Law Society of Ontario’s Member Assistance Program (MAP)
The MAP is a confidential support and counselling program coordinated by the LSO and funded by the annual fees paid by its members. While it is coordinated by the LSO, the MAP program operates separately to ensure your confidentiality. This service offers short term and long-term counselling along with a range of wellness resources.
Students are invited to self-refer online or telephone 1-855-403-8922 (TTY: 1-866-433-3305).
Cost: No cost to students and their family members.
Greenshield’s Empower Me Program
The Empower Me program is a confidential support and counselling program. Services and support include online, telephone (and when health conditions permit: in person) access to consultants, counsellors and life coaches and wellness resources at Aspiria mobile app.
For immediate access: Call the 24/7 helpline at 1-844-741-6389 from anywhere for immediate crisis support.
Book online using the Empower Me website - use "Studentcare" as the password.
Cost: There is no additional cost to you to access this service.
Counselling Connect
Counselling Connect provides quick access to a free phone or video counselling sessions, available in English or French. The service is open to everyone: children, youth, adults and families in Ottawa and the surrounding area. There is no waitist.
Mental Health Practitioners in Private Practice
Your group insurance is provided by Greenshield. This plan includes coverage of mental health practitioners at 80% of the cost of the service with a maximum coverage of $1,500 per policy yearly (2019-2020 year/subject to change). The practitioner must be a psychologist, registered social worker or specified therapist. You may select an approved type of practitioner or use a psychologist suggested by Greenshield since they partnered with Psyvitaliti to facilitate access to psychologists with student rates.
For more information about access to psychologists, visit psyvitaliti.ca or call 1-844-337-2473 ext 0.
The average cost of a private mental health practitioner ranges. Some practitioners offer student rates. Average hourly rates in Ottawa for mental health therapists/counsellors: $85- $140 per hour.
The Equity and Student Success Counsellor and the Mental Health and Wellness Counsellor at the law school, as well as counsellors at Counselling Services, via the single session or walk-in appointment, will provide recommendations to private practitioners and indicate those who offer student rates and specialized services. The self-refer tools below can also be used to locate specialized services.
The use of private practitioners can be helpful if the challenge you are facing requires a specialized mental health service i.e. eating disorders, severe trauma, multiple disorders, addictions, focus on anti-black racism, chronic mental health issues etc.
You can also self-refer to private practitioners:
Counsellors Available at Community Agencies
Counsellors and Therapist are also available at Community Counselling Agencies in Ottawa and in your home community.
Services charge ranges but rates are often geared to income. As such, sessions for students may be as little as $10 per session.
The Equity and Student Success Counsellor and the Mental Health and Wellness Counsellor and counsellors at Counselling Services, via the walk-in or single session appointments, will provide referrals to agencies based on what is most suitable for you. You may also wish to self-refer.
