked at whether they respond quickly to calls and emails.
Accessibility – We checked whether their clinics are near major roads and public transit stations. We also considered whether they’re available on most days of the week.
Price fairness – We also assessed whether their prices are fair based on their techniques, specialisations, qualifications, and track record.

1. Rostyslav Shemechko

rostyslav-shemechko

Address: 2487 Bloor St W #2

Phone number: +1 647-866-9061

Business hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (MON-SAT)

Website

Facebook

Let’s start with Rostyslav Shemechko, a registered psychotherapist with more than 15 years of experience. Proficient in five languages, he offers a variety of services like individual, couple, and family therapy, as well as life coaching and group workshops.

One thing that sets him apart from the others is his impressive range of specialisations. At the time of this writing, he’s qualified as a therapist in schema therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

He also became a registered practitioner of BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT), a psychotherapeutic method that’s designed to work directly with the brain’s natural processes to create lasting changes.

However, due to his popularity, he has a tendency to become fully booked quickly.

Pros

  • 15 years of experience
  • Qualified in schema, EMDR, and CBT therapies
  • Can do BrainWorking Recursive Therapy
  • Proficient in 5 languages

Cons

  • Tends to get fully booked quickly
  • No proper online booking system

I’ve only great things to say about Rostyslav

“I’ve only great things to say about Rostyslav. He is very insightful, a great listener and provides you with great tips and tools. You will feel very relaxed and at ease in his presence. Highly recommend!”

-Jason Ferriter, Google Reviews

Rostyslav is a very experienced, patient and caring psychotherapist

“Rostyslav is a very experienced, patient and caring psychotherapist. He listens carefully to people’s life situations, quickly understands the root cause and consequences, and provides various sound strategies to resolve the issues. I have enjoyed working with Rostyslav in both personal and family therapies.”

-Svitlana Byelkina, Google Reviews

2. IFS Psychotherapy (Steven Gestetner)

ifs-psychotherapy-steven-gestetner

Address: 3050 Yonge St

Phone number: +1 647-210-8884

Business hours: 

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (SUN, TUES, WED, and THURS)

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (MON)

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (FRI)

Website

Facebook

Steven Gestetner is a top-notch psychotherapist who specialises in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. In case you’re not aware, IFS therapy views the mind as made up of different “parts” or sub-personalities, each with its own emotions and roles.

Through this therapy method, Steven is able to offer a range of services like relationship counselling, inner critic work, addiction counselling, and sex therapy.

He can also assist patients in managing their past traumas by making them understand and come to terms with the part of themselves that is still stuck in the past.

Overall, I believe Steven can serve as a great partner for anyone’s recovery, especially because he’s willing to do virtual appointments.

However, it should be noted that he charges slightly above average for his services.

Pros

  • Specialises in IFS therapy
  • Can assist in trauma recovery
  • Offers virtual appointments

Cons

  • Slightly above-average prices
  • Inconsistent operating hours

Has been a rewarding experience for me

“Steven is empathetic, centered, and caring. Working with him using the Internal Family Systems methodology has been a rewarding experience for me though it can be emotionally challenging. As I have gotten to know more about myself and improved my relationship with myself and others, Steven has provided a safe and effective atmosphere to do this work. I highly recommend Steven and IFS for therapeutic healing.”

-Chris Petit, Google Reviews

My sessions with Steven are so helpful and valuable

“My sessions with Steven are so helpful and valuable. I really appreciate his guidance and his work. He is very talented in IFS work and believes everyone can benefit from IFS work. He is worth it. I have felt internal improvement from each session which is highly important to me when working with a therapist. Thank you and grateful I found Steven.”

-Jenna Wyatt, Google Reviews

3. Rana Khan

Address: 421 Bloor St E Unit 404, Toronto, ON M4W 3T1, Canada

Phone number: +1 647-293-7642

Business hours:

Monday – Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday – Thursday: 12:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Website

Facebook

Rana Khan is an experienced psychotherapist offering individual, couple, and family therapy with a focus on relational issues. With a strong educational background and certifications, Khan’s practice is centered around understanding and improving clients’ relationships with themselves and others, making their services highly relevant for those seeking help in these areas.

