Our Approach
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy services are based on cognitive-behavioural therapy approaches. Cognitive-behavioural therapy teaches people how to change their patterns of behaviour and thinking. This can improve mental health and make it easier to cope with difficult emotions and situations.
Our Services
We offer two types of services to meet your needs:
- Self-led resources guided by a coach or therapist:
- BounceBack is delivered over the phone and includes workbooks and bi-weekly personalized mental health coaching, to give people the tools to better understand and manage thoughts, emotions and behaviours.
- Clinician-Assisted Bibliotherapy is delivered over the phone, where clients receive a free cognitive behavioural therapy self-help guide specific to their concern, a plan for readings and exercises, and weekly 30-minute sessions with a therapist.
- Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy is delivered online, and is guided by a therapist to work through modules, complete readings and exercises that help participants learn coping and resiliency skills. It requires access to a computer or mobile device and internet.
- Individual or group cognitive-behavioural therapy: this includes in-person or sessions with a therapist in a one-on-one or group format.
Most people will begin with the self-led resources as the first step. The care team will monitor clients closely. If a client needs more support, they can move to a different service within the program, including individual or group therapy.
Register or Get a Referral
To participate in the program, you must be 18 years of age or older, and be experiencing symptoms related to depression or an anxiety-related disorder.
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy is not suitable for everyone. Some people have complex needs, or other conditions that this program does not treat.
If you are interested in Ontario Structured Psychotherapy, please let your doctor or health care team know. They can tell you whether the program might be right for you and can refer you to one of the program’s regional networks.
You can also register yourself (“self-refer”) for the program. Please visit the website of the network in your area for more information.
Services may be available in a variety of languages depending on the network. Please contact your local network to learn what is available.
Find Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Networks
After You Register
Once you have registered or been referred to the program, a trained mental health professional will do an assessment and offer the right support to meet your needs. If you participate, you will need to attend sessions and complete readings or homework between sessions. The amount of time that will take is different for each person because it depends on the service.
Your coach or therapist will monitor your progress and make changes as needed to make sure the service meets your needs.
Find Ontario Structured Therapy Networks
The program is coordinated by 10 networks across the province, who work with different organizations across their regions to offer services.
To learn more about the networks and how to get assessed, visit their websites:
Central Region (Mississauga to Huntsville and Orangeville to Markham)
- Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
- CarePoint Health
- Canadian Mental Health Association – York and South Simcoe
Toronto Region (city of Toronto)
West Region (Waterloo to Windsor and Tobermory to Niagara Falls)
- Ontario Structured Psychotherapy West Region (St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and St. Joseph’s Health Care London)