You don't need a separate doctor and therapist to get both medication and therapy. At Cognito, a Nurse Practitioner manages your medication, including antidepressants and ADHD medication. A CBT care provider runs your 1:1 skills-based CBT twice a month, and both work together on one virtual team for adults in BC and Ontario.
Medication + CBT plans are $169/month for anxiety, depression and insomnia, or $189/month for ADHD. An ADHD assessment is a one-time $499.
Your Nurse Practitioner and your CBT care provider are on the same team and share the same chart. Updates about your medication and your progress in CBT don't have to travel between separate offices, and you don't have to retell your story to each of them.
Leads your care. Assesses and diagnoses, including guideline-based ADHD assessments, then prescribes and adjusts your medication at follow-up appointments.
Runs your 1:1 skills-based CBT sessions twice a month over video, with practical tools for focus, mood, worry and sleep.
Advise your NP on complex medication questions. In BC, they also lead group sessions that are included with every plan.
Your prescription is ready for pick up the same day as your appointment, at your nearest or preferred pharmacy. Our expertise, your convenience.
CBT courses in your client portal, so you can practise skills between sessions.
Receive daily affirmations by text as a gentle reminder that small steps count, and your care team is in your corner.
Meet your care team · How our consulting psychiatrists support your care
Cognito's CBT care providers deliver structured, skills-based CBT for mild-to-moderate symptoms. They work under the supervision of a Registered Clinical Counsellor and consulting psychiatrists. They aren't Registered Clinical Counsellors or psychotherapists. Clients who need trauma-focused or more complex care are referred to a licensed NP or Registered Clinical Counsellor.
Take the free self-assessment or book a free 15-minute discovery call. No referral needed.
Pick medication, CBT, or both, with no fixed terms. You can start ADHD CBT without a diagnosis; ADHD medication needs a diagnosis first.
You'll start with an intake appointment with our Registered Nurse. Then you'll choose your CBT care provider and meet with a Nurse Practitioner to talk through your symptoms and medication options.
NP follow-ups for your medication and CBT twice a month, all booked through one client portal.
Most people end up with a prescriber in one place and therapy in another. Here's how the main options compare for adults in BC and Ontario.
| Compare | Public system (MSP / OHIP) | Private in-person clinic | Cognito (integrated virtual care) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Usually needs a family doctor's referral, then a waitlist | Self-referral at many clinics; waits vary | No referral; book a free discovery call |
| ADHD assessment | Covered, but adult waitlists can run months to years | Paid out of pocket; psychologist assessments can cost up to $3,000 | $499 one-time, or split into interest-free instalments with Klarna |
| Who prescribes medication | Family doctor or psychiatrist | Varies; psychologists can diagnose but can't prescribe | Your Nurse Practitioner |
| Therapy | Limited publicly funded options, often a separate referral | Paid per session, often at a different office | 1:1 skills-based CBT twice a month, in the same plan |
| Do your providers work together? | Rarely; you pass updates between offices | Depends on the clinic | Yes; your NP and CBT care provider share one chart |
| Where you get care | In person, in your health region | In person | By video, anywhere in BC or Ontario |
| What you pay | Visits covered; therapy and medication usually extra | Per assessment and per session | Monthly plans from $89 to $189; detailed receipts for insurance on request |
In 2022, CBC News reported a 1.5 to 2 year wait at B.C.'s only public adult ADHD clinic, with private psychologist assessments costing up to $3,000. Source: CBC News
No referral needed and no fixed terms. You can see every plan in detail on our pricing page.
ADHD assessments and prescribing are done by Nurse Practitioners licensed in British Columbia and Ontario.
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| ADHD Diagnostic Assessment | $499 one-time, or interest-free instalments with Klarna | Guideline-based assessment with a Nurse Practitioner licensed in BC and Ontario |
| ADHD Medication | $109/month | NP prescribing and monthly check-ins; needs an ADHD diagnosis |
| ADHD Skills-Based Therapy (CBT) | $139/month | 1:1 CBT twice a month; no diagnosis needed |
| ADHD Medication & Skills-Based Therapy (CBT) | $189/month | Medication management and twice-monthly CBT; needs an ADHD diagnosis |
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Core Medication | $89/month | NP prescribing and follow-ups (not for ADHD medication) |
| Core Skills-Based Therapy (CBT) | $139/month | 1:1 CBT twice a month |
| Core Skills-Based Therapy (CBT) & Medication | $169/month | Medication management and twice-monthly CBT |
Cognito's ADHD assessments are done by Nurse Practitioners licensed in British Columbia and Ontario. Our NPs are trained in ADHD assessment and follow Canadian clinical practice guidelines, and NPs in both provinces are authorized to diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication, including stimulants.
Most clients get their results within a week of their ADHD assessment appointment, often the very next day. From sign-up, the whole process typically takes about a month, including your intake appointment, ADHD forms, any required blood work and your assessment. Completing your forms, booking your appointments and finishing any blood work right away can significantly shorten your time to diagnosis.
The assessment is $499, and you can pay it all at once or split it into interest-free instalments with Klarna. If you're diagnosed, you can move straight into medication, CBT or both, with no new referral. Not ready for an assessment? You can start ADHD CBT without a diagnosis.
Getting assessed in Ontario? See ADHD assessment in Ontario. In BC? See virtual care in British Columbia.
No. At Cognito, a Nurse Practitioner prescribes and manages your antidepressants. A CBT care provider on the same team, working from the same chart, runs your 1:1 skills-based CBT twice a month. The Core Skills-Based Therapy (CBT) & Medication plan covers both for $169/month, for anyone 17+ in BC and Ontario.
Yes, for adults in BC and Ontario. Cognito combines Nurse Practitioner medication management with 1:1 skills-based CBT on one virtual team. Your prescription is ready for pick up the same day as your appointment, at your nearest or preferred pharmacy.
Yes. Nurse Practitioners in BC and Ontario are authorized to diagnose and to prescribe medication, including controlled substances such as ADHD stimulants. Cognito's NPs are also trained in ADHD assessment and follow Canadian clinical practice guidelines.
Most clients get their results within a week of their ADHD assessment appointment, often the very next day. From sign-up, the whole process typically takes about a month, including your intake appointment, ADHD forms, any required blood work and your assessment. Completing your forms, booking your appointments and finishing any blood work right away can significantly shorten your time to diagnosis. If you're diagnosed, you can start medication, CBT or both with the same team.
The combined plan is $189/month for ADHD, or $169/month for anxiety, depression and insomnia, and both include CBT twice a month. The ADHD assessment is $499, which you can split into interest-free instalments with Klarna. Claiming through private insurance or a health spending account? Ask us for a detailed receipt. See all plans.
Book a free 15-minute discovery call and we'll talk it through together.
No referral needed.
