Psychiatrist Collaborative Care Program

The Psychotherapy Matters Collaborative Care Program (PMCCP) is a virtual care model in Ontario that connects your registered psychotherapist with a psychiatrist and your family doctor. With your consent, your therapist can collaborate with a psychiatrist to support your treatment plan, including diagnostic clarification and medication recommendations.

If you’re working with a participating psychotherapist at our practice, we will initiate the process internally and include your family doctor or primary health care provider in the care team. You will just need your PCP to sign off on the form that the RP provides you. 

Yes. All general psychiatric consultations arranged through the Psychotherapy Matters Collaborative Care Program are covered by OHIP (except for their ADHD/ASD program). There is no cost to you for the psychiatrist’s time. 

However, because your Registered Psychotherapist (RP) is also present during the consultation to support and collaborate on your care, you will be charged your regular session fee for the therapist’s time. This ensures you continue receiving personalized support throughout the process.

No! In fact, one of the major benefits of this program is that you continue seeing your current therapist. The psychiatrist joins your care team on a consultative basis only.

Once we’ve determined that a psychiatric consult would be helpful and your PCP has signed off on the form, we typically schedule a virtual appointment within a few weeks; much faster than the traditional wait times for psychiatry in Ontario.

This collaborative care approach can support people experiencing:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• ADHD

• Trauma and PTSD

• Mood disorders

• Medication questions or concerns

• Diagnostic uncertainty

Yes! If you’re seeking therapy in Ontario and think psychiatric input might help, mention this during your first session and assess whether the Collaborative Care Program is a good fit for your needs. 

Please note: We require a minimum of three sessions booked before we refer out for a psychiatric consultation. This allows your therapist time to understand your history, goals, and current challenges, along with conducting an assessment themselves, so that we can provide the psychiatrist with a clear, informed clinical picture, ensuring the consultation is as helpful and accurate as possible.

Yes. The Psychotherapy Matters Collaborative Care Program is available for children and adolescents as long as they meet the program requirements (a valid Ontario Health Card and a family doctor or nurse practitioner).

The psychiatrist consult is conducted virtually with your child’s therapist present during the session, ensuring that the process feels safe and supported. This can be especially helpful for:

• Emotional regulation issues

• Anxiety or depression

• School challenges

• Medication questions

• Behavioural concerns

We always work closely with both the child and their caregivers to make the process collaborative, respectful, and developmentally appropriate.

Yes. Many of our clients seek psychiatric consultation through this program to support ADHD or autism-related concerns (or both!). This may include:

• Diagnostic clarification (e.g., confirming ADHD)

• Medication options or adjustments

• Executive functioning and emotional regulation

• Co-occurring anxiety, depression, or learning challenges

If you’re exploring whether a formal diagnosis or medication may help, the Collaborative Care Program can provide clarity much faster than typical psychiatry waitlists in Ontario. Your therapist stays involved the entire time to help implement strategies and offer ongoing support tailored to neurodivergent needs.

Either assessment is set at a one-time fee of $350, payable directly to the PM program. The fee covers the PM intake process and coordination, information gathering, and treatment planning, as well as the technology behind it. This also includes client record provision and all other services of the Intake Facilitator. The fee ensures the sustainability of the program while keeping the cost relatively low. A sliding scale is available for those who qualify.