Fees, funded access, professional credentials, service area and availability can change. Confirm all details directly with the provider or program. A directory listing does not mean a therapist currently offers free or reduced-fee sessions.
When you need immediate help
If someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help, call 911. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 in Canada. Both are different from a therapy directory or routine appointment search.
Public services are not all the same
A free helpline can provide immediate listening and referral but may not offer a course of psychotherapy. A publicly funded treatment program may require assessment, a referral, age eligibility or regional intake.
A community organization may offer a defined number of sessions or subsidized counselling. Verify who can use the program, its format and how to contact the intake service.
National and provincial starting points
Canada’s federal mental-health resource directory provides provincial and territorial access routes. Ontario publishes mental health services and structured psychotherapy pathways, BC publishes counselling navigation and community options, Nova Scotia lists single-session support and public intake, and Québec offers Info-Social 811.
For Indigenous, youth, veteran and other specialized supports, begin with the federal directory and follow the appropriate program’s current eligibility guidance.
Verified starting points and public resources
These links lead to source publishers or support organizations. Read their current eligibility instructions and contact them directly for availability.
Canada.ca: mental-health support
National listing of crisis, provincial and specialized support resources.
Visit Canada.ca: mental-health support ↗Ontario: mental health services
Public mental health, community navigation and treatment pathways.
Visit Ontario: mental health services ↗BC: free and low-cost community counselling
Provincial counselling and help navigation.
Visit BC: free and low-cost community counselling ↗Nova Scotia: Access Wellness and public intake
Single-session and public mental health service options.
Visit Nova Scotia: Access Wellness and public intake ↗Québec: Info-Social 811
Free confidential psychosocial advice and referrals for Québec residents.
Visit Québec: Info-Social 811 ↗Frequently asked questions
Does a directory listing mean a therapist offers reduced rates?
No. A directory profile is not confirmation of a current reduced-fee service. Ask the therapist about their actual fee, availability, and eligibility before booking.
Are all counselling services covered by provincial health insurance?
No. Coverage depends on the service, provider, setting and program. Publicly funded services and private counselling have different eligibility and billing rules.
What should I ask before booking?
Ask about the total session fee, sliding-scale availability, cancellation fees, insurance receipts, online or in-person options and whether the professional is qualified for your needs.
Is 988 a substitute for ongoing therapy?
No. 988 offers suicide crisis support. Ongoing counselling or treatment may require another service or referral.
Find a therapist and ask about fees
Explore published therapist profiles, professional backgrounds and practice relationships on CanadianTherapists.ca. For payment questions, start with the individual provider or public service rather than relying on a search result alone.
Search the Canadian therapist directoryEditorial note: These pages are original CanadianTherapists.ca guides based on linked government, provincial and community resources, checked on 28 October 2026. They do not reproduce competitor directory content. A link is informational, not an endorsement.