Best Marriage Therapists in Toronto, ON (2025 Guide)

You're sitting near the Distillery District at 11pm, googling "marriage counselling near me" (Canadian spelling). You're not sure therapy can fix this, but you're willing to try. Your marriage is falling apart and you don't know what else to do.

Here's what you need to know about marriage counselling in Toronto—what it costs, what actually works, and which therapists are worth calling.

Can Therapy Actually Help?

The research says yes—about 70% of couples who commit to marriage therapy see significant improvement. Those are good odds.

But "commit" is the key word. Therapy works when:

• Both people genuinely want to improve the relationship

• You're both willing to take responsibility for your part

• You haven't completely checked out emotionally

• There's no active, ongoing affair (past affairs can be worked through)

• You can be civil to each other for an hour

• You're willing to do the homework between sessions

Therapy doesn't work when:

• One person has already decided to divorce and is just going through the motions

• There's ongoing substance abuse without treatment

• There's physical violence (individual therapy and safety planning needed first)

• One or both partners refuse to participate honestly

• You're completely done—emotionally divorced already

Even if therapy doesn't save your marriage, it can help you:

• Divorce more amicably

• Co-parent better after divorce

• Understand what went wrong

• Avoid making the same mistakes next time

In Toronto, where contested divorces cost $24,000-$60,000+ total for both spouses, spending $2,160-$5,600 on therapy is worth trying. Even if it just makes your eventual divorce less expensive and traumatic.

What It Costs in Toronto (All Prices in CAD)

Marriage therapy in Toronto is expensive—Canada's highest rates. This is a side effect of Toronto's high cost of living.

Session rates (50-60 minutes):

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW/RSW): $180-$220/session

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT/RMFT): $200-$240/session

• Licensed Psychologist (PhD or PsyD): $230-$280/session

How many sessions do you need?

• Crisis intervention: 6-10 sessions (2-3 months)

• Relationship repair: 12-20 sessions (3-6 months)

• Maintenance: Monthly check-ins after intensive work

Most couples start with weekly sessions for 8-12 weeks, then space to every other week.

Total cost:

• Crisis work: $1,080-$2,800 per couple

• Standard therapy: $2,160-$5,600 per couple

• Extended therapy: $2,880-$7,200 per couple

That's very expensive. Compare to Toronto divorce costs:

• Contested divorce: $24,000-$60,000 total (both spouses)

• High-conflict divorce: $100,000-$300,000+ total

Even if therapy has only a 50% chance of working (it's actually 70%), spending $3,500 to potentially save $40,000-$150,000 in divorce costs is smart math.

Does insurance cover it?

In Canada, OHIP (provincial health insurance) does NOT cover psychotherapy or marriage counselling. BUT many workplace benefits plans do.

Check your workplace benefits:

• Most professional jobs include mental health benefits

• Typical coverage: $500-$3,000 per person per year

• Some plans cover couples therapy, some only individual

• Usually requires therapist to be registered (RSW, RP, RMFT, or psychologist)

Call your benefits provider: "Do I have psychotherapy coverage? Does it cover couples therapy? What's my annual limit? Is [therapist name] covered?"

If covered through benefits, you typically pay upfront then submit receipts for reimbursement. Turnaround is usually 2-4 weeks.

Example with benefits:

• 15 sessions at $220/session = $3,300

• Your benefits cover $2,000

• Your cost: $1,300 instead of $3,300

Many Toronto therapists are registered with major insurers:

• Manulife

• Sun Life

• Great-West Life

• Canada Life

• Green Shield Canada

• Equitable Life

Some don't take insurance at all (usually the PhD psychologists charging $250-$280). You pay full rate.

11 Marriage Therapists Worth Calling

These aren't the "best" (that's subjective), but they're experienced Toronto therapists who specialize in couples work. Listed with rates, experience, specialties, and who they're best for.

1. Dr. Sarah Cohen, PhD - Cohen Psychology Centre

Rate: $250/session | Experience: 18 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), affairs recovery, crisis intervention, high-achieving couples

Sarah is one of Toronto's few EFT-certified therapists. EFT is research-backed and particularly effective for couples in crisis or recovering from infidelity.

She understands Toronto's high-achieving professional class—Bay Street workers, lawyers, doctors, tech executives juggling demanding careers and marriage.

