Therapists and Psychologists: Who Does What and What Do I Need?
Andrew Guthrie, Ph.D.
If you are seeking a psychologist in Toronto or psychologists in Toronto I may be able to assist you in your search. You may have been searching for “psychologist therapy,” “Toronto psychologists,” “psychologist Toronto” or “psychologists Toronto,” which likely means you are
a)looking for information about psychologists in Toronto, or
b)looking for a good psychologist in Toronto to consult with about a problem you or someone you know is experiencing.
I hope to point you in the right direction for what you are looking for. Some psychologists are “registered” with an official college, and some are not registered. Usually, only registered psychologists in Toronto can be used to receive benefits from your health plan at your place of employment. “Psychologist therapy” can be mis-matched words at times, because not all psychologists provide therapy or are qualified to provide therapy. There are psychologists who conduct experiments with people or animals and they may not conduct psychotherapy. Other psychologists may only administer psychological testing in Toronto or psycho-educational testing in Toronto on children, adolescents or adults, some but not all of whom may also conduct therapy. Therefore, Toronto Psychologists can be divided in several compartments, and it may help to know what kind of psychologist you are seeking and what could help you the most.
If you are an adult seeking therapy in Toronto you may wish to make an appointment with a psychologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist. In addition to doing therapy, psychologists are expert in testing (psychological and psycho-educational, etc.) and psychiatrists are expert in making psychiatric diagnoses and administering medication for mental disorders. Psychiatrists and psychologists may or may not conduct therapy in addition to testing and administering medication, and therapy is always recommended in addition to medication for most problems you will encounter.
Psychological testing is often a prelude to therapy and is part of a comprehensive assessment done by a psychologist that may quantify or otherwise reveal internal wishes, thoughts and conflicts that can be used to assist the patient and the psychologist during the therapeutic treatment that may follow the assessment.
In contrast, a psychotherapist does not conduct formal testing, make official psychiatric diagnoses or administer medication, but has undertaken specialized training in conducting psychotherapy. Toronto psychologists or psychiatrists may or may not have undergone a therapy training in addition to their university studies, and it is believed that this specialized training is what makes psychotherapist unique in the field of Toronto mental health. Perhaps the most important component of psychotherapy training is the requirement that the therapist undergo a personal psychotherapy (where they are the patient). This requirement ensures the mental health of the therapist and assists the therapist in understanding their own development and potential issues or problems, which enable the therapist to better understand and help his or her patients. Importantly, Toronto psychologists and psychiatrists are not required to undergo their own psychotherapy as part of their regular training.
Ultimately, who are see will likely be determined by your by your unique needs. If you only want psychological or psychoeducational testing done for you or your child you will see a psychologist (a “registered” psychologist if you intend to utilize your benefits). If you only require a diagnosis and medication, you will see a psychiatrist. However, if you seek psychotherapy, you may see a psychologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist, especially one who has undergone specific psychotherapy training.
I am a child therapist in Toronto, who additionally works extensively with teens and adults. I do child therapy in Toronto, play therapy (in Toronto), adolescent therapy (in Toronto) and adult therapy (in Toronto). If you would like to contact me with questions about my psychotherapy practice, or for a complementary telephone consultation, please visit therapyintoronto.com.
