Finding a Therapist is Hard — Let Us Help!
Thoughts | Roxana Moise
As an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, you have access to all kinds of healthcare coverage, but it can be difficult to know what’s covered and how to access your insurance information. While this guide is far from exhaustive, The Howl is here to help you get started on your journey!
Chapter 1: Accessing Your Insurance Coverage
Firstly, the UTSU’s Health and Dental Plan offers comprehensive coverage for all full-time undergraduate students. If you haven’t opted out of this plan when paying your tuition by proving that you’re already covered by another plan, then good news — you’re included in this insurance plan! Check the plan’s details on the UTSU’s website here, and find more detailed information on the Studentcare website here.
Making a claim is easy! The Studentcare website offers detailed instructions here. Claims made after September 1, 2022 are processed by Green Shield Canada, and can be submitted online here. To register, you’ll need to find out your Member ID, which consists of the letters ‘UTS’ plus your ten-digit student number (for example, UTS1000333777), and create a registration key following the instructions in this video. Once you’ve set up your account, the website has detailed information about the kind of coverage you can expect, how to file a claim, and even how to link your Canadian bank account to be reimbursed by direct deposit!
Your UTSU Health and Dental Plan covers up to 15 sessions with a mental health practitioner per policy year, with a maximum reimbursement of $100 per session. After paying for a therapy session, you can submit a claim on the GSC Everywhere website here and receive your reimbursement!
Chapter 2: Finding a Mental Health Provider
It can be tricky to find the right therapist, counsellor, or psychologist for you, but certain resources can make the journey easier.
The Studentcare Psychology Network offers reduced-cost therapy with their participating group of mental health practitioners. The service is described on the Studentcare website here. To browse their mental health practitioners and book an appointment, visit the PsyVitaliti website here, and make sure to note that you are a Studentcare member when prompted to do so. You can read the profiles of the available practitioners, and even sort them based on your reason for seeking a consultation, before booking an appointment. Sessions take place online or, when available and safe, in-person.
Inkblot offers a matching service to connect you with participating practitioners here. After you fill out a questionnaire to address your mental health needs, Inkblot provides you with a list of practitioners that would be suitable for you. The first consultation is free, so you can try out as many practitioners as you need to before you find the right fit. After this, sessions cost $45 for 30 minutes, or $90 for 60 minutes. Sessions take place online over video call on the Inkblot website.
Psychology Today offers city-based directories of therapists with the option to sort by the issue you’d like to address, your insurance provider, the type of therapy you’d like to receive, or your price range. For example, here is the directory for Toronto! After reading a therapist’s bio and deciding that they are a good match, you can contact them with the information listed on the website.
Chapter 3: Accessing Instant Care
Various services exist to address urgent mental health needs.
In an emergency, please call 911.
Within Canada, Talk Suicide’s phone helpline is available at 1-833-456-4566 all day, every day. Their text helpline can be reached by sending a text message to 45645 from 4 pm to midnight EST. To find out what you can expect when you contact them, click here.
Within Ontario, ONTX chat services are accessible between 2 PM and 2 PM EST every day. To speak to a trained listener, follow the link on their website here, or text “SUPPORT” to 258258.
Studentcare offers a service called Empower Me for full-time undergraduate students, which can be reached by calling 1-833-628-5589. For urgent care, press 0(zero) to be connected to a crisis counsellor. Otherwise, you’ll be asked about your needs and care preferences, matched to a health professional, and be contacted by them within 48 hours to schedule an appointment. For more information, as well as to access Empower Me through their mobile app, check out their website here.