Affordable Therapy for Parents in Ontario

Sessions with our Master of Social Work interns are offered at $100/hour – well below our standard therapy fee of $185/hour. The lower rate reflects where your therapist is in their training, not a shorter session, a lighter approach, or less care. Sessions are one hour, weekly or biweekly, the same as any other client at our practice. I want the fee to be clear and upfront, not provided only after reaching out.

Absolutely! Our interns have already completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree and an undergraduate degree in a relevant field, so they aren’t new to the field or therapy. Each Intern is hand selected through a rigorous interview process to ensure they are the perfect fit for this work. Our Interns complete extensive perinatal mental health education through Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings, the same program our Therapy team obtain Perinatal Therapy Certification through. Lastly, our Interns are supervised by our most senior Master’s level Registered Social Workers/Certified Perinatal Therapists. Your case is reviewed during regular weekly supervision, so you have two clinical minds supporting your care instead of one. Many parents find that combination gives them so much more.

 may draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), somatic therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, solution-focused therapy, and trauma-informed care. In plain terms: some sessions focus on the thoughts that keep circling, some on what to do when the feeling has already flooded you, and some on what’s happening in your body before your brain catches up. You’ll work out together what helps most. But at the core of it all – is the therapeutic relationship, feeling seen, understood and cared about by another human who really gets what you’re going through. Research is clear the therapeutic relationship is the most essential ingredient for making progress.

In most cases, yes. Many insurance companies cover services provided by Master of Social Work interns under the direct supervision of a Registered Social Worker. Your receipt will list “Social Work Counselling Services” along with the supervisor’s College registration number for your claim. Coverage varies between plans, so we always suggest checking with your provider before you book.

Yes! Research over the past several years has shown that virtual therapy holds up, and our clients have told us the same. Online therapy also removes the parts that make appointments hard to keep: no travel time, no childcare to arrange, and no packing a diaper bag and figuring out the perfect timing to leave the house. You can be at home, where you’re most comfortable, with your baby napping in the next room, or bouncing a fussy baby on a ball. If you’re unsure whether it’ll work for you, we’d encourage you to try it. Parents are often surprised how well it works for them.

It’s difficult to sort out on your own, because anxiety sits on a continuum. On one end is the worry that makes sense given how much has changed and how much is at stake. On the other is the kind that needs treatment. You don’t need a diagnosis to get support. If your worries are taking up more and more space, if they’re affecting how you get through the day, and particularly if they’re stopping you from doing things you’d otherwise do, that’s reason enough to reach out. In therapy, we can help you learn to cope with it, tolerate how it feels, and bring down the intensity and frequency over time.

The reasons we hear most often:

• Feeling thrown by how much harder this is than expected
• Anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and worry about doing things right
• Rigidity and difficulty letting go of control around the baby or the house
• Low mood, irritability, hopelessness, and disconnection
• Isolation and boredom
• Friction with parents or in-laws
• Struggles with boundaries and people-pleasing
• Loss of identity and grief
• The mental load of running a household
• Relationship conflict
• Self-esteem and body image after birth
• Perfectionism driven by a fear of messing your child up

There’s no set length. Some parents come for a specific stretch, work through what’s in front of them, and finish. Others stay longer, or come back when a new stage brings something new. Your therapist will talk this through with you early on, and you can revisit it whenever you want.

Our affordable therapy sessions are individual, one hour at a time. If couples work is what you need, our registered therapists offer couples therapy at our standard rate, and we’re happy to help you figure out which fit makes sense.

Placements do come to an end, and we’ll give you plenty of notice when that time is approaching. Your therapist and supervisor will plan the transition with you, whether that means finishing your work together, moving to another intern, or transferring to one of our registered therapists.