University and college can bring exciting opportunities, but they can also come with unique pressures that can feel overwhelming to navigate alone. From academic stress, to social anxiousness, to uncertainty about the future, student life may present challenges that some adults have forgotten or have never experienced.
You're Not Alone in This
Why Therapy Matters for Students
Academic Performance: When your mental health suffers, so can your grades. Therapy can help you to develop healthy coping strategies, to improve focus, and to manage test anxiousness so you can perform at your potential.
Social Connections: College and university may be the first time you’re building adult relationships. Therapy can provide tools to navigate social anxiousness, to address roommate conflicts, and to build meaningful friendships.
Future Planning: Feeling overwhelmed about career choices, internships, or post-graduation plans? Therapy can help you explore your personal values and make decisions that align with who you’re becoming.
Independence & Identity: This is a crucial time for discovering who you are outside your family’s expectations. Therapy can support healthy identity formation and the development of assertiveness skills or group cohesiveness skills.
Student Challenges We Help With
✓ Test anxiety and academic pressure
✓ Social anxiety and difficulty making friends
✓ Homesickness and adjustment to college life
✓ Imposter syndrome and self-doubt
✓ Decision paralysis about majors and careers
✓ Perfectionism that’s holding you back
✓ ADHD and executive functioning challenges
✓ Relationship struggles (romantic, family, friends)
✓ Depression and feeling “stuck”
✓ Stress management and overwhelm
Why Starflower Psychotherapy is Right for Students
- We Get Student Life: Our therapists understand the unique pressures of academic due dates, social life, financial stress, and working on accepting uncertainty and building tolerance towards it.
- Flexible Scheduling: Evening and weekend appointments available to work with your class schedule, part-time or full-time job, and unpaid obligations at home.
- Affordable Options: We offer sliding-scale fees to do our best to help students who are ready to begin their therapy journey.
- Virtual Sessions: No need to commute or find parking! Access therapy from a private and quiet space.
- Evidence-Based Approaches: We mainly use CBT, ACT, and SFBT to help provide you with practical tools that you can use.
- Judgment-Free Zone: Whether you’re struggling with academic pressure, social anxiousness, or figuring out your identity, we can create a safe space for authentic exploration.
How Therapy Can Work
- Free 15-Minute Consultation: Share what is on your mind and learn about the therapy process, scheduling, or sliding-scale options.
- Your First Session (Intake Session): We explore what brings you to therapy and gather relevant information for treatment-planning purposes./span>
- Ongoing Sessions (Follow-Up Sessions): Consistent (weekly or biweekly) sessions to develop coping skills, process challenges, and build confidence as you navigate student life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use my student health plan/insurance coverage?
A: Starflower Psychotherapy offers a receipt for each session. It is the client’s responsibility to give receipts to their insurance provider for reimbursement. Please check with your insurance provider to determine how much coverage you have and whether your plan covers services by a Registered Psychotherapist, or a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).
Q: What if I need to reschedule for exams or breaks?
A: We understand student schedules can change. We offer flexible scheduling and can adjust your therapy timeline around academic demands. However, please be mindful of the No Shows or Late Cancellation Policy.
Q: Is online therapy as effective as in-person?
A: Research shows online therapy is equally effective, and many students prefer it for privacy and convenience.
Ready to Start?
Your student years can be formative ones. If you’re looking to enhance your mental wellness and lean about strategies that can help make your college or university years more manageable, reach out today!
Book Your FREE Consultation Now: No Waitlist. Accepting New Clients.
Accepting Students Across Ontario • Early Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekend Appointments Available • Sliding Scale Options.