What is Psychotherapy?

According to the Ontario Association of Counsellors, Consultants, Psychotherapists and Psychometrists (www.oaccpp.ca), psychotherapy is a term used to denote services which provide specialized interventions. While counseling may involve informing, advising, guiding, educating, and/or coaching, psychotherapy includes techniques from different models, such as Adlerian Psychology, Reality Therapy, Rational Emotive Therapy, Client-centred Therapy and others. The goal of counseling is oriented around problem-solving and may involve guiding and educating the client. The goal of psychotherapy is to encourage understanding of the problem through insight. Through the warm and trusting relationship that is fostered, the client is encouraged to engage freely in exploring, expressing and understanding their problems. Successful interventions in Psychotherapy depend to a large extent on the therapeutic alliance established between therapist and client.

It is not unusual for a Psychotherapist to, at times, use counseling techniques and vice versa, as the situation calls for them.

Who goes to a Psychotherapist or Counsellor?

Anyone can go to a psychotherapist. Usually emotional pain is the determining factor for people to make the first phone call. Sometimes a friend or the workplace or family member may recommend that someone call a psychotherapist or counsellor. Basically anyone who feels it would help to talk to someone should make the call.

• When you feel scared, lonely, moody, depressed or isolated
• When you have had a loss
• When life feels overwhelming or seems out of control
• If you are unhappy in your relationships
• When you have sexual concerns
• When you want to change old habits ( drinking, smoking, shopping, over-eating, purging, bingeing, gambling)
• When work is causing undue stress
• When you are in pain
• When medical concerns are weighing heavily
• When you have been or are being abused
• When you are abusing someone
• When you are concerned about your children
• When life feels lonely……………..all these……..you have reason to call a psychotherapist.

How can psychotherapy pay off?

The most valuable investment of your time, energy and money is the one you make in yourself.

The dividends will keep coming back to you………. And to your future generations.

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