FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

According to the College of Registered Psychotherapists, the practice of psychotherapy is distinct from counselling.  In counselling “the focus is on the provision of information, advice-giving, encouragement and instruction” (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario Annual Report 2014-2015).  Counselling is typically short-term in nature and mostly what is offered through Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). Psychotherapy, however, is defined as: “To treat, by means of psychotherapy technique, delivered through a therapeutic relationship, an individual’s serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception, or memory that may seriously impair the individual’s judgment, insight, behaviour, communication, or social functioning.”  (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario Annual Report 2014-2015).  The controlled act of psychotherapy was enacted in 2007 by the Ontario legislature and as of Dec. 31, 2017 is in force, so it is restricted to members of regulated professions, including members of the following regulatory Colleges of Ontario:

• College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)

• College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)

• College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)

• College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO)

• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers (OCSWSSW)