Life transitions and letting go counselling in Vaughan
Find your footing again.
Even good change can leave you unmoored. Whether you’re starting over, letting go of how things were, or figuring out who you are now, counselling helps you find your footing and your meaning again. In Vaughan and online across Ontario.
Takes 2 minutes. No credit card. No referral needed.
- 24+ Registered PsychotherapistsLook any of us up on the CRPO register
- Direct billing availableSun Life, Beneva, Green Shield
- Evenings and weekendsIn person or online
A new chapter can be exciting and disorienting at once.
Transitions rarely arrive as one clean feeling. A change can stir grief, relief, fear and excitement all at once, sometimes within the same hour. That mix is normal, not a sign that something is wrong with you. Even the changes you wanted and worked for can leave you feeling untethered.
Part of what makes transition hard is letting go of a role, a routine, or a version of yourself that no longer fits. That loss is real even when the new chapter is welcome, and it deserves space rather than being rushed past.
Life transitions counselling is warm, evidence-based talk therapy for the in-between, helping you grieve what’s ending, find your footing in the uncertainty, and reconnect with what matters.
- Room to feel grief and relief at the same time
- Find your footing through the messy middle
- At your own pace, in person or online
What’s changing for you right now?
Tap anything that sounds familiar. Some changes you chose and some arrived unannounced. Struggling with either doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.
Start with what’s changing.
Tap what sounds familiar, and we’ll suggest a sensible next step.
You’ve noticed 1 thing.
That’s common, and very workable. A free 20-minute consult is a calm way to talk it through, at your own pace.
You’ve noticed 3 things.
That’s a lot of change at once. You don’t need to be in crisis to come, and you don’t have to find your footing alone.
Letting go is part of every transition, even a welcome one. There’s no deadline for it, and you don’t have to rush.
Book a free 20-minute consultThis isn’t a diagnosis.
The space between who you were and who you’re becoming.
Transition rarely moves in a straight line. Step through the stages many people move through, and what therapy does with them.
- 1On the surface
“I wanted this change. So why do I feel so lost?”
- 2UnderneathEvery change begins with letting go of how things were.Even a chosen change ends something familiar: a role, a routine, a version of you. Grief and relief can live side by side, and both are okay.
- 3The shift
“I can miss how things were and still want what’s next.”
- 1On the surface
“I don’t feel like my old self, and I don’t know who I am yet.”
- 2UnderneathThe in-between is disorienting, and normal.The old ground is gone and the new ground isn’t solid yet. This uncertain stretch is a normal part of transition, not a sign you’re failing.
- 3The shift
“Not knowing yet is part of the process, not proof I got it wrong.”
- 1On the surface
“Some days feel steady. Others knock me right back.”
- 2UnderneathSteadiness comes back in small pieces.Small routines and choices help you feel grounded again, often unevenly. You don’t have to have it all figured out to start feeling more like yourself.
- 3The shift
“A few steady things are enough to stand on while the rest takes shape.”
- 1On the surface
“What does therapy actually do with all this?”
- 2UnderneathWe help you honour the ending and build toward what’s next.Together you name what you’re leaving behind, make room for the mixed feelings, and find the next small step that’s actually yours, so the new chapter feels like your own.
- 3The shift
“I’m not just getting through this change. I’m choosing what to carry forward.”
An illustration of a common pattern, not a real client’s words. Wherever you are on this map is a normal part of change, and support can meet you there.
Talk it through, free for 20 minutesMeet therapists who walk with you through change
Every therapist below is registered with the CRPO and helps clients find footing and meaning through transition. Watch a short intro, read their profile, or let us match you in your free consultation.
Watch introCarol McDowell
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #10937Barrie · Online
Uses a narrative and meaning-making approach to help you make sense of the change and find a new ending, at your pace.
Watch introSvetlana Antonyshyn
Registered Psychotherapist, FounderCRPO #001652Woodbridge · Online
Founder of InnerSight, often working with people at the point where a hard transition has started taking up more room than it should.
