Psychiatric Services

What is the difference between Psychiatry and Psychotherapy?

A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health. They can assess mental health concerns, give a mental health diagnosis, make suggestions for a prescription, make suggestions for talk therapy, suggest lifestyle changes, and work collaboratively with other mental health supports.

Online and phone therapy allows you to talk with a therapist from the comfort of your own home or anywhere you have access to the internet or a phone signal.

We are both trained in how to deliver effective therapy using these methods.

A Psychotherapist (this can be either a Registered Social Worker or Registered Psychotherapist) on the other hand assesses mental health concerns but can not give a formal diagnosis or prescribe. They can treat mental health concerns using talk therapy and somatic or body-oriented therapies. They work therapeutically exploring emotions, thoughts, behaviours, relationships, physical symptoms as well as societal and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to a person’s mental health concerns.

Is it possible to work with both a Psychiatrist and a Psychotherapist?

Yes. Some of the Therapists on our team work collaboratively with a team of Psychiatrists in partnership with Psychotherapy Matters. This means you can see a Psychiatrist funded through OHIP with a much shorter waiting time than usual. It can take up to 6-18 months to see a Psychiatrist through your Family Doctor however with Spacious Mind Counselling it typically takes 6-8 weeks.

This means that you can schedule a 90-minute consultation with your Therapist and a Psychiatrist as part of your work with your Therapist. The Psychiatrist is paid through OHIP and the usual therapy fees apply for your therapist’s time. The Psychiatrist may give a formal diagnosis, and make recommendations for medication and the types of therapy that are best suited. A follow-up meeting with the Psychiatrist may also be suggested.

If you are interested in seeking a diagnosis and potential recommendations from a psychiatrist as part of your mental health care please let us know.

Meet our therapists who work in collaboration with Psychiatrists

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