Real Life Counselling • Oshawa, Ontario

Online counselling in Oshawa, therapy that fits your life, not your commute.

Between shift schedules, the 401, and everything waiting at home, the last thing you need is another commute. We provide secure online counselling for Oshawa and Durham Region, matched to what you’re actually navigating, often within a week.

✓ Online anywhere in Oshawa & Durham Region✓ RP-registered in Ontario✓ Physician referrals welcome

WHY ONLINE COUNSELLING WORKS FOR OSHAWA

The rhythms of work and life in Durham’s largest city are exactly what online therapy was built for.

  • Shift workers and tradespeople on schedules that don’t fit office hours
  • Healthcare workers at Lakeridge Health Oshawa
  • Students and staff at Ontario Tech and Durham College
  • Parents juggling work, school runs, and activities
  • Couples who’d rather talk from their own living room
  • Patients referred by their family doctor

A PRACTICE, NOT A SOLO ACT

Founder-led. Team-delivered. BC-registered.

Real Life Counselling was founded in 2009 by Ashley Kreze, a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and a Registered Clinical Counsellor in BC, with more than 17 years of clinical experience.

When you reach out, we match you with the therapist on our team whose approach, experience, and personality fit what you’re navigating, not just whoever has the next opening. Every Ontario client is served under Ontario registration, to CRPO clinical standards.

Founded 2009RP (Ontario) & RCC (BC) leadershipPersonalized therapist matchingFeatured in Forbes, EmpowHer
Online counselling for Oshawa and Durham Region, Ontario

What we help Oshawa clients work through

Real life rarely fits a single label. These are the most common reasons people in Oshawa and Durham Region reach out, and if yours isn’t here, that doesn’t mean we can’t help.

Anxiety

The kind that wakes you at 3 a.m. The kind that hums in the background of every conversation. The kind nobody else sees.

Burnout & stress

You’re doing fine on paper. In your body, you’re not. Therapy for the high-functioning version of running on empty.

Depression

Whether it’s the weight that won’t lift or the numbness that crept in slowly, there’s a path back.

Couples & relationships

Communication patterns, recurring fights, drifting apart, repairing after a rupture. Couples work that goes beyond techniques.

Life transitions

A move, a separation, a new baby, a health scare, a death. The work of becoming someone new.

Parenting & family pressure

The mental load of raising kids while working full-out, family conflict, and the strain of holding it all together.

Grief & loss

A person, a relationship, a version of yourself. Grief isn’t linear and it doesn’t run on a timeline.

Workplace & career

Difficult workplaces, leaving a role, returning from leave, and the pressures you can’t bring to HR.

How to start counselling in Oshawa

No referral required. No waiting room. No drive.

1

Reach out, tell us what’s going on

Fill out a short intake form. A few sentences is plenty. We’ll review it and reach back within one business day to set up a free 15-minute consultation.

2

Get matched with the right therapist

We match you with a therapist based on what you’re navigating and the kind of fit you need. Most Oshawa clients begin within a week of reaching out.

3

Start sessions from home

50-minute sessions over secure, encrypted video. From your living room, your home office, or anywhere private. Evening and weekend appointments available.

Areas we serve

Oshawa, and communities across Durham Region.

Because sessions are online, location inside BC isn’t a barrier. Common neighbourhoods and communities our Oshawa and Durham clients come from:

Downtown Oshawa
O’Neill
McLaughlin
Northglen
Samac
Windfields
Eastdale
Donevan
Lakeview
Vanier
Pinecrest
Kedron
Whitby
Courtice
Bowmanville
Ajax
Pickering
Brooklin

Honest answers to Oshawa client questions

Is your practice actually registered in Ontario?
Yes. Ashley Kreze, the founder, is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), and the practice has served Ontario clients since 2009. All Ontario counselling is delivered under Ontario registration and compliant with CRPO clinical standards.
My doctor referred me. What do I do?
Welcome, physician referrals from Oshawa and Durham Region clinics are a common way clients find us. Simply fill out the Start Counselling form and mention your doctor or clinic in the intake. We’ll take it from there, and with your consent we can coordinate with your physician so your care stays connected.
Can I see someone in Oshawa in person?
No, we work entirely online, and that’s deliberate. Online therapy removes the barriers Oshawa clients mention most: shift schedules, the 401, childcare during appointments, and taking time away from work. Consistency is what makes therapy work, and online sessions make consistency easy.
I’m not comfortable with technology. Can online therapy still work for me?
Yes. If you can click a link, you can attend a session, there’s nothing to install and it works on a computer, tablet, or phone. We’re happy to do a short practice connection before your first session so the technology feels like a non-issue. Many clients who were skeptical at first found it far easier than expected.
Are sessions covered by my insurance?
Most extended health benefit plans in Ontario cover sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (RP). We provide receipts you can submit for reimbursement. Common plans include Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, and Equitable Life. Check your plan for “Registered Psychotherapist” or “psychotherapy” coverage, or ask us during your intake and we’ll help you confirm.
How much does counselling cost?
Standard private-pay rates for Registered Psychotherapist sessions in Ontario. We’re transparent about pricing, ask during your free 15-minute consultation and we’ll walk you through it, including how to make the most of your extended health benefits.
Can my partner and I do couples therapy from different locations?
Yes. One of the practical advantages of online couples therapy is that both partners can log in from wherever they are, same home, different rooms, or different cities. We recommend quiet, private spaces and headphones for confidentiality.
How quickly can I start?
Most Oshawa clients begin within a week of reaching out, sometimes within a few days. Our small clinical team means we can usually match you quickly. If you’re in crisis, please use the Get Help Now resources or call or text 988.

Ready when you are, Oshawa.

The longest part of starting therapy is usually the part before you reach out. Once you do, it gets easier.