In short: Yes, for most people and most concerns, research shows virtual therapy works just as well as in-person sessions. The bigger question isn’t does it work, it’s does it work for you. Below, we break down what the research actually says, who tends to thrive with virtual sessions, and how to find the right therapist for you.
Virtual Therapy in Ontario: You’re Not Imagining the Shift
A few years ago, “seeing a therapist” meant a waiting room, a drive across town, and rearranging your afternoon around an hour-long appointment. Today, a huge share of therapy in Ontario happens over video, from kitchen tables, parked cars on lunch breaks, and spare bedrooms turned into quiet corners.
Mental health touches a lot of us: according to CAMH, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness in any given year, and by age 40, that number climbs to 1 in 2. With that much need and a limited number of therapists to go around, it’s no surprise that virtual care has become one of the biggest shifts in how we get support.
But if you’ve never done therapy over video before, it’s fair to wonder: is this actually as good as sitting across from someone in person? Or is it a compromise, something people settle for when they can’t access “the real thing”?
Here’s what we tell our own clients: it’s not a downgrade or less effective. For the majority of people, it’s simply a different format.
Online Therapy: What the Research Actually Says
This isn’t a new question researchers are still puzzling over. Teletherapy (therapy delivered by live video) has been studied for over a decade, and the pandemic accelerated that research as millions of people moved therapy online almost overnight.
The pattern that keeps showing up from video therapy to in-person therapy is that there are no statistically significant differences in outcomes for common concerns like anxiety, depression, and relationship distress. When researchers pool results across many studies, virtual and in-person clients tend to see similar improvement, similar symptom reduction, and similarly strong relationships with their therapist.
A few specific findings worth knowing:
The therapeutic relationship holds up over video.
The single biggest predictor of whether therapy works is the strength of the relationship between client and therapist, what researchers call the “therapeutic alliance.” Studies measuring this over video call report alliance scores comparable to in-person sessions. Clients consistently say they feel just as understood, supported, and connected to a therapist they’ve only ever seen through a screen.
Couples therapy translates well too.
A study published on PubMed comparing in-person and teletherapy outcomes among married couples found comparable results between formats, good news if you and your partner are weighing whether virtual couples counselling can really do the job.
It’s not one-size-fits-all.
Effectiveness research also points to nuance: some intensive or specialized treatments (certain trauma protocols, higher-acuity crisis situations, or work that leans heavily on in-the-room physical cues) may still benefit from in-person delivery, and a good therapist will tell you honestly if that’s the case for you.
The takeaway isn’t “virtual is always better” or “in-person is outdated.” It’s that for the concerns most people come to therapy for, anxiety, burnout, relationship strain, life transitions, low mood, the format matters far less than the fit between you and your therapist.
Why So Many Ontarians Are Choosing Virtual Therapy
Effectiveness is one thing. Fit for real life is another. Here’s what draws most people toward virtual therapy sessions:
You’re not limited by geography.
Ontario is enormous, and great therapists aren’t evenly distributed across it. Virtual therapy means someone in Napanee, Prince Edward County, or a small town two hours from the nearest clinic has access to the same team as someone living five minutes from our Belleville office.
No commute, no scrambling for parking, no waiting room.
That hour you’d spend driving to and from an appointment goes back into your day, which matters if you’re managing work, parenting, or both.
It fits around real schedules.
A lunch-break session, a slot after the kids are down, an appointment squeezed between meetings, virtual therapy bends to your calendar in a way in-person appointments often can’t.
You get to choose comfort over convention.
Some people open up more easily from their own couch, with their own tea, their dog nearby, than they ever did in a clinical office.
Consistency is easier to protect.
Therapy works best when you can stick with it. If a snowstorm, a sick kid, or a packed week would have meant cancelling an in-person session, virtual therapy often means the appointment still happens.
More choice in who you work with.
Because you’re not restricted to therapists near a specific office, you can choose based on fit, specialty, and personality, not just proximity.
Is Virtual Therapy Right for You?
Virtual therapy can be a great fit for you if:
- You live outside Belleville or Kingston, or simply find it hard to get to an office regularly
- You have a private, reasonably quiet space you can use for a session
- You value flexibility and want therapy to work around your schedule, not the other way around
- You’re comfortable talking through a screen (most people adjust within a session or two, even if they’re skeptical going in)
- You want access to a wider pool of therapists rather than whoever happens to have space near you
It might be worth starting in-person, or at least discussing it with your therapist, if:
- You’re in crisis or need a higher level of support than outpatient talk therapy provides
- You don’t have consistent, private space or reliable internet at home
- You know from experience that in-person connection is important to how you engage in a session
If you’re not sure which camp you fall into, that’s a completely normal place to start from. Our free consultation exists exactly for this: a chance to talk it through with our Client Care Team before you commit to either format.
Book A Free Consultation
How Virtual Therapy Works at The Relationship Centre
Getting started is simpler than most people expect:
- Book a free 20-minute consultation through our online booking tool or by calling 613-848-3683.
- Complete your intake forms through our secure client portal ahead of your first session.
- Join by video at your appointment time, just click the link we email you and connect through your browser. No app download, no special equipment beyond a device with a camera and a private space.
We’re licensed to provide therapy to clients living anywhere in Ontario, so wherever you are in the province, virtual sessions with our team are an option.
Meet Ontario Therapists Offering Virtual Appointments
Alexander Orr, RSW, MSW
Belleville, Kingston & Virtual
Alexander offers individual and couples therapy grounded in affirming, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed care, with a particular interest in supporting clients navigating sexuality, gender, and neurodiversity. He also works with anxiety, trauma, identity questions, and life transitions. His goal is a space where clients can show up exactly as they are, no judgment, no pressure.
