Frequently Asked Questions

Why talk to a therapist if I have friends or family to talk to?

Family and friends provide invaluable support, but it’s hard not to filter ourselves when talking to loved ones. We might try to protect the other person’s feelings or be nervous about changing how they see us. The beauty of therapy is that it’s a space just for you. No need to tiptoe here.

Family and friends often have personal stakes in what we’re going through. They might want us to change, or not change, or make the choice that feels best to them. Therapy can help you tune into your own values and intuition and discover what you need.

What’s the difference between a counselling therapist, a psychotherapist, a psychologist, and a psychiatrist?

Counselling Therapist/Psychotherapist: Counselling therapy and psychotherapy are the same thing in Canada. They are both terms for mental health therapy. This can be “talk” therapy, but also art therapy, animal-assisted therapy, wilderness therapy, group therapy, and more.

Different provinces have different “protected titles” for therapists. Here in Nova Scotia, the protected title is Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT). During their first 2-5 years of licensure, RCTs are called Registered Counselling Therapist Candidates (RCT-Cs). RCTs belong to an official regulating college that licences therapists and protects the public. RCTs are required to have Masters-level education in psychology, counselling theories, counseling skills, and therapeutic techniques.

Counselling Therapy/Psychotherapy is not yet regulated in all provinces and territories. You can check regulation status and the protected title for where you live here.

Psychologist: Psychologists have graduate-level education in psychology and are specifically trained in research, assessment, and providing mental health diagnoses. Psychologists can provide counselling therapy/psychotherapy.

Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with extra training in mental health. They can prescribe and manage prescriptions. Some may be trained in counselling therapy/psychotherapy as well.

Psychologists and psychiatrists sometimes have longer wait-times and higher appointment fees (in correlation with their specialized training). If you are seeking therapy, but not a diagnosis or medication, a counselling therapist/psychotherapist may be a fit for you.

How long does therapy take?

It depends on the person and what they want to gain from therapy.

With me, our first few sessions will focus on hearing your story and identifying your hopes for our work together. For some people, a handful of sessions feels like enough to support them through a specific transition or experience. Other people prefer more time to understand and change underlying patterns in their lives.

I encourage clients to choose whatever rhythm is best for them - weekly, biweekly, or monthly sessions. If clients ask for my recommendation, I suggest starting with a few weekly sessions to build rapport and momentum and then spacing out sessions as desired.

How do I know if therapy is working?

Some signs that therapy is having an impact include:

  • Feeling less reactive around other people and stressful situations

  • Better understanding of one’s own behaviour and emotions

  • Feeling closer to loved ones

  • Increased ability to notice thoughts and feelings while they’re happening

  • Stronger sense of self

  • Communicating healthy boundaries

  • Feeling less shame and self-judgment

  • Greater capacity to think about the future

  • Hope

(For teens) Will my parent(s)/guardian(s) be in the room?

Not unless you’d like them to be there. If your parent(s)/guardian(s) would like to meet all together during therapy, I’ll ask your permission first. I won’t bring other people into sessions without your consent unless I believe there’s an imminent risk to your safety (in that case, we’ll still talk about it first). Same goes for sharing anything from our sessions. I’ll only share information with someone if (a) you give me permission to, (b) I believe your safety (or another person’s) is at risk, or (c) if I’m required by a court of law.

(For teens) Will you tell my parent(s)/guardian(s) what we talk about in therapy?

I would only share information from a session with your parent(s)/guardian(s) if I believed there was a clear and imminent risk to your safety or the safety of another person. I would tell you this was happening, and we would discuss your preferences for how this disclosure would be made. This approach aligns with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s Code of Ethics regarding confidentiality and its limits.

Is therapy tax-deductible?

Counselling therapy fees are an eligible medical expense you can claim on your CRA tax return. To be eligible, you require a prescription for therapy from a medical doctor, psychologist, nurse practitioner, or occupational therapist.

How can I file a malpractice complaint regarding a therapist?

In Nova Scotia, you can contact the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists:

You can also contact a therapist’s supervisor. My supervisor is Eric Ross (RCT License #17-004), whom you can reach at 902-818-3245.

Further resources: