Schedule a Free Consultation with a Toronto Therapist

Browse videos, and choose your best match based on availability, and most of all, fit.

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Ready to find your next therapist? Explore the list of Toronto therapists offering free consultations below – view therapist profiles, watch video clips to get a feel for their style and approach and schedule a free consultation to get started today.

Therapists

Atheesan Mahendrarajah

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Atheesan Mahendrarajah

Crystal Soares

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Woodbridge, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Crystal Soares

Crystal Soares

Registered Social Worker
She/Her
$160/session
Attachment wounds, Boundaries and boundary setting, Relationships, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Trauma, People pleasing, Self-esteem, LGBTQ2IA+, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Perfectionism, Overwhelm, Childhood trauma, Familial and social relationships, Anger, Anxiety, Attachment trauma, Dating challenges, Assertiveness, Break-up recovery, Depression, Attachment, Intergenerational trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Social anxiety, Sexuality
Attachment wounds, Boundaries and boundary setting, Relationships, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Trauma, People pleasing, Self-esteem, LGBTQ2IA+, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Perfectionism, Overwhelm, Childhood trauma, Familial and social relationships, Anger, Anxiety, Attachment trauma, Dating challenges, Assertiveness, Break-up recovery, Depression, Attachment, Intergenerational trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Social anxiety, Sexuality

Natasha Mano

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Brampton, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Natasha Mano

Natasha Mano

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She her
$170/session
ADHD, Anger Management, Anxiety, BIPOC, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, Boundaries and boundary setting, Cultural Challenges, Depression, Early childhood, Effective communication, Grief and Loss, Intergenerational trauma
ADHD, Anger Management, Anxiety, BIPOC, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, Boundaries and boundary setting, Cultural Challenges, Depression, Early childhood, Effective communication, Grief and Loss, Intergenerational trauma

Nisha Sangwan

Registered Clinical Counsellor
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Langley, BC)
Virtual Sessions in BC, ON, and SK.
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Nisha Sangwan

Nisha Sangwan

Registered Clinical Counsellor
$150/session
ADHD, Anger Management, Assertiveness, Attachment trauma, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, Depression, Emotional regulation, Identity and Self-Exploration, Nervous system regulation, OCD, Self-esteem
ADHD, Anger Management, Assertiveness, Attachment trauma, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, Depression, Emotional regulation, Identity and Self-Exploration, Nervous system regulation, OCD, Self-esteem

Alexandra Kljuseva

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON, BC, SK, and MB.
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Alexandra Kljuseva

Alexandra Kljuseva

Registered Psychotherapist
$190/session
Addiction, Anger Management, Attachment, Break-up recovery, Couples Therapy, Christian counselling, Depression, Negative thinking and ruminating, Self-esteem, Spirituality, Anxiety, Meaning and purpose, Burnout, Identity and Self-Exploration, Relationships, Boundaries and boundary setting, College or University Coaching, Sexuality, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Addiction, Anger Management, Attachment, Break-up recovery, Couples Therapy, Christian counselling, Depression, Negative thinking and ruminating, Self-esteem, Spirituality, Anxiety, Meaning and purpose, Burnout, Identity and Self-Exploration, Relationships, Boundaries and boundary setting, College or University Coaching, Sexuality, Understanding & Regulating Emotions

Stephanie Sideris

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Ajax, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Stephanie Sideris

Stephanie Sideris

Registered Social Worker
She/Her/Hers
$175/session
Children/Teens, Stress, Relationships, Anxiety, Self-esteem, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Effective communication, Family issues, Low mood, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Navigating challenging relationships, Perfectionism
Children/Teens, Stress, Relationships, Anxiety, Self-esteem, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Effective communication, Family issues, Low mood, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Navigating challenging relationships, Perfectionism

Thiviyan Sithganesan

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Thiviyan Sithganesan

Thiviyan Sithganesan

Registered Social Worker
He/Him
$180/session
Addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Attachment, BIPOC, Burnout, Childhood trauma, Children/Teens, Couples Therapy, Cultural Challenges, Depression, Emotional regulation, Grief/Loss, Health anxiety, Infidelity, LGBTQ2IA+, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Men's issues, Mindfulness, Motivation, Phobias, Stress, Relationships, Insomnia, Couples
Addiction, Anger, Anxiety, Attachment, BIPOC, Burnout, Childhood trauma, Children/Teens, Couples Therapy, Cultural Challenges, Depression, Emotional regulation, Grief/Loss, Health anxiety, Infidelity, LGBTQ2IA+, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Men's issues, Mindfulness, Motivation, Phobias, Stress, Relationships, Insomnia, Couples

Jennifer Rocha

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Jennifer Rocha

Jennifer Rocha

Registered Social Worker
She/Her
$160/session
Postnatal Care, Pregnancy, Maternal mental health, Grief/Loss, Caregivers, Caregiver burnout, Anxiety, Emotional regulation, Burnout, Infertility, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Boundaries and boundary setting, Grief Processing, Navigating challenging relationships, Depression, Depression coping skills
Postnatal Care, Pregnancy, Maternal mental health, Grief/Loss, Caregivers, Caregiver burnout, Anxiety, Emotional regulation, Burnout, Infertility, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Boundaries and boundary setting, Grief Processing, Navigating challenging relationships, Depression, Depression coping skills

