University can be a lot: new routines, deadlines, money stress, relationships and big decisions about the future. If you've thought about talking to a therapist, your student health plan may help with the cost. The tricky part is that each plan covers different amounts and different types of practitioners. This guide walks through what the uOttawa and Carleton undergraduate plans list for mental health, how to check your own coverage and how to get started with us, downtown or online.
This post is general information, not insurance or financial advice. Plan details can change, so always check your plan before you book.
Your student plan may cover therapy, here's how to check
If you're an undergraduate at the University of Ottawa or Carleton University, you may be enrolled in your students' union health plan. Check your plan's eligibility page to confirm. These plans can pay part of the cost of seeing a mental health practitioner, but only if the practitioner's title matches the plan's list.
That last part matters more than most students realize. A plan might cover a psychologist and a social worker, but not a psychotherapist, or the other way around. Before you book, it's worth knowing three things:
How much the plan pays. Some pay a percentage of each visit, others a set dollar amount.
The yearly maximum. Once you reach it, the plan stops paying until the next policy year.
Which practitioners qualify. This is where many claims get turned down.
If this feels like a lot, our free 15-minute consultation is a simple way to talk it through with our admin team.
What students bring to therapy
You don't need a crisis to use your benefits. Student therapy in Ottawa often focuses on everyday pressures that build up over a term:
Stress and anxiety. Deadlines, exams, presentations and worry about grades or the future.
Low mood. Feeling flat, unmotivated or far from home.
Relationships. Roommates, friendships, dating, breakups and family expectations.
Big transitions. Moving out for the first time, changing programs or figuring out what comes after graduation.
Focus and follow-through. Struggling to keep up with readings, routines and sleep.
If exams are a big part of the stress, our post on exam anxiety techniques has practical strategies you can try. Therapy can help you build skills that fit your life, not just your course load.
uOttawa student health plan, therapy coverage at a glance
The University of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU) health plan page, administered by Alumo and insured by GreenShield, lists mental health coverage for undergraduates. As of October 2026, it says:
The plan covers 80% of the cost of a mental health practitioner.
There's a $1,500 combined maximum per policy year for all mental health practitioners.
The practitioner must be a psychologist, psychotherapist, social worker or counsellor, or hold a Master's degree in Social Work.
Practitioners must be registered with the appropriate licensing board, and their designation must be recognized by the insurer.
In other words, UOSU health plan counselling coverage can apply to several types of clinicians, which gives uOttawa undergraduates a fair amount of choice.
The plan page doesn't say whether a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) counts as a "psychotherapist" for claims. Coverage depends on the plan's rules, so check your plan booklet or ask the insurer before you book with an RP (Qualifying).
Carleton undergraduates and the CUSA plan
The Carleton University Students' Association (CUSA) health plan page, administered by Alumo and insured by Desjardins, lists a current coverage period of September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027. For mental health, it says:
The plan covers up to $75 per visit.
There's a $300 maximum per policy year, combined for all mental health practitioners.
The practitioner must be a licensed psychologist, a registered clinical counsellor or hold a Master's degree in Social Work.
So if you're asking whether your Carleton student health plan covers a psychologist, the answer on the plan page is yes, within those limits. Registered psychotherapists aren't on that list as of October 2026. If you're a Carleton undergraduate, ask in your free consultation which of our clinicians your plan recognizes, and check the plan page or your booklet, since lists can change. With a $300 yearly maximum, CUSA health plan mental health coverage may only cover part of a few sessions, so it helps to plan ahead.
Graduate students and other plans
Graduate students at both universities have their own separate plans, with different amounts and lists. If you're a grad student, look up your graduate association's plan rather than the undergraduate one.
You might also have coverage through a parent's or partner's plan, or through work. The UOSU plan page notes that claims must first be submitted to any other public or private plan before the students' union plan. Using two plans together can help you stretch your coverage further, but the order and rules depend on each plan, so check with both.
If you already have equivalent coverage, your students' union plan may let you opt out during its change-of-coverage period. Check your plan's website for dates.
Matching your plan to the right clinician
Here's a quick guide to the titles you'll see:
RSW (Registered Social Worker): a regulated social worker who provides therapy. Many hold an MSW.
RP (Registered Psychotherapist): a regulated psychotherapist registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
RP (Qualifying): the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario explains that these registrants practise psychotherapy with clinical supervision while completing the requirements for full registration.
Psychologist: trained in assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
Our admin team can look at your plan's practitioner list with you and suggest clinicians whose credentials fit. Many of our therapists see clients online anywhere in Ontario, which gives you more choice if your plan only covers certain titles.
Direct billing and receipts
We can direct bill many insurers, including for sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). Desjardins is the exception: through TELUS eClaims, we can direct bill Desjardins for sessions with an RSW, RP or psychologist, but not for an RP (Qualifying).
Even with direct billing, coverage isn't guaranteed. It depends on your plan, your maximum and whether the clinician's title is on the list. If we can't direct bill your plan, we'll give you a receipt to submit yourself. Keep your receipts, and check how much of your yearly maximum you've already used.
If you call your insurer or check your plan online, these questions can help:
Which mental health practitioner titles does my plan cover?
Does "psychotherapist" include a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)?
How much have I already claimed this policy year?
Do I need to submit to another plan first?
With those answers, university student counselling in Ottawa becomes much easier to plan around your budget.
Downtown or online from residence
In person. Our Ottawa clinic is at 1 Rideau Street, 7th Floor, Ottawa, ON K1N 8S7, inside the Fairmont Château Laurier. You can reach our Ottawa team at (613) 691-1006.
Online. Online sessions work well from a residence room, a quiet library room or home on reading week. Use headphones if you have a roommate.
Cost of sessions
Sessions with our therapists range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician. Your plan may cover some of that cost, depending on the plan's percentage, per-visit limit and yearly maximum. We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) too, if you have one through work or a parent.
Your first step
Book a free 15-minute consultation with our admin team. Have your plan details handy, and they'll help you find a clinician who fits both your needs and your coverage.
If you're in crisis: if you're having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or anyone is in danger, call or text 9-8-8 any time, day or night, or call 911. You can find more options on our crisis lines page.
You've already paid for these benefits. It makes sense to use them.