Therapy for Refugees – How to Get Started

Starting Therapy at Nuran Clinic – A Guide for Refugee Clients

At Nuran Clinic, we are committed to providing high-quality psychotherapy services to all Canadians, including refugees and asylum seekers who have come to Canada in search of safety and a better life. Our team of experienced and trauma-informed clinicians is well-versed in the unique challenges faced by refugees and is dedicated to offering compassionate and culturally sensitive care.

To help you understand the process of beginning therapy and how it works with insurance (specifically Medavie Blue Cross), we have outlined the steps below:

Step 1: Obtain a Referral

To start therapy, you will need a referral from a medical doctor. You can visit your family physician or a walk-in clinic and request a referral for psychotherapy.

• The referral must clearly state the reason for therapy (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma, etc.).

• The form must include the physician’s name, your name, the date, and the doctor’s signature.👉 [Download our referral form here] 

  
  

Patient Referral Form.pdf

Download PDF • 65KB

Step 2: Book an Initial Assessment

Once you have the referral letter, contact us to schedule an assessment session.This session is for us to gather the necessary clinical information to prepare a psychological assessment report.

Please note: This assessment is strictly for insurance approval and will not be sent to immigration office.

Step 3: Submission to Blue Cross

After the assessment, we will submit your psychological report along with the physician’s referral to Medavie Blue Cross. They will review the documents to determine your eligibility for psychotherapy coverage.

Step 4: Approval and Start of Therapy

It typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to receive approval from Blue Cross. Once approved:

• You will be assigned a therapist based on your needs and preferences discussed during the assessment.

• The therapist will contact you to begin your sessions.

  
  

You will initially receive 10 approved sessions. If you wish to continue after that:

• You must obtain a new referral from your doctor and send it to us.

• Blue Cross allows up to 30 sessions per year, approved in blocks of 10.

• After each block of sessions, there may be a 4–6 week pause as we await the next approval.

  
  

Changing Your Therapist

While our therapists are highly trained and experienced, it is natural that you may not feel a connection with the first therapist assigned. If this happens, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will help you connect with another clinician on our team.

Letters for Legal or Immigration Purposes

If your lawyer has requested a letter from your therapist to support your legal case:

• Our therapists can provide such letters upon request.

• However, this is only possible after a number of sessions, once the therapist feels they have sufficient understanding of your situation.

• Letters are not provided after only one or two sessions; the timeline is at the therapist’s professional discretion.

  
  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at:📞 647-618-9080📧 admin@nuranclinic.com

We are here to support you every step of the way.