Life just doesn’t seem to run out of curveballs to throw, doesn’t it? There’s family stress, rocky relationships, and dealing with a career that just makes you question, “How did I even get here?”

Sure, venting to a friend does a lot, but a lot doesn’t always mean enough. When things get a little too heavy, you need professional intervention to get you back on track to a much healthier you.

We know how difficult it is to find the right professional, so we’re here to help make things a bit easier. After carefully reviewing each option in Montreal and interviewing countless clients, we’ve finally narrowed down the list to the real ones that truly help. 

How we chose

1. West Island Therapy and Wellness Centre

Location: 3535 Bd Saint-Charles Suite 700, Kirkland
Contact: +1 514-696-0948

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM | Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website

West Island makes it easy for various types of clients to get counselling. This is because they offer comprehensive services, including individual, couples, family, and group therapy.

They also offer psychoeducational and psychological assessments for children and adults, which we found valuable for in-depth assessments.

We liked that the approach is personalised, starting with an initial consultation with their client care coordinators. Based on this, clients are matched with the right therapist for them, streamlining the process.

The centre offers both in-person and virtual appointments, which are particularly convenient for clients with busy schedules. Communication for schedules is easy too, as we’ve tried. They offer flexible availability based on the therapists on board. 

While everything feels seamless, their customer service isn’t the most proactive in resolutions, particularly when dealing with in-person counselling conflicts. We hope to see improvements here in the future.

Attentive and caring team

“I highly recommend West Island Therapy & Wellness Centre! I have referred family members here who have all raved about the care & services they have received. The entire team is attentive and caring, and you can really tell they simply want to help you with your wellbeing and mental health journey! They really take the time to understand your needs & concerns and make you feel comfortable.”

Jasmine Ricafort | Google Reviews

Exceptional service 

“Lisa and her team offer exceptional service to those in need! Whenever we needed their help to work through any mental health issue, we were promptly directed to the proper professional and given quality service. They literally change lives for the better! Recommend without hesitation”

Debbie Donelle | Google Reviews

2. Olive Branch Counselling Services

Location: Suite #200, 6855 Av. de l’Épée

Opening Hours: Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Wednesday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website

The services at Olive Branch are comprehensive, catering to a variety of needs. In particular, we loved the fact that they offer specialised counselling for issues like fertility struggles, pregnancy, postpartum anxiety, and parenting issues.

The approach to these services is holistic, focusing on emotional and mental support. In fact, most of the clients we spoke to said the therapists are really good at regulating emotions arising from infant loss or trauma during childbirth.

We were also impressed with how they support marginalised groups. The therapist works with individuals and couples who face challenges related to racism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination.

This is a major point for us since it clearly shows the level of inclusivity in their offerings.

However, since the place is only managed by one therapist, in-person scheduling is a challenge. Fortunately, there’s also online therapy available for those with strict schedules.

Intuitive and empathetic 

“Paige is simply a wonderful therapist. She’s very intuitive and empathetic, will actually speak up and help you work towards your therapy goals. She’s comfortable with many different techniques and approaches and will adjust to what works best for each individual. Could not recommend more!”

Megan Chiovitti | Google Reviews 

Incredibly skilled 

“Paige is an incredibly skilled and experienced therapist. She is great at holding people in their vulnerability, and has helped me make big connections in my life.”

Carmen Lopez | Google Reviews 

3. Harbour Therapy

Location: 5660 Monkland Ave
Contact: +1 438-802-4004

Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website

Harbour Therapy, like many options on our list, offers a wide range of services. However, it’s their specialisation that we like – their therapists focus on dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationship problems.

Sessions generally last 50 minutes, which we found adequate. Plus, there are options for video or phone consultations. 

Additionally, we love that the clinic offers flexible scheduling for in-person sessions. This allows clients to adjust the frequency of sessions themselves.

We also love hearing about their empathetic approach according to the clients we interviewed. According to them, the therapists feel comfortable throughout the sessions, something we find valuable for those who need emotional support. 

However, it’s important to note that in-person appointments can be longer compared to other centres. It may be challenging for those seeking face-to-face support, though they try to accommodate clients as early as possible.

A perfect fit 

“Dr. Morris has helped me in so many ways, in which no one else was able to. I leave his office feeling more in control with my emotions and behaviours, and I cannot thank him enough. He is a perfect fit for me and I couldn’t be happier with him being my therapist.”

Catherine Dezoete | Google Reviews 

Reassuring, calm, and understanding
“It’s a difficult thing to open up to someone and tell them about your problems, your shame, your fears… Dr. Morris made all of that tolerable for me and then helped me work on them with patience, a reassuring calm, insight and understanding. I’m in a much better place than when I started out under his care.”

Kerry Fleming | Google Reviews 

4. Lighthouse Counselling Centre

Location: 5890 Monkland Ave Suite 205
Contact: +1 514-868-1922

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Website

What we appreciated most about Lighthouse is its speciality. They accommodate clients with a history of substance abuse and addictions such as gambling, internet use, and editing disorders.

We also liked that their services are inclusive to people from various age groups. They offer therapy for adults, teens, and kids. There are even therapies for couples, families, and professionals.

Across these individuals, the approach remains the same – genuine and non-judgmental, according to clients.

Our team also agreed that having both individual and small group counselling is helpful. The options are flexible enough to match different personal preferences and needs.

However, in-person sessions have limited availability, which is further made difficult by the lack of remote sessions. On the good side, the centre has fast customer service – as long as you book the earliest date possible, you can be accommodated.

A beacon of hope

“Lighthouse has provided a beacon of hope for me when I needed it most. Ryan Aaronson and his staff are professional, while making you feel comfortable and at home. I have been seeing Derek de Braga regularly for some time now, and I can’t say enough positive things about my experience. I often do to anyone who will listen.”

Wolfgang Noakes | Google Reviews 

Friendly and professional 

“The very best of the best. Friendly environment, professionalism, and easiest people to talk to in the world. I was completely hopeless in my addiction, but was saved by Lighthouse and their team. Highly recommend to anyone struggling, or to their families to reach out for a loved one.”

Bryan | Google Reviews 

5. TrueSelf Psychology

Location: 1168 Saint-Catherine St W
Contact: +1 514-933-2289

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website

TrueSelf earned our favour by offering a structured approach to counselling. They offer a proprietary alignment and coaching program that’s designed to be completed within 6 to 9 sessions.

We find this to be a compelling choice for clients who want predictability and a system for their therapy.

That said, the rigid structure may not be for everyone. Some clients we talked to noted that the fixed agenda left little room for deeper reflection. 

Beyond the program though, clients are still free to proceed in a way they wish. For instance, they can choose options such as spread-out sessions, monthly memberships, or as-needed appointments.

Sessions are also available in-person and online, so there’s plenty of flexibility there. Plus, the level of service is top-notch, with clients reporting that their therapists made them feel guided and understood.

Highly recommended 

“Toni has truly changed my life for the better. She was able to listen and understand all my issues, while working towards my self-improvement goals. She has given me many tips and tools that I use everyday to help improve my life! I highly recommend”

Sarah Rus | Google Reviews

Incredibly wise and knowledgeable  

“The best thing I ever did for myself was finding Toni. Take my word for it, schedule that session with her. Your future self, your TrueSelf, will thank you. She is incredibly wise and knowledgeable. She knows exactly how to say things to ground you, it’s honestly inspiring. Her approach is so unique and so so so worth it.”

Betty Dermosessian | Google Reviews