What is a psychologist?
Just like other health care providers such as family physicians, nurse practitioners, medical specialists, and nurses, psychologists are regulated health professionals. They see people of all ages, working with them as individuals, in couples or in families. Psychologists also work with groups, organizations, companies and government agencies.
Although many psychologists both assess and treat psychological problems, some provide only specialized assessment services. When working with individuals, psychologists use psychological tests and informed discussion to help clients and patients identify problems or issues and to work on solutions. They also work with groups and organizations to assess individuals and foster behaviour change. Most psychologists work in their own offices or in clinics, schools, or institutional settings such as hospitals, prisons or places of business (From the Ontario Psychological Association)
Why do I have this problem?
Not enough is known about the causes of depression and anxiety. Each person’s circumstances and experiences are different and complex. As a result, we often can't be sure why a person is experiencing these issues. More importantly, it's been demonstrated that simply understanding why someone has problems is not sufficient: in order to overcome them, people must move from understanding to action, by challenging and changing their thoughts, assumptions, beliefs, and behaviours. Fortunately, although we know less than we would like to about the causes of anxiety and depression, we do know what works to help people get better and stay well. Thus, rather than looking back, the focus of CBT is on solving problems in the present and looking forward.
How long will it take to get better?
For most problems, the evidence-based treatments that Until Psychology uses takes 8-20 individual, couple, family, or group sessions. Therapy sessions are typically scheduled weekly and last 50 minutes in the clinic. However, your Until Psychology therapist may suggest longer sessions, on a more frequent basis, or outside of the office, dependent on your particular problems.
What is the difference between psychologists and psychiatrists?
Psychologists and psychiatrists both undertake about the same number of years of education and training. Some of the training is similar (e.g., diagnosis) and some is quite different.
Psychologists have doctoral degrees in psychology and specialize in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of human emotion, thought and behaviour. They have advanced training in psychotherapy and the science of behaviour change. Although they may be trained in the use of medication to treat mental illness, in Ontario they are not as yet licensed to prescribe medications.
Psychologists are the only professionals qualified to use certain kinds of psychological tests to assess intelligence as well as emotional and behavioural problems and neuropsychological dysfunction.
Psychiatrists, like your family physician, have degrees in medicine which is quite different than degrees in psychology, with additional specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
In Ontario, psychiatrists tend to focus on the biological aspects of mental health while psychologists tend to focus on the cognitive, emotional and behavioural.
Psychiatrists are licensed by the Government to prescribe medication. The practice of most psychiatrists in Ontario is focused on prescribing medications and consulting with family physicians, psychologists and other health professionals. In fact, psychologists and psychiatrists are colleagues and often work closely together.
In Ontario, the fees of psychiatrists are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Like psychologists, you can be assured that psychiatrists have received extensive formal training and supervision in her or his area of expertise and will adhere to a strict code of ethics and professional standards.
Psychiatrists are governed and regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Psychologists and psychiatrists are regulated health professionals. Other mental and behavioural health professionals might not be regulated and might not be trained in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health issues. (From the Ontario Psychological Association).