Questions, answered

Psychotherapy is similar to counselling but focuses more on underlying causes and how to solve them. It aims to help a person “understand their feelings and equip them to face new challenges, both in the present and the future” (Brazier, Medical News Today). People who seek psychotherapy often struggle with stress, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addictions, trauma, anger, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), relationship problems and more. Sessions can be one-on-one, in pairs, or in groups.

One popular treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps a person understand how their thoughts, behaviours and feelings affect each other. Through a trusting relationship with the therapist, some clients notice a difference after around six to twelve sessions, while others may need ongoing treatment for several years. Progress often depends on motivation, insight and awareness, the severity of the issues, support and resources, and current stressors.

The risks include, but are not limited to, feeling unwanted emotions and complicated changes in life. Addressing and resolving these emotions is an integral part of therapy, and your therapist will help you understand and cope with them. Change can be difficult to adapt to, but your therapist will help you anticipate it and let you decide which changes are best for you. Some people expect to see positive change right away, but change takes time.

The benefits include, but are not limited to, learning more about yourself and your triggers, identifying tensions in relationships, developing new skills to face challenges, building a support system, overcoming present challenges, and preparing for future difficulties. Therapy can be challenging, but it can help you meet your needs, pursue your aspirations, and live more freely.

Your therapist will spend some time getting to know you, gathering some background and learning about your main concerns. Each of our therapists has unique experience and expertise, so pairing you with a therapist who can support your journey is important to us. Your therapist will then share feedback and recommendations tailored to your needs, and together you will make a plan.

A typical one-hour session includes 50 minutes of clinical time and 10 minutes for documentation. You'll then be invited to book again, weekly, every two weeks, monthly, or whatever you agree on. The process is voluntary and you are never obligated to continue. If something isn't working, please talk with your therapist; a referral to another therapist and a transition plan can be made together.

Psychotherapists use a variety of personalized treatment plans to help people overcome emotional, relationship or behavioural problems. Psychologists are trained in assessment and treatment and are qualified to provide a formal diagnosis. Social workers collaborate with clients through a strength-based perspective that sees individuals and families as resilient and resourceful. Counsellors typically focus on advising, guiding, educating and informing. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health assessment, formal diagnosis and medication.

Graduate therapist interns are completing their post-graduate studies and working toward registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Our interns are supervised by our experienced Registered Psychotherapists and trained clinical supervisors, and we ensure they provide quality care.

Seeing an intern has benefits. Rates are often significantly lower than with registered professionals, so more people can access therapy with less financial strain. Interns may also offer weekend and after-work availability, and they are up to date on current treatments, research and perspectives.

Yes. The identities of clients and everything they share are handled in a strictly confidential manner, according to the professional standards of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO). The only exceptions come from legal or ethical obligations:

• To notify appropriate people if a client intends to seriously harm themselves or others.
• To inform the Children's Aid Society if we suspect a child is at risk of abuse.
• To report a regulated health professional who has sexually abused a client.
• To follow the legal process if a client's file is subpoenaed, or if a judge orders its release.
• When a therapist's regulatory college requests a peer assessment of their practice.

These exceptions are explained in our privacy policy, and your therapist will go over them at your first session.

As a private practice, our services are not covered by OHIP, but they may be partly or fully covered by extended health insurance or a benefits plan. Coverage differs by carrier, so please check whether your plan covers registered psychotherapists or social workers, how to claim, what your receipts need to show, and whether you need a referral letter from your physician.

Fees may also count toward the medical expense deduction on your income tax; please ask your accountant. Fees are paid at the end of each session and you'll receive a receipt every time. Fees vary with the service and the therapist, and a sliding scale is available if needed. We accept e-transfer and credit card.

Conversations about mental health can be difficult, especially because of the stigma around mental illness. If you're finding it hard, please know you're not alone. It takes courage to voice your thoughts, feelings and vulnerabilities.

It can help to pick a time and place where you both feel safe. Speak from “I” statements and be as specific as you can about the impact on your life, for example: “I can sleep six hours a night, or twelve, and I still find it physically difficult to move my body in the morning.” Your therapist can help you plan for your own situation.

We take our clients' confidentiality very seriously. Responding to a review, even disputing a fake one, could unintentionally confirm whether someone is or is not a client at our clinic. To protect everyone's privacy equally, we keep the same policy for all reviews and do not respond to them.

If you have feedback or a concern you'd like us to follow up on, please use the feedback box in our office or email us directly, so we can address it privately and appropriately.