What is Psychotherapy?

‘Psychotherapy’ is a broad term used for a kind of therapy designed to treat people for their emotional problems. It is primarily a talk-based therapy with the goal of helping people improve and maintain their mental health or bring about positive change in the way they think, feel, behave and interact socially. 

In Ontario, only members of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario are able to call themselves ‘Registered Psychotherapists,’ but members of the following regulatory colleges are authorized to provide psychotherapy services under their professional designation (e.g., an occupational therapist that provides psychotherapy services):

• College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
• College of Psychotherapists of Ontario
• College of Nurses of Ontario
• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• College of Psychologists of Ontario