Therapy for Seniors in Barrie, ON:
Counselling for Older Adults
Therapy and counselling for older adults navigating grief, loneliness, retirement, anxiety, depression, health changes, relationships, or changing independence. At Reset Counselling & Psychotherapy, we offer in-person sessions in Barrie and virtual therapy across Ontario. Our team of Registered Psychotherapists and Social Workers is here to support you through whatever this stage of life is bringing up—at a pace and on terms that work for you.
Counselling and Psychotherapy for Older Adults in Barrie
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Who Therapy for Seniors Is For
Therapy at Reset is available to adults at any stage of later life—whether you identify as a senior, an older adult, or simply someone in their 60s, 70s, 80s, or beyond navigating a significant change.
You don't need to be in crisis to benefit. Many of the people we support are dealing with relationship shifts, a shift in identity after retirement, the loss of a spouse or close friend, health challenges, or questions about independence and purpose. These experiences are real and weighty, and they deserve more than a shrug.
Therapy gives you a private, unhurried space to talk through what's actually happening—with someone trained to listen without judgement and help you find a path forward.
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You Don't Need a Diagnosis or Crisis to Start
One of the most common assumptions we hear is that counselling is only for people in a mental health emergency or those who've received a formal diagnosis. That's not the case.
Therapy can be genuinely helpful before things feel overwhelming. If you're carrying stress, loss, uncertainty, or tension in a relationship, that's enough reason to reach out. Many of our older adult clients come to us feeling stuck or quietly struggling—not because life has fallen apart, but because something has shifted and they'd like support in adjusting to it.
There's no threshold you need to cross first. If something is weighing on you, we're ready to help.
Common Reasons Seniors Seek Therapy
Grief, Bereavement, Loneliness and Social Isolation
Grief is not only about death—though the loss of a spouse, a sibling, a close friend, or a beloved pet carries enormous weight. Grief also shows up in subtler ways: the end of a chapter, the sale of a family home, the loss of a role that once defined you, or the slow fading of a social circle as people move, become ill, or pass away.
Loneliness and social isolation are serious concerns for many older adults. Losing regular connection—whether through retirement, physical limitations, or the deaths of close companions—can affect mood, sleep, and overall wellbeing in significant ways. Therapy provides a consistent, meaningful point of connection while also helping you work through the feelings beneath the surface.
Retirement, Identity, Purpose and Life Transitions
Retirement is often framed as a reward. For many people, though, it arrives alongside questions that are hard to sit with: Who am I now? What matters to me? What do I do with my days?
The loss of a professional identity, an empty nest, a move to a smaller home, becoming a grandparent, or taking on new caregiving responsibilities—these are all significant life transitions that can quietly reshape how a person sees themselves. Therapy offers a space to explore identity, values, meaning, and what a fulfilling life looks like from here.
Chronic Illness, Health Changes and Loss of Independence
Adjusting to a new diagnosis, managing chronic pain, adapting to reduced mobility, losing driving privileges, or becoming more dependent on others—each of these involves not just a practical shift but an emotional one. The grief of losing a version of yourself that felt capable and free can be profound.
These are not small things to "just accept." Working through the emotional weight of health changes—and finding ways to adapt without losing a sense of agency—is exactly the kind of work therapy supports.
Anxiety, Depression, Caregiver Stress and Family Changes
Persistent worry, low mood, disrupted sleep, and exhaustion are not inevitable parts of growing older. CAMH and other Canadian mental health authorities consistently note that depression and anxiety in later life are treatable—and that they're often under-recognized and under-addressed.
If you're supporting an aging spouse, managing conflict with adult children, or carrying the weight of a family caregiving role on top of your own challenges, therapy gives you somewhere to process that strain—without worrying about burdening the people you love.
How Therapy Can Help in Later Life
Feel Heard Without Judgement
Many older adults carry experiences, concerns, and emotions they don't feel comfortable sharing with family members—not because the relationship is poor, but because they don't want to worry anyone or feel like a burden. Therapy provides a confidential space where you can speak honestly about whatever is hardest.
Our therapists at Reset don't minimize or rush. They listen, reflect, and help you feel genuinely understood. Sometimes that experience alone is a significant part of what makes therapy valuable.
Build Practical Coping Skills and Emotional Resilience
herapy also involves practical work. You'll develop a clearer understanding of your own thought patterns, emotional responses, and behaviours—and build tools for navigating stress, uncertainty, and change in ways that actually work for you.