A major advantage of working with Rana Khan is their specialized expertise in various areas, including communication issues, cross-cultural conflicts, and addictions. Khan’s structured approach, which includes establishing context, unpacking recurring patterns, and negotiating emotional needs, helps clients navigate complex relational dynamics effectively. This makes them particularly adept at handling sensitive issues like infidelity, LGBTQ+ relationships, and sexual intimacy problems.

Another strength of Khan’s practice is their emphasis on collaboration and client empowerment. By treating the client as the expert in their own life experiences, Khan fosters a therapeutic environment where clients feel valued and understood. The dialogic and solution-focused methods used in sessions encourage active participation and lead to tangible outcomes, enhancing the overall therapeutic experience.

On the downside, some clients might find Khan’s approach too structured, especially during the initial sessions. The focus on establishing safety, context, and direction might feel overwhelming for those who prefer a more fluid and spontaneous therapeutic process. Additionally, the reliance on role-plays and practice exercises might not resonate with all clients.

Overall, Rana Khan offers a well-rounded and effective approach to psychotherapy, making them a valuable resource for individuals, couples, and families facing relational challenges. Their structured methods and collaborative style foster a productive therapeutic environment, although some clients might prefer a less formal approach.

Pros

  • Comprehensive approach to therapy
  • Expertise in addressing complex relationship issues
  • Safe and non-judgmental environment

Cons

  • Time commitment required for significant progress

Here are some reviews from their clients:

“As a clinician Rana has helped navigate me into thinking in ways I wouldn’t have otherwise thought of. He directs you and guides you rather than leading you towards a certain thought. They end up fitting like a perfect puzzle piece and ‘clicks’ ! I am grateful for his insight and mode of therapy! It took me over 5 years and numerous attempts to find someone who gets it.”

“As a clinician and as a person, Rana is quite skilled in offering others the space that is needed in order to begin to mobilize change. As a colleague, I have seen how he creates a supportive and empathic relationship with the clients that he works with – ensuring that they feel safe, heard, respected, and validated. Working with Rana means working with a gifted human and skilled clinician.”

4. Mindful Maelstrom Wellness Clinic

mindful-maelstrom-wellness-clinic

Address: 91 Ossington Ave

Phone number: +1 416-519-0989

Business hours: 

10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (MON-FRI)

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (SAT and SUN)

Website

Facebook

Since opening its doors in 2016, Mindful Maelstrom Wellness Clinic has become a go-to spot for anyone looking to boost their mental and physical well-being. Founded by Kristina Dragnea, a registered psychotherapist, they offer a variety of services like psychotherapy, registered massage therapy, and holistic nutrition.

If there’s one thing I can fully praise this clinic for, it’s the affordable therapy sessions it provides. A session with one of their registered psychotherapists will only cost you $165.

If that price is still too high for you, they still have cheaper therapy sessions that are performed by their in-training and qualifying psychotherapists. These sessions will only cost you as much as $95.

You can enjoy these sessions from the comfort of your home thanks to their telehealth and virtual services.

However, it’s a bit disappointing to hear that their psychotherapists sometimes arrive late to their appointments.

Pros

  • 8 years of experience
  • Competitive prices
  • Has virtual and telehealth services

Cons

  • Unpunctual staff
  • Some rude staff

The interior of this place is so calm and relaxing

“The interior of this place is so calm and relaxing. I just started going to Dr.Emily and she is so sweet and comforting. They don’t do direct billing for Blue Cross which is unfortunate. Glad I came across this place.”

-Andrea Gnanatheepan, Google Reviews

Hasn’t disappointed me once

“I’ve been working with Tsa for sometime now and she hasn’t disappointed me once. She’s professional, relatable and she creates such a safe space for you to share what you’d like. I would highly recommend her should you choose to begin therapy with mindful maelstrom. Mindful Maelstrom is such a welcoming and calming environment, I would recommend them for any of their various services.”

