Currently, only services provided by psychiatrists are covered by OHIP.

Insurance coverage for psychotherapy varies depending on your insurance provider and your specific plan. To avoid any surprises, please check with your insurance company before your first session to confirm whether your plan includes psychotherapy benefits and what they cover.

If you’re new to therapy, it’s completely natural to feel a bit nervous or unsure about opening up. Many people feel that way at first, and we truly understand. Our goal is to make those first steps as comfortable as possible. You set the pace — we go only as fast as you want to go, and you share only what feels right for you.

A lot of clients tell us that by the end of their first session, they feel a sense of relief — like a weight has lifted simply because someone is really listening and understanding. That feeling of being seen and supported often makes the next steps feel much easier.

It’s also important that you feel genuinely comfortable with your therapist. If at any point it feels like we may not be the best fit, that’s okay. We’re always happy to help you connect with another therapist who may be a better match. What matters most is that you feel safe, supported, and cared for as you begin your healing process.

You can contact us in either of the following ways:
~ Through Psychology Today: Send us an email directly from our profile page.
~ Through our website: Visit our Contact Us page and submit a message requesting a session.

Please include a brief description of what you’re seeking help for so we can match you appropriately. We respond to all inquiries within 48 hours or less.

Yes, we have a 48-hour cancellation policy. If a session is cancelled or missed without at least 48 hours’ notice, a $50 fee will be charged for the first occurrence. For any subsequent late cancellations or no-shows, the full session fee will apply.

Yes — if you let your therapist know that you’d like to switch your session to a virtual appointment, we can send you a link for the session. Please contact your therapist as early as possible so they have enough time to update your appointment.

To protect your privacy and support a safe therapeutic relationship, we do not engage with clients through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or similar sites. These boundaries are in place to safeguard your confidentiality and emotional well-being. If we ever notice an online connection or follow request has been made by accident, we will remove it right away. This isn’t personal, it’s simply part of maintaining a secure and consistent therapeutic space.

Although we use social media in our personal lives, we don’t use them for professional communication. Because of this, you may come across our personal profiles online. If that brings up any thoughts, questions, or feelings, you’re welcome to bring it into session. Anything that affects you is always open for discussion.

We ask that you please avoid contacting any of our therapists through our personal social media for any reason. We won’t respond on those platforms, and we’ll disconnect from any accidental contact to protect your privacy. These guidelines help ensure that our work together remains ethical, respectful, and focused on your well-being.

We don’t typically assign homework to clients who don’t find it helpful. Instead, we offer worksheets or strategies during our sessions, and clients are free to review them on their own time. Many clients choose to revisit these materials independently and share whether they find the strategies useful. Clients also often explore and communicate their learning styles and preferences during our work together, which guides how we use tools and resources.

Yes. If you would like to decrease the frequency of your visits, we completely understand. You are welcome to take a planned break from therapy.

We recommend discussing this with your therapist so you can approach the transition with self-compassion, review the progress you’ve made, and explore any future plans for continuing to work toward your therapy goals.

We understand that this is a very difficult and stressful time for you and your family. At Joy Haven, we’ve supported many couples in strengthening their connection and improving their sense of closeness. However, participation is most effective when both partners choose it together.

We encourage you to present this option to your partner not as an ultimatum, but as a possible solution you can explore as a team. If you’re finding it difficult to agree on how couples therapy can support your relationship, we recommend booking an initial session. This first meeting will give you both the opportunity to discuss your goals and expectations together.

We do not provide formal assessments for disability claims or court-ordered therapy.
This policy is based on our commitment to ethical practice and ensuring that all services are provided within our scope of competency.

Yes. We’re happy to offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation. This space is designed to offer a calm, supportive environment where you can explore what has brought you to counselling.  It also gives us a chance to clarify expectations together, so you feel supported and well-informed as we consider moving forward.

You are welcome to jot down any questions ahead of time to help us make the most of our conversation.

During the consultation, we will also take a moment to talk about scheduling. This helps us understand how your availability aligns with your therapist’s, ensuring that the plan we create feels comfortable, manageable, and truly supportive for you.

At Joy Haven, we deeply believe that everyone deserves access to caring, supportive, and affordable mental health services. With this in mind, we have reduced our session fees to help remove financial barriers and make it easier for clients to receive the support they need. We currently do not offer a sliding scale, as doing so would require raising our standard session fees.

We also partner with The Life Centre (TLC) in Newmarket, who provide affordable services to individuals who qualify. If you feel this might be helpful for you or someone you know, please click on the TLC logo on our main page to connect with their team and explore available options.