Research indicates that virtual therapy is as effective as traditional in-person services for many individuals. There are additional benefits as well including convenience and accessibility. Plus, you can save the time on commuting and join sessions from the comfort of your preferred space. 

No, private psychological services such as therapy and psychological assessments are not covered by OHIP. These are typically paid out-of-pocket by the individual receiving them. You may have coverage through private insurance plans. We encourage you to contact your provider directly to confirm coverage before starting services. 

Because each person has different challenges and goals for therapy, it will be different depending on the individual. We tailor our therapeutic approach to your specific needs.

Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time psychotherapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek psychotherapy in the first place. Typically, we suggest meeting weekly/bi-weekly in the beginning as we are just getting to know you and more actively working on your goals. Once you start to feel better and learn skills to practice in your daily life, we often spread out sessions at a pace that feels right for you.

We are so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success.

In Ontario, the main differences between a psychologist, psychotherapist, and psychiatrist are:

1. Psychologist: A psychologist holds a doctoral degree in psychology and is licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders. Psychologists often specialize in specific therapeutic approaches (e.g., CBT, ACT, DBT, EFT) or populations (e.g., child, adolescents, adults, and seniors).

2. Psychotherapist: A psychotherapist typically has a master's degree in psychology, social work, or a related field. They are trained to provide psychotherapy or talk therapy to help individuals address emotional difficulties, behavioral issues, and mental health disorders.  

3. Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D.) specializing in psychiatry. They are licensed to diagnose mental health disorders, prescribe medication, and some provide talk-therapy. Psychiatrists often work with individuals who may require medication management alongside therapy for various mental health disorders. 

Each professional has distinct training and roles in the mental health field, offering different types of support and treatment based on their qualifications and expertise. Please note that anyone can call themselves a "therapist" and we strongly encourage you to learn more about your provider to ensure that they are qualified to best support you.

A clinical neuropsychologist is a specialized psychologist who focuses on understanding the relationship between the brain and behaviour. They have advanced training in both psychology and neuropsychology, typically holding a doctoral degree with additional specialization in neuropsychology. They need to show additional expertise, training and knowledge in the field of neuropsychology to hold competency to work in this field. 

Please see the following resource detailing this further: What is a Clinical Neuropsychologist?

The main differences between a psychological and neuropsychological assessment lie in their focus and scope:

Psychological Assessment
Focus is primarily on assessing emotional and behavioural functioning, personality, and mental health conditions. The purpose of these assessments are usually to diagnose mental health conditions, understand psychological functioning and guide treatment recommendations. These assessments are conducted by a licensed psychologist.

For More Information see our Psychological Assessment page.

Neuropsychological Assessment
Focus is on evaluating cognitive abilities, brain functioning, and how neurological conditions or injuries affect cognition. This type of assessment involves in-person standardized cognitive testing assessing various cognitive domains such as memory, attention, language, visuospatial skills, and executive functions. The purpose is usually to diagnose neurological conditions (e.g., brain injury, dementia), understand cognitive strengths and weaknesses, monitor changes over time, and guide treatment. They are conducted by licensed neuropsychologists.

For More Information see our Neuropsychological Assessment page.