Depression therapy in Vaughan
Small steps back to yourself.
When everything feels heavy, flat or pointless, it isn’t a reflection of who you are or how hard you’re trying. Therapy helps you take small, real steps toward feeling like yourself again. In Vaughan and online across Ontario.
If your child or teen seems low, withdrawn or not quite themselves lately, our child and youth therapists work with ages 3 to 17. A free consult is a calm place for you, as a parent, to start.
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
Depression isn’t a character flaw.
If getting through the day feels like wading through wet sand, or the things you used to enjoy have gone grey, that isn’t a failure of willpower. Depression slows the mind and body down, dims energy, motivation and pleasure, and then tells you it’s your fault. It isn’t.
Therapy isn’t about talking you out of how you feel. It helps you make sense of what pulled you under, interrupt the downward spiral, and gently rebuild energy, connection and meaning, one step at a time.
Depression therapy is evidence-based talk therapy that helps you understand what’s keeping you low, rebuild energy and motivation through small steps, and reconnect with meaning and people.
- Practical tools, not just talking about the past
- Works at your pace, even when energy is low
- Judgment-free, in person or online across Ontario
What’s been weighing on you lately?
Tap anything that sounds familiar. None of these means something is wrong with you. They’re common, and support helps.
You don’t have to wait for an appointment.
If you’re having thoughts of suicide, or of not wanting to be here, please reach out now. You can call or text 988 any time, day or night, and talk with someone trained to help. When you’re ready, therapy can be part of what comes next.
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline, call or text any time988In an emergency, call 911.
Book a free consult when you’re readyStart with what you’re noticing.
Tap anything that sounds like you lately, and we’ll suggest a gentle next step.
You’ve noticed 1 thing.
That’s common, and it responds to support. A free 20-minute consult is a calm way to talk it through, with nothing to decide on the spot.
You’ve noticed 3 things.
That’s a lot to carry, especially when your energy is low. You don’t need to be at rock bottom to start, and reaching out early is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself.
Low after a loss, a breakup or a hard year? That’s very common. Grief and depression often overlap, and we can support both together.
Book a free 20-minute consultThis isn’t a diagnosis.
With low mood, action comes first and motivation follows.
Depression tells you to wait until you feel like it, and waiting keeps you stuck. Step through the spiral many people get caught in, and what therapy does with it. It’s a taste of behavioural activation, a core depression tool.
- 1On the surface
“I’ll get up when I feel like it.”
- 2UnderneathThis is the motivation trap.Depression says wait until you feel motivated. But with low mood, motivation rarely comes first. Action does. The smallest step counts: sit up, open the curtains, put your feet on the floor.
- 3The shift
“Doing one tiny thing, even badly, nudges the mood a little. Momentum is built, not waited for.”
- 1On the surface
“I’ve cancelled on everyone again. There’s no point reaching out now.”
- 2UnderneathWithdrawal feeds the low.Depression pulls you to isolate, and isolation deepens the low. The thought that there’s no point is the depression talking. One low-effort message is enough: a thumbs up, a quick “thinking of you”.
- 3The shift
“One small contact chips away at the isolation. I don’t have to feel social to take a social step.”
- 1On the surface
“Nothing feels worth it. Why bother?”
- 2UnderneathThe flatness is the low talking, not a fact about your life.Depression dims pleasure and meaning, so everything feels pointless. Try one small thing you used to value, not for the feeling, just to do it: a shower, a short walk, one song.
- 3The shift
“Pleasure and meaning tend to come back gradually, through small actions repeated, not in one big burst.”
- 1On the surface
“What does therapy actually do with all this?”
- 2UnderneathWe build small steps around your real week.Together you notice where the low pulls you to wait or withdraw, plan small, doable actions that fit your life, and work gently with the harsh inner voice. This is behavioural activation, alongside CBT and deeper work when you want it.
- 3The shift
“I don’t have to wait to feel better before I take a step. Small steps give the feeling a chance to follow.”
An illustration of a common pattern, not a real client’s words. In sessions you build these steps around your own week, so they actually fit your life.
Talk it through, free for 20 minutesMeet therapists who work with depression
Every therapist below is a Registered Psychotherapist who helps people through low mood and depression. Watch a short intro, read their profile, or let us match you in your free consultation.
Watch introYulia Evans
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #14326Woodbridge · Online
A compassionate, evidence-based space to work through disconnection and stress, and find more balance in your life.
Watch introCristian Renzi
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #12088Maple (Vaughan) · Online
A judgment-free space for depression, anxiety and trauma, with a special interest in men who’ve spent years handling everything alone.
Watch introTeresa Di Panfilo
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #19045Woodbridge · Online
Supports adults through anxiety, depression, trauma and big life transitions, drawing on CBT and psychodynamic therapy.
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 actually looks like
When energy is low, even booking feels like a lot. Your first appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment, and here’s how it tends to go, so nothing is a mystery.
- 1Minutes 0 to 15
Settling in
No couch, no interrogation. Your therapist welcomes you, explains confidentiality in plain language, and you set the pace. You share only what you want to.
