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About Us
At ReNu, we offer counselling and psychotherapy to help address the challenges you face to achieve a brighter tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Psychotherapy, as defined by the Psychotherapy Act, 2007, addresses “an individual’s serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory that may seriously impair the individual’s judgement, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning.” Psychotherapy is typically used when concerns are more complex, persistent, or significantly impacting daily functioning, and it may involve longer-term or more in-depth therapeutic work.
Counselling, on the other hand, generally focuses on more specific or circumscribed concerns, such as stress, adjustment, or life transitions, and is often shorter-term in nature. Counselling may be supportive, problem-focused, or skills-based, and can be appropriate when difficulties do not rise to the level of serious psychological impairment.
Psychological services is a broader term that can include psychotherapy, counselling, psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning when provided by regulated psychologists. Depending on an individual’s needs, psychological services may involve counselling approaches, formal psychotherapy, assessment, or a combination of these.
Psychotherapy is considered a controlled act in Ontario, with only specific regulated health care practitioners permitted to perform it. Psychological services are regulated under separate legislation and professional standards governing the practice of psychology.
All 3 of these providers are permitted to use psychotherapy in treatment with clients and while there are many similarities, key differences are highlighted below:
Psychotherapists (in Ontario) are regulated mental health therapists have completed masters-level training, other provincially accredited training and education in areas such as clinical and counselling psychology, divinity, and social work (to name a few). They treat a variety of mental health issues using a variety of modalities, and can administer some mental health questionnaires. Psychotherapists are not permitted to diagnose or communicate diagnoses of mental health disorders, nor are they able to prescribe medications.
Psychologists are regulated mental health therapists who have completed education up to the PhD-level or in some cases, masters-level training in areas such as clinical, counselling, and educational psychology. They treat a variety of mental health issues using a variety of modalities. Psychologists are permitted to diagnose and communicate diagnoses of mental health disorders, and administer and score psychological tests. They are not permitted to prescribe medication.
Psychiatrists are doctors who have completed medical school and specialized in psychiatry. In Ontario, they are registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and are able to treat a variety of mental health issues using a variety of modalities. Psychiatrists are permitted to to diagnose and communicate diagnoses of mental health disorders, and administer and score psychological tests. They are also permitted to prescribed medication. Many (but not all) services offered by psychiatrists are covered by OHIP in Ontario.
Your insurer may cover our services if they cover psychotherapy services with Registered Psychotherapists, Psychologists, and for some therapists, for Clinical Counsellors/ Canadian Certified Counsellors. Please check with your insurance provider directly to verify your coverage eligibility.
At ReNu, we are able to offer direct billing for clients who have extended health care coverage with Canada Life, Claim Secure, Desjardin, Sunlife, Equitable Life and others. Select therapists are able to offer direct billing with Blue Cross, the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), and Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB). Please contact for more details.
Plans under all other providers will require you to pay for your session directly to the clinic. You will be provided with a receipt after your session to submit to your insurer for reimbursement.
As of June 21, 2024, HST is no longer required for psychotherapy services inclusive of counselling services.
We offer free, 15-minute phone consultations for potential clients to help answer questions and chat with you for us to both get an idea of fit.
Following the consultation, there is an onboarding process that includes completing our intake and consent forms, which will be sent to you by email.
Once that’s all taken care of, we’re ready for our first virtual session which can be 50 or 80 minutes, depending on your preference.
Get Started
We understand how busy you are and we want to make it as easy as possible to get started working with us. Our entire process, including all your consultations are done online to accomodate your busy lives and make it easy for you to access support in the comfort of your home.
Step 1
We offer free, 15-minute phone consultations for potential clients to help answer questions and chat with you for us to both get an idea of fit.
Step 1
Step 2
Prior to your first session, you will be sent a copy of the intake and consent forms, and you may also receive some questionnaires to fill out.
Step 2
Step 3
Final step is your first session! Most intake sessions are conducted in a standard 50-minute session, but an 80-minute session can be offered