Student Therapy
IN KITCHENER-WATERLOO
Your student health benefits cover therapy - up to $1,000 at Laurier, $800 at UW
School can be brutal. One minute you're crushing that presentation, the next you're eating cereal for dinner at 2 AM while questioning every life choice you've ever made. The pressure to have it all together while your world feels like it's falling apart? We get it.
Whether you're a first-year trying to figure out where you fit in, a senior panicking about what comes next, or somewhere in between juggling academics, relationships, work, and trying to remember when you last did laundry, you're not alone. And more importantly, you don't have to pretend everything's fine.
We work with hundreds of students from University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier, and Conestoga College. We've heard it all, and we're here to tell you: what you're feeling is valid, it's more common than you think, and yes, it can get better.
*Complementary consultations available for select clinicians
What We Actually Help With
When Your Brain Won't Stop
That constant loop of anxiety that kicks in every Sunday night? The imposter syndrome that whispers you don't belong here? The perfectionism that has you rewriting that essay for the fifteenth time? These aren't character flaws. They're your brain's attempt to protect you in an incredibly stressful environment.
We help you understand what's happening in your nervous system and give you real tools to work with anxiety instead of against it. No toxic positivity, no "just think happy thoughts." Real, evidence-based strategies that work in the actual world of deadlines, group projects, and 8 AM lectures.
When Everything Feels Heavy
Depression in university doesn't always look like staying in bed all day (though sometimes it does). Sometimes it looks like going through the motions, feeling disconnected from friends, losing interest in things you used to love, or feeling like you're watching your life happen from the outside.
Whether it's been creeping up slowly or hit you like a truck, we create a safe space to explore what's really going on. Together, we'll work on reconnecting with yourself, finding meaning again, and building a life that feels worth living, even in the chaos of student life.
Here's How Your Coverage Actually Works
University of Waterloo Students
Your WUSA health plan typically covers 80% of therapy costs up to $800 per calendar year. No doctor's referral needed.
Coverage period: Calendar year (January-December)
Wilfrid Laurier Students
Undergrads typically get up to $1,000 per year, while grad students have $400. The plan usually covers 80% of each visit.
Coverage period: September to August - use it before summer!
Conestoga College Students
Typically 70% coverage up to $300 per year through your student association.
International students: Check your CIHIP plan for potential additional coverage!
Your actual out-of-pocket cost will depend on:
Which therapist you're matched with (rates vary by credentials and experience)
Your specific enrollment status and plan details
Current session fees
All registered full-time students enrolled in their health plan are typically covered for sessions with our MSWs and RPs. We strongly recommend verifying your exact coverage and eligibility with your insurance provider before booking.
Ready to take the next step?
Click the button below to contact our team.
"But I Still Can't Afford the Co-Pay"
We hear you. Even with insurance, it can be a stretch when you're living on student loans and instant noodles. That's why we created our supervised intern program.
Affordable Therapy with Our Student Interns
Why see a student intern?
Budget-Friendly: quality care at a fraction of the cost
Up-to-Date: interns bring fresh knowledge and experience to the field
Timely Care: no long waitlists, faster access to support
Collaborative Support: every intern is paired with a qualified supervisor for guidance
Flexible Scheduling: appointment times designed to fit your busy student life
Our intern therapists are in the final stages of their Master's training. They're passionate about helping and supervised by our senior registered therapists. Think of it as getting a junior doctor at a teaching hospital: same quality care, lower price point, and often more availability for appointments.
Many insurance plans still cover intern sessions (they're supervised by registered professionals), which could bring your cost down even further.
Affordable, safe, and supportive. Care that works for you.
Starting Therapy as a Student: What to Expect
The First Step is the Hardest
Booking that first appointment can feel overwhelming. You might be thinking:
"What if they judge me?"
"What if my problems aren't 'bad enough'?"
"What if I cry?" (Spoiler: crying is totally okay)
"What if therapy doesn't work for me?"
These fears are completely normal. Every student who walks through our door has felt them. The difference is, they took the step anyway.
