How matching works
Therapists come to you. You choose.
Nothing is shared, and no one contacts you, until you choose it.
Before you start
What to know before you answer anything.
Who we support today
Adults looking for licensed therapists in the provinces we currently cover. You choose virtual, in person, or either.
What it costs
Matching on TheraLume is free. Sessions are paid to the therapist at their own fees, and you see their range before you connect.
What we ask for
Your location, what you would like help with, scheduling and budget, language, and any preferences about who you work with. No diagnosis, no clinical assessment.
Not for emergencies
TheraLume is not a crisis service and messages are not monitored in real time. If you are in danger or in crisis, call 911 or 988.
The sequence
Five steps, and you stay in charge of all of them.
Tell us what matters
A short set of questions in everyday language, not a clinical intake. Things like “evenings only,” “under $150 a session,” “someone who gives me tools rather than only listening,” “I would prefer a woman,” or “Punjabi or English.” You can skip anything and change it later.
About ten minutes. Your answers are saved as a private profile.
Review what is shared
Your answers start as a private draft. Nothing reaches a therapist until you review what would be shared and approve it. Sharing is a choice you make, not a default.
Private only — the default
- Kept to your account
- No therapist can see it
- You reach out first, if you want to
Shared, limited — you opt in
- Therapists on TheraLume can see a limited version
- They may introduce themselves
- You can switch it off at any time
Receive introductions
Therapists reviewing shared profiles can send a short introduction explaining why they may be a potential fit. It arrives in your TheraLume inbox, not your personal email or phone.
- An introduction is a therapist reaching out. It is not a match you agreed to.
- We cannot promise that anyone will reach out, or how quickly.
- Fewer introductions are normal in smaller regions, with narrow scheduling windows, or for specialties in high demand.
Example — fictional
Aline Brooks, RCC
Vancouver, BC · Virtual & in person · English, French
CBT, EMDR · $140–$180 · Sliding scale · Insurance receipts
“I work with anxiety and burnout, and I have Thursday evenings open. Happy to do a free fifteen-minute call if you would like to see whether we would work well together.”
Decide whether to connect
Read their full profile — credentials, approach, fees, languages, availability — then accept, decline, or do nothing. Ignoring an introduction is a complete answer. Nothing happens, and you are not asked again.
Accepting only opens a conversation. It is not a booking, not a commitment to work together, and not a payment.
Explore the next step
Three separate events, in order. Each one is its own decision.
First
Conversation
Ask questions in the message thread. Free, and with no obligation.
Then
Request a time
You propose a date and time. A request is not a confirmed appointment.
Only after
They confirm
The therapist confirms or proposes another time. Care and payment are arranged with them.
TheraLume does not provide therapy, set fees, or take payment for sessions. Your therapist is your care provider.
When it is not a fit
This happens, and it is not a failure on your part. Here is what you can actually do.
No introductions yet
Widening your availability or budget, or accepting virtual sessions, tends to help most. Only change what you are genuinely comfortable changing.
You declined someone
No reason is required, and nothing is sent to them beyond the decline. You stay visible to other therapists.
Change your preferences
Edit your profile at any time. Changes apply to future introductions.
Pause or remove
Switch sharing back to private to stop new introductions, or delete your profile entirely.
Questions people ask here
Is therapy itself free? +
No. Matching on TheraLume is free for clients, but therapy sessions are paid to the therapist at their own fees. You can see a therapist's fee range before you decide to connect.
Can a therapist contact me before I approve sharing? +
No. Your answers stay private to your account until you review them and choose to share. If you never share, no therapist can introduce themselves to you.
Am I guaranteed a reply or an appointment? +
No. Therapists choose who they introduce themselves to, based on their own availability and scope of practice. We cannot promise that anyone will reach out, or how quickly.
Do I have to accept anyone who reaches out? +
No. You can accept, decline, or simply not respond. Ignoring an introduction is a complete answer, and you will not be asked about it again.
Do I have to search through therapists myself? +
No. That is the point of TheraLume. Tell us what matters to you once, and suitable therapists can introduce themselves. You decide who you want to talk to.
Ready when you are
Start with what matters to you.
Answer a few questions. Keep it private, or let therapists introduce themselves. Either way, you decide what happens next.
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