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It's not too late to therapy! Start Now.
Deciding whether you should go to therapy isn’t always an easy decision, it can be a challenging and deeply personal choice. Everybody needs some kind of emotional support, but not everyone needs therapy. Your partner, your friends or your family may give you all the support you need to live the life you want, or you may find that the difficulties you are facing plus the lack of support you have, mean that you need someone else to help you.Here, we’ll explore how to assess if therapy might be a good fit, when professional help is recommended, and what to expect if you decide to give it a try.
More and more Canadians are going to therapy. Some go regularly, to stay mentally and emotionally well. Some have an established therapist, who they see when life is more difficult than usual – much like a family doctor. Other people don’t look for a therapist until life throws them a curveball, whether a new diagnosis, a death, or a breakdown in a relationship.Therapy provides you with an opportunity for personal growth and healing, it offers additional emotional support when your usual support network isn’t there for you, and it is a non-invasive, holistic and effective way of treating many emotional and mental health problems. Therapy works best when you genuinely click with your therapist— when you find someone who gets you, cares about you, and knows how to help. At The Story Isn’t Over we take seriously our responsibility to find a therapist that is right for you.
The best way to decide if you need therapy is to take a moment, think about what you are dealing with, how long this situation is going to carry on, and what support you have. If you have too much to cope with, know that this is going to go on for a long time, and know that the ones you love aren’t able to give you the support you need, then it may be a good idea to think about going to therapy.
1. Your Symptoms Are Affecting Your Daily Life.
If you are struggling to do the things you need to, such as getting to work, sleeping, or paying bills; or if you no longer enjoy the things you used to find pleasure in, then it is probably a good idea to think about going to therapy. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, then we recommend you talk to someone:
Avoiding social interactions or struggling in relationships.
Difficulty sleeping or managing daily tasks.
Poor performance at work or school.
Challenges with addiction, eating disorders, or self-harm.
Persistent feelings of depression, anxiety, or hopelessness.
Thoughts of hurting yourself or others.
In a Crisis: If you feel like hurting yourself or someone else, then you need immediate help. You can call the national crisis support line 988, or 911. If you’d like to know more about coping with a crisis. Link to crisis page
2. Your Symptoms Aren’t Improving.
If your mental health isn’t getting any better, despite talking to your friends and family and trying to eat, sleep and exercise well, it may be time to think about going to therapy. Sometimes you need a helping hand from someone outside your immediate circle who has the training and skills to help you.
3. You’re Facing a Challenging Life Event.
Big life changes—like a breakup, losing a loved one, moving, or a career change—can leave you feeling overwhelmed, and the usual strategies you use to cope no longer work. Even if you have supportive friends and family, therapy can help you process emotions, prevent long-term mental health struggles, and provide coping tools.
Therapy isn’t a magic solution, and it may not feel like the right fit for everyone at every point in their lives. If you try therapy and it doesn’t work, there are alternative ways to find mental health support:
Peer Support Groups: Connecting with others who’ve faced similar challenges can be incredibly healing.
Life Coaching: This can provide practical guidance and encouragement.
Social Support: Leaning on friends and family for emotional support can also be effective.
Research shows that peer support, in some cases, can be as effective as therapy, particularly for conditions like depression and anxiety.
Therapy often requires effort, patience, and an open mind. Here are some tips to set yourself up for success:
1. Be Realistic About Expectations.
Therapy is a process, not a quick fix. It can take time to see meaningful changes because the brain’s “rewiring” process involves understanding patterns and gradually changing them.
2. Don’t Expect Instructions.
Therapists are trained to guide you toward self-discovery, not to tell you what to do. Their goal is to help you uncover the root causes of your challenges and equip you with tools to address them.
3. Communicate Your Needs.
If something about therapy isn’t working, let your therapist know. Whether it’s their approach, your goals, or even the pace of progress, open communication can lead to adjustments that suit you better.
4. Explore Different Therapies.
If one type of therapy doesn’t work, try another. Your therapist can help you decide what approach to therapy is best for you.
5. Find the Right Therapist.
Not every therapist will be a good fit. It’s okay to try more than one, until you find someone whose style, approach, and personality align with your needs. At The Story Isn’t Over we provide you with a free consult with a different therapist if the first one isn’t right for you.