Her typical clients:

• Dual-career couples (both high achievers)

• Bay Street professionals

• Couples recovering from affairs

• Crisis situations (one foot out the door)

• Anyone wanting evidence-based approach

She's direct but creates safety for difficult conversations. She won't let you avoid the hard stuff, but she makes it bearable.

Best for: Affairs recovery, crisis intervention, high-achieving couples, EFT approach

Location: Office in midtown Toronto

2. Michael Rodriguez, RMFT - Rodriguez Family Therapy

Rate: $200/session | Experience: 15 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Blended families, second marriages, stepfamily dynamics, pre-marital counselling

Michael works extensively with Toronto's many blended families. If this is a second marriage, if you have kids from previous relationships, if stepfamily dynamics are causing conflict—Michael specializes in this.

His typical clients:

• Second marriages

• Blended families (yours, mine, and ours)

• Couples with stepchildren

• Pre-marital couples planning to blend families

He's practical and solution-focused. He gives you specific tools to manage stepfamily challenges—discipline differences, loyalty conflicts, ex-spouse issues, different parenting philosophies.

Best for: Blended families, second marriages, stepfamily issues

Location: Office in The Beaches

3. Jennifer Lee, RMFT - Lee Couples Therapy

Rate: $190/session | Experience: 17 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Gottman Method, conflict resolution, communication skills, Bay Street couples

Jennifer is Gottman Method certified. The Gottman Method is research-based—they've studied thousands of couples to understand what makes marriages work and what predicts divorce. It's structured, evidence-based, and effective.

She's great for couples who fight constantly. If you can't have a conversation without it escalating, if you need to learn how to argue constructively—Jennifer teaches specific skills.

Her typical clients:

• Couples who fight constantly

• Communication breakdown

• Bay Street professionals (understands work stress)

• Anyone wanting structured, proven approach

She gives homework. She teaches specific techniques. If you want "here are 5 skills to practice this week," Jennifer provides that structure.

Best for: Constant fighting, need communication skills, want structured approach, Gottman Method

Location: Office in Financial District

4. Dr. Patricia Martinez, PsyD - Martinez Clinical Services

Rate: $240/session | Experience: 18 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Sex therapy, intimacy issues, medical issues affecting sexuality, trauma-informed care

Patricia is a certified sex therapist. If sexual issues are central to your marital problems—mismatched desire, erectile dysfunction, pain during sex, past sexual trauma—Patricia specializes in this.

She's clinical but makes talking about sex comfortable. She treats it as a normal, important part of healthy marriage.

Her typical clients:

• Couples with sexual problems

• Medical issues affecting intimacy (menopause, medications, chronic illness)

• Past sexual trauma affecting current relationship

• Intimacy rebuilding after affairs

She often coordinates with medical doctors when there are physical/medical components.

Best for: Sexual problems, intimacy issues, sex therapy, medical issues affecting sexuality

Location: Office in Yorkville

5. David Chen, RSW - Chen Counselling Centre

Rate: $180/session | Experience: 14 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Trauma-informed couples therapy, addiction in relationships, recovery support

David works with couples dealing with trauma or addiction. If one partner has PTSD, if addiction is affecting your marriage, if there's trauma history—David has specialized training.

His typical clients:

• Couples where one partner has trauma history

• Addiction recovery (one partner in recovery or early sobriety)

• Adult children of alcoholics navigating relationships

• Trauma affecting relationship dynamics

He's gentle but doesn't avoid difficult topics. He creates safety while addressing hard issues like trust rebuilding, boundaries during recovery, and processing past trauma together.

Best for: Trauma history, addiction issues, PTSD, recovery support, trust rebuilding

Location: Office in Riverdale

6. Amanda Foster, RMFT - Foster Relationship Centre

Rate: $210/session | Experience: 16 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy, non-traditional relationships, same-sex couples

Amanda specializes in LGBTQ+ couples therapy. She's affirmative, knowledgeable, and doesn't assume heteronormative relationship models.

Her typical clients:

• LGBTQ+ couples

• Same-sex marriages

• Non-traditional relationship structures

• Transgender or non-binary individuals in relationships

• Anyone wanting affirming, non-judgmental care

She understands the unique challenges LGBTQ+ couples face in Toronto. She doesn't waste your time educating her about basic LGBTQ+ issues—she already knows.

