Personal Counselling

Personal counselling provides confidential individual and couple counselling. This service covers issues such as self-esteem, depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, addictions and/or prolonged stress, sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Support is also given to students on self-care strategies, balancing school and personal life, maintaining intimate relationships and other well-being issues.

If you would like to learn more about our personal counsellors, you can read their individual biographies.

For access to some examples of guided meditation and tools for managing anxiety and depression, please visit our Body/Mind Skills page.

Promoting Student Well-Being and Resilience:

The OHPSA in collaboration with the Student Affairs Liaison Team (SALT) offers workshops and seminars on issues related to student well-being and resilience throughout the academic year.

Our counsellors are also available to advise students individually on self-care strategies, balancing school and personal life, maintaining intimate relationships and other well-being issues related to adjusting to a professional training program. Consulting with a counsellor about optimizing your professional and life skills is encouraged.

Confidentiality:

All sessions are confidential. Our office does not share information with the Faculty of Medicine or anyone else except by written request of the student, or as required by law. All case files are kept in a secure location within the OHPSA personal counselling office and are available only to the personal counsellor.

Appointment Availability:

Daytime, Evening and lunch time appointments are available in order to accommodate the needs of the students. Appointments can be booked without a waiting period.

Setting up an appointment with one of our personal counsellors:

To set up an appointment, you can call the main office at: 416-978-2764, e-mail reception at OHPSA.reception@utoronto.ca, or access the online appointment booking form here. You may also contact our counsellors directly. Please see biographies above.

If you are experiencing an urgent crisis, please call the Gerstein Centre which offers a free, voluntary and confidential crisis intervention service over the phone and in-person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number is 416-929-5200.