If you’re on the fence, start by asking yourself how you feel about the idea of therapy. If it feels like something you’re open to trying, there’s little harm in exploring it. You can always stop if it doesn’t feel right. On the other hand, if the thought of therapy doesn’t sit well with you, it may not be the right time—and that’s okay too. Mental health support is not one-size-fits-all, and what works best for you may change over time. Ultimately, the decision to pursue therapy is deeply personal. Whether you choose therapy, or not, remember that seeking help in any form is a sign of strength. You deserve support that works for you, wherever and however you find it.
It’s a common question: ‘If medications can help me feel better then why do I need to go to therapy? ’
Medications can feel like a quick fix – although they may still take several weeks to help you feel better; while therapy often involves time, effort, and emotional vulnerability. Some people just want the meds, and others won’t consider taking medication, but go to therapy regularly.
There is a great deal of research demonstrating that you will make much better progress in the short and long term if you combine therapy and medications - for many different reasons.
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If you’ve grown up hearing that therapy is for the “weak,” you’re not alone. You may have received the message that going to therapy means you’re not tough enough to cope, and can’t manage your stress. The demand to be strong, to need no one, and to feel nothing, is placed on everyone, but especially on men. Even in 2025, society dictates that real men don’t cry; and that often the only emotion men are permitted to express is anger.
The reality is that even the strongest of us, feel pain, anxiety, and struggle to cope when the world we live in crushes down on us. Therapy doesn’t come with a set of rules about what emotions you can and can’t feel; nor does it place unrealistic expectations on you about how you should have behaved, what you should have done, and where you went wrong. It is a safe place, without judgement, where you can talk about the things that you don’t feel comfortable talking about with anyone else.
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Therapy is a deeply personal journey and a powerful tool for self-improvement, healing, and growth. With countless therapeutic approaches available—ranging from the structured techniques of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to the deep exploration of psychodynamic therapy—sessions can vary significantly.
You are an active participant in your therapeutic journey – it’s your journey, your story. The best way to start therapy is by taking time to find the therapist that is right for you. You may receive a personal recommendation to a therapist or a clinic; or go to a clinic that has already vetted their therapists and will take time to make sure that you are matched with a therapist that works for you. We can help you with this. With the right therapist to work with you can ensure that you get the most out of therapy by opening up about what is troubling you, being vulnerable in session, speaking up when you don’t feel comfortable in session and taking time to reflect on what you are working on between appointments.
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If you’ve ever considered starting therapy or are currently in treatment, you might wonder: How long do I need to stay in therapy? This question is common and valid, as people often have personal, financial, and logistical factors to consider. There isn’t a simple answer; everyone is different, and while some people may stay in therapy long term, others may only need a few sessions; therapy is as unique as the individuals who seek it.
How long you need to stay in therapy depends on the reasons you are coming to therapy, and what you want to get out of therapy. The more serious and complex the issues, the longer you will need to be in therapy. The more you want to achieve in therapy, the longer you will want to stay in therapy. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all; however, research shows that most people achieve symptom relief in 12-16 sessions.
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When life gets difficult many of us instinctively turn to a trusted friend or family member for support. It's comforting to have someone who knows us, cares about us, and can lend an ear when we need to vent. And often that is enough, we don’t need to talk to anyone else. But sometimes, we need more support than our friend is able to provide, and we need someone with additional training and experience to help us cope with the difficulties we are facing. That’s when you may want to talk to a therapist.
The good news is that talking to a friend and talking to a therapist aren’t mutually exclusive. Both play vital roles in a well-rounded support system: your friend is like a first-aid kit—perfect for immediate support in the moment. A therapist, however, is like a skilled surgeon, helping you address deeper issues and heal in a lasting way.
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It is all too easy to muddle up the p’s. What is the difference between, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a psychotherapist?
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists, are medical doctors, who have completed specialized training in mental illness They can diagnose, provide psychotherapy and prescribe.
Psychologists
Psychologists, are not medical doctors, they have not studied medicine, they have studied psychology. They can diagnose, and provide psychotherapy, but can not prescribe medications.
