Online Therapy in Ontario
Review Ontario location requirements, privacy, setup, format limits, and fit for virtual individual therapy.
A practical guide for a first appointment
What to expect from therapy
You don’t need to arrive with a polished story, a clear goal, or the right words. If you are used to monitoring what another person wants from you, the beginning of therapy can include noticing that pattern and making the process more collaborative.
On this page
The purpose
Psychotherapy is a structured conversation, not a set of instructions
Psychotherapy offers dedicated time to understand a concern, notice patterns, consider surrounding relationships and experiences, and explore possible responses. Sessions may include reflection, questions, attention to emotion, or practical exercises, guided by what feels relevant and workable.
Therapy does not guarantee an outcome or timeline, and the therapist does not take control of important decisions. It is not an emergency service. Questions, uncertainty, disagreement, and changes of direction can be discussed rather than treated as failures.
The consultation
A brief conversation before deciding about ongoing sessions
The consultation is a free, 30 minutes virtual conversation. It can be used to briefly describe what is bringing therapy to mind, ask about the approach, review service format and fees, and consider whether another conversation would be useful. It is not a therapy session and does not create a commitment to continue.
Individual and couples consultations have separate links in Jane. A visible consultation time does not guarantee that a preferred recurring appointment will be available. Ongoing format also differs by service: Individual therapy is offered in person in Kitchener and virtually to clients located in Ontario. Couples therapy is offered in person in Kitchener and virtually to clients located anywhere across Ontario.
Before a first session, check the appointment time and format, review any information provided through the booking process, and note remaining questions. A personal history does not need to be prepared or sent by ordinary email. For a virtual appointment, arrange privacy, a charged device, a stable connection, and headphones when possible.
Free consultationA brief place to describe what is bringing therapy to mind and ask questions before deciding whether to continue.
The consultation is a free, 30 minutes virtual conversation. You can describe what is bringing therapy to mind in general terms, ask questions, and consider whether another conversation would be useful. It is not a therapy session or a commitment to continue. A visible consultation time does not guarantee that a preferred recurring appointment will be available.
Virtual-session preparation checklist
- Confirm the appointment time and virtual format
- Arrange enough privacy for the conversation
- Charge the device you plan to use
- Check the connection, camera, and microphone
- Use headphones when they would make the conversation more private
- Keep ordinary email for general questions and scheduling rather than private health details
The first session
Begin with what is most present, even when the words are incomplete
A first session usually includes reviewing informed consent and confidentiality, discussing what prompted the appointment, and beginning to understand relevant relationships, history, culture, and priorities. Ruba Chihabi may ask clarifying questions, and questions about the process are welcome too. Every detail does not need to be shared at once.
Not knowing what to say is an acceptable place to begin. The starting point might be a recent event, a pattern that keeps returning, a change in mood or connection, or simply the sense that current ways of coping are no longer enough. Silence, uncertainty, or needing time to find language can be part of the conversation.
A specific goal is not required before the first appointment. An early direction can be broad, such as understanding a reaction, improving a relationship pattern, or finding a more workable response to stress. Goals may become more specific, change as new information emerges, or be revisited when the focus of therapy no longer feels useful.
A short first-session overviewConsent, confidentiality, context, priorities, and your questions can be reviewed at a manageable pace.
A first session usually includes informed consent and confidentiality, what prompted the appointment, and the relationships, history, culture, and priorities that may be relevant. Ruba Chihabi may ask clarifying questions, and your questions are welcome too. You can pause, go slowly, or begin without telling every part of your story.
Privacy and consent
Confidentiality is explained before difficult material is expected
Psychotherapy is confidential within legal and professional limits. Information shared in therapy and records connected with care are handled through professional privacy obligations. Informed consent explains information use, record handling, and available choices before a client decides what to disclose.
Read the fuller confidentiality explanationQuestions about limits can be asked before revealing the information behind the question.
Confidentiality has limits. Disclosure may be permitted or required for some serious safety concerns or legal obligations. Ruba Chihabi explains these limits in plain language and can answer questions. Asking about confidentiality does not require revealing the information behind the question.
