Your Guide to Mental Health Services: Who's Who and What's Covered?
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Here’s a quick guide to help you understand the difference between various mental health care providers, what fees are covered by OHIP, and what costs are out-of-pocket.
Your Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner
This is your first point of contact. If you don’t have one, here’s how to find one. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner oversees your overall health care needs and can refer you to medical specialists, including psychiatrists.
Prescribes medication: Yes
Covered by OHIP: Yes
Provides counselling/psychotherapy: Not typically (bonus if they do!)
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses. They can prescribe medication and may use psychotherapy (e.g., talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy) as part of treatment. However, not all psychiatrists offer psychotherapy—many focus on medication management. You need a referral from your family doctor to see a psychiatrist.
Prescribes medication: Yes
Covered by OHIP: Yes (but waiting lists can be long, e.g., 6 months or longer)
Provides counselling/psychotherapy: Sometimes, depending on the psychiatrist
Psychologist
A psychologist is trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental illnesses, but cannot prescribe medication. If you're looking for a comprehensive psychological assessment, this is the person to see, though assessments can cost thousands of dollars. Psychologists can also provide psychotherapy (e.g., talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy), with fees typically around $200+/hour. Fees for psychological services are not covered by OHIP.
Prescribes medication: No
Provides counselling/psychotherapy: Yes
Covered by OHIP: No
However, if you have private insurance through your workplace or another provider, check whether your plan covers a portion of these fees.
Registered Psychotherapists (RP), Registered Social Workers (RSW), and Clinical Counsellors
These professionals are trained in various counselling and psychotherapy modalities to support your recovery process. They do not prescribe medication or provide diagnoses, but they are experts in clinical mental health. Fees are typically around $150+/hour and are not covered by OHIP.
Prescribes medication: No
Provides psychotherapy: Yes
Covered by OHIP: No
If you have private insurance, check if your plan reimburses a portion of these fees. Additionally, if a Registered Social Worker is part of your Family Health Team, their services may be covered by OHIP.
As you can see, we still have a long way to go in making mental health care fully accessible to everyone in Ontario.
Fortunately, community mental health supports are available. Additionally, many workplaces offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), which can provide free counselling sessions as part of their wellness programs.
Reference: CMHA Ontario - Getting Help