Your First Session
No standardized questionnaires that feel like exams. No being talked at for 50 minutes. Your first session is a conversation. We want to hear your story, understand what brought you here, and figure out how we can help. You're in the driver's seat. We're just here to help navigate.
Some people know exactly what they want to work on. Others just know something feels off. Both are perfectly fine starting points.
The Work (It's Not What You Think)
Therapy isn't about lying on a couch talking about your childhood (unless you want to). Modern therapy is collaborative, practical, and focused on what you need right now. That might mean:
Learning how to regulate your nervous system during exam season
Processing a traumatic experience that's affecting your daily life
Figuring out who you are outside of others' expectations
Developing strategies for managing ADHD in university
Working through family dynamics that are affecting your mental health
Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
You don't have to have it all figured out to start therapy. You don't need to wait until things get "bad enough." If you're struggling, that's enough. If you want to feel better, that's enough. If you're curious about therapy, that's enough.
Your student health benefits make therapy accessible. We make it actually helpful.
A Note for International Students
Navigating mental health support in a new country is hard. Cultural differences, language barriers, and different approaches to mental health can make seeking help feel even more daunting.
We work with many international students and understand the unique challenges you face:
Pressure to succeed after your family invested everything in your education
Isolation and homesickness that video calls home can't fix
Cultural adjustment stress that goes beyond just missing familiar food
The weight of being a representative of your country
Navigating identity between two cultures
Some of our therapists have lived experience as immigrants or international students. We offer culturally sensitive therapy that honors where you come from while supporting where you're going.
For Graduate Students: We See You Too
Grad school is its own special kind of stress. The imposter syndrome hits different when you're surrounded by brilliant people. The pressure to publish, teach, research, and somehow maintain a life outside the lab or library? We get it.
Whether you're struggling with:
Advisor relationships that feel impossible to navigate
Thesis anxiety that keeps you up at night
Burnout from teaching while trying to do your own work
Questioning if academia is even for you anymore
Relationship stress from partners who don't understand why you're always working
You deserve support that understands the unique pressures of graduate studies. Our therapists can help you navigate both the personal and professional challenges of grad school.
Take the First Step Today
University is hard enough without trying to do it all alone. Your mental health matters as much as your GPA. Actually, it matters more. Because when your mental health improves, everything else gets a little easier.
FAQs
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No! You can book directly with our Registered Social Workers (RSWs) and Registered Psychotherapists (RPs) - no referral needed.
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Yes, if you're covered under a parent's plan, you may have even better coverage.
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We offer virtual therapy across Ontario, so you can continue your sessions wherever your co-op takes you.
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Often yes! Supervised interns working under registered professionals are typically covered. Please check with your provider beforehand.
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It depends on who you are pair with, but typically within 1 to 2 weeks.
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Yes! We offer appointments 6 days a week with sessions in the morning, afternoon and evening.
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Absolutely. What you share in therapy stays in therapy, and we follow strict professional confidentiality guidelines. However, there are a few legal exceptions where we may be required to break confidentiality:
Risk of harm: If there's a serious risk that you might harm yourself or someone else
Abuse or neglect: If we suspect child, elder, or dependent adult abuse
Court orders: If required by law or court order
Outside of these rare situations, your privacy is protected and what we discuss remains between us.
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We don’t currently offer direct billing, but the process to claim your coverage is simple. You would pay for your session at the time of your appointment, and we’ll provide you with a detailed receipt that you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement according to your plan.
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Sometimes you can't wait for that first appointment. If you're in crisis, you have immediate options: Tonight or This Weekend call Good2Talk at 1-866-925-5454 (24/7 student helpline that actually gets it), Here 24/7 at 1-844-437-3247 (local crisis support), or text CONNECT to 686868 (crisis text line). On Campus Today reach out to UW Campus Wellness at 519-888-4567 x 32655, Laurier Student Wellness at 519-884-0710 x 3146, or Conestoga Student Services at 519-748-5220 x 3679.
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