Psychotherapy

What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is primarily talked based approach that utilizes evidence-based treatment modalities to help individuals maintain and improve their mental health and quality of life. People seek psychotherapy for a variety of reasons, such as when they experience thoughts, feelings, moods, and behaviours that adversely impact their daily functioning, relationships, and ability to enjoy life. Psychotherapy is a controlled act in Ontario which means only specific regulated professionals are able to provide this service.

For more information on psychotherapy please refer to: https://www.crpo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CATG-Information-for-Ontarians.pdf

What to expect

The therapy process involves a collaborative approach between you, the client, and your therapist to set therapeutic goals and develop a treatment plan informed by evidence-based practices to help you work towards a more satisfying life. Therapy sessions are between 50-60 minutes in length. Psychotherapists use a variety of treatment modalities to inform their practice. Laura offers an integrative approach to therapy informed by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Schema Therapy. This approach can support you with identifying self-defeating pattens, and the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that maintain them, as well as skills and strategies to develop more effective ways of coping.

You will have the option to meet with your therapist virtually or in-person.

For more information about these treatment modalities please see below:

CBT: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/cognitive-behavioural-therapy

DBT: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/dialectical-behaviour-therapy

Schema Therapy: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapy-types/schema-therapy#:~:text=Schema%20therapy%20is%20a%20type,struggle%20to%20maintain%20adult%20relationships.

Potential Benefits and Risks of Therapy

While effectiveness of psychotherapy cannot be guaranteed or promise a specific outcome, there are a number of potential benefits that may result from short-term and long-term therapy. 

Though not a complete list, some potential benefits are: improvement in your overall mood, increased ability to manage stressful life circumstances, improvement in your interpersonal relationships, increased ability to manage strong emotional reactions and reduce emotional distress, and increased ability to identify and manage ineffective behaviour patterns.

Psychotherapy can also be effective for the treatment of various mental health conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders, OCD, ADHD, and PTSD or as an adjunct to other treatment interventions.

It is also important that you consider potential risks of psychotherapy. These risks may include strong negative feelings that arise from the exploration of emotionally sensitive information or you may find you recall distressing memories during or between sessions. You may feel worse emotionally at times during the therapy process. Additionally, personal change can be uncomfortable and may impact the way those close to you interact with you and change the quality of your personal relationships.

Please consider the risks and benefits of psychotherapy to determine if it is beneficial for you at this time.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Your therapist is responsible with adhering to Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). The details discussed in therapy are kept private and confidential unless you provide written consent to disclose information to another person or agency. There are some circumstances where your therapist may legally be required to disclose your information. Some examples include: You are at imminent risk of harming yourself or someone else, you report a child is being abused or neglected, you are involved in a court case and information is subpoenaed, or you report that a regulated health professional has sexually abused you.

Laura uses a web-based practice management program called Jane App. Jane App is encrypted and is PHIPA compliant. You are able to book, manage, and pay for your sessions by creating an account.

Please note that with any web-based platforms, there is always a risk that your information could be compromised.

You can also contact Laura at laurajohnston@therpayemail.com for more information or to schedule a call.

Fees

50 minute session (Virtual or in-person) $165

Many insurance providers offer coverage for psychotherapy. I encourage you to check with your provider prior to your first session. You are responsible for submitting insurance claims should you have an insurance provider. Laura is not responsible for any declined insurance claims.