What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples, families, small and large groups or communities to help them examine profound emotional experiences, behavioural patterns that are destructive and/or serious mental health issues using deep assessments of life processes that focus on behavioural modification, alteration in thinking patterns, cognition, emotional responses and social functioning (Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council, 2006). They do this using a variety of personalized treatment plans that intend to support and modify the challenges experienced. Commonly seen therapies in Ontario are: cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, psychoanalysis, and gestalt therapy. This is only a small sample of possible therapeutic modalities practiced.

Psychotherapists can be found in many practice environments. For example, rehabilitation centres, health clinics, hospitals, psychological offices and private practice.

Only a psychotherapist who is a member of a regulatory college that allows for diagnosing and prescribing medication can provide a diagnosis or prescribe medication. For example, a Medical Doctor who practices psychotherapy, a Nurse Practitioner who is a nurse psychotherapist, or an Occupational Therapist (for diagnosing only) can do this.

In Ontario, we have a multi-disciplinary approach to psychotherapy. This means there are 6 Regulatory Colleges with members who can practice as psychotherapists.

They are:

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
• College of Nurses of Ontario
• The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
• The College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario
• The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

Why is it important that Ontario has a multi-disciplinary approach to psychotherapy?

Just like with all health-related challenges experienced by people, a multi-faceted approach is needed to support them. Each of the colleges that regulate psychotherapy has unique foundational preparations for their members, which give them unique ways of looking at health and wellness. This provides each body of psychotherapists with a unique approach to mental health and psychotherapy. While they all fundamentally end up with a treatment plan that addresses the psychological/emotional/behavioural/social/cognitive challenge, how they do it is unique to their designation and their training. More so, when people experience a combined interprofessional approach to their wellness through collaboration and consultation that builds off of each practitioner's strength, the people of Ontario experience the best care from the right practitioner at the right time for that person's unique need.