Licensed Registered Social Workers serving Guelph, available online and in person. Watch intro videos, read in-depth bios, and book a free 15-minute consultation directly.
Licensed Registered Social Workers based and insured in Ontario. All Registered Social Workers on EST timezone unless otherwise noted.
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
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Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
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Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Out-of-province licensed Registered Social Workers insured to provide online therapy in Ontario. Timezone availability may vary.
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
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Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
A Registered Social Worker (RSW) is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). The College says Ontario law protects the titles "social worker" and "registered social worker."
According to the Ontario Association of Social Workers, social work education prepares RSWs to deliver counselling and psychotherapy services. Profiles include an intro video and an in-depth bio, so you can hear how a therapist works before you book.
Guelph-based RSWs are listed above, followed by RSWs from elsewhere in Canada who provide online therapy to Ontario clients. First Session shows both groups on this page.
The listings above show who offers what. Guelph residents can compare both groups and book either format.
A social worker registered in another province can apply to the OCSWSSW for an electronic-practice class of registration, which covers services delivered in Ontario only by electronic means. The online section above lists these therapists.
The OCSWSSW regulates RSWs under the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998. The College says registrants are authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy and may use the title "psychotherapist" alongside their College title.
Social workers do not need to join the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario to do this work. First Session profiles show each therapist's designation, so you can see which one you are booking.
GreenShield Health lists $120 to $200 as a private-pay range for a social worker session in Canada. Two Guelph practices publish their own rates: MyLife Counselling lists $175 for a 60-minute individual session, and Flow Counselling lists $200 for 60 minutes.
First Session profiles list fees, and receipts are provided for reimbursement through your extended health plan.
According to the Waterloo Wellington Health Line, Compass Community Services runs Guelph Walk-in Counselling at 20 Shelldale Crescent. It offers single-session counselling at set fees, in person or by phone or video.
Ontario Health describes the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program as free, publicly funded cognitive behavioural therapy for adults 18 and older with depression or anxiety-related concerns. You can self-refer through your regional network.
Filter by the issue you want help with, then read each bio for who the therapist has worked with and for how long. A bio that names your situation shows the therapist works with it.
A bio shows training and focus. A video shows how someone speaks and listens. Watch two or three videos before you book, and notice which therapist you could picture talking to for an hour.
The OCSWSSW states that psychotherapy is not an entry-to-practice competence and develops over time with experience. In a consultation, ask how the RSW trained in their approach and how long they have used it with clients like you.
First Session offers a free 15-minute consultation you can book directly from a profile. Use it to ask how sessions run, how often you would meet, and what the cancellation terms are.
“I wish I’d known about this platform sooner! I loved the introductory videos–this is what helped me choose the therapist to book an intro consultation with.”
First Session Client, 2025
Compatibility is the most important factor when choosing a social worker. But finding the right fit isn’t easy. First Session takes the time, guesswork, and emotional labour out of that process.
Narrow your search to a list of rigorously vetted therapists you’ll actually consider booking. Because finding a therapist shouldn’t involve reading endless generic bios.
Decide if a therapist is the right fit for you before booking with interview videos and in-depth bios. No more switching or re-telling your private feelings and story
Schedule an available session or free consultation right from the First Session platform. No 3rd party intake calls or back and forth emailing required.
They are separate designations that overlap in practice. According to the OCSWSSW, RSWs are authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy. Registered Psychotherapists register with a different regulator, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Both designations appear on profiles. If your insurance plan names one of them, match your booking to that name.
It can. Manulife lists provincially regulated psychologists, social workers, counsellors and psychotherapists among its eclaim providers. It says coverage amounts, maximums and practitioner types depend on the plan.
Read your benefits booklet for the words "social worker" and a referral rule. Because practitioner types depend on the plan, confirm that yours names social workers before your first session.
You can book an RSW directly, with no referral from a doctor. Your insurance plan is the other place a referral rule can appear.
Look for the line on referrals in your benefits booklet. If your plan asks for one, get it before you start sessions.
For several common concerns, the evidence supports it. A brief from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, posted by CMHA Ontario, found virtual mental health care efficacious for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The same brief found thinner evidence for people with severe mental illness. Read the bio of each RSW you are considering to see whether they work with your concern, then use the free consultation to ask about the online format.
The OCSWSSW has formal complaints and discipline processes, and anyone who believes a registrant has fallen short of professional standards can file a complaint with the College.
The College also keeps an online register that shows a registrant's registration status, practice conditions and disciplinary history.
The OCSWSSW says graduates of an accredited Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work meet the academic requirements. Applicants without a social work degree can apply with a combination of academic qualifications and experience.
Read a therapist's bio for their degree and training.
You made the courageous decision to reach your full potential. Find the right social worker to help get you there, and make the most of the time and money you’re investing in yourself.
