Your questions, answered

Layla's therapists use a range of evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), internal family systems (IFS), somatic therapy approaches, mindfulness-based, trauma-focused, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), psychodynamic approaches and emotion-focused therapy (EFT). The approach used is tailored to each person's needs and you don’t need to know how these work before starting, your therapist can help explain and guide you to the approach that’s right for you.

Our therapists operate out of their own location, provide sessions in-person, online, or by phone.

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Today, our therapists are located in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia

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We are across many cities, including: Toronto, Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ajax, Barrie, Beamsville, Brampton, Burlington, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Newmarket, Niagara Falls, North York, Oakville, Orangeville, Oshawa, Ottawa, Petawawa, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, St. Catherines, Thornhill, Vaughan, Whitby, and Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, Halifax and many more.

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We are continuously building out our community.

At Layla we do not offer direct billing yet. If you are planning to use health benefits, our network of therapists includes Registered Social Workers (RSW), Registered Psychotherapists (RP) and Registered Psychologists (C.Psych), Psychological Associates (C.Psych.Assoc.), Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC), and Registered Counselling Therapists (RCT) in select regions. When looking at your benefits package, we advise that you check to see if you are covered for any of those providers.

View our guide to finding a therapist covered by your health benefits.

Learn more in our Guide to Canadian Mental Health Care Providers.

View our detailed breakdown of student mental health coverage by universities and colleges across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.

Please reach out to info@layla.care for help figuring out your benefits coverage.

We require a minimum of 24-hour notice for any appointment cancellation or rescheduling in order to avoid a full cancellation fee. If you cancel or reschedule your appointment less than 24 hours before it is scheduled to take place, you will be subjected to a full cancellation fee equal to 100% of the session fee (the full cost of the session).

To cancel or reschedule, please contact your therapist directly by phone or email. You can find their contact information within your appointment confirmation email.

Please note the cancellation window is different for psychological assessments, please refer to the FAQ here for further details.

Your initial call and matching is always free.

Therapy Sessions:
The price of sessions depends on the therapist designations.

Individual therapy sessions provided by a RSW, RP, RCT (NS), or RCC (BC) are $180 per 50-minute session.

Couples therapy sessions provided by a RSW, RP, RCT (NS), or RCC (BC) are $200 per 50-minute session.

Individual therapy sessions provided by a Psychologist are $240 per 50-minute session.

Couples therapy sessions provided by a Psychologist are $260 per 50-minute session.

Supervised Therapy Program (lower cost option available in ON, AB, and BC): $35 per 50-minute session (with Master’s-level student clinicians)
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Psychological Assessments:
$1,550 for virtual assessments including a 90-minute interview with a Psychologist, Psychometric testing and a Debrief Interview with a report.

Learn more about our pricing.

Yes, all of Layla’s partnered therapists (MSW, RP, Psychologist, RCT) should be covered under the NIHB program for eligible clients. To confirm eligibility, patients should contact their regional NIHB office:‍
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Ontario: 1-800-640-0642
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Alberta & British Columbia: 1-800-232-7301‍
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Atlantic Canada (NL, NS, PE, NB): 1-800-565-3294
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Key Information on Payment and Coverage for Patients:

• Layla Care cannot process direct billing through the NIHB program. Patients are required to pay for their sessions upfront and submit receipts to NIHB for reimbursement.
• The first 2 hours of counseling are automatically approved by NIHB; however, prior approval is necessary for ongoing sessions.
• Layla’s rates for RSW, RP, and RCT sessions align with the maximum reimbursement rates set by the provincial fee guides.
• For services provided by Registered Psychologists, patients may incur costs above NIHB’s reimbursement limits. ‍

What services are eligible for NIHB reimbursement?
Individual and Couples Therapy.

Note: Psychological assessments are not eligible for NIHB coverage.
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Important Reminder: Patients can submit claims to either NIHB or their private/employer benefit plan — but not both.

No. Layla works directly with clients, and many of our clients use their extended health benefits to receive reimbursement for their session fee (full or partial).

We require you set up your Layla account with payment information 48-hours before your appointment. This is to ensure that both you and your therapist can make the most of your session time, while also accommodating others seeking support. If you haven’t set up your account within the appointment confirmation window (48 hours of your appointment), your session will be subject to cancellation. However, rest assured we’re here to assist you with rescheduling and will send you reminders of your upcoming session to ensure you’re all set. Should you face challenges or changes with your first session, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly at contact@layla.care.

All sessions will be completed online through Layla’s secure video portal. Participants are encouraged to use a desktop or laptop computer, for the best user experience.  Our Layla Platform for therapy sessions can be accessed on the following devices listed here.

