Vaughan Mental Health & Psychotherapy Counselling for Adults, Youth & Families.

Quite simply, you need therapy if you make the decision to see a therapist. This is a personal choice that depends on a lot of factors. Some people seek the services of a therapist to help them through major life events, such as divorce, job loss, or the death of a loved one. Others have difficulties rooted in trauma or mental illness.


But not everyone who decides to see a therapist is having difficulty. Some people simply want to explore ways to make further improvements to lives that are already going well.

Therapy can be extremely beneficial as long as you and your therapist are compatible. Generally, you can tell after one or two sessions whether you and your therapist have the right kind of connection.


It is important to note that therapy is not a quick fix. Although you might start to notice some changes within yourself fairly soon, therapy is a process that, for most people, lasts months or years.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the medical treatment of mental disorders, and who has the ability to prescribe medication if needed.

Psychologists can be referred to as “scientists of the mind”. They engage in research about mental health and mental processing.

A psychotherapist is someone who has undergone the training to provide talk therapy and experiential therapy through non-medical means.

Neither a psychologist nor a psychotherapist can prescribe medication.

Psychotherapy is not intended to be a replacement for friendship. We all need trusted friends we can talk to, seek advice from and spend time with.


Psychotherapy provides the opportunity for you to talk to someone who is completely objective and bound by confidentiality, who has the training to help you work through your thoughts and feelings, and to help you deal with the traumatic effects that sometimes come with delving into painful issues or memories.

It is impossible to put a time frame on psychotherapy. The results – and the time it takes to achieve them – are different for each individual. Instead of giving your expectations a timeline, it is better to allow the process to evolve naturally.

In the early stages of psychotherapy, it may feel as if you are becoming dependent on your therapist. But as you gain the tools and confidence to explore your thoughts and feelings, and to build a positive life and relationships, you will find yourself becoming more emotionally self-sufficient. Many people who start with weekly psychotherapy sessions find that eventually see their therapist once a month, or only when they need to.

Yes. Ontario psychotherapists are regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). An individual may not practice as a psychotherapist without meeting Ministry standards. Any complaints or concerns should be addressed to the CRPO at www.crpo.ca

Your psychotherapist is bound by confidentiality, and may not disclose any information about you or your sessions to anybody. The only exceptions are if you threaten to kill or harm yourself or someone else, if you report knowledge of abuse on a minor, a senior citizen or a person with a disability, or if a court issues a subpoena for information.

Psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP. However, most private health insurance companies offer policies that cover a portion of psychotherapy fees.