While the terms psychotherapy and counselling and/or coaching are often used interchangeably, there are some differences to be aware of when deciding what kind of help you need.

If you are not clear on whether or how to choose a psychotherapist or counsellor/coach, you can ask to have an introductory call and ask them about their approaches. You can also ask about their credentials and choose the one that feels right for you.

We hope that our website will be helpful in narrowing down your choices. Under ‘Therapists‘ you can review bios of all our therapists, or you can review a list of specific problems and then see which therapists specialize in that area. Feel free to contact our therapists directly with your questions.

We are also happy to speak to you and help guide you in the right direction. You can contact our director Sheri Betel for a referral at info@leasidetherapycentre.com. Sheri will ask you some questions about the problem you are experiencing and the services you think you need. Based on this quick intake Sheri will refer you to the most appropriate therapist.

It is important to feel that you have found the right therapist. If after the initial meeting you feel that the therapist is not right for you or your family you can ask the therapist or Sheri for a new referral. Your therapist may also decide that you need a different therapist with more suitable experience or qualifications for your particular situation or problem and refer you to another therapist at the Centre or elsewhere.

It can be very confusing for people as these titles are often used with little explanation. The main difference is what college the therapist belongs to. Only clinicians with a degree in Psychology can belong to the College of Psychologists. Clinicians with a degree in Social Work belong to the Social Work College and most other clinicians with degrees in counselling belong to the College of Psychotherapists. This is really only important from an insurance point of view in terms of their coverage of the service.

As a side note, Register Psychologist are also allowed to diagnose mental health conditions and offer psychological testing. Unfortunately we do not currently have any Registered Psychologists on staff but hope to have some join us in the future.

In terms of practicing psychotherapy and offering the counselling you need, clinicians registered to any of these three colleges are allowed to offer this service. They must have the specialized training and education to offer psychotherapy. As all therapists at Leaside Therapy Centre are vetted, you can be assured that your therapist meets all of these qualifications and can offer this specialized level of care.

Each therapist arranges his/her own fee schedule, so you will have to discuss this with your therapist.

Yes, many of our therapists work evenings and weekends.

There are a number of reasons why someone would benefit from seeing a therapist. Here is a list of questions that you might ask yourself.

If you are saying yes to one or more of these, you may wish to talk to someone about possibly seeking help:

1. If you unable to function as you normally do.
2. If you feel unlike yourself — if you are sleeping a lot more, at lot more anxious, less sociable, in a mood that you cannot shake
3. If you are dealing with an issue you haven’t had to deal with before and it is making you very anxious and you are unsure how to proceed
4. If the communication between you and your partner is getting worse and you just don’t have the relationship you used to
5. If your child or partner is acting out in ways that worry you
6. If you suffered a traumatic or unfortunate event or loss that you need to talk about with someone

The therapists at the centre are not covered by OHIP, but some therapists may be covered by Extended Health Care Benefits. You may wish to check with your Insurance provider to learn what requirements are necessary for coverage.  Services by a Registered Social Worker or Registered Psychologist are considered medical expenses for tax purposes.