Whether you’re looking for a mental health professional or wanting to become one, you may have wondered what’s the difference between a psychologist and psychotherapist in Canada? Sometimes the words “psychologist” and “psychotherapist” are used interchangeably, but they are are nuanced differences.
This article explains the difference between a psychologist and psychotherapist in Canada so that you can make an informed decision about the type of mental health professional that best fits your needs.
What is Psychotherapy?
Before diving into the difference between psychologists and psychotherapists in Canada, let’s define the term “psychotherapy.” According to the Ontario Government (2007), psychotherapy is “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.” In some Canadian provinces, such as Ontario, psychotherapy is a restricted or controlled act only permitted to be provided by specific mental health professionals. In Alberta, this type of intervention is known as Psychosocial Intervention (ACSW, n.d.).
Psychotherapist
A psychotherapist is a mental health professional who provides the treatment of psychotherapy. In Canada, mental health professionals who hold the qualifications and designations required under provincial and territory regulations may call themselves a psychotherapist. However, the qualifications and designations required for mental health professionals to use the title of psychotherapist may vary province-to-province. In saying this, depending on the province or territory, a psychotherapist may be a Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Social Worker, Registered Psychologist, or psychiatrist.
Registered Psychotherapist
Although, the title “psychotherapist” has a broader scope, encapsulating a variety of regulated mental health professionals, the title “Registered Psychotherapist” is a protected title and reserved specifically for psychotherapists registered with the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) (CRPO, n.d.1).
Registered Psychotherapists or Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) are mental health professionals who have met the CRPOs educational requirements, traditionally a master’s level degree in counselling or equivalent, to become registered with the CRPO (CPRO, n.d.2). Typically, Registered Psychotherapists (Qualifying) are under the clinical supervision and working towards fulfilling all CRPO registration requirements to gain full registration (CRPO, n.d.3) Whereas Registered Psychotherapists have gained full registration with the college.
Psychologist
On the other hand, psychologists are mental health professionals who have specific training in psychology, and are registered with the psychologist regulatory body in their province or territory. In Canada, the minimum level of education required to become a psychologist is either a master’s degree or doctorate degree in psychology, such as a Ph.D. or Psy.D (CPA, n.d.1), depending on the province or territory. For example, to become a psychologist in Alberta (CAP, n.d.), Saskatchewan (SKCP, n.d.) and the Yukon (Yukon Government, n.d.), psychology regulatory bodies require a minimum of a master’s degree. Whereas, for Ontario (CPBAO, n.d.), British Columbia, (BCPA, n.d.), and New Brunswick (CPNB, n.d.) the minimum requirement is a doctorate degree.
Unlike many other mental health professionals, psychologists are “trained to assess and diagnose problems in thinking, feeling and behaviour” (CPA, n.d.2.). Based on their assessments and diagnosis, psychologists develop treatment plans informing their therapeutic interventions, which may include providing psychotherapy.
Conclusion
In essence, the difference between a psychologist and psychotherapist in Canada is nuanced. In most provinces, a psychologist can usually use the title of a psychotherapist; However, a psychotherapist is not necessarily a psychologist. Similarly, a Registered Psychotherapist can use the title psychotherapist. However, not every psychotherapist is a Registered Psychotherapist.
Other differences between psychologists and psychotherapists, who are not psychologists, is that psychologists are trained to diagnose mental health disorders and to use psychological tests (CPA, n.d.2.). Whereas, many other psychotherapists cannot diagnose, with the exception of psychiatrist. Despite these differences, both psychologists and psychotherapists play a vital role in providing psychotherapy to clients across Canada.
Want to become a therapist a Canada? Check out our blog.
Disclaimer
Please be advised that this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be professional advice. Please note that information in this article is only relevant up to the date it was written and is subject to change depending on regulatory or legislative changes.
References
ACSW. (n.d). Restricted Psychosocial Intervention. Retrieved by https://acsw.in1touch.org/site/RPI?nav=sidebar
BCPA. (n.d.). How to become a psychologist in British Columbia. Retrieved by https://psychologists.bc.ca/how-become-psychologist-british-columbia
CAP. (n.d). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved by https://www.cap.ab.ca/evaluation-of-academic-credentials/frequently-asked-questions
CPA. (n.d.1). Becoming a psychologist. Retrieved from https://cpa.ca/students/career/becomingapsychologist/
CPA. (n.d.2). What is a psychologist. Retrieved from https://cpa.ca/public/whatisapsychologist/#:~:text=A%20practicing%20psychologist%20is%20trained,help%20with%20assessment%20and%20diagnosis.
CPBAO. (n.d.) Supervised Practice: Psychologist. Retrieved from https://cpbao.ca/applicants/how-to-apply/supervised-practice-psychologist/
CPNB. (n.d.) New graduates/interim members. Retrieved by https://cpnb.ca/en/new-graduates-interim-members/
CRPO. (n.d.1) Standard 1.2: Use of terms, titles, & designations. Retrieved from https://crpo.ca/practice-standards/professional-conduct/use-of-terms-titles-designations/
CRPO. (n.d.2). Information on recognized and non-recognized programs. Retrieved from https://crpo.ca/apply-to-crpo/how-to-apply/recognized-non-recognized-programs/
CRPO. (n.d.3). Registration categories and inactive category information. Retrieved from https://crpo.ca/registrant-information/registrant-requirements/registration-categories/
Ontario Government. Psychotherapy Act, 2007. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/07p10
SKCP. (n.d). List of registered psychologists. Retrieved from https://secure.skcp.ca/ape_report_wp.php
Yukon Government. Psychologists are now regulated in Yukon. Retrieved by https://yukon.ca/en/doing-business/professional-licensing/psychologist-regulation