Psychotherapy just became more affordable in Ontario!
If you were receiving psychotherapy services prior to June 21st 2024, you were paying tax for this service and you probably didn’t even know notice it. Most psychotherapists included the HST in their fee and the insurance companies pay for the whole invoice. So, when we informed our clients that their psychotherapy fee has been reduced by %13 percent on June 21st, they were ecstatic.
What does tax-free psychotherapy mean?
On June 21, 2024, a new law was passed in Canada making psychotherapy services tax-free. This legislative change means that the supply of psychotherapy services is now exempt from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). This exemption applies to services provided by qualified psychotherapists, thereby reducing the cost of mental health services, specifically psychotherapy and art therapy in Toronto (Ontario).
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.
What was the point of passing this law?
The change aims to enhance accessibility to mental health services by removing the additional tax cost, making it easier for Canadians to afford the psychotherapy they need. More specifically, Toronto residents can now receive art therapy services at a reduced cost.
Who can practice art therapy in Toronto?
To practice art therapy in Toronto, practitioners must meet specific educational and professional requirements set by regulatory bodies.
Art therapists in Toronto typically need to be registered with the Ontario Art Therapy Association (OATA). The OATA mandates that practitioners hold a graduate-level diploma or equivalent in art therapy. This ensures that they possess the necessary training in both therapeutic techniques and artistic processes to effectively support their clients. Programs such as those offered by the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI) provide comprehensive training and are recognized by the OATA.
Additionally, art therapists often pursue registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). The CRPO oversees the practice of psychotherapy in Ontario, ensuring that practitioners adhere to professional standards and ethical guidelines. To register with the CRPO, art therapists must demonstrate that their training meets the requirements for providing psychotherapy, which includes supervised clinical experience and adherence to a code of ethics.
Private mental health centres such as Therapedia Centre, offer individual and family art therapy services in Toronto. To see an art therapist, you are not required to have a referral from a family doctor. Our art therapists offer services in English, Farsi, Portugues, Mandarin and Cantonese.
You can book an appointment to see an art therapist by contacting the Centre here.
