Psychotherapy vs. Counselling: Key Differences

If you are seeking mental health treatment and support in Ontario, you have likely seen the terms psychotherapy and counselling used interchangeably. Many people do not realize there is a critical difference: psychotherapy is a legally protected term, while counselling remains unregulated. What does this mean? It means that anyone can offer counselling services, regardless of training or education, which can impact the quality and safety of your mental health care.

In this blog, we will clarify and break down:

• The key differences between counselling and psychotherapy

• Who can legally provide psychotherapy in Ontario

• How to choose the right mental health professional for you

Psychotherapy vs. Counselling: What is the Difference?

Counselling

Counselling is unregulated in Ontario, meaning the clinician offering counselling services does not need to belong to a regulated college. Unfortunately, anyone can refer to themselves as a "counsellor" without training, education, oversight, or adherence to ethical guidelines designed to keep the public safe. Without regulation, counsellors may lack qualifications to address complex mental health needs and run the risk of harming or traumatizing their clients.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a protected term, which means it is regulated by law. Only clinicians who are registered with an Ontario regulatory college can legally call themselves psychotherapists or state that they offer psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy involves structured and evidence-based treatment for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, trauma, and many more, and works on exploring deeper emotional problems.

Protected titles in psychotherapy include Registered Psychotherapist (RP), Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Social Worker (RSW), and Occupational Therapist (OT).

In essence, psychotherapy requires rigorous training, supervision, and ongoing accountability; counselling does not.

Who Can Legally Provide Psychotherapy in Ontario?

Psychotherapy is regulated under the Psychotherapy Act, 2007. Clinicians who provide psychotherapy and refer to themselves as psychotherapists must be registered with one of these Ontario Regulatory Colleges:

• College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)

  • Title: Registered Psychotherapist (RP)

• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)

  • Title: Registered Social Worker (RSW)

• College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)

  • Title: Psychologist

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)

  • Title: Psychiatrist

• College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)

  • Title: Registered Nurse (RN)

• College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO)

  • Title: Occupational Therapist (OT)

Verifying your prospective psychotherapist's credentials can help provide you with assurance that you are receiving mental health treatment you deserve from a registered professional who is educated, trained and bound by professional and ethical guidelines that protect the public.

How to Verify Credentials: Most psychotherapists will provide their professional designation on their website, business cards, email signatures, and other profiles. Many often include their regulatory college registration number online, and they will include it on any receipts you receive from services. You can also visit the website of the relevant regulatory college and search for their name in the public directory. All regulatory colleges offer this on their websites and include information about the professional's registration status.

Choosing the Right Mental Health Professional for You

Because counselling is unregulated, some practitioners may lack training in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, use ineffective or harmful techniques, and operate without liability insurance or, in essence, accountability.

Red Flags to Watch For:

• A counsellor who does not disclose their qualifications or regulatory college registration.

• A practitioner who uses other designations that do not include psychotherapist, or one of the other above-mentioned protected titles.

Tips for Choosing the Right Professional:

• Review their website or profile for information regarding their title or designation.

• If using Psychology Today, look for the verified checkmark on their profile.

• Search the regulatory college for the professional's name (based on their designation).

  
  

Navigating the differences between psychotherapists and counsellors can feel overwhelming, but the most important thing is finding a professional you trust and one who has the training and qualifications to support your unique needs.

As a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), I’m committed to providing safe, evidence-based care. You can verify my credentials anytime under CRPO registration no. 14550.

I encourage you to check credentials, ask questions, and choose someone who feels like the right fit for your journey! To book a free consultation or inquire more about my practice, feel free to reach out at info@thenestpsychotherapy.com or book your first session today.