Someone on your bench needs more than you can give them.
You already carry a lot. You listen, you pray, you walk with people through the worst weeks of their lives. But some of what shows up in your office needs clinical care that is outside the scope of pastoral ministry. This page is here to make the handoff simple.
The people most pastors already have in mind.
If you are reading this, you probably have two or three faces in your head already. Here are the situations where a referral here tends to be the right call.
A man in your congregation who finally told someone
Whether it is porn, an affair, or something he has never said out loud, he needs a therapist who will not flinch and will not moralize. Someone who takes the problem seriously without crushing him underneath it.
A wife who just found out
Betrayal trauma is real, and it needs specialized care. Not couples counselling first, not a pastor's office, not a friend. A therapist who has treated this before and knows what the first 90 days actually require.
A couple in crisis after discovery
They want to come in together. That is usually not the right first step. We can support them as a couple once both individuals have done the foundational work, and we will say so honestly.
A church staff member who is burned out
Ministry is hard on nervous systems. Compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and quiet despair show up in the staff meeting long before they show up in the pulpit. Therapy that gets the context.
Someone leaving a high-control church
Spiritual abuse and religious trauma are their own category of pain. We offer care that honours faith without minimizing the harm. No agenda to pull them away, no agenda to pull them back.
A teen whose parents are worried
A male therapist for boys and young men. Honest about phones, porn, gaming, and the stuff parents are afraid to name. Parents get guidance. Teens get their own confidential space.
You are not handing them off to a stranger.
The reason most pastors are careful with referrals is that they have been burned before. They sent someone to a well-meaning therapist who did not understand faith, or who actively worked against it, or who did not know how to handle the clinical specifics of what was actually happening.
This practice was built specifically for the kinds of cases you see. CSAT-certified for sex addiction and betrayal trauma. Trauma-informed for the deeper layers underneath the presenting issue. Faith-informed without being preachy or coercive. A male therapist for men who have never said any of this out loud before. The right tool, for the right person, at the right moment.
If it helps, here is a short background: Joseph holds an MDiv from Tyndale Seminary and is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the CRPO. He has led men's groups in church and clinical settings. He has been in ministry circles long enough to know what the inside of the work feels like.
Faith-informed, not faith-neutral
Joseph trained at Tyndale Seminary and holds an MDiv. He understands the theological vocabulary, the pressure of public faith, and the particular shape of shame that grows in church soil. He also knows when to set theology aside and work the body in the room.
No agenda for or against your tradition
We are not here to deconstruct anyone's faith, and we are not here to protect it either. The goal is the person in the chair. If their faith is a resource, we use it. If it is a wound, we treat it. That is the only agenda.
Clinically specialized where it counts
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the CRPO and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT). Not a generalist trying everything. A clinician with specific training for the cases you are most likely to refer.
Confidential and CRPO-regulated
Every session is confidential under Ontario regulation. You will not hear anything about someone you referred unless they choose to tell you. Pastors often worry about that detail. It matters.
Let's talk
Save this page. Share it with your staff. Use it when you need it.
The easiest referral is one you already have a tab open for. Bookmark /for-pastors and keep moving.
Three ways to make the handoff.
Whichever path lowers the friction for the person in front of you. There is no referral form, no gatekeeper, no waiting for a callback from us before they can take the next step.
Send them this page
Most pastors text or email the link. The page explains what we do, who we help, and how to start. Zero friction.
addypsychotherapy.com/for-pastors
Have them book directly
Jane App lets anyone book a free 15-minute consultation. No phone tag, no waiting. They pick a time that works.
Book via Jane AppCall if it is urgent
For cases where someone needs to talk to a therapist today, calling is often faster than any booking flow.
(647) 510-7656If it is a crisis: therapy is not the right first step. Call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or use the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566. We can be the next step after stabilization.
Words you can borrow.
If you are looking for language that is warm, not clinical, and does not feel like you are pushing someone out of your office, here are a few phrases that tend to land.
“I want you to keep coming to see me. And I also want to get you in front of someone who has clinical training for this specific thing. He is faith-informed, a man, and he is not going to make you feel like you have to translate everything. Here is the page.”
“What you are describing is real and it has a name. There is a therapist I trust for this. You do not have to choose between your faith and getting help. His whole practice is built around that.”
“I can sit with you in this, and I want to. But the kind of help you need right now is a layer deeper than what pastoral care is designed for. Let me send you one link. You take it from there.”
Questions pastors actually ask.
How do I actually refer someone?
Give them the link to this page, or to /contact, or just have them call (647) 510-7656 and mention you sent them. They can also book a free 15-minute consultation directly through Jane App. There is no referral form or gatekeeper. The simpler the path, the more likely they walk it.
What do you charge, and do you take insurance?
Fees are on the /fees page. As an RP (Qualifying) in Ontario, coverage varies by insurer and plan. We tell clients exactly what to ask their benefits provider. We do not bill OHIP.
Will you tell me what happens in session?
No. Confidentiality is absolute under CRPO regulation. We can confirm someone booked if they give written consent, but nothing about what is discussed. This protects them and protects your pastoral relationship.
Do you work with couples, or only individuals?
Both. Couples work requires both partners to be willing, and in high-stakes cases like infidelity or betrayal trauma we usually recommend individual work first. We can explain this to the couple if it helps.
Can you see someone who lives outside Toronto?
Anywhere in Ontario, online. In-person at the Etobicoke office. If you are referring someone in another province or country, we can usually point you toward a good fit.
Are you available to speak with me about mental health topics for my congregation?
Yes. Joseph has spoken at churches, staff trainings, and men's retreats. If you are putting together a sermon series, a small group curriculum, or a staff wellness event and want a clinical voice, reach out.
Resources pastors have found useful.
Sex and Porn Addiction in the Church
Why the standard pastoral responses so often fall short, and what actually helps when a church member tells you the truth.
Spiritual AbuseHealing from Spiritual Abuse
What religious trauma actually looks like, how to recognize it in the people you lead, and how therapy approaches it.
Sex AddictionWhat to Expect in Your First Session with a CSAT
A plain-language walkthrough you can forward to anyone who is anxious about booking their first appointment.
Want to talk before you refer?
If you would rather have a short, confidential conversation with Joseph before sending anyone, you are welcome to. Pastors sometimes want to know what a therapist is actually like before they put their person in someone else's care. That instinct is a good one.
Drop a note below, or call (647) 510-7656. Mention that you are a pastor and we will prioritize the response.
In-person: 3638 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, ON M8W 1N6
Online: Secure video sessions across Ontario
Let's talk
The person on your bench deserves this call.
Send the link. Make the introduction. We will take it from there and keep you in the loop only as they direct.