Psychotherapists
Psychotherapists, specialize in providing psychotherapy to treat mental health issues. They can not provide a formal diagnosis or prescribe medications. Registered nurses, social workers, occupational therapists or psychotherapists can all provide psychotherapy.
Yes! We make therapy stress-free with our direct billing service. Skip the hassle of upfront payments or filing insurance claims yourself—our team handles it all directly with your provider. Start therapy without financial worries and focus on what matters most: your well-being. Contact us today to get started!
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We understand that life can be unpredictable—plans change, children get sick, and emergencies happen. We truly value the trust you place in us to support you, and we always strive to accommodate your needs as much as possible.
At the same time, please know that your appointment time is specifically reserved for you. When cancellations happen with little notice, it leaves an empty space in the therapist’s schedule that could have been offered to another client in need.
To ensure fairness for all our clients and to respect everyone’s time, we kindly request at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Of course, we completely understand that emergencies are an exception. However, for cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice, or if an appointment is missed, a cancellation fee will apply.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can ensure the best possible care for everyone.
It is possible for you to bring your 11-year-old son to therapy, even if your partner disagrees, but it is necessary to proceed with significant caution, and there are some important points to consider:
The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario states that there is no minimum age for consent to therapy. If your 11-year-old son can understand the therapy process and the consequences of his decision, he can provide his own consent to attend. To determine this, we can schedule an initial session without needing parental consent to assess his ability to consent.
For children under 12, we proceed with significant caution. While your child can technically provide their own consent if capable, we strongly recommend getting consent from both parents before starting therapy. Some therapists require both parents’ consent as part of their practice.
It’s also important to think about how therapy might affect your child emotionally if one parent is actively opposed. This kind of disagreement can sometimes impact the child’s experience and the success of therapy.
If your 11-year-old cannot provide informed consent, we would need consent from both parents or guardians for them to attend therapy.
If there is a signed separation agreement or legal document stating that both parents must agree on decisions about therapy, we need to proceed carefully. We’ll review the agreement to ensure compliance. You can help us by providing:
If both parents’ consent is required, we can send the consent forms directly to your ex-partner. We will also provide them with information about the benefits of therapy to encourage their approval.
If your child is 12 or older and a separation agreement requires both parents’ consent, we may consider whether your child can consent to their own therapy. This will be carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis with the therapist who will be treating your child.
We’re here to support you through this process. If you have concerns or questions about legal agreements or how to move forward, we’re happy to help navigate the steps while prioritizing your child’s best interests.
Yes, you can probably come to therapy, even if your mum doesn’t agree, but let me explain how this works. In Ontario, there’s no specific age when someone is automatically old enough to consent to therapy. Instead, it depends on whether you understand what therapy involves and the consequences of your decision. At 13, you are likely able to provide your own consent, meaning you can decide to go to therapy even without your mum’s approval.
We can set up an initial session to talk about what therapy is and check if you fully understand what’s involved to make sure that you can give your own consent. If you do, then we can move forward without needing your mum’s permission.
However, if your parents have a legal agreement—like a separation agreement—that says that they both need to consent to you going to therapy, we’d need to look at that. In cases like these, we may need to involve your mum in the process and get her consent too.
We’d also want to consider how attending therapy without your mum’s support might affect you. Sometimes, having a parent who disagrees can create stress, and we’d want to make sure therapy is still a good and supportive experience for you.
If your dad is happy to support you, we can work together to make sure this process goes as smoothly as possible. If you have more questions or want to talk about starting therapy, we’re here to help guide you!
At The Story Isn’t Over, we are committed to protecting your privacy and confidentiality. Information shared during therapy remains private unless you provide written, informed consent for its disclosure. However, there are specific legal and ethical situations where confidentiality must be broken to ensure safety and comply with the law.
Read More about our Confidentiality Policy
At The Story Isn’t Over, we are committed to protecting your privacy and confidentiality. Information shared during therapy remains private unless you provide written, informed consent for its disclosure. However, there are specific legal and ethical situations where confidentiality must be broken to ensure safety and comply with the law.
Read the guidelines on boundaries and touch between therapists and clients
We understand how important it is for you to know that your personal health information (PHI) is secure. As an organization, we are committed to protecting your data using advanced security measures, strict policies, and best practices
Read Our Cyber Security Policies