Frequently Asked Questions

Psychotherapy, or therapy, is a way to help people with a broad variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can improve function better and increase well-being and healing.

Problems helped by psychotherapy include difficulties in coping with daily life; the impact of trauma, medical illness or loss, grief, and specific mental disorders, like depression or anxiety. There are several different types of psychotherapy, and some types may work better with certain problems or issues.

Research shows that most people who receive psychotherapy experience symptom relief and are better able to function in their lives. Most who receive psychotherapy benefit from it. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve emotions and behaviours and to be linked with positive changes in the brain and body. The benefits also include fewer sick days, less disability, fewer medical problems, and increased work satisfaction. 

Therapy may be conducted in an individual, family, couple, or group setting, and can help both children and adults. The frequency of sessions can be determined by you and your therapist. Both client and therapist need to be actively involved in psychotherapy. The trust and relationship between a person and his/her therapist is essential to working together effectively and benefiting from psychotherapy. Confidentiality and the therapist client relationship are  the foundation for successful psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy can be short-term (a few sessions), dealing with immediate issues, or long-term (months or years), dealing with longstanding and complex issues. Typically, sessions are an hour long and booked weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. The goals of treatment and arrangements for how often and how long to meet are planned jointly by the client and therapist.

Psychotherapists, social workers and psychologists are licensed mental health professionals. Although some counsellors have education and training in mental health, the terms “counsellor” and “coach” are not protected and not governed by a control board or license.  In Canada, psychologists have earned a doctoral degree. The terms “therapist” and “counsellor” are used somewhat interchangeably, but generally therapists offer longer-term, mental health care, while counsellors offer shorter-term care that may focus on one domain.

The type of therapy best suited to a particular individual depends on several factors, including their primary reason for seeking therapy, their preferred timeline (some therapy types last for a set number of sessions, while others are open-ended), and their personality and preferences—some may prefer a more structured approach. For many individuals, multiple types of therapy could provide a good fit.

Many therapists charge the same amount for online therapy as they do for in-person therapy—though clients may still find this cost-effective if it cuts down on their transportation costs. Health insurance plans often offer equivalent coverage for online and in-person therapy; indeed, in many places, they are legally required to do so. Text-based or on-demand therapy apps may be cheaper than traditional one-on-one psychotherapy; however, the practice may be less effective and is not likely to be covered by insurance.