Does Insurance Cover Psychotherapy in Ontario?

One of the most common questions before booking a first session is whether insurance will cover it. The honest answer is: it depends on your specific plan, but here’s what’s generally true in Ontario.

Registered psychotherapists are usually covered

Most extended health benefit plans in Ontario that include mental health coverage will reimburse sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), including those registered under the “Qualifying” category, provided the plan lists that professional category. Coverage amounts and the number of sessions per year vary a lot between plans — some cover $500/year, others $2,000 or more.

How to check your specific plan

Call the number on your benefits card, or check your plan documents, and ask specifically: does this plan cover “Registered Psychotherapist” or “psychotherapy,” what’s the annual maximum, and is a doctor’s referral required (usually it isn’t, for psychotherapy specifically, though some plans differ). It’s worth doing this before your first session so there are no surprises.

How receipts work

In Ontario, most psychotherapists, myself included, don’t bill your insurer directly. Instead, you pay for the session and receive a receipt with the therapist’s name, credentials, and CRPO registration number, which you submit to your insurer yourself, usually through an online portal or app.

If you don’t have coverage

If you don’t have extended health benefits, or your plan doesn’t cover psychotherapy, some therapists, including myself, hold a limited number of reduced-fee spots. It’s always worth asking directly rather than assuming cost rules out therapy altogether.

My fees and receipts

Sessions are $160–$200 CAD depending on length and type, and I send a receipt with my CRPO registration number (#21196) after every session for you to submit to your insurer. I also hold three reduced-fee spots — reach out before booking if cost is what’s holding you back.