This isn't about eliminating difficult emotions. It's about learning to respond to them with more steadiness, clarity, and choice. That kind of resilience is available at any age.
Reconnect With Meaning, Relationships and Quality of Life
Therapy at Reset isn't only about managing what's hard. It's also about reconnecting with what matters—your values, your relationships, your sense of purpose, and your quality of life.
Many of our older adult clients leave therapy with a clearer sense of who they are and what they want from this stage of life. That's not a small thing. It's often the whole point.
Therapy Approaches for Older Adults
What to Expect From Therapy at Reset
Your First Therapy Session
Your first session at Reset is an intake—a conversation, not an assessment. You'll share what brings you in, a bit of your history, and what you're hoping to get from therapy. Your therapist will explain how sessions work, walk through confidentiality, and answer any questions you have.
Before your first appointment, you'll complete intake paperwork through our secure booking system, JaneApp. This keeps the administrative side simple and lets your session focus on what matters most—getting to know you and starting to build a plan together.
A Pace and Treatment Plan That Fits You
We don't follow a fixed template. Therapy at Reset is shaped around your goals, your circumstances, and your preferences. Some clients want structured, skills-focused work. Others prefer a more open, exploratory approach. Most sessions fall somewhere in between.
How often you attend, how long you continue, and where the focus goes are decisions made together. You're always part of that conversation.
Family or Caregiver Involvement — With Your Consent
Adult children or caregivers sometimes help with the logistics of getting started—whether that's making an initial inquiry, assisting with technology for virtual sessions, or helping with scheduling. We welcome that kind of practical support.
Therapy itself, however, remains centred on you. What you share in sessions is confidential. Any involvement of a family member beyond administrative support happens only with your explicit consent. You remain in control of your own care.
Meet a Therapist Who Works With Mature Adults 65+
Daniel Burgoyne, Registered Psychotherapist
Daniel Burgoyne is a Registered Psychotherapist (BA, MACP, RP) on the Reset team who works specifically with mature adults 65 and over. His areas of focus include grief and loss, anxiety and depression, chronic illness, and relationship concerns.
Daniel uses an integrative approach, drawing on methods such as CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, person-centred therapy, and emotionally focused approaches. He is currently accepting new clients for both in-person sessions in Barrie and virtual sessions across Ontario.
His work with older adults reflects both clinical training and a genuine attentiveness to the particular weight of later-life transitions—making him a strong fit for clients navigating this stage of life.
Finding the Right Therapist Fit
The therapeutic relationship matters. If you're not sure whether Daniel is the right fit, or you'd like to explore other options, visit our full therapist directory or take our Therapist Match Quiz. We're also happy to help by email at info@resetbarrie.ca.
In-Person Senior Therapy in Barrie and Virtual Therapy Across Ontario
Barrie Office: Free Parking and Mobility Access
Our Barrie office is located at Unit 201–151 Essa Road in the Allandale area, close to Highway 400. Free parking is available on-site, and the building has elevator access to assist with reaching the second floor—making the space accessible for clients with mobility considerations.
If you have questions about physical access before your first visit, please reach out and we'll make sure everything is ready for you.
Online Therapy for Seniors Across Ontario
Virtual sessions are available via secure video through JaneApp, and telephone sessions can also be arranged depending on your preference and comfort level. Many of our older adult clients find virtual therapy convenient—particularly when weather, travel distance, or mobility makes in-person attendance more difficult.
If technology feels like a barrier, we're patient with that. We can walk you through the process step by step before your first session. Privacy and ease of access are both priorities for us.
Serving Barrie, Orillia, Innisfil, Bradford, New Tecumseth and Simcoe County
Clients come to Reset for in-person sessions from Barrie and surrounding communities throughout Simcoe County, including Orillia, Innisfil, Bradford, New Tecumseth, and beyond. Clients elsewhere in Ontario access our services virtually. Wherever you are in the province, we can work with you.
Cost, Insurance and Referrals for Senior Therapy
Session Fees
Sessions at Reset are $170 for a 50-minute appointment. This rate applies to both individual and couples sessions. We accept Visa and Mastercard, and receipts are issued through your JaneApp account for insurance submission purposes.