For an online session, consider who can hear the conversation, whether notifications can be silenced, and whether headphones would help. Ordinary email is suitable for general questions and scheduling, not private health details, a personal history, or urgent concerns.
Direction and feedback
Frequency, goals, and progress are discussed rather than assumed
There is no standard number or frequency of sessions that applies to every person. Timing can depend on the concern, goals, circumstances, preference, current availability, and the work under consideration. An initial rhythm can be discussed and revisited; it is not a promise of how long therapy will take or what result will follow.
Progress may be discussed by returning to the reasons therapy began and noticing changes in daily life, relationships, understanding, or available choices. Change may be visible or subtle, and insight does not guarantee that a pattern will shift immediately.
Feedback is part of collaborative work. A client can say when a question feels unclear, an exercise does not fit, relevant context is missing, or the pace needs attention. The thinking behind an approach can be explained and adjusted where appropriate. Agreement is not required for feedback to be useful.
Making sense of the patternNotice what happens around a difficult moment and what the response may be trying to protect.
Sessions may slow down a recent interaction, emotion, decision, or coping response. The aim is to understand the pattern within your relationships and wider context, soften shame, and identify where another response might become possible. Insight is useful without being treated as a guarantee of immediate change.
Shaping goals togetherGoals can begin broadly and become clearer as you learn what feels relevant, realistic, and meaningful.
An early direction might involve understanding a reaction, trusting a decision, changing a relationship pattern, setting a context-aware boundary, or responding to stress differently. Goals can change. Hesitation, disagreement, and uncertainty are welcome parts of deciding where the work should go.
Reviewing what is usefulFeedback can help assess pace, focus, fit, and whether the work is connecting with daily life.
You can say when a question feels unclear, an interpretation misses important context, an exercise does not fit, or the pace needs attention. Progress may involve changes in daily life, relationships, understanding, or available choices. It may be visible or subtle, and it will be reviewed rather than presumed.
Fit and endings
Therapy can be reconsidered, redirected, or ended
A therapist can appear suitable online and still not feel like the right fit in conversation. Fit may involve communication style, trust, cultural responsiveness, availability, approach, or the kind of support needed. Raising a concern may clarify the process, support an adjustment, or confirm that another option is more appropriate.
Therapy does not have to continue after it stops feeling useful. An ending may follow completed work, changing needs, practical circumstances, or a decision to seek another kind of support. When possible, a closing conversation can review what mattered, what remains unfinished, and what support may be useful next. Reaching out for a consultation does not remove the choice to stop.
Ending, pausing, or changing directionTherapy remains a choice when needs, circumstances, goals, or fit change.
A pause or ending may follow completed work, changing needs, practical circumstances, or a decision to seek another kind of support. When possible, a closing conversation can review what mattered, what remains unfinished, and what may be useful next. Reaching out for a consultation does not remove your choice to stop.
Practical limits
Fees, formats, insurance, and urgent support
Individual therapy is $160 / 50 minutes. Couples therapy is $180 / 50 minutes. Individual therapy is offered in person in Kitchener and virtually to clients located in Ontario. Couples therapy is offered in person in Kitchener and virtually to clients located anywhere across Ontario. A virtual session can proceed only while the client is physically located in Ontario.
Coverage varies. Confirm that your plan covers services provided by a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). The practice cannot guarantee reimbursement for a particular plan. A receipt is emailed after payment for you to submit to your insurer. Direct billing is not offered at this time.
In brief, No fee applies with at least 48 hours’ notice. A cancellation within 24 hours is charged at 50% of the session fee; a no-show is charged at 100%. One free same-day cancellation is available per calendar year, excluding no-shows. The current policy does not specify a fee between 24 and 48 hours; contact the practice if this timing applies.
Intentional Living Psychotherapy does not provide crisis or emergency response, and routine messages are not monitored continuously. When there is immediate danger or an urgent safety concern, use the crisis and emergency resources linked below rather than waiting for a consultation or scheduled appointment.
A thoughtful first step
Bring questions before making a decision about ongoing therapy
A brief consultation can clarify the process, practical arrangements, and possible fit without creating a commitment to continue.