Therapy for correctional staff across Ontario

We’ve worked in corrections.
You won’t have to explain the job.

Our therapists have worked inside correctional settings. We understand shift work, lockdowns and what you carry home, so you can skip the explaining and get straight to the work. In person in Burlington or online anywhere in Ontario.

Book a free 15-minute consultation Call (647) 327-6017

Free 15-minute consultation  ·  Covered by Ontario corrections benefits  ·  Private, no waiting room  ·  Days, evenings and weekends

What makes the work hard

The hardest part isn’t always what you see.

Correctional work means staying steady in situations other people get to walk away from. What wears people down over time is rarely one incident. It’s the day-to-day conditions you work inside, and the things you can’t change from where you sit.

Staffing and workload

Short-staffed shifts, overtime, and constant coverage pressure. Doing more with less, shift after shift, takes a toll that builds quietly.

Overcrowding

Working in a setting where tension runs high and space is tight. You hold the line while managing a level of pressure that most people never see.

Being blocked from helping

You know what someone needs, and you’re not able to provide it. That gap between what you’re responsible for and what you’re able to do is one of the hardest parts of the correctional role to carry home.

You may be used to keeping things to yourself and getting through the next shift. But trouble switching off, disrupted sleep, irritability, feeling distant from people you care about, or relying more on alcohol or other substances to cope are worth talking about. You don’t need to wait for a crisis or know exactly what to say before reaching out.

None of this is a personal failing. It’s what corrections asks of you.

Coverage and reimbursement

How Coverage Works

100% of the eligible amount is reimbursed.

Eligible mental health coverage for employees covered by the OPSEU/SEFPO Correctional Bargaining Unit benefits plan is $10,000 per year.

*Subject to the plan’s Reasonable and Customary limits.

  1. You pay for your session.

    Sessions are $200/hour, paid at the time of your booking.

  2. You receive an itemized receipt.

    It shows your therapist’s name and registration number, the date and length of the session, and the amount paid.

  3. You submit the receipt to your insurer.

    Reimbursement is paid to you, not to us.

Direct insurance billing may be available

We may be able to submit your claim directly. Ask us before booking so we can check whether this option is available.

That’s the whole process, and we’re happy to walk you through it.

Not sure whether your practitioner type is included? Call (647) 327-6017. We can explain your practitioner’s credentials and help you identify what to confirm with your insurer before booking.

Start with a free 15-minute consultation

Across Ontario

Online therapy for correctional staff across Ontario

We offer online counselling and psychotherapy to correctional staff throughout Ontario, including those working at:

  • Toronto South Detention Centre (TSDC)
  • Maplehurst Correctional Complex (MCC)
  • Vanier Centre for Women (VCW)
  • Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre (HWDC)
  • Central East Correctional Centre (CECC)
  • Toronto East Detention Centre (TEDC)
View more Ontario correctional facilities
  • Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC)
  • Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC)
  • Niagara Detention Centre (NDC)
  • Stratford Jail
  • Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC)
  • Ontario Correctional Institute
  • Quinte Detention Centre (QDC)
  • Sarnia Jail
  • South West Detention Centre (SWDC)
  • Brockville Jail
  • St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre
  • North Bay Jail
  • Sudbury Jail
  • Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre (ATRC)
  • Monteith Correctional Complex
  • Thunder Bay Correctional Centre (TBCC)
  • Thunder Bay Jail
  • Fort Frances Jail
  • Kenora Jail

Wherever you work in Ontario, you can access our online therapy services. We are an independent practice and are not affiliated with these facilities. Insurance coverage depends on your individual benefits plan.

Who you’ll see

Who you’ll be working with.

Sessions are provided by Registered Psychotherapists (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, Registered Social Workers (RSW) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, and Registered Nurses (RN) practising psychotherapy, registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Our team includes therapists who have worked inside correctional settings, and who understand the culture and the pressures of the job.

You can ask about a clinician’s qualifications, registration and approach before you book. The free 15-minute consultation exists so you can decide whether it’s a fit without committing to a session.

Shift-friendly scheduling

Built around days, evenings and weekends.

Most counselling services are built for a nine-to-five week. Correctional work isn’t. Appointments are available on days, evenings and weekends, and can be moved when a rotation changes or overtime lands on you. Sessions are by video or phone, based on what works for you.

  • Days, evenings and weekends
  • Sessions that can move with a shift change
  • Video or phone: your choice

Private by design

Privacy, stated plainly.

Your claim is processed by your insurer, not your employer

Sessions are online, by secure video or phone. There is no waiting room, no clinic to walk into in your town, and no reception desk. You take the appointment wherever you have privacy: a vehicle on a break, a room at home, or somewhere between shifts.

*Session content stays confidential, subject to legal limits on confidentiality.

FAQ

Questions people ask before they call.

Will my employer find out I’m in therapy?

You do not need to tell your supervisor you are attending therapy, and you can book and attend entirely outside of work systems.

Can I actually make this work around my correctional shifts?

Yes. Appointments are available on days, evenings and weekends, and sessions can be adjusted around rotations, overtime, and shift changes. Sessions are by secure video or phone, so there’s no travel time and no waiting room.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can book a free 15-minute consultation directly. If you intend to claim through your extended health plan, check with your insurer about whether they require anything specific for reimbursement: requirements vary by plan.

How much does it cost?

The 15-minute consultation is free and a session is $200. 100% of the eligible amount is reimbursed. You pay for your session, then submit your receipt to your insurer for reimbursement.

What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?

That’s common, and worth talking about rather than working around. Sometimes the fit wasn’t right, sometimes the approach didn’t match what was actually needed, and sometimes the timing was wrong. You can say what didn’t work in the free consultation and decide from there. There’s no obligation to book.

Where can I learn more about mental health coverage?

Read our guide to mental health coverage for Ontario correctional employees.

Start with a free 15-minute consultation.

No referral, no cost, no obligation. Phone or video, days, evenings and weekends.

Book a free 15-minute consultation Call (647) 327-6017

Wellness in Therapy provides online counselling and psychotherapy for correctional staff throughout Ontario.