Mental Health

Through Focus Mental Wellness, the WELL Health Clinic Network provides phone, video, and text therapy across Canada. These services provide significant benefits to Canadians by eliminating barriers to care, providing affordable options through online therapy, and offering more flexibility in when and how to speak to a therapist. 

In addition to Focus Mental Wellness, select clinics within the WELL Health Clinic Network offer in-person appointments. 

Therapists in our network can help with many mental health conditions and concerns, including: 

• Anxiety 
• Depression 
• ADHD 
• Addiction 
• Loneliness 
• Discrimination 
• Eating disorders 
• Bipolar Disorder 
• LGBTQA+ 
• Parenting 
• Trauma 
• PTSD 

You should book a therapy session when you feel that you need support with your mental health or as recommended by your healthcare provider. Everyone can benefit from expert advice on mental health, and therapists and psychologists can help with a wide variety of problems or concerns. Some common reasons why people book a therapy session include:  

• Talking about difficult feelings and emotions and their causes 
• Help to deal with the consequences of chronic health conditions 
• The loss of a loved one 
• Stressful situations such as a new or a lost job
• Relationship, family, or friendship problems 
• Mental health concerns
• Support with addiction or phobia 
• Childhood trauma 

While most provincial health plans do not cover mental health care, many employer and private insurance plans do offer mental health coverage. This is how many Canadians currently access mental health services.  

Your insurance and benefits policies can vary, so it’s important to review your policy terms before scheduling an appointment. For example, some insurers specify which mental health professionals they cover and may set annual or per-session limits. There are also a few exceptions where provincial health plans cover mental health care, so review your provincial health plan for more specific details. 

A therapist conducts talk-based therapy with clients to help improve and maintain their mental health and well-being. Their goal is to support positive changes in thinking, feeling, behaviour, and social functioning. Therapists use a variety of approved treatment approaches, or ‘modalities,’ including Cognitive, Behavioral, Experiential, and Psychodynamic therapies. 

Psychologists and therapists provide similar services overall. Both utilize comparable treatment approaches and problem-solving skills in their therapy practices. The main difference is that psychologists not only provide therapy but can also conduct formal diagnoses of mental health disorders. 

Psychologists often establish treatment plans based on these diagnoses and collaborate with therapists to deliver therapy services to the client.  

Finally, the hourly cost of sessions with a therapist is typically significantly less than that of a psychologist. 

Deciding what kind of mental health professional is right for you can be challenging. Here are some key things to look for in choosing your therapist:  

• What therapist designations does your insurance cover?   

Your coverage could cover some mental health professionals and not others, so it’s best to check what your insurance covers specifically. 

• What specialties and experience do you want your therapist to have?  

It’s important to find a therapist who has experience with your specific needs so they can offer you the best support.      

Focus Mental Wellness can help take the guesswork out of finding the right therapist. When you start with Focus, you can complete a 2-minute questionnaire and get matched with licensed therapists who meet your needs. From there, you can choose which therapist you want to speak to based on their experience.      

What to expect from a therapy appointment  

Your first appointment is usually an open discussion with your therapist about your mental health history, reasons for seeking therapy, and any key issues or concerns you may have. This will help your therapist understand your needs and provide a framework for helping you feel better.  

Sometimes, your therapist will recommend mental health exercises or techniques to work on in your own time, and they will help set up a plan for the next steps in improving your mental health, depending on your unique needs.       

Focus Mental Wellness provides a secure patient portal where you can easily access any mental health resources your therapist provides or invoices relating to your appointment. You can also easily book follow-up sessions with the same or a different therapist through your online profile. 

You can use the WELL Clinics website to find a mental health professional near you. Select the button below to book an appointment.