Frequently Asked Questions Therapy in Ontario

I want to extend a warm welcome to you. I have a broad range of expertise in general mental health, anxiety/depression/anger/work stress/as well as  working with clients who are trying to conceive or are parents well past the first year postpartum. 

I understand the unique challenges and complexities that can arise during these life stages, and am here to offer compassionate and personalized support. My goal is to work collaboratively with you to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs and goals. I invite you to contact us to learn more or to schedule an appointment. 

Referrals are not required to book an appointment  however, some extended health insurers do not cover registered psychotherapy  It is recommended that you check with your insurer prior to attending your first appointment. We do not do direct billing.

Services are not covered if the insurance policy indicates coverage for "Registered Social Worker" or "Psychologist" 

Please be aware that psychotherapy services are typically not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in Canada. However, many clients may have extended health benefits through their employee or private health insurance plans that offer full or partial coverage for services provided by a registered psychotherapist.

If you are not covered by an insurance plan, you may be eligible to claim psychotherapy services as a tax-deductible medical expense. Your therapist will discuss the fee with you prior to  your first session, and payment for each session is required at the end of the session. You will receive a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, or you can keep the receipt for tax purposes.

At our practice, we offer payment options through credit card or e-transfer to make the payment process as convenient as possible for our clients. Please feel free to speak with your therapist or insurance provider if you have any questions about payment or insurance coverage

Registered Psychotherapist: Individual 1 hour rate $160 plus HST, 

                                                            Couples 1 hour rate $185 plus HST

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) Student Under the Supervision of Yolanda Testani:

 Individual 1 hour rate $60 plus HST,

At the start of our work together, we will schedule an initial appointment to gather information about your current concerns and relevant background information. This information will allow us to develop a personalized treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs and goals. We offer the flexibility to conduct our sessions via secure video using Doxy or over the phone, depending on your preference. Our goal is to provide you with a safe, supportive, and confidential space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, and work towards positive change. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to connecting with you. 

The frequency of therapy depends on your situation, the complexity of the case, and your goals. It may also depend on the ability to afford the sessions. In general, clients book for weekly or bi-weekly sessions. It is not recommended to space it further than bi-weekly as the therapeutic gains will lose its "momentum". However, these are guidelines and the frequency of the sessions will be confirmed after the first session.

As you progress through therapy and begin to feel better, the sessions will be tapered off to tri-weekly, monthly, or even bi-monthly.

If you have to change or cancel an appointment, please notify us as soon as possible to avoid a late cancellation fee. We charge the full hourly rate for appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice. Please note that we will waive the cancellation fee for extenuating circumstances and this will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Currently the team is  only offering virtual sessions anywhere in Ontario.