Intrusive memories or flashbacks
Unwanted, vivid memories of traumatic events that feel as though they are happening again, triggered by sounds, smells, images, or situations.
Refugees & Newcomers · Ontario
IFHP-covered therapy for refugees and newcomers in Ontario
We provide compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals and families who have experienced displacement, persecution, or the compounding stressors of migration and resettlement. Sessions available virtually and in-person across Ontario, in English, Spanish, Italian, and Albanian, covered under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).
What You May Be Experiencing
These responses are understandable. They are also treatable.
The experiences below are common psychological responses to the kinds of events that precede, accompany, and follow displacement. They are not signs of weakness or permanent damage. They are signs that your nervous system has been through something significant, and that it needs support.
Nightmares or disrupted sleep
Disturbing dreams, difficulty falling asleep, or waking through the night. Sleep difficulties are one of the most common responses to prolonged stress and trauma.
Persistent anxiety or hypervigilance
A constant sense of danger or alertness, difficulty relaxing, or always scanning for threats, even in settings that are objectively safe.
Emotional numbing or mood changes
Feeling disconnected from emotions, difficulty feeling pleasure or closeness, irritability, or low mood that does not lift.
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Mental fog, trouble holding information, or an inability to focus, often worsened by ongoing stress related to immigration or resettlement.
Guilt, shame, or self-blame
Persistent feelings of responsibility for what happened, shame about the past, or a sense that you do not deserve support or recovery.
Strained relationships with family or community
Displacement changes the roles, expectations, and dynamics within families. Conflict, emotional distance, or communication difficulties are common.
Physical symptoms without a clear cause
Headaches, stomach issues, chronic tension, or fatigue. The body holds stress and trauma in ways that show up physically, even when the cause is psychological.
What the Research Shows
The impact of displacement is significant, and well-documented.
Refugees in Canada experience psychological distress at roughly double the rate of non-refugee immigrants, with PTSD prevalence estimates ranging from 24% to over 40% among those who have experienced torture or prolonged violence. Trauma does not only come from what happened before leaving. The migration journey itself, including dangerous crossings, detention, and prolonged uncertainty about status, adds its own layers. After arrival, housing instability, language barriers, social isolation, discrimination, and the disorientation of navigating unfamiliar systems continue to sustain and worsen symptoms long after the immediate danger has passed. Research consistently shows that the most effective interventions are culturally adapted, linguistically appropriate, and delivered by clinicians trained in trauma. This is the standard we hold ourselves to.
What this means for your care
We treat the full arc of your experience, not only what happened before you arrived.
- Pre-migration trauma, including violence, persecution, loss, and displacement, is assessed and treated directly.
- Post-migration stressors, including resettlement stress, discrimination, and uncertainty, are part of the clinical picture.
- Treatment is adapted to your cultural context, not applied as a generic protocol.
- Sessions are available in English, Spanish, Italian, and Albanian.
How We Help
Care that honours identity, culture, and lived experience.
We work with the full range of concerns that refugees and newcomers bring to therapy, from acute trauma symptoms to the quieter difficulties of building a life in a new place.
Trauma and PTSD treatmentAnxiety and depressionAdjustment and resettlement stressRelationship and family supportIdentity and cultural transitionGrief and lossSleep difficultiesCulturally adapted, evidence-based therapy
Treatment Approaches
EMDR Therapy
Processes traumatic memories without requiring detailed verbal retelling. Particularly effective for refugees carrying memories of violence, persecution, or dangerous crossings.
Learn moreCognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Addresses the beliefs and thoughts that keep trauma active. Helps clients challenge patterns of guilt, self-blame, and mistrust that often follow displacement.
Learn moreProlonged Exposure (PE)
A structured approach to reducing avoidance and distress connected to traumatic memories. Evidence-based and adapted to each client's pace and cultural context.
Learn moreDBT-PTSD
Designed for complex trauma and emotional dysregulation. Useful for clients who have experienced prolonged or repeated trauma across multiple contexts.
Learn moreIFHP Coverage
Understanding your coverage and how to access it.
The Interim Federal Health Program provides coverage for psychological counselling and psychotherapy for eligible refugees and newcomers. To access IFHP-covered therapy, a GP referral must be on file before we can submit claims on your behalf. Our team will walk you through the process during your intake call, including what documentation is needed and how to obtain it.
We also provide supporting documentation for legal cases, immigration hearings, and refugee claims where a psychological assessment or clinical letter is required.
You may be eligible if you are a
- 01Refugee claimants with valid IFHP documentation
- 02Government-assisted refugees
- 03Resettled refugees under eligible streams
- 04Some protected persons and their dependants
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about IFHP and newcomer support.
If you do not find your question here, please reach out before booking. There is no pressure and no obligation.
Therapy for refugees and newcomers is trauma-informed care designed around the specific experiences that come with displacement, persecution, and rebuilding a life in a new country. It is not generic mental health support. We take time to understand your specific history, your cultural context, your language, and the full arc of your experience before, during, and after your journey. The goal is not only to reduce symptoms. It is to help you find stability, safety, and a sense of yourself again.
You do not need to have a family doctor to access IFHP-covered therapy. A GP referral must be on file, but this can be completed by a physician at any walk-in clinic. Simply bring our GP Referral Form to your appointment and ask the physician to complete and sign it. You can download it directly from this page. Our intake team can also walk you through this process if you are unsure where to start.
IFHP coverage is available to refugee claimants, government-assisted refugees, resettled refugees under certain streams, and some other protected persons. Eligibility depends on your specific immigration status and the category under which you arrived. A GP referral must be on file before we can submit IFHP claims on your behalf. We will walk you through exactly what is needed during your free intake call, and you can download our GP Referral Form directly from this page to bring to your doctor.
Yes, completely. Everything you share in therapy stays between you and your therapist, within the legal and ethical standards that apply to all registered mental health professionals in Ontario. We understand that for many clients, the idea of sharing personal information with anyone in a new country can feel uncertain or unsafe. Your records are not shared with immigration authorities, government agencies, or anyone involved in your claim unless you give explicit written consent.
Yes. Displacement and migration affect the whole family, not just individuals. We support individual and relational recovery for couples, parents, and families where trauma has impacted how people connect with each other. If migration has shifted dynamics at home, created distance between partners, or affected how you parent, these are things we can address together.
Yes. Our team offers sessions in English, Spanish, Italian, and Albanian. We know that language shapes how we process and express emotion, and being able to speak in your first language, or to move between languages, can make therapy feel more natural and more effective. If you speak a language not listed here, please reach out and we will do our best to find a solution.
Take the First Step
Therapy that understands what it means to start over.
Our intake process is designed to understand your full picture before matching you with the right clinician and treatment approach.
Book a Free Intro CallVirtual & In-Person · Ontario
Getting Started
Starting therapy is simple and supportive.
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Get in touch by booking a call online with our intake coordinator or by completing the contact form. You can also email admin@traumacarepsychology.ca or call (647) 456-7500.
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Complete a 20-minute intake call so we can determine the best therapist fit and treatment direction. Alternatively, browse our clinician directory and book a free 20-minute consultation directly with a clinician you feel is a good fit.
Browse our clinician directory → - 3
Schedule your first session and begin a personalized treatment plan based on your goals and concerns.
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Contact Us
Fill out the form and our intake coordinator will be in contact shortly.
Virtual care across Ontario · In-person in Toronto.