- 2Minutes 15 to 60
Understanding the low
Together you map when the heaviness shows up, what drains you, what still helps a little, and what you’ve already tried. Saying it out loud can lift a small weight on its own.
- 3Throughout
At a pace you help set
Nothing is pushed. Your therapist keeps the conversation gentle and practical, and checks in with how much energy you have that day.
- 4The last 10 minutes
Leaving with one small step
You agree on what you’re working toward, and leave with one gentle, doable thing to try before next time, rather than a mountain.
Low after a loss, or a hard year?
Depression often travels with grief, anxiety, burnout or something painful from the past. Your therapist works with the whole picture rather than one piece at a time.
Grief and bereavement counsellingEvidence-based, and matched to you.
There’s no single script for depression. Your therapist draws on approaches with strong research behind them and tailors them to you and your pace. Sessions stay practical and predictable: a clear focus each week, small doable steps, and a pace you help set.
CBT and behavioural activation
Interrupt the self-critical spiral and rebuild momentum through small, doable steps.
More on CBTIFS and deeper work
Meet the parts of you carrying the pain, rather than fighting or numbing them.
More on IFSNervous-system regulation
Polyvagal-informed tools to move out of shutdown and back toward energy and connection.
More on polyvagal-informed therapyTrauma-informed throughout
Because low mood often has roots, we work with the cause carefully, at a pace you control.
PTSD and trauma 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. Depression is common and well studied, and therapy helps many people, though no ethical therapist can promise how it will go for any one person.
In 2022, 7.6% of Canadians aged 15 and older had a major depressive episode in the past year, up from 4.7% in 2012. You are far from alone in this.
Of Canadians aged 15 and older who met the criteria for a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder in the past year, about half (48.8%) had talked to a health professional about their mental health.
A review of 409 trials with over 52,000 people found CBT for depression had moderate to large benefits compared with usual care or a waitlist, still present 6 to 12 months later. It wasn’t clearly better than other therapies.
In a UK trial with 440 adults with depression, behavioural activation (BA), a simpler therapy than CBT, did no worse than CBT at 12 months, even when delivered by junior mental health workers.
Our Registered Psychotherapists do not diagnose or prescribe. If medication might be part of your care, that’s a decision for you and your physician, and we’re glad to work alongside your family doctor or psychiatrist.
Clinically reviewed by Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #001652). Last reviewed October 2026.
What depression therapy 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 coverageDepression therapy: 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.
Do I need a referral for depression therapy 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 long does depression therapy take?
It varies with your goals, and there is no fixed number of sessions. Some people come for a few months of focused work, and others stay longer. You and your therapist agree on what you are working toward, review progress together, and adjust the pace as you go.
Can therapy help if I have felt this way for years?
Yes. Long-standing or recurring depression is very treatable, even when it feels permanent. Therapy works at a pace that suits you, building small, durable changes rather than expecting an overnight fix.
Do I need medication for depression?
Not necessarily. Some people find therapy on its own is enough, and others do best with therapy and medication together. That is a decision for you and your physician. Our therapists are Registered Psychotherapists and do not prescribe medication, but we are glad to work alongside your family doctor or psychiatrist if medication is part of your care.
Can I do depression therapy online?
Yes. We offer secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario, plus in-person sessions in Woodbridge, Vaughan and Barrie. Online sessions remove the energy it takes to travel, which can help a lot when motivation is low. Evenings and weekends are available.
What if my depression comes with anxiety or trauma?
That is very common, and we work with the whole picture. Depression often travels with anxiety, past trauma, grief or burnout, and your therapist tailors the approach so these are addressed together rather than in isolation.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. Our therapists are Registered Psychotherapists regulated by the CRPO, and everything you share stays confidential within the standard legal limits, which your therapist explains clearly in your first session.
How much does depression therapy cost and is it covered?
The first 20-minute consultation is free, and individual sessions are $180 for 55 minutes (your first full appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment at $245). 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 free 20-minute consultation?
You talk with a therapist about how you have been feeling and what you would like to change. They explain how therapy could help and answer your questions. No pressure, no commitment, and booking takes about 2 minutes.
How is depression therapy different from just talking to friends or family?
Friends and family matter, but a Registered Psychotherapist brings training, an outside perspective, and evidence-based tools built specifically for depression. Sessions are also a space that is entirely yours, with no worry about burdening the people you love.
Is it depression or burnout?
They can feel similar, low energy, trouble focusing, and a loss of enjoyment, and the two often overlap. Burnout tends to ease with rest and a change in workload, while depression usually persists even when the external pressure lifts. A Registered Psychotherapist cannot formally diagnose either, but therapy helps you untangle which is driving what, and builds a plan either way.
Depression therapy 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, without the energy it takes to travel.
Book an online consultAppointment hoursMonday to Friday, 9:30 am to 8:00 pmSaturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
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Depression often responds to the right support, and the first step is a free, no-pressure conversation. You can take it today, at whatever pace feels possible.
Phones answered Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.
