Mental health matters — and in Canada, there’s growing recognition of that fact, not just culturally but financially, too. Along with this, more and more Calgarians have ben wondering can counselling be claimed on taxes? If you’ve invested in your well-being through therapy or counselling, you may be able to get some of that money back when tax season rolls around. Here’s how to find out if your counselling expenses are tax-deductible and how to claim them in Calgary.
Understanding the Tax Benefits of Counselling in Calgary
Accessing therapy is an important step toward wellness — but it can also be a significant financial commitment. Fortunately, Canada’s tax system allows many medical expenses, including eligible counselling services, to be claimed as non-refundable tax credits. This means you can reduce the amount of tax you owe, making mental health care more affordable in the long run.
If you’re working with a registered therapist or psychologist in Alberta, your out-of-pocket fees may be claimed on your tax return, provided they meet the CRA’s eligibility criteria.
These credits won’t result in a refund by themselves, but they lower the amount of tax you owe, which can make ongoing mental health care more affordable over time.
Key Benefits:
- You may claim counselling expenses for yourself, your spouse, or dependents under Line 33099.
- Only unreimbursed amounts (what you personally paid) are eligible.
- Receipts must be retained in case the CRA requests documentation.
Are Counselling Services Tax-Deductible in Calgary?
Yes — but only under certain conditions. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) maintains a detailed list of allowable medical expenses, and counselling can qualify if provided by a licensed medical practitioner as recognized in your province.
Who Qualifies to Provide Tax-Eligible Counselling Services?
To qualify for a tax deduction, your counselling must be provided by a regulated professional in Alberta. For your receipt to be CRA-compliant, it must:
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- Be issued by a practitioner registered with a recognized regulatory body
- Include the provider’s full name, professional designation, and registration number
Recognized Mental Health Professionals in Alberta:
The CRA accepts counselling services from the following licensed professionals:
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- Registered Psychologist (R.Psych)
- Registered Social Worker (RSW)
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
- Psychiatrist (MD)
- Registered Marriage and Family Therapist (RMFT)
Unfortunately, services from unlicensed practitioners—such as wellness coaches or unregulated therapists—do not qualify for the medical expense tax credit.
At Your Counselling, all of our practitioners meet Alberta’s regulatory standards. That means you’ll receive CRA-compliant receipts with every session—making tax season simpler and potentially more rewarding.
How to Claim Counselling Expenses on Your Canadian Tax Return
Here’s a simple step-by-step to make your claim stress-free:
Step 1: Gather Your Receipts
Collect all receipts for counselling sessions within a 12-month period ending in the tax year you’re filing.
Make sure each receipt includes the following:
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- The provider’s name and professional designation
- Their registration/license number
- Date of service and amount paid
Step 2: Fill Out Your Tax Forms
Report your eligible expenses on Line 33099 (for yourself and dependents) or Line 33199 (for other supporting individuals). You can do this manually or using certified tax software.
Helpful link: CRA Guide to Medical Expenses
Step 3: Calculate Your Claim
When claiming medical expenses on your tax return, you can only claim the amount that exceeds the lesser of:
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- 3% of your net income, or
- $2,759 (for the 2024 tax year — this amount may change each year)
Important Things to Know Before Claiming
Insurance Reimbursements
If your therapy sessions were partially or fully covered by an insurance provider, you can only claim the amount you paid out-of-pocket, not the total cost of the session. This ensures you’re not “double dipping” by receiving both a reimbursement and a tax credit for the same expense.
You Can Claim:
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- The portion you personally paid, even if insurance covered the rest.
Example: Your therapy costs $150 per session, and insurance covers $100. You may claim the remaining $50 as a medical expense.
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- Sessions where insurance denied the claim, and you paid in full.
You cannot claim:
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- Any amount reimbursed by your insurance, workplace health spending account, or other benefit programs.
- Sessions that were paid using a preloaded insurance card or direct billing that covered the full amount.
Make sure to keep all itemized receipts and insurance statements showing the amount you paid versus what was covered. CRA may request documentation if you’re audited.
Timing: Which Year to Claim Expenses
You can claim eligible counselling expenses for any continuous 12-month period that ends in the current tax year, not just expenses from January to December. This gives you some flexibility in choosing the time frame that maximizes your claim.
Example:
If you’re filing your 2024 tax return, you can claim expenses from any 12-month span that ends in 2024, such as:
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- March 2023 to February 2024
- July 2023 to June 2024
This is especially helpful if your therapy costs vary throughout the year, or if combining late-2023 and early-2024 expenses gets you over the claim threshold.
Keep in mind that you can only claim expenses once—so don’t reuse costs in next year’s claim if you’ve already included them this year.
Real-World Example: Claiming Counselling Expenses in Calgary
Let’s say Jane, a Calgary resident, earns $50,000/year and attends therapy biweekly, paying $100/session.
- Total spent: $100 × 24 sessions = $2,400
- Threshold for claiming: 3% of $50,000 = $1,500
- Claimable amount: $2,400 – $1,500 = $900
Jane would be eligible to claim $900 in counselling expenses on her taxes.
If her total expenses were below the $1,500 threshold (e.g., $1,200), she wouldn’t be eligible for a credit. However, combining her own and a spouse’s or child’s eligible expenses could help meet the threshold in a combined claim.
What Is a Combined Claim?
If one person’s expenses alone don’t pass the threshold, pooling them together may push the total over the limit, allowing you to claim a tax credit.
The CRA allows you to combine eligible medical expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and dependents (such as children under 18 or financially dependent relatives) into one tax return to help meet the claim threshold.
Real-World Combined Claim Example:
Let’s say Jane earns $50,000/year:
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- Her own therapy expenses: $1,200 (below her personal $1,500 threshold)
- Her spouse’s dental expenses: $900
- Her child’s prescription costs: $600
- Total combined: $1,200 + $900 + $600 = $2,700
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Threshold for Jane’s return = 3% of $50,000 = $1,500
Claimable amount = $2,700 – $1,500 = $1,200
Jane now qualifies for a $1,200 claim on her return, even though none of the individual expenses alone were eligible.
Supporting Your Mental Health and Saving Money
Navigating tax forms isn’t always easy—but when it comes to something as important as your mental health, it’s worth the effort. The CRA recognizes mental wellness as a vital part of overall health care, and tax credits are one way to help ease the financial burden of accessing support.
At Your Counselling, we make the process easier by providing CRA-compliant receipts and offering guidance on how to use them. Whether you’re booking your first session or returning for continued care, we’re here to support both your emotional and financial well-being.
Ready to take the next step? Book a session today with one of our registered therapists and start prioritizing your mental well-being—because your mind deserves care, too.
FAQs
Can I claim online or virtual therapy sessions?
Yes! As long as the service is provided by a licensed professional and meets the same documentation standards, virtual counselling is fully claimable.
What if I switch therapists during the year?
You can still claim the full amount — just ensure both professionals are properly credentialed and that you keep all receipts.
Are couples or family therapy sessions eligible?
Yes, as long as the service is therapeutic in nature (not coaching or mediation) and is provided by an eligible mental health professional.