Types of Mental Health Support
Individual Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a controlled act in Ontario, which means that it is a regulated act that only specific professionals can perform under specific circumstances. Psychotherapy is legally defined as the “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.”
In Ontario, psychotherapy can be performed by trained practitioners from the following Colleges:
College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO)
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)
College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the use of telehealth (AKA: virtual or online therapy) has been growing in popularity. Clients now have the option of choosing whether they want a therapist who offers in-person services, or whether they want to meet their therapist from the comfort of their own home.
Counselling
You might be wondering “what’s the difference between psychotherapy and counselling?” It’s a great question, particularly because many folks tend to use “therapist”/”therapy” and “counselor”/”counselling” interchangeably in everyday conversation. The difference often comes down to methods and professionals, the duration of treatment, and legislation. Counselling is typically present-focused, short-term support that focuses on specific issues or concerns, such as addictions or grief. One does not typically require a formal diagnosis or need to meet diagnostic criteria for a mental health disorder to benefit from counselling.
It’s also important to note that counselling is not a regulated healthcare act in some places, meaning that you do not have to be a regulated healthcare professional (such as a social worker, psychotherapist, or psychologist) to practice counseling.
Couples or Relationship Counseling
There is often a lot of stigma and shame surrounding couples’ counseling, but there doesn’t have to be. Seeking couples’ counseling is not a sign that your relationship is failing, and you do not need to reach a crisis point before meeting with a therapist. It’s really just an opportunity to explore what is and isn’t working in your relationship in a safe, neutral space and develop healthier strategies for connection and communication. In many cases, individual therapy is often recommended in combination with the couples’ sessions.
There are a few different styles and stages of relationship counseling, such as:
Pre-marital counseling
Cohabitation counseling (clients learn how to appropriately live in the same environment with one another)
Divorce & separation
It’s also important to note that the popular term “couples’ counseling” is a bit antiquated, as it leaves out other relationship models, such as polyamory. Many are adopting the term “relationship counseling” instead to better reflect the diverse ways of being and loving, which is why you see me use the terms interchangeably.
Sex Therapy
Sex therapy is a growing field that can help individuals and those in a relationship. The goal of sex therapy is to gain a better understanding of sex, work through potential challenges or barriers, and re-connect with this important part of yourself in order to have a satisfying, enjoyable sex life. It is something that can be incorporated into individual psychotherapy, relationship counselling, or both.
Family Therapy
Just like the name suggests, family therapy is a branch of psychotherapy that involves a family unit. This can be the entire family, or specific members of the family. The focus of this type of family is typically the systems of interaction between family members. It can be helpful for processing major changes to the family structure or dynamic, as well as developing healthy communication and conflict-resolution skills.
Group Therapy
There’s no shortage of depictions of group therapy in Hollywood (such as Marvel’s Jessica Jones and The Punisher). While it is true that many of them do involve free coffee, sitting in a circle, and connecting with others who have similar experiences to you, that’s about where the accuracy ends. Groups can take many forms. They can be structured groups for a set amount of time (such as an 8-week DBT skills group) or ongoing support groups for specific experiences (such as grief, caregiving, or a diagnosis such as MS or Alzheimer’s). They can be closed (meaning that the same cohort of members are present the entire duration) or open (meaning anyone can join at any time). Group therapy involves at least one professional facilitator who utilizes evidence-based treatment methods and provides 12 therapeutic factors or functions (Malhotra & Baker, 2022). These are:
Universality
Altruism
Instillation of hope
Imparting information.
Corrective recapitulation of primary family experience
Development of socialization techniques
Imitate behavior
Cohesiveness
Existential factors
Catharsis
Interpersonal learning
Self-understanding
Peer Support
It’s incredibly important to connect with others who have had similar experiences to you. That’s why peer support is such an important (albeit often overlooked) resource. Peer support is an opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and receive support from folks who actually understand what you’re going through. Peer support can be formal and structured, or it can take a variety of informal shapes. Some examples of peer support are:
Addictions groups (such as AA/NA/CA/ etc & SMART Recovery)
Peer Support Workers or mentors (trained volunteers who typically provide phone/in-person support)
Advocacy or interest groups (such as the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) or the Alzheimer’s Society)
Friends, family, neighbours, religious organizations
Online groups & social media (such as Facebook groups, Discord channels, and online forums)
Art Therapy
There has been a lot of research published in recent years demonstrating the benefit of art therapy for a variety of mental health concerns, including grief, trauma, and relationships. The Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) describes art therapy as combining “the creative process and psychotherapy, facilitating self-exploration and understanding. Using imagery, colour and shape as part of this creative therapeutic process, thoughts and feelings can be expressed that would otherwise be difficult to articulate.” Art therapists are required to have a Master’s degree and 700 hours of supervised clinical hours to practice.
Coaching/Mentorship
With the rise of social media, there has been a huge surge in the practice of coaching. This comes with some controversy in the wider field of mental health, as it is currently an unregulated profession. Coaching is typically performed by folks with lived experience and some training, and focuses on specific issues and skills-training. There are also certain coaches who do have professional associations, where they receive training and support. However, many regulated mental health professionals are expanding their practice to include coaching in certain areas. It will be interesting to see where this fledgling field goes as it continues to develop.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549812/#:~:text=Group therapy is the treatment,deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
https://www.crpo.ca/controlled-act-of-psychotherapy/