What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy, often referred to as talk therapy or just “therapy”, is a form of mental health treatment that aims to relieve emotional distress, mental health concerns and promote optimal functioning. Psychotherapy is a controlled act in Ontario, meaning that only therapists who are registered to provide this service are legally allowed to.
Psychotherapy can be provided by a person who is trained, such as Registered Psychotherapists (RP), Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Social Workers, Psychologists and Psychiatrists. Registered Psychotherapists provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families in both individual and group settings.
The Jump
A part of being the patient is letting yourself open up to the therapist, which is a scary role to play. These therapists are there to be your friend, not to be a doctor that is there to do tests. You may find that it is hard to talk about some mental health problems, that is normal. As humans, it is not easy to discuss important topics like coping skills, fears, comfort, and personality. Taking the steps to speak with a mental health care professional will have you feeling reassured and safe.
When Psychotherapy is used
Psychotherapy occurs when the Registered Psychotherapist and a client enter into a therapeutic relationship where both people collaborate to bring about positive change to the client’s thoughts, emotions, feelings, behaviors and interpersonal function. People usually seek therapy when they have thoughts, emotions, moods or behaviors that are problematic to their everyday life, relationships and ability to live a meaningful, fulfilling life. This could be stress caused from a range of things such as; work, mental illness, irregular behaviors, distress with a partner or loss of a loved one. There are many factors that might make one choose to go to counseling, but there are more ways that mental health professionals can help.
Most Registered Psychotherapists will offer a free consultation to ensure you are a good match for treatment. Research shows that the relationship between the therapist and client promotes positive outcomes for the client, and so ensuring you select the right therapist for you is highly important.
Important things to note when working with a psychotherapist;
informed consent is provided
a conversation about benefits, risk and outcomes is discussed
a treatment plan is offered and agreed upon
the environment is safe and confidential
the approach is discussed and is reflective of your goals
you feel that your well-being is held with the most importance
Regardless of specific mental health challenges, most people find that they can benefit from having an unbiased observer to listen and offer validation, support and guidance. In Ontario, there is a cost and time investment when engaging in psychotherapy. Often psychotherapy is covered by extended health care benefits but unfortunately is not currently a service covered by OHIP. The decision to begin therapy isn’t always an easy one and you might ask yourself many questions to determine if psychotherapy is a good fit for you.
Some treatment approaches that your psychotherapist may use;
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT)
Consider whether you feel sad, anxious, overwhelmed, stressed or irritable more often than not. There are many different situations that are diagnosed or self concern. Some people also find themselves turning to substances to cope or food to manage unpleasant experiences. Therapy can offer emotional support and coping mechanisms to mange mental health and resilience. In addition, therapy can be beneficial if you are struggling with your relationships, feeling stuck in life or lost in your career.
If you are seeking a Registered Psychotherapist in Brantford, ON, you may find one working in various health care settings, including, private practice, clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, wellness spas, employee assistance programs and universities. You can click here to look at the services Your Next Journey offers.
If you have any questions about psychotherapy, or if this approach would be a good fit for you, please feel free to reach out for a complimentary 15 minute consultation! You do not have to navigate this process alone.