Frequently Asked Questions

What is Counselling? What is Psychotherapy? Are they the same? Are they different?

Short Answer: Distinctions between Counselling and Psychotherapy varies on a province-by-province basis, though Counselling typically addresses specific, immediate issues and is often short-term, focusing on personal growth and coping strategies. Psychotherapy tends to pertain to the treatment of mental health issues, personality and/or mood disorders.

Long Answer: Distinctions between Counselling and Psychotherapy varies on a province-by-province basis. For the sake of this question, we can use the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s (CCPA) definition of Counselling, as well as the Regulated Health Professions Act’s (1991) definition of Psychotherapy:

  • Counselling is defined as: “a relational process based upon the ethical use of specific professional competencies to facilitate human change. Counselling addresses wellness, relationships, personal growth, career development, mental health, and psychological illness or distress. The counselling process is characterized by the application of recognized cognitive, affective, expressive, somatic, spiritual, developmental, behavioural, learning, and systemic principles.” (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, 2024)

  • Psychotherapy is defined as the process of: “Treating, by means of psychotherapy technique, delivered through a therapeutic relationship, an individual’s serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory that may seriously impair the individual’s judgement, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning.” (1991, c. 18, s. 27 (2); 2007, c. 10, Sched. L, s. 32; 2007, c. 10, Sched. R, s. 19 (1).)

Note: The definition of psychotherapy provided above is taken from the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.

What regulates the practice of Psychotherapy?

Short Answer: In Canada, the regulation of psychotherapy varies by province and territory, with each having its own governing bodies and regulatory frameworks.

Long Answer: In Canada, the regulation of psychotherapy varies by province and territory, with each having its own governing bodies and regulatory frameworks. Since Insight Counselling provides virtual psychotherapy and counselling services to clients in Ontario, the governing body that ensures the profession’s adherence to Ontario’s regulations is the College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO).

In Ontario, the Psychotherapy Act, 2007, and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 provide the regulatory framework for the practice of psychotherapy in Ontario, ensuring that practitioners are qualified, competent, and adhere to professional standards for the safety and well-being of their clients.

As well, each province has with it a set of laws and regulations which dictates how health information remain confidential and private. These laws include the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) (a federal law), as well as the Personal Health Information Protection Act (2004) (PHIPA) and the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 in Ontario.

Insight Counselling ensures that all information collected either through this website, through e-mail, as well as through the Jane App, adheres to the standards of the above all laws as well as any other relevant laws surrounding Psychotherapy and Counselling.

How often should I attend therapy?

Short Answer: Usually, weekly sessions are recommended; however, a client’s particular needs can make other frequencies more appropriate (such as bi-weekly sessions).

Long Answer: Usually, weekly sessions are recommended. There are several reasons behind the rationale of weekly sessions:

  • One week between sessions can provide time for clients to practice any skills explored in session (as opposed to having several sessions per week).

  • One week between sessions can providing time for topics explored in session to be consolidated (which may be difficult if many sessions occur in the week, which can become overwhelming for clients).

Depending on the client, bi-weekly sessions (one session every two weeks) may feel more appropriate, since it can provide more time for clients to practice skills explored in session, as well as being more affordable. However, bi-weekly sessions —again, depending on the client— can sometimes result in too much time elapsing between sessions, where the client might forget session content and / or might lose track of session goals.

Some clients also opt for monthly sessions, especially in cases where insurance coverage is limited. Monthly sessions can allow clients to space out their extended health benefits across the year in order to ensure that they receive mental health care across the year.

Finally —though far less common— some clients opt for periodic sessions, scheduled on a session-by-session basis, where periodic sessions are used in order to check-in on life-goals and/or life-transitions.

How do I know if my therapist and I are a good fit?

Short Answer: A good fit is often a matter of "feel" and is subjective to each client. While there are some principles that all therapists should abide by (respecting boundaries, ensuring confidentiality, and modelling healthy social behaviour to name a few), a good fit very much involves being with a therapist whose demeanour resonates with you, leading you to a feeling of being understood, validated, and safe.

Long Answer: Feeling that your therapist is a good fit would likely involve a sense of ease and rapport (maybe right from the start, though feeling an initial sense of unease can also be a completely natural feeling considering you're opening up to a complete stranger). Nonetheless, you might find that the conversation flows naturally, and you might find your therapist's style to be warm and inviting for you. Even when discussing difficult or personal topics, a good fit would entail feeling understood and validated. You may feel as though your therapist's responses to resonate with you, further enabling an ease in sharing and exploring the topics that brought you to session.

A good fit could also entail a sense of alignment in terms of your goals for therapy and the therapist's approach. If the therapist explains their methods and you feel they suit your needs and preferences, that is likely a good sign. You might also feel a sense of relief, optimism, and hope, which can help in managing the discomfort and vulnerability that can come with disclosing / exploring difficult topics.

Finally, your therapist should be mindful of your boundaries regarding what you are and are not willing to explore in therapy. A good fit would entail having a therapist that is mindful of where their client feels regarding their readiness to explore certain topics. This is worth mentioning, since I mentioned earlier in this question that a good fit could entail feeling a sense of ease with exploring certain topics—this does not mean that a good fit will make uncomfortable topics suddenly comfortable to talk about (wouldn't that be convenient for all of us!). Your therapist should be mindful of this and be mindful of your readiness to explore such topics.

Is Psychotherapy covered by insurance?

Short Answer: Psychotherapy services are usually eligible for insurance coverage under most extended health benefit plans that cover the services of a Psychologist and/or Registered Psychotherapists.

Long Answer: Psychotherapy services are usually eligible for insurance coverage under most extended health benefit plans that cover the services of a Psychologist and/or Registered Psychotherapists. Services provided by Insight Counselling are conducted by a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who undergoes clinical supervision by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP). Session invoices (receipts) will include the therapist’s name and registration number as well as the supervisor’s name and registration number. To be reimbursed, the invoice/receipt must be sent by the client to the insurance provider. The onus of reimbursement is on the insurance provider, and reimbursement is not guaranteed. If in doubt, please verify with your insurance provider regarding the type of coverage they offer as part of their extended health benefits plan.

If I have a complaint I would like to make against my therapist, who should I contact?

Answer: Complaints regarding a therapist and / or any incident that has taken place during sessions as well as with any health professional should be reported to the regulatory body which governs the professional in question. In the case of reporting an incident with a psychotherapist in Ontario, reports should be made with the College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO). The complaints page can be found here.

If I’m in a crisis, who can I contact?

If you are in crisis, please contact:

For any other resources related to a non-crisis situation, consider checking out our Resources page.