Niwa Therapy Centre
Therapy for Northern Ontario — without the four-hour drive
Niwa Therapy Centre provides virtual psychotherapy to adults across Northern Ontario, including communities where the nearest therapist is hours away. Sessions run by video, or by phone where internet is limited.
Therapy for Northern Ontario
In much of Northern Ontario the question isn't which therapist — it's whether there's one. Virtual care means no travel, no waiting room, and no local visibility. We work with clients around Sudbury, Thunder Bay, North Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, and smaller communities between and beyond them. If you're a First Nations or Inuit client, NIHB may cover your sessions in full.
What we work with
We work with anxiety and stress, depression and low mood, burnout and work stress, relationships, trauma and PTSD, OCD, and life transitions — in English, Farsi, and French. Sessions are virtual across Ontario.
Coverage and cost
Sessions start at $180 for 50 minutes, depending on the therapist, with a limited number of sliding-scale spots. Most extended health plans cover psychotherapy from a Registered Psychotherapist. We direct-bill where plans permit and issue receipts otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my insurance cover it?+
Psychotherapy from a Registered Psychotherapist isn't covered by OHIP, but most extended health benefit plans reimburse it — including Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield Canada, Desjardins, Empire Life, Blue Cross, ClaimSecure, and Beneva. Coverage and annual limits vary, so ask your provider one question: "Do you cover services by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) in Ontario?" Where your plan permits we direct-bill through TELUS eClaims; otherwise we provide a detailed receipt for reimbursement. Eligible clients can also be covered through NIHB (First Nations and Inuit), IFHP (refugee claimants), WSIB for work-related claims, or Veterans Affairs Canada.
Do I need a referral to start?+
No. You can book a Registered Psychotherapist directly — no doctor's referral is required. Start with the free 15-minute consultation and go from there. (The one exception is IFHP coverage for refugee claimants, which needs a physician's prescription — we help arrange it.)
What happens in the free 15 minutes?+
You describe what's going on, in whatever words you have. We ask a few questions, explain how we'd work with it, and answer anything you want to ask. At the end you decide whether to book — there's no pressure and no obligation.
Is online therapy as effective as in person?+
For most adult concerns, research finds virtual therapy works as well as in-person care. It also removes travel, waiting rooms, and scheduling friction, which is why many people stay with it.
Is what I say private?+
Yes. We're bound by PHIPA and CRPO confidentiality standards, and we use a secure, Canadian-hosted platform. Nothing is shared with anyone — including a referring doctor — without your written consent.
Ready when you are.
The first conversation is free and takes fifteen minutes. There's nothing to prepare, and nothing you need to explain perfectly.