FAQs

In Ontario, Psychologists are licensed generally and not in specific specialty areas. They are required to declare their areas of competency to the regulatory body and required to practice within the bounds of their competence. A Psychologist working with children should have been trained in the area of child psychology and so on. Typically, the Psychologist will have received this training while in graduate school where they will have chosen the courses and training experiences to prepare for working within their particular specialty area. To qualify for professional registration with the College of Psychologists of Ontario to practise psychology, the requirements include the successful completion of graduate education and training in professional psychology, supervised professional experience and examinations. A member of the College is required to practise in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations, standards of conduct, professional guidelines and professional codes of ethics. In the province of Ontario, only members of the College of Psychologists of Ontario with appropriate qualifications may use the title ‘Psychologist’ or use the terms ‘psychology’ or ‘psychological’ in any description of services offered or provided. Only Psychologists may identify themselves with the designation C.Psych. after their names. Because they are not Medical Doctors, Psychologists and Psychological Associates do not prescribe medication.

When individuals ask about mental health and what Psychological therapy might do for them, we often tend to focus on differences between physical and mental health and wellness and how we react to increased pressures. In general, we tend to have a better idea of our own physical strengths and capabilities. For example, we understand that some individuals can lift more than others and that as we increasingly add weight to something, we will reach our own capacity at some point and need to ask for help. Most would accept that individuals don’t generally go around trying to lift couches and pianos on their own. However, over the course of our lives and during different events we tend to add emotional weight and pressures to our lives without thinking of the impact. Many of us expect that we can just continually press on and keep lifting up the emotional pressures and baggage we have accumulated without seeking any assistance or help. I think of therapy as providing some of that help “lifting” and dealing with the accumulated pressures and weight that comes from all types of sources; from sadness and guilt and stress and all of the pressures in our lives.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. I have found over the past 20+ years in practice that there is often a great deal of confusion about the differences in the general public, even from insurers, other health practitioners and professions.

Psychiatrists and Clinical Psychologists are both mental health specialists with expertise in assessing and treating mental health issues. There are important differences between the type of training they receive, and in the focus and treatment approaches they can provide.

Psychology is a discipline that focuses on the assessment, understanding and treatment of the mind and human behaviours. Psychologists as a general rule in Ontario will have their PhD in Clinical Psychology which often entails 11 years of post-secondary education and training. Psychologists focus on assessing and treating emotional and social difficulties, and in Canada, they are not currently able to prescribe medications. The therapy focus is on cognitive and behavioural changes that people can make to change their situation and thinking patterns. The focus is on assessment, understanding and therapy rather than on medication. In many situations, Psychologists can work in tandem with psychiatrists to refer patients for prescriptions and medication review and changes.

Psychiatrists practice as medical doctors and use their clinical experience to treat mental disorders using medication primarily, and tend to view issues with depression or anxiety as some type of chemical imbalance. While there are some Psychiatrists that provide additional psychotherapy supports, most of my clients in this region have found that Psychiatrists are able to provide medication review and support only. Psychiatry is an OHIP funded resource that requires a referral from a family physician and may continue over time as a support with
medication management as needed.

There are a number of other sources of supports in our community. Other regulated health practitioners to support emotional and mental distress include Social Workers, Psychotherapists and Counsellors, all of whom have differing levels of education, experience and training.