-Orinthia W, Google Reviews

5. Centre for Mental Health Counselling & Psychotherapy

centre-for-mental-health-counselling-psychotherapy

Address: 2 Champagne Dr b15

Phone number: +1 647-834-0071

Business hours: 

11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (MON-FRI)

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (SAT)

Website

The Centre for Mental Health Counselling & Psychotherapy is a mental wellness clinic founded by Alexey Belakovsky. A registered psychotherapist himself, Alex has over 25 years of experience in the field and is known for his resilience-building therapeutic approaches.

Some of the therapy techniques he’s well-versed in are CBT, dialectical-behavioural therapy (DBT), and emotion-focused therapy (EFT).

Through his expertise, he was able to assist patients who were suffering from issues like infidelity, anxiety, and loss. More importantly, he specialises in psychosocial oncology and can help patients facing cancer cope with the pain and stress that come with this terrible disease.

With his sessions costing only $160, I believe he can help his patients improve their mental wellness without breaking the bank.

Still, it’s a bit disappointing to learn that Alex sometimes cancels his appointments at the last minute.

Pros

  • 25 years of experience
  • Competitive prices
  • Uses resilience-building therapeutic approaches
  • Specialises in psychosocial oncology

Cons

  • Sometimes cancels appointments abruptly
  • No proper online booking system

Working with Alex has completely changed my life

“Working with Alex has completely changed my life. I was suffering from crippling anxiety and living a hard day to day life. With his help and guidance, I was able to learn what it would take for me to live a better life free from anxiety and taking the right steps for having a better future. I recommended him to all my friends and family and think he is a professional, knowledgeable and genuine. I cannot thank him enough for all that he has done and helped me with!”

-Ben Gaisinski, Google Reviews

He is one of the best therapists you can possibly find out there

“I am very lucky to have met Alex. He is one of the best therapists you can possibly find out there. He truly cares about my progress and works hard to help me overcome my emotional difficulties. He is very intuitive and chooses the best approach that works for you. Thanks to Alex I am now the person I’ve always wanted to be.”

-Anna Dee, Google Reviews

6. Kat Kova Therapy

kat-kova-therapy

Address: 1352 Bathurst St Suite 402

Phone number: +1 647-930-5704

Business hours: 

9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (MON-FRI)

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (SAT)

Website

Facebook

Kat Kova Therapy is a renowned psychotherapy practice founded by Katarina Kovacevic, who has been a registered psychotherapist since 2018.

Working alongside her are nine other registered psychotherapists who utilise a diverse array of approaches to assist their patients, like EFT, CBT, and solution-focused therapy (SFT).

However, one thing that really caught my attention is their use of embodied experiential dreamwork to enhance their sessions. Here, their psychotherapists will try to interpret your dreams and use them as a chance for you to reconnect and understand your inner self.

It’s also worth mentioning that they offer a sliding scale based on financial need, making their services a bit more affordable for everyone.

The only major issue I have with them is their unwillingness to accept cash payments. That can be an issue for those who can’t or are unwilling to pay via credit card or PayPal.

Pros

  • Offers sliding scale fees
  • Uses embodied experiential dreamwork
  • Knowledgeable in a diverse array of therapeutic approaches
  • Can do speaking engagements and workshops

Cons

  • Doesn’t accept cash
  • Tends to get fully booked quickly

Kat is a highly intelligent and thoughtful therapist

“Kat is a highly intelligent and thoughtful therapist. I highly recommend her judgement and while I’ve not seen anyone on her team, knowing her – I trust she’s built a very good one.”

-Joel McCracken, Google Reviews

Very versatile in her therapeutic approaches

“Kat is a unique find as a therapist. She is very versatile in her therapeutic approaches, meaning she can work with a diverse range of clients on many different issues. She has a very strong desire to help and goes above and beyond to make sure her clients are getting the best treatment possible. She is warm, professional, caring and highly knowledgeable and takes pride in creating a safe place for her clients to grow. If you are looking for a therapist who really cares about their work and their clients, I would highly recommend reaching out to Kat.”

-Kristina Virro, Google Reviews