Access Counselling
ABOUT ACCESS COUNSELLING
Providing practical guidance, emotional, and psychological support to dance artists across Canada.
We understand the unique experiences that affect dance artists and know that funds are often unavailable to access needed support. The transitions dancers make are complex to navigate, and securing professional guidance in the form of counselling or consultation can make those transitions easier. Identifying transferrable skills and developing parallel careers can enable dance artists to fulfill other passions, establish financial stability, and build overall career resilience.
Eligibility:
DTRC members in good standing may access up to a maximum of 20 hours of counselling support over the lifetime of their DTRC membership (not annually renewable). These 20 hours may be used across both Streams and all Types of counselling. Please note that all DTRC member services are subject to financial limitations.
Not a member of the DTRC? Join Now!
Not a member of the DTRC, but looking to access counselling?
In summer 2026, the DTRC is offering a pilot counselling program accessible to performing dancers based in Toronto who are not members of the DTRC and who identify as belonging to one or more equity-deserving communities.
Through this program, individuals may be pre-approved to submit receipts for reimbursement of up to three counselling sessions (up to $120 maximum per session).
There are limited spaces available in this pilot program, and eligible applicants will be approved on a first come-first serve basis.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
EXTENDED AUGUST 24, 2026
REIMBURSEMENT DEADLINE:
NOVEMBER 30, 2026
To apply, you must:
- be 18 years of age or older,
- be a performing dancer
- be based in Toronto, and
- identify as belonging to one or more of the following equity-deserving groups:
- Indigenous: Inuit, Métis, First Nations
- Afro-diasporic
- Asian
- South Asian
- Pacific Islander
- Latino/Latina/Latinx
- West-Asian/Arab
- Racialized Person
- 2SLGBTQIA+
- Deaf, Mad, Disabled
- Newcomer to Canada (moved here within the last 5 years)
- Francophones Outside QC
- Living in a Rural or Underserved Are
- Other
Sessions must be for Personal Counselling* ONLY.
(Due to funding limitations and DTRC’s staff capacity, this pilot program is currently limited to Toronto-based dancers and to Personal Counselling* ONLY. In future, we hope to expand the program and to include other regions and other forms of counselling and coaching.)
PROGRAM STREAMS FOR MEMBERS
The DTRC offers counselling services in two program streams.
Roster Counselling Stream
You can apply to work with one of our affiliated counsellors in all counselling types.
In our Roster Counselling Stream, we offer 6 types of counselling:
- Personal
- Career
- Financial
- Legal
- Employability Coaching
- Entrepreneurship Coaching
Counsellor-of-Choice Stream (for Personal Counselling ONLY)
You may choose to work with your own counsellor. We understand that counselling relationships are unique and that you know best what you need. We also know that sometimes individuals are already working with a counsellor before they join DTRC. We want to empower you to continue with that relationship, and benefit from our subsidy.
In our Counsellor-of-Choice Stream, counselling services are limited to Personal Counselling ONLY.
Counselling Types:
PERSONAL
Personal counsellors – including psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, registered social workers, licensed counsellors, or similar complementary practices such as counsellors practicing in spiritual, community-based, or other mental wellness support practices – can help dancers address personal concerns and resolve issues that may be impacting their careers. (If you are uncertain whether a specific practice or practitioner fits within our program, we welcome you to ask us. Your input helps us assess and adapt our programs to better respond to your needs.)
CAREER
Career counselling helps dancers identify additional passions, values, transferrable skills, and abilities, supporting them to pursue new or parallel careers. Career counsellors can help dancers create effective education and career plans. They also help build job-search and interview skills and provide resources for dancers to gain experience in their field of interest.
FINANCIAL
Financial counsellors advise members on current financial issues impacting their dance career and how to financially prepare for various scenarios. Our counsellors speak to a broad range of financial issues including money management, budgeting, and financial security for newcomers. They can also provide referrals to appropriate services for specific needs. Financial counsellors provide advice only and cannot prepare your taxes or provide other financial services through DTRC’s program.
LEGAL
Legal consultation is the first step in helping dancers navigate the unique legal issues they face as artists or legal issues that otherwise impact their ability or capacity to work. Legal counsellors offer summary advice on contract issues, copyright law, immigration issues and personal injury matters, and provide resources for those requiring longer-term legal support. Legal counsellors provide summary advice only and cannot provide other legal services through DTRC’s program.
EMPLOYABILITY COACHING
Employability coaching assists professional dance artists to find ideal part time employment that best supports the busy lifestyle of the working dancer. Learn how to identify your transferrable skills on your resume. Write a great cover letter. Hone your interview skills. Secure the additional income you need so you can focus on performing.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP COACHING
Entrepreneurship coaching can help transform ideas or concepts into a parallel career or business (within or beyond the arts). This may include learning how to create a successful business plan, marketing and sales strategies, etc. Participants are not required to have a formalized business in order to access entrepreneurship coaching. Entrepreneurship coaching is also useful for already-established entrepreneurs, looking to grow their business.
FAQ:
What type of personal counselling professional can I work with?
To be eligible for subsidy reimbursement through the Counsellor-of-Choice Program (Personal Counselling ONLY), you can access psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, registered social workers, licensed counsellors, or similar complementary practices such as counsellors practicing in spiritual, community-based, or other mental wellness support practices. Practitioners must be licensed professionals with appropriate insurance as applicable to their practice. Applicants are responsible for ensuring this for themselves. Please discuss with your DTRC representative.
How long will it take before I can start the sessions, after I’ve submitted my application form?
Applications are processed on an ongoing basis and may take 2-4 weeks.
Is my information confidential?
Yes. It will only be shared within the DTRC staff team, for the purposes of providing you with counselling. From time to time, DTRC requests feedback from individuals using our services. Feedback may be provided anonymously, unless you agree to be identified. We share aggregated data only (no individual information) with our funders, our board of directors, other organizational stakeholders and the public for reporting purposes.
What if I need help applying?
Please email us at membership@dtrc.ca or call us at 416-595-5655 (Toronto) or 1-800-667-0851 for assistance. We will do our best to support and accommodate you in the application process.
What if I need help with my reimbursement via Plooto?
Please email us at membership@dtrc.ca or call us at 416-595-5655 (Toronto) or 1-800-667-0851 for assistance. We will do our best to support and accommodate you in the application process.
Do I have 20 hours of counselling per stream or type?
No. DTRC members can access a maximum of 20 hours of counselling over the lifetime of their DTRC membership to use across all streams and types of counselling.
