Licensed social workers serving Kitchener, available online and in person. Watch intro videos, compare approaches and fees, 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
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
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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 RSWs have specialized university education, usually a Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of Social Work, or both.
According to the College, social workers address client challenges through assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation. They work in settings such as hospitals, community centres, schools and social service agencies.
A title shows training and says little about style. First Session profiles add a short intro video and a written bio, so you can hear how a social worker works before you book.
Kitchener residents can book in person or online, and the listings above show who offers what. Online care requires a therapist registered in Ontario.
Out-of-province social workers listed here are insured to provide online care to Ontario clients.
Social worker and Registered Social Worker are protected titles in Ontario. The OCSWSSW states that using them without registration is illegal.
Since December 30, 2017, the controlled act of psychotherapy is restricted to members of six regulatory colleges, including the OCSWSSW. The title Registered Psychotherapist is restricted to members of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. RSWs may use the title psychotherapist if they also state their OCSWSSW membership.
Rates on the current listings for this page run from $125 to $180 per session. For comparison, the WSIB pays $113.71 per hour for private-practice social work services to injured workers.
Private-practice therapy with a social worker is an out-of-pocket cost unless a workplace benefits plan covers it, according to First Session's guide to provincial coverage. You see fees on each profile before booking and receive a receipt to claim reimbursement.
Here 24/7 is the front door to addictions, mental health and crisis services from 11 agencies across Waterloo Wellington. Call 1-844-437-3247 any time, or visit a walk-in location in Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge, Fergus or Mount Forest.
The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program offers free, publicly funded CBT to adults 18 and older with depression or anxiety-related concerns. You can self-refer through your regional network's website.
Read your benefits plan to see whether it names RSW or uses a broader category. Profiles show each therapist's designation, and First Session requires therapists to be licensed and in good standing with their provincial college.
An RSW degree is broad, so ask what they have trained in, such as anxiety, trauma or relationship stress. Ask which approaches they use and how long they have used them.
Ask whether they provide counselling, psychotherapy or both, and what the first month of sessions looks like for your concern.
Watch the intro video first. Then book the free 15-minute consultation directly from the profile and ask how sessions are structured and how progress is tracked.
“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.
Use the listings above, and compare designation, fees and approach on each profile. Watch the intro videos for the two or three who fit.
Then book a free 15-minute consultation directly from the profile.
They are regulated by different colleges. RSWs register with the OCSWSSW, and Registered Psychotherapists register with the CRPO.
The OCSWSSW says its members may perform the controlled act of psychotherapy under its rules. Choose by training in your concern first, then match the designation to your plan.
Coverage depends on how your plan is written. First Session's insurance guide lists RSWs among the designations commonly covered.
OHIP covers therapy from a medical doctor, according to the provincial coverage guide linked below. Read your plan for the designations it names before booking.
Yes. Online sessions require a therapist registered in Ontario, and out-of-province social workers listed here are insured to provide online care to Ontario clients.
Extended health plans reimburse online sessions on the same terms as in-person sessions.
Yes. Here 24/7 connects people in Waterloo Wellington to addictions, mental health and crisis services. The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program offers free CBT to adults with depression or anxiety-related concerns.
The program says it is not suitable for everyone, so a private RSW is an option when it does not fit. For suicidal thoughts, call or text 9-8-8.
Yes. The OCSWSSW lists four protected titles: social worker, registered social worker, social service worker and registered social service worker.
People with a social work degree may list it, but they cannot use the titles unless registered. First Session lists licensed therapists who are in good standing with their college.
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.