Best for: LGBTQ+ couples, same-sex marriages, non-traditional relationships, trans/non-binary affirming

Location: Office in Church-Wellesley Village

7. Dr. Robert Garcia, PhD - Garcia Psychology Group

Rate: $270/session | Experience: 20 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Discernment counselling, high-achieving couples, decision-making therapy, executives

Robert does "discernment counselling"—short-term therapy (1-5 sessions) for couples who aren't sure whether to stay married or divorce. The goal isn't to save your marriage; it's to help you gain clarity about what you want.

He also works with high-achieving Toronto couples dealing with career stress and long-term marriages in crisis.

His typical clients:

• Unsure whether to stay or divorce

• Long-term marriages (15+ years) in crisis

• Empty nesters reassessing their marriage

• Executives and high-achievers (Bay Street, medical specialists)

• Anyone needing decision clarity

He's the most expensive on this list. He's also very experienced and particularly good at helping people make difficult decisions with confidence.

Best for: Deciding whether to divorce, executives/high-achievers, discernment counselling, long-term marriages

Location: Office in Yorkville

8. Maria Santos, RMFT - Santos Family Services

Rate: $190/session | Experience: 13 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Financial conflict, work-life balance, immigrant couples, money issues

Maria specializes in couples fighting about money. She also works extensively with immigrant couples navigating cultural differences and adjusting to Toronto.

Her typical clients:

• Couples fighting about spending/saving

• Toronto housing stress ($1.4M homes creating tension)

• Work-life balance issues

• Immigrant couples (first or second generation)

• Financial disagreements

She's warm and non-judgmental. She helps couples get on the same page financially and address the emotional issues beneath money fights. She understands the unique stress of Toronto's high cost of living.

Best for: Money fights, financial conflict, immigrant couples, Toronto housing stress

Location: Office in North York

9. Steven Walker, RSW - Walker Counselling Associates

Rate: $200/session | Experience: 18 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Long-term marriages, empty nest transitions, retirement adjustments, middle-age couples

Steven works with couples married 15+ years. If you're empty nesters, if retirement is changing your relationship, if you're in your 50s-60s reassessing—Steven specializes in long-term marriage issues.

His typical clients:

• Married 15+ years

• Empty nesters (kids left home or leaving soon)

• Retirement transitions

• Couples in 50s-60s-70s

• "We raised the kids, now what?" situations

He understands that long-term marriages face different challenges than young marriages. He's experienced with midlife transitions, empty nest adjustment, and navigating the next chapter together.

Best for: Long-term marriages (15+ years), empty nest, retirement transitions, 50+

Location: Office in Leaside

10. Dr. Lisa Martinez, PsyD - Martinez Clinical Psychology

Rate: $230/session | Experience: 16 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Depression and anxiety in relationships, mental health conditions affecting marriage, medication consultation

Lisa works with couples where mental health issues are affecting the relationship. If one partner has depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other conditions—Lisa helps couples navigate this together.

Her typical clients:

• One partner has depression/anxiety

• Mental health affecting relationship quality

• Couples navigating mental illness together

• Medication and therapy coordination

• Understanding impact of mental health on intimacy and communication

She can coordinate with psychiatrists and family doctors when medication is involved.

Best for: Depression/anxiety in relationships, mental health conditions affecting marriage

Location: Office in The Annex

11. James Foster, RMFT - Foster Couples Centre

Rate: $200/session | Experience: 17 years | Insurance: Most major plans

Specializes in: Suburban families, North York/Scarborough/Etobicoke couples, middle-income families

James works with Toronto's suburban couples—North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke. He understands the challenges of commuting, suburban family life, and middle-income Toronto.

His typical clients:

• North York/Scarborough/Etobicoke families

• Commuter couples (one or both work downtown)

• Middle-income families

• Families juggling TTC commutes and kids

He's practical and understands the specific stresses of suburban Toronto life—long commutes, expensive childcare, trying to afford housing.