Watch introCristian Renzi
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #12088Maple (Vaughan) · Online
Works with adults through major life transitions, building practical strategies that hold up in daily life.
Not sure who fits?
Let us match you in your free consultation. If the fit isn’t right, we’ll help you switch to another therapist on the team.
What your first session looks like
No pressure to have the answers. It begins as a warm conversation about what’s changing and what you need. Your first appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment, and here’s how it tends to go.
- 1Minutes 0 to 15
Settling in
Your therapist welcomes you, explains confidentiality, and makes clear there’s nothing you need to prepare. You set the pace.
- 2Minutes 15 to 60
What’s changing
Together you talk through the transition you’re in, what feels lost, what feels uncertain, and the feelings that have been hardest to hold. You begin to name what steadier would look like.
- 3Throughout
Room for mixed feelings
Grief, relief, fear and excitement are all welcome here. There’s no right way to feel about a change, and no rush to be over it.
- 4The last 10 minutes
Leaving with direction
You agree on what you’re working toward and a gentle next step, with no obligation to know the whole path yet.
Is the change the end of a relationship?
If a separation or divorce is at the centre of it, our separation and divorce therapy is built for exactly that, and we’re happy to help you choose the right fit.
Separation & divorce therapySteady support, made meaningful.
Transition work is most helpful when it honours the ending and helps you build toward what’s next. Sessions give the change some shape: naming what you’re leaving behind, what’s uncertain right now, and what small next step is actually yours to take.
Person-centred support
A warm, non-judgmental space where you lead and your therapist walks alongside you.
More on person-centred therapyMeaning-making & narrative
Make sense of your story, so the chapter that’s closing connects to the one beginning.
More on narrative therapyAcceptance & values work
Make room for hard feelings while reconnecting with what truly matters to you now.
More on ACTTrauma-informed care
When change came suddenly or hard, a gentle, paced approach that keeps you safe.
Trauma & PTSD therapyInnerSight was founded by Svetlana Antonyshyn, RP, on the belief that healing should treat the person, not a label. More about our approach.
What the research says
We’ll always be honest about evidence. Change itself is well studied, but research on counselling for life transitions specifically is smaller, so here are three honest findings rather than big promises.
In a Statistics Canada survey, almost a quarter (23%) of mothers who had recently given birth reported feelings consistent with postpartum depression or an anxiety disorder, while most said they were satisfied with life.
Across 104 studies, people out of work had lower psychological well-being than people in work. How they appraised and coped with being out of work was more strongly linked to their mental health than demographics or education were.
Research on therapy for adults who struggle to adjust after a stressful event, diagnosed as adjustment disorder, is still thin. A review of 29 studies, most testing talk therapies such as CBT, rated the evidence low to very low quality.
Our Registered Psychotherapists do not diagnose or prescribe. If the loss of a loved one is at the centre of your change, grief and bereavement counselling may be the closer fit, and we’ll help you find the right support.
Clinically reviewed by Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #001652). Last reviewed October 2026.
What life transitions counselling costs
No hidden fees and no pressure. Most private insurance plans cover a portion of psychotherapy fees. We can bill Sun Life, Beneva (formerly SSQ) and Green Shield directly when your plan is with one of them, and we provide receipts for claims with other insurers.
- $0
- Free consultation · 20 minMeet a therapist, ask anything, and see if it feels right. No credit card and no obligation.
- $245
- First appointment · 70 minA longer first conversation to understand what’s going on and set goals together.
- $180
- Ongoing sessions · 55 minEvery session after your first, in person or online.
- $125
- Reduced-fee sessionWith select supervised therapists in training. Reduced-fee couples and family sessions are $175.
Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice may be charged a cancellation fee. Sessions aren’t covered by OHIP, but psychotherapy from a Registered Psychotherapist may qualify as a medical expense at tax time. Worried about cost? See our reduced-fee program, or call us. We’re happy to walk you through it.
