Unsplash byJens Lelie
Me! Just kidding.
If you are struggling with mental health problems, it can be hard to know exactly where to turn for help.
Should you see a social worker, a psychotherapist, a psychiatrist or a psychologist? Or perhaps speak to your family doctor?
In this post I will attempt to clarify the difference between the most common types of mental health professionals. All price estimates are just that – estimates based on my personal observations.
Registered Social Worker
Degree: Master of Social Work (MSW)
Cost: $120-150 per session, often covered by benefits
Description of services:
Social work is a very broad field. Some social workers are employed in social service agencies and non-for-profits, and others work at hospitals providing psychotherapy, service navigation and case management. Social workers who practice psychotherapy usually have advanced training in various therapeutic modalities. Some social work therapists are non-directive and mainly focus on providing support through listening, while others are more directive and change-oriented. I would encourage you to ask your therapist about their approach/modality when you meet for a free consult as approaches vary greatly between therapists. Social workers belong to the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or OCSWSSW.
Registered Psychotherapist
Degree: Master of Psychotherapy (MA, MEd)
Cost: $110-150 per session, often covered by benefits
Description of services:
I am not aware of any meaningful differences between social worker therapists and registered psychotherapists in terms of the type or the quality of services that the two professions provide. The main difference is that registered psychotherapists belong to a different college, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario or the CRPO.
Registered Psychologist
Degree: Doctor of Psychology (PhD)
Cost: $220-250 per session, often covered by benefits
Description of services:
A psychologist has many years of training and the authority to diagnose. Psychologists diagnose by using a variety of structured interviews, assessments and questionnaires to ensure high diagnostic accuracy. That can be especially helpful in certain difficult-to-diagnose conditions, such Autism or ADHD. Just like registered social workers and psychotherapists, many psychologists also provide various kinds of psychotherapy.
Psychiatrist
Degree: Medical Doctor (MD)
Cost: free (OHIP)
Description of services:
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that can provide you with an official diagnosis and prescribe psychiatric medication. Psychiatrists have years of medical training and supervision. With that said, not all psychiatrists have an interest in providing psychotherapy, and instead focus on prescribing psychiatric medication (which can be extremely helpful for some people!). If you have a serious mental health condition and you’ve never been assessed by a psychiatrist, I would definitely recommend that you ask your family doctor for a referral to see one.
Family Doctor/GP
Degree: Medical Doctor (MD)
Cost: free (OHIP)
Description of services:
Family doctors are generalists, which means that while some have a special interest and advanced training in mental health, most do not. Speaking to your family doctor is a good place to start if you are struggling with your mental health. A GP can refer you to a psychiatrist or a specialized program, provide you with a letter of support (e.g. to take time off work), manage your medications, as well as diagnose.
Some GPs have social workers or therapists working as part of their multidisciplinary team and you can sometimes get referred to see one free of charge.
GP Psychotherapist
Degree: Medical Doctor (MD)
Cost: free (OHIP)
Description of services:
This is a lesser-known category of practitioners. GP psychotherapists are family doctors who have received specialized training in psychotherapy. The advantage of seeing one is that it is free of charge. The disadvantage is that the wait-list can be long.
Ready to talk about which option might be best for you? Feel free to contact me for a free phone consultation.