Karla Rivera

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Waterloo, ON)
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
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Karla Rivera

Karla Rivera

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She/Her/Hers
$145/session
Nervous system regulation, Parenting, Spirituality, Self-esteem, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Building Self-Care Routines, Intergenerational trauma, Mind-body connection, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Wellness Counselling, Mindfulness
Nervous system regulation, Parenting, Spirituality, Self-esteem, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Building Self-Care Routines, Intergenerational trauma, Mind-body connection, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Wellness Counselling, Mindfulness

Deanna Gooden

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Deanna Gooden

Deanna Gooden

Registered Social Worker
She/Her
$160/session
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, BIPOC, Burnout, Suicidal ideation, Perfectionism, Relationships, Depression, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Life transitions, Intergenerational trauma, LGBTQ2IA+, Negative body image, Racism, Self-esteem, Sports Performance, Self harm, Trauma
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, BIPOC, Burnout, Suicidal ideation, Perfectionism, Relationships, Depression, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Life transitions, Intergenerational trauma, LGBTQ2IA+, Negative body image, Racism, Self-esteem, Sports Performance, Self harm, Trauma

Cayla Townes

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Milton, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON, BC, NL, NT, NU, YT, and SK.
Waitlist
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Cayla Townes

Cayla Townes

Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
$160/session
Attachment trauma, Attachment wounds, Life transitions, Aging, Anxiety, Depression, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Childhood trauma, Workplace stress, Self-esteem, Self-Development, Stress, Relationships, Perfectionism, People pleasing, Overwhelm, Meaning and purpose, Caregiver burnout, Chronic and acute illness, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Imposter syndrome, Separation and divorce, Complex Trauma (CPTSD)
Attachment trauma, Attachment wounds, Life transitions, Aging, Anxiety, Depression, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Childhood trauma, Workplace stress, Self-esteem, Self-Development, Stress, Relationships, Perfectionism, People pleasing, Overwhelm, Meaning and purpose, Caregiver burnout, Chronic and acute illness, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Imposter syndrome, Separation and divorce, Complex Trauma (CPTSD)
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Therapy is hard work.

Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be. Over 10,000 Canadians found their new therapist with First Session.

Frequently asked therapy questions

Do all therapists offer free consultations?

It is common for therapists in private practice to offer free consults with potential clients, though some therapists may not offer them when they aren’t accepting new clients or they might charge for the initial consultation. 

You can schedule a free consultation with nearly all of the therapists listed in our directory. It’s very helpful to be able to meet a potential therapist, learn about their values and approach, and to get a feel for overall compatibility.

What happens during a free consultation with a potential therapist?

A free consultation is similar to an introductory meeting, and is not a full therapy session. You’ll speak with the therapist about your mental health, what brings you to therapy, and they’ll share with you how they approach therapy, what to expect in full-length sessions, and more practical matters like scheduling, payment, and confidentiality. 

What should I be ready to share with the therapist during the consult?

Be prepared to briefly discuss what brings you to therapy and what you hope to achieve. Sharing any relevant personal history or current challenges can help the therapist understand your needs.

How will I know if I found the right therapist for me?

The biggest piece of advice: trust your instincts. Are you looking forward to the idea of speaking with them again? How do you feel when you think about opening up to them? Was there anything in particular they said during the consultation that stood out to you? 

What happens if I don’t want to continue seeing a therapist after the free consultation?

If you choose not to proceed, that's perfectly okay. Therapy is very personal, and finding the right fit is crucial. You're under no obligation to continue after a free consultation.

How do I start booking sessions after a free consultation?

The therapist will likely leave it up to you to book a full-length session after your consultation – it’s about you feeling ready to start, not about being sales-y or trying to convince you. 

What are the different types of therapists in Ontario?

In Ontario, there are four regulated types of therapists

  1. Psychiatrists are practicing doctors and are able to both diagnose mental illnesses and disorders and prescribe medication. 
  1. Psychologists in Ontario have earned a PhD in psychology (“psychology associates” will have a master’s degree). Psychologists can diagnose mental health conditions as well as offer psychotherapy.
  1. Psychotherapists in Ontario are regulated by provincial law. They can provide therapy and counselling services using a specialized approach or by combining different modalities. 
  1. Social workers in Ontario hold either a bachelor’s degree (RSW) or master’s degree (MSW), and many social workers offer counselling services through private practice. 
Is therapy covered by OHIP? Can I use my work health insurance?

There are a few scenarios where therapy is covered by provincial healthcare (OHIP), including:

  • a visit to a psychiatrist via a doctor’s referral
  • a family doctor who also provides psychotherapy services
  • a therapist working in a hospital or another public health setting. 

The Ontario government also has a resources page with affordable and accessible mental healthcare options.

Workplace insurance benefits can reduce or even fully cover out-of-pocket expenses to see a therapist in private practice. After paying for your session, you then submit your receipt as a claim to your insurance plan for reimbursement.

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Use First Session to find the best therapist for you.