Gestalt therapist in a rented office room

Adults paying privately or through workplace extended health benefits, where the plan covers your professional designation.

A fee per 50 to 60 minute session. Many therapists start with a few clients a week and build a regular caseload by referral and word of mouth.

• Gestalt training and supervised clinical practice
• Deep listening and emotional steadiness
• Confidentiality and careful record keeping

• Psychotherapy and counselling titles are regulated in some provinces, such as Ontario and Quebec, so check your provincial regulator before advertising
• Professional liability insurance and any required supervision or ongoing training
• Privacy law for health records, which varies by province, so check what applies to you
• Insurers often cover only certain designations, so tell clients honestly whether their plan applies
• Clients build slowly, so plan for quiet months while rent still has to be paid
• GST/HST may not apply to some health services, so check with the Canada Revenue Agency or an accountant

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on room rental terms, furnishings, insurance, supervision and any ongoing training. Ask shared clinics about hourly, daily and monthly rates before you decide.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,200 to $6,000, depending on how many clients you see and how long it takes to build a caseload. Clients build slowly, so plan for quiet months while rent is still due.

Psychotherapy and counselling titles are regulated in some provinces, such as Ontario and Quebec, so check your provincial regulator before advertising. Also check professional liability insurance, provincial health-record privacy law, insurer coverage for your designation, and whether GST/HST applies.