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You deserve support. Cost shouldn’t stand in the way.
We hear it all the time: ‘I need affordable therapy in Ottawa, but I don’t know where to start.’ And we get it—the financial side of mental health care can feel like yet another barrier when you’re already struggling. Between work stress, family pressures, and everything else on your plate, the last thing you need is to worry about whether you can afford the support you deserve.
Here’s what we want you to know: quality mental health care in Ottawa doesn’t have to be out of reach.
Understanding Affordable Therapy Costs in Ottawa:
Let’s be transparent about what therapy typically costs in our city. Most registered psychotherapists in Ottawa charge between $150-185 per session, while psychologists often charge $200-250 per hour. That’s not small change, especially when you’re navigating the sandwich generation—supporting both your kids and aging parents—or managing the financial pressures that come with life in Ottawa.
Understanding Your Insurance Coverage for Therapy in Ontario
Many Ottawa residents have more coverage than they realize. Most employer health benefit plans include mental health support, often covering $500-2000 per year for psychology and psychotherapy services. Some plans have increased their coverage considerably in recent years. Understanding your insurance coverage is often the first step to accessing affordable therapy in Ottawa—and many people are surprised to discover they have more support available than they realized.
Before assuming therapy is out of reach, it’s worth:
- Checking your workplace benefits package (look for “paramedical services” or “mental health professionals”)
- Calling your insurance provider to ask specifically about psychotherapy and psychology coverage
- Understanding whether your plan covers psychotherapists, psychologists, and/ or social work
A note about supervision: At Resiliency Clinic, our registered psychotherapists are supervised by a registered psychologist. This can actually work to your advantage—many insurance plans offer better coverage for services provided under psychological supervision (which means the services are psychological services, even if provided by a psychotherapist or social worker).
Affordable Therapy at our Ottawa Clinic
We believe everyone should have access to quality mental health services, regardless of their financial situation. That’s not just marketing talk—it’s literally built into how we structure our practice. We have a couple of options available for more affordable therapy:
Sliding Scale Therapy:
Sliding scale therapy is a payment model where fees are adjusted based on your income, insurance coverage, and ability to pay. Think of it as meeting you where you are financially, without compromising the quality of care you receive.
If our standard therapy fees ($160-185 per session) feel out of reach right now, we want you to know: sliding scale options may be available, and asking about them is not only okay—it’s welcomed. There’s absolutely no judgment here. We understand that life circumstances vary, and we’ve built flexibility into our practice because we believe cost shouldn’t be the barrier that keeps you from getting support.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we work with you to find a fee that makes therapy genuinely sustainable—because the best therapy is the therapy you can actually commit to. When our therapists have availability for sliding scale clients, they let our clinical director know, and we’ll do our best to match you with the right fit for both your therapeutic needs and your budget.
The Internship Program:
Here’s something many people don’t know: some of the most dedicated, well-trained therapists in Ottawa are completing their clinical training hours—and they offer exceptional care at significantly lower rates.
Our Master’s level interns are experienced professionals who bring fresh perspective, current training, and genuine commitment to their work. They’re not “less qualified”—they’re highly trained clinicians completing their final supervised hours toward full licensure. We currently have two interns available for booking requests: Emma Harvie et Kiersten Grantham. Learn more about Kiersten and Emma, along with our other therapists, on our team page. Book a 15 minute appointment with either of them ici.
They work under the close supervision of our clinical director, registered psychologist Michelle Sorensen, ensuring you receive quality care throughout your therapeutic journey.
The benefits of working with an intern include:
- Much lower session fees (often 50-75% less than standard rates)
- Therapists who are current on the latest research and approaches
- Close supervision ensuring quality and accountability
- Enthusiastic, engaged professionals dedicated to your progress
Making Mental Health Counselling Accessible in Ottawa
Affordability isn’t just about the dollar amount—it’s about removing barriers that keep you from getting help. That’s why we also offer:
Flexible Session Formats
- In-person therapy at our comfortable Ottawa offices
- Virtual therapy across Ontario (phone or secure video)
- Scheduling that works around your life, not the other way around
Bilingual Psychology Services
- Full services available in both English and French
- Because you should be able to process your thoughts in the language that feels most natural
No Referral Required
- You can reach out directly—no need to navigate the healthcare system first
- Free 15-minute consultation calls to ensure we’re the right fit
Free Mental Health Resources Make Sense
We’d be remiss not to mention that Ottawa does have some free mental health resources. These can be excellent resources for immediate support or specific situations. However, they typically offer limited sessions and may not provide the ongoing, relationship-based therapy that creates lasting change for issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship concerns.
- Walk-In Counselling Clinics throughout Ottawa offer free single-session support (no appointment needed)
- BounceBack Ontario provides free telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy
- Community Health Centres offer some sliding scale counselling
If you’re dealing with complex issues—trauma, long-standing relationship patterns, significant life transitions, burnout, or grief and loss—you’ll likely benefit from consistent, ongoing therapy with someone who knows your story and can help you build real resilience over time.
The Real Question: Can You Afford Not To Get Help?
We know that’s a heavy question, but it’s worth considering. How much is your chronic stress costing you—in sleep, in relationships, in missed opportunities at work, in the joy you’re not experiencing with your kids? Therapy isn’t a luxury purchase. It’s an investment in your capacity to show up fully for your life.
Consider the actual costs of not getting support:
- Burnout that leads to taking stress leave from work
- Relationships that break down because you don’t have the tools to navigate conflict
- Physical health problems that develop from chronic, unmanaged stress
- Years spent feeling stuck in the same patterns, wishing things were different
When you look at it that way, even therapy at full price offers tremendous return on investment. And when therapy is genuinely affordable? That’s when real transformation becomes possible.
Your Mental Health Matters—Regardless of Your Bank Balance
At Resiliency Clinic, we’re committed to a simple principle: everyone deserves access to quality mental health care. Not just people with premium insurance plans or high incomes. Everyone. That commitment shows up in how we structure our fees, train our interns, and work with each person who reaches out to find a sustainable path forward.
You’re worth the investment. Your relationships are worth it. Your peace of mind is worth it. And we’re here to help make it possible.
Ready to explore your options for affordable therapy in Ottawa? Contact Michelle Sorensen, our Clinical Director, to discuss sliding scale availability, insurance coverage, or internship program options. We’re here to help you find a path to the support you deserve.
Réserver une consultation gratuite de 15 minutes to ask questions, discuss fees, and see if we’re the right fit for you.
These posts are not a replacement for psychological services. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency department.
