Only you can determine if therapy works for you or not. Most people who enter into therapy report feeling an overall sense of well-being.

It’s important to recognize that therapy is not a fast or easy fix. It’s a process that can be full of surprises and there may even be setbacks. That things can sometimes feel like they are getting worse before they get better, as you delve into the root cause of your issues or as the relationships in your life begin to shift as a result of how you’re changing. Sometimes, even if your issue seems straightforward, it can turn into something more complicated. It’s important to be patient and trust that things are progressing as they should be.

You should be able to tell within a few sessions if you and your psychotherapist are a good fit, meaning that you feel safe with them. You won’t feel like a new person overnight, your challenges/issues aren’t going to disappear (they have been established for years if not decades), but you may find that in time your overall mood is improving, you may sleep or digest better, experience less negative symptoms like tension and headaches, you feel more connected to family and friends, and less overwhelmed by the issues that were bothering you. If not, it could be the type of therapy you’re engaging with, or there may be a better therapist out there for you.

Freud, and others since, have referred to psychotherapy as “the talking cure” because it generally involves speaking to a therapist one-on-one, as a couple, a family, or in a group. Therapy can be time-consuming and challenging as you may feel uncomfortable with the emotions and thoughts that therapy is bringing up. And, this is all part of the process.

Psychotherapy helps to give you a fresh perspective on a difficult problem, and helps you find a solution, it helps you to understand yourself better, to develop skills for healthy relationships, and to connect with positive and negative feelings with less identification with them.

Remember that no therapist can do the work for you. In order for therapy to work, you must be a willing participant and have trust in the process.

The connection you have with your psychotherapist is extremely important. It can make all the difference in your treatment. Ask yourself:

• Do I sense that my therapist genuinely cares about me and my challenges?Do I feel like my therapist understands me?
• Do I feel accepted by my therapist for who I am?
• Am I comfortable sharing personal information with this therapist?
• Do I feel that I can be open and honest with them?
• Is my therapist a good listener? Do I sense they listen to me without criticism or judgment?

In its essence, the therapeutic conversation is very different from the one you have with your friend(s). ds/
This offers a safe place to drop into your most personal inner world without having to fear that you’ll be thought “crazy”, and without concern for a friend’s fragility or judgment. In the therapeutic setting, all thoughts and feelings can be explored; your therapist is professionally trained and bound by confidentiality.

Is psychotherapy different from counseling?

Yes. Psychotherapy can be confused with counseling, and often the words” psychotherapy” and “counseling” are used interchangeably, but as a course of treatment, they are different.
In general, counseling is a more directive approach, which means a counselor will often give advice to help you solve a problem or deal with a personal issue.
Psychotherapy on the other hand, is working with a therapist to talk through your issues so that you come to a point where you are better able to make your own decisions and articulate yourself with more ease.

In your first session, your therapist will spend some time getting to know you and the issues that brought you to therapy. They may use a formal interview model, or it can just look like a conversation. The therapist may ask questions about your presenting concerns, as well as your history and background. Most likely, you’ll find yourself talking about your personal history, current situation, symptoms or struggles, as well saying a bit about your relationships, your interests, your strengths, and your goals. Most importantly, in that first session, you will begin making a connection with your therapist. You should feel safe, listened to, and respected. Not all therapists are right for every person, so use your initial consultation to assess whether the therapist you chose feels like a good match for your personality. (Keep in mind that being asked about our feelings or sharing deeply personal information on the first meeting can feel very uncomfortable. Sometimes it takes a few sessions to jive. Ultimately, check in with your gut and see if its the content/experience that’s uncomfortable, or if perhaps its not the right person for you).

Psychotherapy addresses a wide range of difficulties associated with what it is to be human, such as:

• • anxiety
  • anger
  • addiction
  • depression
  • eating disorders
  • relationship issues
  • communication skills
  • loneliness
  • alienation
  • isolation
  • attachment wounding
  • understand your mental health/diagnosis
  • define and reach wellness goals
  • work with fears or insecurities so that you do not feel as controlled by them
  • cope with stress
  • make sense of the past
  • heal traumatic wounds
  • identify triggers that may worsen symptoms/patterns/behaviours
  • improve relationships with family and friends
  • develop strategies for coping with crises
  • understand why things bother you and what you can do about them
  • address destructive habits (ie. drinking, using drugs, overspending or unhealthy sexual behavior)

The therapeutic process is different for everyone. Its direction and duration will vary, depending on the individual and his or her goals and intentions.
Providing safety and confidentiality, the process of psychotherapy involves self-reflection, recollection, and the careful accessing of deeper feelings and motivations. Typically, a therapist and client will discuss the frequency and length of a therapy based on your needs. It is important to allow the process to evolve in whatever way works for you and fulfills your particular requirements.

