What is psychotherapy?

First, let’s talk about what psychotherapy is not:

Psycho does not mean that you’re crazy!
It just doesn’t - I promise.

It also does not mean that you’re a psychopath because you go to therapy.

let’s break down the word:
psycho / therapy

Psycho (or Psyche), has Latin and Greek origins dating back to the 1600’s and was used in reference to the mind, reasoning, unconscious, spirit, human soul, invisible life occupying a physical space.

A therapist provides treatment to relieve or to heal.

Therefore, a psychotherapist is a person who develops a therapeutic relationship with another person to help them heal. Healing infers pain, and yes, our thoughts and experiences can be painful and disruptive to how we want to live our lives. Psychotherapists help people understand how their mind and thoughts are working to make sense of, and heal their pain. Psychotherapists offer techniques and strategies that might be helpful in one’s healing process. We are skilled in helping people improve their judgement, insight, behaviour, emotional response, communication or social functioning.

Most importantly, we’re here to join you and your soul in this part of your journey so you are not alone. 

the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario defineS Psychotherapy as:

“…the assessment and treatment of cognitive, emotional or behavioural disturbances by psychotherapeutic means, delivered through a therapeutic relationship based primarily on verbal or non-verbal communication” (Psychotherapy Act, 2007, Section 3).