A: Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change and overcome problems in desired ways. Psychotherapy aims to improve an individual's well-being and mental health, to resolve or mitigate troublesome behaviors, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, and to improve relationships and social skills (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotherapy)

A: In Canada, psychotherapy is a form of treatment practised by a range of professionals, including physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses and other mental health practitioners.  Some provinces have strict rules about who can practise psychotherapy.  Some do not.

Psychiatry is a specialty branch of medicine.  Psychiatrists have the same basic medical training as other physicians, but then do at least 5 years of residency training in hospitals and clinics, learning to care for people with a wide range of mental health issues.  Psychotherapy is a mandatory part of their training, but may not be a large part of their post-residency practise.  Psychiatrists also diagnose and prescribe medications. 

General Practitioners (GP’s) or Family Physicians (FP’s) are also medical doctors who can diagnose mental illnesses and prescribe medications, although in complicated cases, they may refer a patient to a Psychiatrist.  Depending on their interest and expertise, they may also practise psychotherapy.  (The designation of GP was used until about 1992, after which time, new medical graduates had to enter either a 2-year family practise residency or a 5-year specialty residency). 

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior.  A Psychologist is not a medical doctor and cannot prescribe medications, but has taken university-level training in psychology.  Clinical psychologists have a Master’s or PhD degree in psychology and have training in psychotherapy.  Unless a patient sees a psychologist in a hospital clinic, their visits are either paid out-of-pocket, or through third party insurance. 

It’s important to note that all these different mental health professionals may provide a similar quality of psychotherapeutic care, but that their respective availability varies from one region of the country to another.   

A: A medical psychotherapist is a medical doctor, who has chosen to provide mental health services, which may or may not include prescribing medications, to either their own patients in their practise or upon referral from other physicians, mental health providers, and the general public. Some MD psychotherapists request a formal referral and others will accept a phone call from the person seeking treatment. Issues treated may include anxiety and depression, couples conflict, trauma, sexual problems, and addictions, just to name a few. A variety of different therapeutic modalities (e.g. psychodynamic, CBT, EMDR, NLP, Hypnosis, medications etc.) may be used depending on the training and focus of the therapist.

A Medical Psychotherapist is a doctor who practises psychotherapy whereas a regular Psychotherapist is not medically trained. Most provincial insurance plans (such as OHIP) do not cover psychotherapy performed by a non-MD.  Medical Psychotherapists are in a unique position to offer psychotherapy as they are very knowledgeable about physiological and pharmaceutical factors that can affect mental health.

A: Some MD Psychotherapists have a practise exclusively focused on mental health. Most are general practitioners or family physicians by training who have taken many extra and ongoing courses over their career to provide high quality psychotherapy. As a result of their varied interests and training, certifications are also varied. However, all are subject to peer review and maintenance of certification by their Provincial regulatory College to ensure standards of competency are met and maintained. 

A: Some members have chosen to become “Certified” by the provision of proof of hours of supervision, hours of personal therapy and evidence of formal training.  A few have chosen to expand that to become “Mentors” and a resource to their colleagues. Others have certifications in their chosen area of interest.  For example, BESTCO (Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy and Counselling in Ontario) may certify a sex therapist.  EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) may certify an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) practitioner, and so on. Some are qualified Psychoanalysts. 

A: That depends on which province you call home.  In Ontario, psychotherapy performed by a medical doctor is covered.  Sometimes, psychotherapy practised by a psychologist or social worker associated with a hospital or clinic is also covered, but waiting lists can be long, and treatments are usually time-limited.  Workplace extended health benefits usually provide limited coverage of sessions with psychologists or social workers.  Same with EAP (employee assistance programs).

Check with your provincial health plan to see how psychotherapy is covered in your province.

A: Click HERE to find an MD psychotherapist near you. Due to a high demand for their services, the number of medical psychotherapists who are accepting new patients is limited and the best way of obtaining a referral is through your family doctor.

A: Some MD Psychotherapists require another physician’s referral.  Others do not.  It is best to check first.

A: Many do, but again, it depends on the individual practitioner.