The mental healthcare system can be overwhelming to navigate and locate the right resources in a timely manner. Traditionally, it can take up to 12 months to receive an appointment to see a psychiatrist in Ontario. Some of our therapists at Concepts in Mental Health and Resilience have teamed up with the Psychotherapy Matters Collaboration program to provide accessible, compassionate mental health care for clients in need. As therapists working with the Psychotherapy Matters program, we are able to connect and collaborate with psychiatrists and the client’s family physician to provide our clients with timely access to a psychiatric consultation, assessment, diagnosis, and medication management (if needed). Wait times for this psychiatric assessment are relatively short. Our approach uses secure online video via the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), to help clients avoid excess travel, multiple practitioner visits, and lengthy wait times. The psychiatrist fee is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Regular therapist fees apply.
1 Contact our clinic to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists who is partnered with the Psychotherapy Matters Collaborative program. At least two sessions with our therapist are required to assess and understand what mental health issues you are experiencing and determine if a referral to a psychiatrist would be beneficial.
2 The therapist submits a psychiatrist consultation request to your family physician to review, sign and submit to the Psychotherapy Matters Collaborative program.
3 The Psychotherapy Matters Collaborative program will match a psychiatrist to the therapist and the client and issue an appointment to be delivered via the Ontario Telehealth Network (OTN) at our clinic. The therapist must be present with the client in the appointment and the psychiatrist joins the appointment via OTN. The psychiatrist fee is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Regular therapist fees apply.
4 The psychiatrist will assess, diagnose, and recommend medication management (if applicable). The psychiatrist may take up to 90 minutes or more to complete the assessment.
5 The psychiatrist sends the assessment summary and medication recommendations (if applicable) to your family physician who manages the psychiatrist’s medication recommendations (if applicable).
6 You make an appointment with your family physician to discuss the psychiatrist assessment and medication recommendations (if applicable). Psychiatrist follow up appointments are available if necessary following a similar protocol.