Is Therapy Covered by OHIP? Paying for Psychotherapy in Ontario

Last updated: October 23, 2026 · Reviewed by a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

Is therapy covered by OHIP? Partly. OHIP pays for medically necessary care from doctors, so talk therapy with a family doctor or psychiatrist is covered. Psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist, psychologist or social worker in private practice is not covered by OHIP, and is usually paid privately or through extended health benefits.

Money questions can feel harder to ask than emotional ones. Many people find it easier to describe what they are struggling with than to ask, plainly, how much support is going to cost.

If you have searched “is therapy covered by OHIP”, you are not choosing between your mental health and your budget. You are trying to find where the two meet, which is a reasonable thing to want clarity on before you commit to anything. This guide covers what OHIP pays for, the free options in Ontario, and how people usually pay for private psychotherapy.

What Does OHIP Cover for Mental Health?

OHIP covers medically necessary visits to doctors and care in hospitals (Government of Ontario, n.d.). For mental health, that usually means:

• Family doctors. Many check in on mood and stress, start treatment and make referrals. Some also offer counselling or talk therapy, though time and availability vary.
• Psychiatrists. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose, prescribe medication and provide therapy. You usually need a referral, most often from a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and wait times vary by area.
• Hospital programs. Inpatient and outpatient mental health programs in hospitals are publicly funded, including therapy from the clinicians who work in them.

Type of support	Covered by OHIP or public funding?	How to access
Family doctor	Yes, for medically necessary visits	Book with your doctor or a walk-in clinic
Psychiatrist	Yes, for medically necessary care	Usually a referral; waits vary
Hospital and community mental health programs	Publicly funded	Referral or direct contact; waitlists are common
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP)	Free, publicly funded	Self-referral or referral; adults 18+
Registered Psychotherapist, psychologist or social worker in private practice	No	Book directly; pay privately or through extended health benefits

Why Isn’t Private Psychotherapy Covered by OHIP?

This surprises a lot of people, because a Registered Psychotherapist is often who we picture when we imagine “going to therapy”. Psychologists and registered social workers are in the same position.

The reason is how the system is funded, not how legitimate the care is. OHIP pays for physician and hospital services. Registered Psychotherapists are regulated health professionals, accountable to the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), but their services in private practice are not paid through OHIP. The same is true for psychologists and social workers outside hospitals and publicly funded programs.

One more difference worth knowing: Registered Psychotherapists do not prescribe medication. If medication is part of the picture, your family doctor, nurse practitioner or a psychiatrist is the right person to talk to, and therapy can sit alongside that care.

Also read: What to Expect in Your First Online Therapy Session

Free and Low-Cost Mental Health Support in Ontario

Cost should not be the reason someone goes without support. Ontario has a few publicly funded paths worth knowing by name.

Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program (OSP)

OSP offers free, publicly funded cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and related services for adults with depression and anxiety-related concerns. You need to be 18 or older, and the program is not suitable for everyone, especially people with more complex needs (Ontario Health, n.d.).

OSP works in steps. Many people start with guided self-help supported by a coach or clinician, and some move on to one-on-one or group CBT. Concerns it covers include low mood, worry, panic, social anxiety, health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive concerns and post-traumatic stress. In the Durham area, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby accepts OSP referrals from health care providers and self-referrals, and young people aged 15 to 17 may be able to access a guided self-help program called BounceBack (Ontario Shores, n.d.).

OSP is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, use the contacts in the crisis box further down.

Other places to look

• Your family health team or community health centre. Some have social workers or counsellors on staff, at no cost to patients.
• Your workplace assistance program. Many employers offer a free, confidential Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) with a few short-term counselling sessions. Your HR department or benefits booklet will say.
• Your college or university. Students can usually access free counselling through campus wellness services.
• ConnexOntario. A free, government-funded service that can help you find mental health and addiction services in your area, any time. Call 1-866-531-2600 or text CONNEX to 247247. Interpretation is available in many languages. More at connexontario.ca.

Public options are valuable, and many have waitlists. Some people use them alongside private therapy, or use private sessions while they wait.

Paying for Private Psychotherapy in Ontario

For ongoing private therapy, most people in Ontario pay through one or more of the routes below. Coverage rules and tax details can change, so confirm current details with your plan or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Extended health benefits

Workplace, private and some student health plans often include mental health coverage, usually as a yearly maximum or a set amount per session. The wording in your plan matters. Some plans list “psychologist” but not “psychotherapist”, some name “Registered Psychotherapist” separately, and coverage for a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) varies from plan to plan.

Before you book, it can help to ask your provider:

• Does my plan cover a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)?
• How much is covered per session and per year?
• Are couples or family sessions included?
• Do I need a doctor’s referral to be reimbursed?
• How do I submit receipts, and is there a time limit?
• If my partner also has benefits, can I claim the remainder through their plan?

No GST/HST on psychotherapy

Since June 20, 2024, psychotherapy services provided by psychotherapists regulated in Ontario have been exempt from GST/HST (Canada Revenue Agency, 2024). CRPO notes that the exemption is not meant to exclude couple, family or group therapy where each person is receiving psychotherapy (CRPO, n.d.). In practice, the session fee you are quoted should not have sales tax added on top.

