Flex Psychology

Flex Psychology operates a satellite office on Richmond St E, Suite 2, in Oshawa, part of a practice that also serves the wider Toronto-area region. The Oshawa location gives Durham Region residents a nearby option for psychological services without requiring travel further west into Toronto or York Region. Appointments can be reached by phone at 647-494-3173, and current details, including office hours and any virtual-care options, are listed on the practice's own website.

What "psychologist," "psychotherapy," and "assessment" actually mean

These terms get used loosely, so a plain-language breakdown helps before booking anything. A psychologist is a regulated professional who has completed graduate-level training in the study of the mind and behaviour and who follows a provincial college's standards of practice. In Ontario, the title "psychologist" is protected by law, meaning only someone registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario may use it.

Psychotherapy, defined simply

Psychotherapy refers to structured, ongoing conversations between a client and a regulated provider, aimed at working through emotional difficulties, stress, or patterns of thinking that a person wants to change. Sessions are typically about an hour long and may happen in person or, depending on the provider's setup, through secure video calls. Different clinicians bring different approaches — some lean toward solution-focused methods, others incorporate mindfulness-based techniques or structured skill-building — so the general term "psychotherapy" covers a range of styles rather than one fixed method.

Assessment, defined simply

An assessment (sometimes called a psychoeducational or psychological evaluation) is a structured process using standardized tests and interviews to build a clearer picture of how someone thinks, learns, or manages emotions. Assessments can look at learning and attention patterns, general cognitive functioning, or broader emotional and personality profiles. The output is usually a written report with findings that a person, a school, a workplace, or another professional can use for planning purposes. Assessments are billed separately from ongoing psychotherapy sessions and generally involve several hours of testing time spread across more than one appointment.

Services available through the Oshawa office

The Oshawa location is one of the practice's in-person offices, offering both direct clinical services and access to the broader team's specialized areas through referral or coordination. Individual and occasional group therapy sessions are available, along with in-house assessment services for learning, attention, and emotional concerns.

Individual and group therapy

Individual sessions make up the core of ongoing care, typically scheduled on a recurring weekly or biweekly basis depending on what a client and provider agree works best. Group sessions, when offered, run as multi-week series focused on a shared theme or skill set, giving participants a lower-cost, structured alternative to one-on-one work.

Diagnostic and psychoeducational assessment

Testing services cover a spectrum from learning and attention-based evaluations to broader diagnostic work around mood, anxiety, and related concerns. These evaluations are especially relevant for Oshawa-area students navigating school accommodations or adults seeking clarity on workplace-related challenges, since a formal report can support requests made to schools, employers, or other institutions.

Case review and consultation

For people who already have prior testing results in hand, a case review service walks through existing reports, clarifies what the findings mean in practical terms, and helps map out next steps or supports. This is a useful middle step for anyone who received an assessment elsewhere and needs help translating it into an action plan.

Community and workplace-related supports

For residents whose difficulties stem from a work-related incident, options exist through recognized workplace mental health support channels, which can reduce or remove the cost barrier for eligible individuals. Anyone unsure whether they qualify is best served by calling the Oshawa office directly to ask.

Why local access matters in Durham Region

A local office removes that friction, letting people fit sessions or assessment appointments around work schedules, school pickups, or shift work without losing half a day to travel. Seasonal patterns also shape demand: back-to-school season often brings a rise in interest around learning assessments, while the shorter daylight hours of late fall and winter tend to coincide with more people reaching out about ongoing emotional support. Because appointments can sometimes be scheduled through secure video as well as in person, residents further out in Durham Region — from Whitby to Clarington — are not necessarily limited to what fits within a single office visit, though specifics depend on what each provider offers.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a doctor's referral to book an appointment?

Requirements vary by provider and by what a client's insurance plan requires for reimbursement, so it is best to confirm directly with the Oshawa office by phone before assuming a referral is or isn't needed.

Are sessions covered by insurance?

Coverage depends entirely on an individual's private insurance plan or employee benefits, since psychological and psychotherapy services are not part of Ontario's provincial health coverage in most circumstances. Checking directly with an insurance provider ahead of booking is the most reliable way to confirm what is reimbursable.

Is virtual or video-based care available from the Oshawa office?

Some appointments may be conducted through secure video calls in addition to in-person visits, though availability depends on the specific service and provider.

What forms of payment are accepted?

Various payment methods are accepted at the Oshawa office; anyone with a preferred payment method should confirm availability by phone before their appointment.