Best for: Suburban couples, North York/Scarborough/Etobicoke, commuters, middle-income

Location: Office in Scarborough

How to Pick a Therapist

1. Identify your main issue

• Constant fighting → Gottman Method (Jennifer Lee)

• Affair recovery → EFT specialist (Dr. Sarah Cohen)

• Sexual problems → Sex therapist (Dr. Patricia Martinez)

• Blended family → Stepfamily specialist (Michael Rodriguez)

• LGBTQ+ → Affirmative therapist (Amanda Foster)

• Deciding whether to divorce → Discernment counselling (Dr. Robert Garcia)

• Money fights → Financial specialist (Maria Santos)

• Long marriage struggling → Long-term specialist (Steven Walker)

• Trauma/addiction → Trauma-informed (David Chen)

• Mental health issues → Mental health specialist (Dr. Lisa Martinez)

2. Check your workplace benefits

If therapist is covered by your benefits, your $3,300 therapy cost becomes $1,300. That's huge. Check coverage before booking.

3. Schedule consultations

Most offer free 15-20 minute phone consultations. Talk to 2-3 before deciding.

Ask:

• What's your approach/theoretical orientation?

• Have you worked with couples like us?

• How long does therapy typically take?

• What does success look like?

• How do you handle it if one person is less committed?

• Are you covered by [my benefits provider]?

4. Consider the fit

You'll both need to feel comfortable. If one of you doesn't click with the therapist, it won't work. Some therapists are more direct, some more gentle. Find the style that works for both of you.

5. Commit to at least 8-12 sessions

You can't judge therapy effectiveness after 2 sessions. Commit to 8-12, then reassess whether it's helping.

What to Expect in Marriage Therapy

First session (intake):

• Therapist asks about your relationship history

• What brought you to therapy

• What you each want to change

• Your individual backgrounds and families

• Assessment of your relationship patterns

Ongoing sessions:

• Working on specific issues

• Learning communication skills

• Processing conflicts in safe environment

• Homework between sessions

• Practicing new behaviors

Between sessions:

• Homework assignments (practicing skills, trying new behaviors, noticing patterns)

• Implementing what you learn

• Not fighting about therapy (common pitfall—avoid this)

Most Toronto therapists are professional and structured. You're paying $180-$280 per session—therapists use time efficiently.

Does It Actually Work?

Research on marriage therapy effectiveness:

• 70% of couples see significant improvement

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): 75% success rate

• Gottman Method: 65-70% success rate

• Average length: 12-20 sessions over 3-6 months

What makes therapy work:

• Both partners committed to the process

• Attending consistently (weekly or biweekly)

• Doing homework between sessions

• Being honest in sessions

• Taking responsibility for your own part

What makes therapy fail:

• One partner not genuinely committed

• Skipping sessions frequently

• Not doing homework

• Dishonesty in sessions

• Blaming without self-reflection

Should You Try Therapy Before Divorce?

If you're both willing, yes.

Here's the math:

• Marriage therapy: $2,160-$5,600 for 12-20 sessions

• Contested divorce in Toronto: $24,000-$60,000 total (both spouses)

• High-conflict divorce: $100,000-$300,000+ total

Even if therapy only has a 50% chance of working (it's actually higher), it's worth the investment.

And even if therapy doesn't save your marriage, it helps you:

• Understand what went wrong

• Divorce more amicably

• Co-parent better

• Process the ending more healthily

• Save money on divorce costs (less fighting)

What If One Person Won't Go?

Go alone.

Individual therapy focused on your relationship can help. You can:

• Understand your patterns and contributions

• Decide what you really want

• Learn to communicate better

• Figure out next steps

• Process your feelings

• Change your own behavior (which can shift relationship dynamics)

Sometimes one partner starts therapy alone, and the other joins later when they see it's actually helpful and not just "blame the reluctant partner" hour.

The Bottom Line

Marriage therapy in Toronto costs $180-$280 per session. Most couples need 12-20 sessions over 3-6 months.

Total cost: $2,160-$5,600 for the therapy. Many workplace benefits cover $500-$3,000, reducing your cost significantly.

Compare that to divorce costs of $24,000-$60,000+, and therapy is worth trying.

About 70% of couples who commit to therapy see significant improvement. Even if it doesn't save your marriage, it helps you divorce better and co-parent more effectively.

The 11 therapists above are experienced Toronto practitioners who specialize in couples work.

Find one who fits your situation. Check your benefits coverage. Commit to at least 12 sessions. Do the homework. Be honest. Take responsibility for your part.

You'll know within 3 months whether your marriage can be saved. That clarity is worth $2,160-$5,600 (or $700-$2,600 after benefits coverage).

Toronto marriage therapy is expensive—Canada's highest rates. But it's still the cheapest way to potentially save your marriage—or end it more gracefully.

You'll get through this.