Counselling is a private conversation with a trained professional to help you work through something that is weighing on you. People most often use the word for everyday situations, such as stress at work, a hard decision, grief, or a relationship that has become difficult, rather than for a formal diagnosis. This guide explains what counselling usually involves, what a session looks like, how it relates to psychotherapy, and how to check who you are booking with.

Counselling in Plain Words

CAMH describes psychotherapy as “talking work” with a therapist that aims to ease distress by discussing and expressing feelings, and to change unhelpful attitudes, behaviours, and habits. Counselling belongs to the same family of talk-based support. People use the two words in overlapping ways, so the label matters less than who is providing the service, what their training is, and whether the way they work suits you.

The part of therapy that matters most is the working relationship. CAMH notes that success depends on a trusting relationship with the therapist, which is why a first conversation is worth treating as a fit check rather than a commitment.

Situations People Bring to Counselling

You do not need a crisis or a diagnosis to talk to a counsellor. Common starting points include:

  • A decision you cannot settle. A job change, a move, or a relationship choice where every option has a cost.
  • Stress that has stopped easing. Work, caregiving, or school pressure that follows you home.
  • Grief and loss. A death, a separation, or a version of life you expected to have.
  • Strain with a partner, parent, or child. The same argument repeating, or a silence nobody knows how to break.
  • A life transition. A new baby, a new country, a new role, or an empty house.
  • A sense of being stuck. Nothing is obviously wrong, but you do not feel like yourself.

Some of these overlap with specific concerns that have their own pages, such as anxiety therapy or depression therapy. Starting with counselling does not lock you into one path; the focus can change as you learn more about what is going on.

What a Counselling Session Looks Like

The first sessions are mostly about getting to know you: what brought you in now, some relevant background, what is going well, and what you would like to be different. Nobody expects you to arrive with a diagnosis or a tidy explanation. Together you agree on a starting focus and revisit it as the work develops.

At Serenity Psychotherapy Clinic, sessions are with Ahmad Shihab, MA, RP (CRPO #11572), and the approach is shaped around the person rather than a fixed script. Between sessions you may be asked to notice a pattern or try a small skill, but that is always something you agree to, not homework handed down.

Checking Who You Are Booking With

CAMH suggests asking any therapist a few direct questions before you commit:

  • What training do you have?
  • How many years have you practised?
  • Do you have experience with my specific concern?
  • What is your approach?
  • Are you a member of a professional association or college?

In Ontario, the Psychotherapy Act restricts the titles “Psychotherapist” and “Registered Psychotherapist” (and their abbreviations) to registrants of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), and you can look anyone up on the CRPO public register. The word “counsellor” does not appear on the Government of Ontario’s list of regulated health professions, so it tells you little by itself; the questions above and a registration check matter more.

You Do Not Need a Referral

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, you can make an appointment with a counsellor on your own and do not need a doctor’s referral. At Serenity you can book a free 30-minute consultation directly, with no referral or diagnosis, and no obligation to continue afterward.

How Counselling Is Offered at Serenity

Individual sessions are $220 per hour. We directly bill with most insurance providers — please give us a call to inquire about your specific insurance policy. Coverage depends on your plan, so it also helps to ask your benefits provider whether it covers a Registered Psychotherapist. The fees and insurance page lists every session fee. Sessions take place in person at the Meadowvale office in Mississauga or online for clients anywhere in Ontario; the online therapy page explains how video sessions work, and individual therapy describes the service in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is counselling the same as therapy?

The terms overlap. Both describe talk-based support with a trained professional. What differs from person to person is their training, their approach, and whether they are registered with a college, so those are the things worth asking about.

Do I need a diagnosis to start counselling?

No. Many people start because they want to understand themselves better or feel more like themselves again. If you need a diagnosis for another reason, such as insurance or workplace accommodations, your family doctor or therapist can explain the right route.

Can counselling help with a specific problem like anxiety or low mood?

Yes, many people bring those concerns. Specific services such as anxiety therapy go into more depth, and the first sessions help work out which focus fits you best.

When to Reach Out

If something has been on your mind for a while and talking to friends has not been enough, a free consultation is a low-pressure way to ask questions and see whether the fit feels right. If you are thinking about suicide or are in immediate danger, call or text 9-8-8 or call 911 now.

References

  • Psychotherapy (talk therapy), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health — definition of psychotherapy, importance of the therapist relationship, and questions to ask a therapist.
  • Use of Terms, Titles & Designations, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario — titles restricted under the Psychotherapy Act.
  • Regulated Health Professions, Government of Ontario — list of regulated health professions in the province.
  • Getting Help, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division — appointments with a counsellor without a doctor’s referral.