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Planning to travel? Participants must attend virtual sessions from the province listed on their home address when they registered for group. This is because the group facilitator must be registered to practice in the province where the client is attending group sessions.

Walk and Talk therapy is a great alternative for individuals who prefer a different option to the traditional office setting. Sessions take place outdoors while walking, allowing for movement, fresh air, and a more informal environment.

Learn more in our guide discussing different therapy formats.

We recognize that everyone’s schedule looks different. That’s why we offer therapy appointments on weekdays, evenings, and weekends—with both in-person and virtual options available to fit your needs.

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Individual and Couples Therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes long. In some cases, your first session with the therapist will be a little longer.

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Therapy can range from short-term to longer term depending on the client’s case and their goals. This can be discussed with your therapist, and the two of you can always collaboratively assess your timeline and progression.

Layla Care connects adults, couples, and teenagers with qualified therapists. We also have a limited number of therapists who support children under 12, depending on availability, location and client preferences. Therapy is available on weekdays, evenings and weekends. Please let your care coordinator know what your preference is for appointment timing.

For details on services like Psychological Assessments or Lower–Cost Therapy, we recommend visiting those service pages for the latest information.

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Layla currently offers a Supervised Therapy Program which offers therapy at a reduced rate. Clients can work with a therapist-in-training who is closely supervised by a Master's-level clinician. Sessions are $35 for 50 minutes, but availability with the same therapist is limited to the length of the therapist's training placement.

At this time, we do not offer family therapy. We’re happy to recommend providers who do offer this service and can support your needs. Please reach out to our team at contact@layla.care, and we’ll be glad to share whatever information we have about referral options for family therapists in your area.

Yes, therapy, whether individual or couples, and psychological assessments at Layla are typically covered in part, or in full by insurance with extended health benefits since our therapists are college regulated, registered, licensed providers.

However, each plan is unique and which designations are covered may differ depending on your benefits plan. See our guide on How to Find a Therapist Covered by Insurance in Canada to learn more.

We’re currently booking appointments based on program eligibility and the next available appointment. Please complete the intake form, and once you select Done, you'll be directed to a booking page where you can schedule an appointment time that works best for you.

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All of Layla's therapists are Canadian residents registered with their local college and/or association in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia. Their clinical qualifications include: RSW, RP, RCT (NS), RCC (BC), C.Psych, or C.Psych.Assoc.

Layla has a community of over 500 therapists who have been carefully vetted through a rigorous multi-stage interview recruitment and onboarding process that assesses for both clinical and interpersonal skills. Only 20% of therapists who apply are accepted into our community.

Therapists are required to have at least a Masters-level (or equivalent) training in Social Work (Clinical Focus), Clinical/Counselling Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy or a related field from a reputable institution.

Before joining our community, therapists are required to have a minimum of 1,000 hours post-graduate clinical experience (community or private practice).

Read more about our therapist community and recruitment process.

Ultimately, you decide which therapist you want to proceed with based on your care coordinator's recommendations that are informed by the details you provide in your intake form and in your matching call. If you don't feel like the options suggested match what you are looking for, your care coordinator will be happy to discuss other options.

Client experience is a top priority at Layla. We actively gather feedback and have clear processes in place to address concerns and respond quickly, thoughtfully, and with care. We also maintain strong safeguards to protect your personal information and your privacy. Our care team checks in along the way and is always available for you to reach out to.

Several of our therapists offer sessions on weekends, and you can let us know of that preference when you sign up and we will do our best to accommodate.

If coordination with your primary care provider would be helpful, our Care Team can guide you through the process and make it easy.

Coordinating with primary care can be helpful for patients who consent to sharing relevant updates to support with treatment planning.

Layla takes your privacy and the security of your information seriously. Electronic personal information shared with Layla is stored in a secure and encrypted way. Video sessions are not recorded. You can learn more about our privacy practices here.

Layla's support for therapist matching extends to re-matching when needed. Simply let us know what wasn’t quite working and we will match you with a therapist who better aligns with what you're looking for. We are also very interested in client feedback after instances such as these. Feedback will help us improve our matching process for future clients.

Our services are not covered by OHIP/AHCIP/MSP/MSI, but most extended health plans cover some of the professional designations registered to conduct therapy. Each plan is unique. If you’re planning on using your extended health benefits, we highly recommend you check your coverage in advance of the call so that we can connect you to the right provider.

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Here’s what to look for: In your benefits booklet, insurance portal, or when you speak to an insurance representative specifically look for coverage for Psychologists.

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If you need our help in checking benefits, please let us know on the phone and we’ll gladly do what we can.

No, you don’t need a formal referral or diagnosis from another provider to access our therapy services. Fill out our intake form to book a call with a care coordinator who will discuss how we can assist you with your unique challenges and/or goals.