Cheryl Bechard Howe, RSW, MSW
Kingston & Virtual
With over 23 years of experience across child welfare, education, youth justice, and trauma recovery, Cheryl supports children, teens, adults, and families using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and EFFT. She brings a warm, creative style to her work with younger clients, often incorporating play and activities. Cheryl sees clients in Kingston and virtually across the province.
Daniel Forsythe, RP, MACP
Belleville & Virtual
Daniel works with couples, families, teens, and individuals, with particular expertise supporting neurodivergent and ADHD clients. Using Emotionally Focused Therapy and an attachment-based approach, he meets every client “as a whole human being,” not a diagnosis. He offers sessions in Belleville and virtually.
Holly Knowles, RSW, MSW
Belleville, Kingston & Virtual
Drawing on more than 20 years of public service experience, Holly supports adults and couples through relationship issues, depression, anxiety, conflict, infidelity, and low self-esteem. Her holistic approach combines Emotionally Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. She sees clients in Belleville, Kingston, and virtually.
Jean Terhaar, RP (Qualifying)
Belleville, Kingston & Virtual
A registered nurse for 25 years before becoming a psychotherapist, Jean brings a grounded, person-centered presence to her work with adults facing anxiety, burnout, grief, and relationship strain. She uses an attachment-based approach to help couples understand disconnection and rebuild trust. Jean offers sessions across Belleville, Kingston, and virtually.
Jenna Raymond, RSW
Kingston & Virtual
Jenna offers couples, family, individual, and teen therapy, incorporating Indigenous teachings and mindfulness alongside Emotionally Focused and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. She supports clients through grief, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and identity exploration. She practices in Kingston and virtually across Ontario.
Kathleen O’Connor, RSW, MSW
Belleville & Virtual
Kathleen offers individual and trauma therapy through a strengths-based, holistic lens, supporting clients through abuse, grief, health crises, caregiving stress, disability, and perinatal loss. She integrates Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy with cognitive-based approaches, emphasizing the mind-body connection. She’s available in Belleville and virtually.
Lydia Kellar, RP (Qualifying), RECE
Belleville & Virtual
A Child Development Specialist as well as a psychotherapist, Lydia specializes in child, teen, and family therapy, with particular expertise in neurodivergence. She blends attachment-informed care with CBT and often incorporates play tailored to each child’s needs. Lydia sees clients in Belleville and virtually.
MaryClair Walker, RSW, MSW
Virtual Only
MaryClair offers individual, couples, family, teen, and perinatal therapy, along with CBT-I for insomnia. Using an attachment-based, trauma-informed approach grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy, she helps clients work through relationship difficulties, anxiety, and past trauma. She practices entirely virtually.
Paula Leite, RP (Qualifying)
Belleville & Virtual
Paula works with children, teens, and individuals using child-centered play therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy, with a strengths-focused, trauma-informed style. She’s currently pursuing advanced training in Internal Family Systems and Coherence Therapy, and offers sessions in Brazilian Portuguese. Paula practices in Belleville and virtually.
Tania Nicholls, RSW, MSW
Kingston & Virtual
With over 17 years of experience, Tania specializes in child, family, individual, and perinatal therapy, drawing on EFT, CBT, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. She’s especially passionate about parent-child relationships and supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, and loss. Tania sees clients in Kingston and virtually.
Tara Gingrich, MSW, RSW
Belleville & Virtual
With more than 20 years of experience, Tara supports clients through anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem, relationships, and sexual or gender identity concerns, using CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based approaches. She also offers perinatal and teen therapy. Tara practices in Belleville and virtually.
Ylva Kroke, RP (Qualifying)
Kingston & Virtual
Ylva offers couples and individual therapy for trauma, low self-esteem, and life transitions, drawing on Emotion Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. Her practice is grounded in the belief that “you are welcome here, just as you are.” She sees clients in Kingston and virtually.
Browse our full virtual therapy team here, or explore our complete team directory to compare backgrounds, specialties, and approaches across our whole team in Belleville, Kingston, and virtually.
Not sure who’s the right fit?
You don’t have to figure it out alone. If any of these signs sound familiar, our Client Care Team can help match you with a therapist based on your goals, and answer any questions about how virtual sessions work before you book.
FAQs About Virtual Therapy in Ontario
Is virtual therapy covered by insurance in Ontario?
Most extended health benefits that cover in-person therapy with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker also cover virtual sessions. It’s worth confirming directly with your provider, but coverage is rarely format-dependent.
Do I need any special equipment?
Just a device with a camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, or phone), a stable internet connection, and a private space where you can talk openly.
Can I switch between virtual and in-person sessions?
Yes. Many of our clients mix formats depending on their week, virtual when travel isn’t practical, in-person when they’re able to come into our Belleville or Kingston office.
What if I’ve never done therapy over video and I’m nervous about it?
That’s a common feeling, and it usually eases within the first session or two. Your therapist will check in with you about how the format feels and adjust where they can
Is virtual therapy really as effective as in-person therapy?
For most concerns, yes. Research comparing the two formats consistently shows comparable outcomes, and what matters most, the relationship between you and your therapist, holds up just as well over video.
The Format Matters Less Than the Fit
If you’ve been putting off therapy because getting to an office feels like one more obstacle, that’s exactly the barrier virtual therapy is designed to remove. The research backs it up, and so does what we hear from clients: connection, trust, and progress aren’t tied to a physical room.
Book a free 20-minute consultation and we’ll help you find the right therapist and the right format, wherever in Ontario you’re starting from.
Feeling Better Starts Here
Find compassionate in-person therapy in Belleville and Kingston, and virtual therapy across Ontario. We’re here to help you, your partner, or your family heal, grow, and reconnect.
