Psychotherapy

As Socrates and the ancient Greeks stated:
“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom”.

Ages served: 18 and up, including seniors 65+

The goal of psychotherapy is to help you not only alleviate your symptoms and difficulties, but also to understand the origins and maintaining factors of the condition, in order to provide long-term wellbeing and prophylaxis. This is most effectively achieved through helping you become aware of how all of your life experiences (past and present) shape who you are, how you interpret events around you, and how this influences your thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and the course of your symptoms and psychological condition.

Types of conditions treated:

Relationship difficulties
Depression
Anxiety
Phobias
Obsessive-compulsive disorders
Low self-esteem
Social anxiety
Aging and fear of death issues
Caregiver burnout
Grief
Difficulties with life transitions
Problems with intimacy
Dealing with behavioural disturbances arising from Dementia (adult children caregivers)
Intrusiveness of family/friends/relatives and boundary setting.
Trauma (domestic abuse; childhood abuse; workplace trauma; accident trauma)—civilians, police and military personnel

Prior to initiating psychotherapy, at the first appointment, a thorough clinical interview is conducted in order to determine possible diagnosis and to inform treatment goals and interventions.

Psychotherapyherapy - FAQ's

Q. If I’m already taking medication for depression or anxiety, when do I also need psychotherapy and how can therapy help?

A. Medication primarily targets biological symptoms of depression and anxiety (e.g., sleep and appetite changes, low energy/fatigue, agitation, loss of libido) but it will not resolve the underlying or maintaining reasons for the depression or anxiety. Psychotherapy can help you understand yourself and the reasons/causes of your depression and anxiety. Increased awareness can then help you process and resolve the issues more effectively and reduce the likelihood of recurrence in future.

Q. What is the difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist?

A. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D.) who graduate from medical school with a specialization in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Their services are covered through O.H.I.P. although an additional co-payment by clients is customary. As medical doctors, their primary mode of treatment for psychiatric conditions is pharmacological (i.e., medication). They are regulated and accountable to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

Psychologists are doctors who complete doctoral training through a post-graduate clinical program (Ph.D.,). As such, they are trained to both diagnose and treat mental health disorders. Training entails a minimum of ten years of university plus various clinical internships and subsequent licensing requirements. Psychologists are regulated and fully accountable to the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Psychological services are not covered under O.H.I.P. and are charged on an hourly basis. Most extended health plans through your employer provide at least some coverage for services

Psychologists’ training includes extensive knowledge and application of psychological assessment techniques and various psychotherapeutic treatments of psychological disorders. Psychologists often work together with your general practitioner or treating psychiatrist who may be prescribing medication for you to ensure that all necessary components of your treatment are working effectively for you.

Q. I’ve tried therapy before at various times in my life but things get better for a little while and then the same issues keep resurfacing. I just can’t seem to shake them and I don’t know what else I can do about it.

A. Don’t despair. We’re all “work in progress” throughout our lives. As with most things in life, we learn different things at different phases of our life. We cannot know everything all at once. As we live our life, gain experience and mature, we may be ready to see and change things that we may not have been ready or able to do in the past. Depending on the issue, exploratory (or other types of) therapy can help you gain a deeper and clearer understanding of yourself, your patterns of behaviour and reasons for them, which can help you make new lasting changes.