Is psychotherapy a regulated health profession?

The Ontario College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO) has been the regulatory body for the practice of psychotherapy in Ontario since 2015. All therapists on the Toronto Psychotherapists site meet or exceed the rigorous requirements as set out by the College. For detailed information, you may go to http://www.crpo.ca/.

Therapist set their own fee ranging on their training and experience, ranging from $80.00 – $200.00 per session. Be sure to ask your therapist about fees prior to beginning your therapy, including sliding scale if you need financial assistance (most therapists leave a few spots open for sliding scale clients).

Is psychotherapy in Ontario covered by OHIP?

Unfortunately no, psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP or the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.
A therapist’s fees may be covered by your personal healthcare plan through your workplace, or a separate health insurance plan that covers psychotherapy.

For psychotherapy to be effective, it is advised that you work with one psychotherapist at a time.  Other therapies and medical treatments, including any medication you are taking under the direction of a psychiatrist, can work in conjunction with your psychotherapy treatment.  Do let your therapist know about any other therapies or treatments you are currently undergoing.

The intention is to create an environment where all clients of all sizes feel safe and comfortable. Offices are styled to be warm, friendly, and inviting (vs. cold and clinical). Most often you will find pieces of furniture facing each other. With many psychotherapists these days currently seeing clients online you may see more of a desk set-up than a living-room set-up.

The word ‘unconscious’ refers to those aspects of ourselves of which we are not yet aware; much of what motivates our simplest and even our most complex choices can be obscured, unnoticed, and unacknowledged.
The word “subconscious is often interchanged with “preconscious”, we have a nebulous kind of awareness that is just outside conscious reach.

PSYCHIATRISTS
Psychiatrists have a medical degree and five years of psychiatric training. They are licensed to prescribe medication, diagnose, and may provide psychotherapy treatment. Their services are covered by OHIP. As medical doctors, they can best identify connections between psychiatric and physical health problems. However, some psychiatrists may tend more toward medication than psychotherapy in their practice due to their medical training.

PSYCHOLOGISTS
Psychologists have at least nine years of university education. They also have at least one year of supervised practice. They are members of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. They are trained in doing assessments, making diagnoses, and providing therapy. Psychologists’ fees are not covered by OHIP, and they cannot prescribe medication.

REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPISTS
Psychotherapy is primarily a talk-based therapy intended to help individuals improve their mental health and well-being. Psychotherapy occurs when the Registered Psychotherapist and client enter into a psychotherapeutic relationship where both work together to bring about positive change in the client’s thinking, feeling, behaviour, and social functioning. Individuals usually seek psychotherapy when they have thoughts, feelings, moods, and behaviours that are adversely affecting their day-to-day lives, relationships, and ability to enjoy life.
Psychotherapists have completed a program substantially equivalent to a postgraduate level of training in psychotherapy and are a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. They have at least 450 direct client contact hours and 100 hours of supervision before becoming registered. Psychotherapists work with specific psychological symptoms and disorders but do not diagnose or prescribe medication. Their services are currently not covered by OHIP but may be covered by private insurance policies.

A student therapist-in-training and a qualifying therapist have not yet completed all the requirements to become registered psychotherapists with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). They may still be in school, or have graduated, but are working to meet all the requirements of the CRPO. They are less experienced in providing psychotherapy, however, experience is only one factor in a therapist’s ability to work successfully with clients. Every therapist, whether just starting out or close to retirement, has a unique life experience and set of personal qualities that they bring to the therapeutic relationship. A student therapist-in-training or a qualifying therapist who connects with the client will work better than a registered psychotherapist with more experience but who doesn’t connect as well with the client.

When choosing a therapist, you should first consider the person and the relationship, and not simply their years of experience or credentials.