How far could your benefits go?
Pick your plan’s yearly maximum for a Registered Psychotherapist.
An estimate, not a quote or a promise of coverage. Plans differ on the percentage reimbursed, per-visit limits, deductibles and which providers they recognize, so check your benefits booklet or ask your insurer about “Registered Psychotherapist” and “Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).”
Book a free 20-minute consultDon’t take our word for it. Check.
Anyone can say they’re good at this. Here’s what you can verify about us in about two minutes, without speaking to anyone.
Regulated, not self-declared
“Psychotherapist” is a protected title in Ontario. Our team are Registered Psychotherapists, accountable to a College with a public complaints process.
See every therapist’s registrationSupervised every month
Our therapists meet for clinical supervision every month, so the work stays accountable to someone other than the person doing it.
How we workWe show our sources
Where we describe what therapy can help with, we name the source and link it, from Statistics Canada and CAMH to peer-reviewed trials.
What we help withNothing locks you in
No referral needed. No contract, no package to buy. Fees are published up front, $180 for a 55-minute session. If the fit isn’t right, tell us and we’ll help you switch to another therapist on the team.
Fees and coverageLife transitions counselling: your questions, answered
Still wondering about something? Ask us in a free consult, or call (905) 553-9507. Phones are answered weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.
Is it normal to struggle with a change I chose?
Completely. Even welcome change involves loss, and mixed feelings are normal. Excitement and grief can sit side by side. Counselling gives you room to feel both without judging yourself for it.
Do I need a referral for life transitions counselling in Vaughan?
No referral is needed. You can book a free 20-minute consultation online at psychotherapyclinic.janeapp.com or call (905) 553-9507. Most people have their first full session within a week.
How is this different from grief counselling?
There is real overlap, since most transitions carry some loss. For the loss of a loved one specifically, our grief and bereavement counselling may be the better fit, and we are happy to guide you to whichever feels right.
Can you help with a midlife or identity shift?
Yes. Questions of who you are and what matters now are exactly what this work is for. Together we make sense of where you have been and explore what you want to carry forward. If the search feels less about the change itself and more about deeper purpose, our purpose and meaning therapy may be the closer fit.
How long will I need support?
It varies. Some people come for a focused stretch around a single transition, others stay longer to work through deeper change. You and your therapist review progress together and adjust the pace as you go.
Is it available online across Ontario?
Yes. We offer secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario, plus in-person sessions in Vaughan, Woodbridge and Barrie. Evenings and weekends are available.
How much does it cost and is it covered?
The first 20-minute consultation is free, and individual sessions are $180 for 55 minutes. There is no OHIP coverage, but most private insurance plans cover a portion of services from a Registered Psychotherapist, and we bill Sun Life, Beneva (formerly SSQ) and Green Shield directly.
What happens in the first session?
A relaxed conversation about what is changing and what would help you feel steadier. There is no agenda but yours, and no pressure to have it all figured out before you arrive.
How is this different from talking it through with friends or family?
Friends and family are invaluable, but they often have their own stake in your decisions or their own discomfort with change. A Registered Psychotherapist offers a confidential, neutral space to think out loud without managing anyone else's feelings about it.
Is this a difficult transition, or grief?
Many transitions carry real grief, even happy ones like a new job or an empty nest, because something familiar is ending. If the loss feels central, our grief and bereavement counselling may be a closer fit, and we can help you find the right one during your free consultation.
Life transitions counselling near you
In-person sessions in Woodbridge, Maple and Barrie, plus secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario. Evenings and weekends available.
Online across Ontario
Secure video sessions from anywhere in the province, including if you’ve just moved.
Book an online consultAppointment hoursMonday to Friday, 9:30 am to 8:00 pmSaturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
You don’t have to find your way through this alone.
Change is workable with the right support, and the first step is a free, no-pressure conversation. You can take it today, at your own pace.
Phones answered Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.
