What can I expect?
Individual counselling begins with taking a detailed history of your symptoms and stressors, your description of the problem, as well as exploring your current coping methods, supports and strengths. You can expect to do some work clarifying your goals and creating plans to help you achieve your goals. These plans can be adjusted at any time in order to best meet your needs or to deal with any challenges that may be getting in the way.
One of the most important aspects of counselling is the fit between you and the therapist. It is important that you feel comfortable, understood, and accepted in treatment. If at anytime you have concerns, disagree with the direction therapy is going, or feel misunderstood, it is important for you to speak up and let your therapist know so these problems can be corrected or you can be referred to a therapist with whom you have a better fit.
How long does therapy last?
The frequency and length of counselling is flexible and determined based upon your goals, needs, budget, and availability. Motivation is an important factor, however. If you are willing and ready to make the changes that you have agreed upon in therapy, you are likely to notice some improvements fairly quickly. Many people notice a decrease in their symptoms within a few weeks of therapy, or even sooner, if they have been regularly attending sessions and doing the suggested assignments between sessions on a daily basis.
What are the risks and benefits?
Therapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, fear, frustration, and anxiety. It is important to remember that these feelings are normal and are an important part of the therapy process.
Therapy is focused on facilitating change according to your goals. Any change, even good change, can affect a person’s established lifestyles and relationships. Sometimes clients may meet with some resistance from other people in their lives as a result of the changes they make.
On the other hand, therapy has also been shown to have many benefits for people. Some individuals experience this immediately, while others may experience this further into therapy. Therapy often leads to better relationships, insights, and solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress, however there are no guarantees of what you will experience.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
A psychologist has specialized training in psychology and psychological treatments. A psychologist will have a least a Master’s level of education and will have completed specific requirements in order to be registered in the province of Alberta (e.g. they are required to have completed 1600 hours of supervised practice and must successfully complete licensing exams). Psychologists generally focus on teaching clients psychological techniques to improve symptoms. Psychologists do not prescribe medications.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed a specialty in psychiatry. Psychiatrists often prescribe medications in order to help clients improve symptoms.
The terms psychologist and psychiatrist are “protected” designations and can only be used by individuals who have met the required credentials.