How Canada Life therapy coverage works
According to a published summary of Canada Life mental health claims, there isn't one therapy benefit that applies to every Canada Life plan. The professionals covered, reimbursement percentage, annual maximum and referral requirements can vary substantially.
Your employer's contract sets the list. The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association reports that Canada Life said it cannot force employers to amend their contracts immediately, so provider lists can differ between employers.
To see your own limits, sign in to My Canada Life at Work. A First Session profile then shows the therapist's designation and fee, so you can match both to your plan before you book.
What to know about Canada Life therapy in Montreal
Online and in-person
Montreal clients can book online or in person. The first list above shows therapists based and insured in Quebec, and the second shows out-of-province therapists insured to provide online therapy in Quebec.
Listings use Eastern time unless a profile says otherwise. Language is a First Session filter, so you can search for a therapist who works in French, English or both.
Credentials in Quebec
The Ordre des psychologues du Québec (OPQ) says psychotherapy and the title psychothérapeute have been reserved in Quebec since June 21, 2012. Psychologists and physicians may practise it. Other professionals need a psychotherapist permit from the OPQ.
According to the OPQ, the title must appear with a professional title, as in social worker-psychotherapist. The Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec oversees social workers and couple and family therapists.
Cost and reimbursement
The OPQ says Quebec has no fee schedule for private-office psychotherapy. Its guideline for a 50-minute session is $120 to $180, based on a 2023 member survey in which 82% of respondents reported rates in that range.
The OPQ adds that most group insurance plans offer at least partial reimbursement. Your Canada Life plan sets the percentage and the annual maximum.
Support in Quebec
Info-Social 811 is a free, confidential phone service for psychosocial concerns. The Government of Quebec says it runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and English-speaking residents can receive service in English.
How to choose a Canada Life-covered therapist in Montreal
1Read your plan wording first
Sign in to My Canada Life at Work or ask your plan administrator which providers the plan names. Note the annual maximum, the reimbursement percentage and whether a referral is required. Those three answers decide how much of a fee you can claim.
2Match the designation on the profile
Each profile shows the therapist's designation. If your plan names psychologists, look for that title. If it names psychotherapists, look for a title paired with a professional title, such as social worker-psychotherapist.
3Watch the intro video
A bio lists training. The short video on every First Session profile lets you hear how a therapist talks about your concern, and in which language, before you spend anything. Filter by specialty or language first to shorten the list.
4Use the free consultation to confirm details
Book the free 15-minute consultation from the profile. Ask about the session fee and length, then confirm the receipt will show the designation your plan names.
Looking for something more specific?
Filter by specialty in Montreal
Other insurers in Montreal
Nearby cities
Canada Life therapists in other cities
Helpful reading
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