Individual psychotherapy is one-to-one work with a clinician who gets to know you — your history, your patterns, and what you want to be different. People come to Silm Centre for Mental Health for many reasons: anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, grief, life transitions, questions of identity and self-worth, and the wish to understand themselves better. We support therapy for all of these reasons.
Individual therapy at Silm Centre for Mental Health is offered to adults, including older adults (children are served through our child psychotherapy page, and teenagers through our adolescent psychotherapy page), in person at our North York and Oakville offices and virtually to clients located in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
What therapy involves
- Regular sessions (usually 50 minutes) with the same clinician
- A pace and approach matched to you — our clinicians draw on approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), EMDR, internal family systems (IFS), and trauma-focused approaches
- Goals set together, and revisited as things change
Who offers individual therapy
Psychologist
Clinical Associate
Psychologist
Registered Social Worker
Clinical Associate
Psychologist (Supervised Practice)
Practicum Student
Registered Psychotherapist
Registered Psychotherapist
Registered Psychotherapist
Clinical Associate
Registered Social Worker
Clinical Associate
Clinical Associate
Psychologist
Registered Social Worker
Cost and first step
Sessions are $200–$300 per hour, depending on the clinician. The first step is a free initial phone consultation, where we learn what you are looking for and help match you with a clinician before you commit to anything.
Our services are offered by registered psychologists, registered psychotherapists, and registered social workers, which means they are often covered by extended health benefits plans. Coverage varies by plan and by clinician type — we can help you check what to ask your insurer.
Reduced-fee spots: our practicum student offers therapy at sliding-scale and pro-bono rates, supervised by a registered clinician. If cost is a barrier, ask about this at the consultation.
How we approach therapy
Every clinician at Silm Centre for Mental Health works person-centred and trauma-informed, within a social-justice and anti-oppressive lens. Therapy here is not about fixing you to fit a system that may be part of the problem — it is about understanding your experience in its full context, and building change that is sustainable for your actual life.
Common questions
Do I need a referral?
No. You can reach out directly — fill out our initial consultation form, book an intake through our booking portal, or call us, and we will help you find the right clinician.
How do I choose a therapist?
Start with the free consultation: tell us what you are dealing with, any preferences about language, identity, approach, or in-person versus virtual, and we will suggest a match. You can also browse our team page and request someone by name. If you are unsure, you can have an initial phone consultation with more than one therapist before deciding — from the very beginning, your therapist should feel like someone you would be comfortable speaking and sharing with regularly.
How long does therapy take?
It varies. Some people come for a focused few months; others work with a clinician for longer. Your clinician will talk with you about goals and pace, and you can pause or stop at any time. It also helps to have a sense of your insurance coverage, so that together we can factor accessibility and sustainability into your treatment plan.
Is virtual therapy available?
Yes. Most of our clinicians offer virtual sessions, and some offer in-person sessions in North York or Oakville as well. Each clinician’s page shows their formats and locations.
How will I know if therapy is working?
You will usually notice it in ordinary life first: reacting a little differently, coping a little better, catching a pattern as it happens rather than only afterwards. Progress is not always linear — sometimes things feel harder before they feel easier, as avoided material comes into the room. Your clinician will check in with you about your goals and how the work feels, and it is always fair to raise the question directly: a good therapeutic relationship can hold “is this helping?”
Do you offer direct billing?
Yes — direct billing is generally possible for many extended health plans. Let us know your insurer at the consultation and we will confirm whether we can bill your plan directly, or provide receipts for you to submit.