Therapists for Western University Students

Eligible full-time undergraduate students are automatically enrolled in USC PurpleCARE, and full-time graduate students who have paid their ancillary fees are automatically enrolled in the SOGS Health & Dental plan.

Western undergrads on USC PurpleCARE are covered at 100% per visit, up to a combined maximum of $1,200 per benefit year (September 1–August 31). Graduate students on the SOGS Health & Dental plan are covered at 80% per visit, up to a combined maximum of $500 per benefit year.

Western undergraduate students are covered for Psychologists, Registered Psychotherapists, Registered Social Workers, Registered Clinical Counsellors, and more. Western graduate students are covered for Psychologists, Psychotherapists, and Social Workers. If you have questions about whether a therapist is covered by your insurance, you can ask them directly. All First Session therapists offer a free initial consultation to gauge fit and answer questions like these.

Private therapy sessions in London typically run $130–$225 per session. Western students can reduce out-of-pocket costs by using their student health insurance. First Session lists every therapist's session cost upfront (taxes included) so you can check your budget first. You can also filter for therapists offering sliding scale rates and mention your student status and coverage limit when reaching out.

Health & Wellness Services offers short-term counselling (up to 6 sessions per academic year) and support groups called Group Care. Call 519-661-3030 or visit Thames Hall (Room 2170) to learn more and register. There's also the Peer Support Centre, which offers non-judgmental, confidential support from trained peers. New this year for Western undergraduates is the Student Assistance Program (SAP). SAP is a confidential mental health and wellness crisis service available online 24/7, 365 days a year. It connects you with numerous professionals across many domains to support your specific needs. Students enrolled in the University Student Council's Virtual Health Care plan receive four free virtual sessions per incident on the Dialogue mobile app or website.

Health & Wellness Services is free but limited to 6 sessions per academic year. Private therapy involves out-of-pocket fees, which can be partially subsidized by your Western student health and dental plan. It's ongoing, open-ended, and customized to your long-term mental health goals, with no session cap and access to a wider pool of therapists.

Yes, Western students can access online therapy. For insurance purposes, it usually doesn't matter whether the session is online or in person, as long as the provider is covered. Many therapists on First Session offer online sessions, making it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule.

Undergraduate students covered under the PurpleCARE plan are eligible for 80% of the cost of prescription drugs, up to an annual maximum of $3,000.