Tax-Free Psychotherapy in Ontario: What You Need to Know

Psychotherapy Was Taxed — But That’s Changed

If you received psychotherapy services before June 21, 2024, you were likely paying 13% HST without even realizing it. Most psychotherapists included the tax in their fees, and insurance companies simply covered the total — making it practically invisible to clients.

But that changed on June 21, 2024, when the Canadian government introduced a nationwide HST exemption for psychotherapy. At Therapedia Centre, we immediately reduced our session fees by 13%, offering more affordable therapy to our clients. The response? Overwhelmingly positive.

What Does Tax-Free Psychotherapy Mean?

The new law means psychotherapy and art therapy services in Canada are now tax-exempt, provided they’re delivered by professionals who meet regulated health profession standards.

To qualify for this tax exemption, psychotherapy services must be provided by practitioners who meet the licensing or certification requirements of a regulated province (e.g., members of CRPO in Ontario).

The new law also clarifies the status of psychotherapy services within other professions. For instance, services provided by registered nurses or social workers that include psychotherapy within their scope of practice continue to be exempt. This means that individuals receiving psychotherapy services from these professionals will not incur GST/HST charges, provided these services are part of their regulated professional practice.

Why Was This Law Passed?

The goal of this change is clear: make mental health services more accessible and affordable. Removing tax lowers the cost of therapy, giving more people access to care when they need it most.

This is especially beneficial in a city like Toronto, where access to affordable therapy can be limited. For those paying out of pocket, even small changes in price matter — especially when combined with sliding scale options offered by many clinics.

Art Therapy in Toronto: Who Can Practice?

Art therapy is a powerful therapeutic approach that blends creativity with emotional healing. But not just anyone can offer it.

To practice art therapy in Toronto, practitioners must meet specific educational and professional requirements set by regulatory bodies.

Qualifications for Art Therapists:

• Ontario Art Therapy Association (OATA): Most practitioners are members, requiring a graduate-level diploma in art therapy from a recognized program like the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI).
• College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO): Many art therapists are also registered psychotherapists, adhering to strict professional practice standards that include supervised clinical experience and a code of ethics.

Art Therapy Services at Therapedia Centre

At Therapedia Centre, we’re proud to offer individual and family art therapy in a supportive, inclusive environment. All of our art therapists are registered psychotherapists so our services are provided by qualified, multilingual professionals — and no doctor’s referral is required.

Languages offered include:

• English
• Farsi
• Portuguese
• Mandarin
• Cantonese

We’re committed to making mental health care more accessible by offering HST-exempt therapy through compassionate, culturally sensitive care

👉 Book an appointment with an art therapist today