Extended Health Benefits and OHIP
Private practice psychotherapy is not covered through OHIP. However, many extended health benefit plans—including those offered through employers, unions, and retirement benefit programs—do reimburse services provided by Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers.
Coverage varies by plan. We recommend contacting your insurer directly to confirm your annual maximum and which therapist designations are covered. As of June 20, 2024, psychotherapy services are exempt from GST/HST across Canada.
Do I Need a Referral?
No referral is required to book at Reset. You can book directly through our online booking system at any time. Some insurance plans may request a physician referral for reimbursement purposes, so it's worth confirming with your provider before your first session.
When Private Therapy May Not Be the Right First Step
Memory Changes, Dementia Concerns or Complex Medical Needs
Psychotherapy and counselling address emotional wellbeing—they don't replace medical or geriatric assessment. If you or a family member is experiencing notable memory changes, cognitive decline, or complex medical concerns that require clinical evaluation, an appropriate starting point is your family physician.
Barrie residents may also be eligible for the Aging Well Clinic, run through the Barrie and Community Family Health Team at 370 Bayview Drive. The clinic offers OHIP-covered assessment and treatment for memory problems in adults 65 and older, and for complex medical conditions in adults 75 and older. A referral from a physician within the Barrie and Community Family Health Team is required.
Urgent Mental Health or Safety Concerns
Reset is not an emergency or crisis counselling service. If you or someone you care about is in distress or feeling unsafe, please call 911 or dial 211 in Simcoe County to be connected with a crisis worker right away.
Public and Community Supports for Older Adults
For those seeking lower-cost or publicly funded options, a few starting points:
- 211 Ontario — Dial 211 to reach local community supports and mental health resources across Simcoe County
- Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) — Free CBT-based program for adults with anxiety or depression; accessible through self-referral or your family doctor
- CMHA Simcoe County — Community-based mental health supports in the region
- Barrie and Community Family Health Team — For OHIP-covered programs including the Aging Well Clinic
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy for Seniors in Barrie
Is therapy effective for seniors?
Yes. Psychological therapy benefits people across all age groups, including older adults. Evidence-based approaches such as CBT and ACT show positive outcomes for anxiety, depression, grief, and adjustment challenges in later life. Older age does not limit the capacity to reflect, grow, or make meaningful change.
Am I too old to start therapy?
No. There is no upper age limit for therapy, and starting later in life is not a disadvantage. Many older adults find therapy particularly meaningful precisely because they bring a lifetime of experience and perspective to the process. It's never too late to work through something that matters.
Can therapy help with grief, loneliness or retirement?
Yes—these are among the most common reasons older adults come to Reset. Therapy gives you a structured, compassionate space to process loss, rebuild connection, and clarify what matters most to you in this stage of life.
Can an adult child or caregiver help me book?
Yes, a family member can assist with the administrative side of getting started—reaching out by phone or email, helping with the online booking system, or supporting technology setup for virtual sessions. Therapy itself remains confidential and centred on you. Information is never shared with family members without your explicit consent.
Is online therapy suitable for older adults?
It can be an excellent fit, particularly when travel, mobility, or weather creates barriers to attending in person. Virtual sessions through JaneApp are secure and private. Telephone sessions are also available. If you're new to video calls, we'll take the time to walk you through the process before your first session.
Does insurance cover therapy for seniors in Ontario?
OHIP does not cover private practice psychotherapy. Many extended health benefit plans do cover services provided by Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers. Coverage amounts and eligible designations vary by plan, so contact your insurer directly to confirm your benefits before your first session.
Do I need a doctor's referral?
No. You can book directly at Reset without a referral. Some insurance plans may require one for reimbursement purposes, so check your plan details if cost coverage is a factor.
How many therapy sessions will I need?
This depends on what you're working through, your goals, and how you're progressing. Some clients attend for a focused period of 8–12 sessions; others prefer ongoing support over a longer timeframe. Your therapist will check in with you regularly to make sure the work continues to be relevant and useful.
Book Therapy for Seniors in Barrie, ON
We support older adults navigating grief, anxiety, retirement, health changes, loneliness, and the many transitions that later life brings. Our team offers in-person sessions in Barrie and virtual therapy across Ontario—with no referral required to get started.
Ready to take the next step? Book online at any time, or reach us by phone at 705-300-0077 or email at info@resetbarrie.ca if you'd prefer to talk first.