The medical expense tax credit

In Ontario, registered and legally authorized psychotherapists are on the CRA’s list of authorized medical practitioners for the medical expense tax credit (Canada Revenue Agency, 2026). That means fees you paid and were not reimbursed for may count as eligible medical expenses, once your total expenses pass the CRA’s threshold. A tax professional or the CRA can confirm what applies to you.

Payment options and receipts

Some private practices offer a sliding scale or other payment options. It is fair to ask. It is also worth asking what the receipt includes, such as the therapist’s name, registration number, date and fee, so you know it will meet your plan’s requirements. Keeping all your receipts in one place saves a headache at tax time.

Also read: Does Online Therapy Work for Anxiety? What the Research Says

How Therapy Can Support You

Hayat Embodied Therapy is a private online practice, so sessions are not billed to OHIP. Fees are shared during the free 15-minute consultation, so you know the cost before you decide, and you are welcome to ask whether a sliding scale may be available. Receipts are provided for insurance reimbursement. Coverage depends on your extended health benefits plan, and coverage for a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) varies, so it is a good idea to check with your provider first.

Sessions draw on approaches such as CBT, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and somatic therapy, with an embodied, culturally responsive focus. Breathe, Feel, Heal. Support is available through individual therapy for adults, anxiety and depression counselling and couples therapy, online, by private video, for people across Ontario, including Oshawa, Durham Region and Toronto, in English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. Answers to common questions about receipts and payment are on the FAQ page.

For immigrant and racialized families, an unfamiliar benefits system can be its own barrier, on top of any stigma around asking for help. If that sounds familiar, culturally responsive support for BIPOC individuals and families can hold both the practical and the personal side.

When to Seek Support

Cost questions matter, and they should not delay care when things are getting harder. It may help to reach out to your doctor, a public program or a therapist if:

• Low mood, worry or stress has lasted several weeks and is affecting sleep, work or relationships.
• You are pulling away from people or things you used to enjoy.
• You are relying more on alcohol or other substances to cope.
• You are on a waitlist and need support in the meantime.
• You feel hopeless, or have thoughts of not wanting to be here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OHIP cover a Registered Psychotherapist?

No. OHIP covers medically necessary care from doctors, including psychiatrists, but not Registered Psychotherapists in private practice. Their services are usually paid privately or through extended health benefits, and many plans include some coverage.

Is a psychologist covered by OHIP?

Not in private practice. Psychologists working in hospitals or other publicly funded programs can be free to see, but private sessions with a psychologist are paid out of pocket or through extended health benefits.

Is seeing a psychiatrist free in Ontario?

Yes. OHIP covers medically necessary care from a psychiatrist. You will usually need a referral, most often from a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and wait times vary depending on where you live and how urgent your situation is.

Is there free therapy in Ontario?

Yes, with limits. The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program offers free CBT for adults with depression and anxiety-related concerns. Hospitals, community health centres, workplace assistance programs and campus counselling services may also offer free support, and ConnexOntario can help you find local services.

Does insurance cover a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)?

It depends on your extended health benefits plan. Many plans include psychotherapy, but coverage for a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) varies from plan to plan. Check with your provider before booking, and ask how to submit receipts.

Can I claim psychotherapy on my taxes in Ontario?

You may be able to. Psychotherapists in Ontario are on the Canada Revenue Agency’s list of authorized medical practitioners for the medical expense tax credit, so fees you paid and were not reimbursed for may be eligible. A tax professional or the CRA can confirm what applies to you.

Cost Is a Real Barrier, Not a Small One

Figuring out how to pay for support should not be the reason you go without it, and wanting clarity before you commit is fair. None of this makes your need for support any less real.

You do not need a perfect plan today. Knowing your options is a practical first step, and you can take it at your own pace.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment.

References

1. Canada Revenue Agency. (2024, July 15). Clarifying the new GST/HST exemption for psychotherapy and counselling therapy services. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/newsroom/tax-tips/tax-tips-2024/clarifying-new-gsthst-exemption-psychotherapy-counselling-therapy-services.html
2. Canada Revenue Agency. (2026). Authorized medical practitioners for the purposes of the medical expense tax credit. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/lines-33099-33199-eligible-medical-expenses-you-claim-on-your-tax-return/authorized-medical-practitioners-purposes-medical-expense-tax-credit.html
3. College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (n.d.). Are CRPO registrants required to charge HST? https://crpo.ca/resource-articles/are-crpo-registrants-required-to-charge-hst/
4. Government of Ontario. (n.d.). What OHIP covers. https://www.ontario.ca/page/what-ohip-covers
5. Ontario Health. (n.d.). Depression and anxiety-related concerns: Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program. https://www.ontariohealth.ca/getting-health-care/mental-health-addictions/depression-anxiety-ontario-structured-psychotherapy
6. Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. (n.d.). Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program. https://www.ontarioshores.ca/services/ontario-structured-psychotherapy-program