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Therapy and specialized supports

Sometimes self-help options, workshops or groups do not provide sufficient mental health support. If you need one-on-one support from one of our mental health counsellors or a referral to a specialized program, reach out:

Book an appointment

If you are in distress and want to know what supports are available, review the distress flowchart for resources on and off campus.

Student Mental Health Services are available in a hybrid model. Currently we are offering intake and counselling appointments  in person, virtually through secure video (Google Meet using your ontariotechu.net email account) or by phone, Monday through Friday. 

In-person appointments are available by appointment only. Please feel free to ask questions and explore this option further by contacting studentlifeline@ontariotechu.ca, your intake coordinator or your counsellor.

  • In-person appointments at the downtown Oshawa campus location will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
  • In-person appointments at the north Oshawa campus location will be available Monday through Friday.

Ontario Tech University is proud to work in partnership with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences to offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to students who are experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. This program is funded through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. If you are interested in this type of support, or would like to learn more, speak with your counsellor or make an appointment with our a Mental Health and Welness Facilitator.

If the challenges you are facing are outside of our scope of practice, your therapist may refer you to another community support.

What to expect from therapy

What to expect from therapy

Our Student Wellness Coordinator or your Accessibility Counsellor may have referred you to one of our Mental Health Counsellors for one-on-one therapy. Here is what you can expect during a therapy session. You can also view our counselling FAQ page for more details.

  • Appointments can be booked at the end of your session, or by calling the Student LifeLine: 905.721.3392 or emailing studentlifeline@ontariotechu.ca.
  • For longer-term or more specialized therapy services, SMHS can provide appropriate community referrals.

What to expect from follow-up appointments:

  • Your SMHS counsellor will connect with you at the time of your appointment using the modality that you have requested.  If you requested a Google Meet appointment, your counsellor will send you the link ahead of time.

  • During your session, your counsellor will provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to work through the challenges you are facing. 
     
  • You do not have to share anything that you are uncomfortable sharing.  You will know when you feel safe enough to share.

  • Your counsellor may provide you with strategies or resources to support you.

  • Sometimes your counsellor may refer you to a community support to meet a specific need that you have. For example, some students benefit from case management, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), support for eating disorders or early psychosis intervention.

  • Together with your counsellor, you can decide whether it would be best to book another counselling session, or whether you can manage independently. 

  • You can always reconnect with Student Mental Health Services if the need for counselling arises again.  
Specialized supports

Specialized supports

We believe that you should get the best possible support for the mental health challenges you are facing. If our Mental Health Counsellors do not have the expertise, training or resources to support you, they will make a referral to a specialized support in your home community. For example, if you are experiencing psychosis, we will refer you to an early psychosis intervention program or local hospital.

Here are some of the specialized supports that have helped our students in the past:

  • Lakeridge Health Eating Disorders Program
  • Ontario Shores Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) 
  • Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program (CBT)
  • Early Psychosis Intervention Program
  • Bereaved Families of Ontario
  • Pinewood Centre (Addiction and dependencies support)