Question 1

What is psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Psychotherapy is a collaborative process where you work with a registered psychotherapist to address various experiences such as mental health struggles, relationship issues, and life changes. Psychotherapy explores the "why" behind your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and takes inventory of your history and past experiences. The process is designed to help you navigate issues by providing you with new techniques, perspectives and insights to build your resilience and empower you to thrive.

Question 2

How do I know if I need therapy?

Accepted Answer

There is a common misconception that you only start therapy if you’re in crisis or burnt out. Although therapy is available to help with these types of situations, it is beneficial to seek support before this happens. If you’re feeling off, fatigued, or struggling with life changes, therapy is here to help you navigate through this. Moreover, if you are seeking personal growth and value learning more about yourself, therapy can help you explore deeper parts of yourself and uncover what’s most important to you.

Question 3

What should I expect from the free consultation call?

Accepted Answer

The consultation call is essentially a 15 minute, low pressure “meet and greet” where you share an overview of your needs and you determine whether or not I am a good fit for you as a therapist. I provide you with details about my approach to therapy as well as go over logistics for scheduling sessions, fees, and more.

Question 4

How do I get started in therapy?

Accepted Answer

Congrats on making the decision to start therapy. The first step involves finding the right therapist for you by browsing online and setting up a consultation call. At Pearson Psychotherapy Clinic, we offer a free 15 minute consultation call and from there we can book a first session.

Question 5

Do I need a referral for therapy?

Accepted Answer

No, a doctor’s referral is not required to begin therapy. You can book a session directly through my website or contact me at any time.

Question 6

What happens in a first session?

Accepted Answer

During the first session you are encouraged to share your story and what’s brought you to therapy. You do not have to have anything prepared for the first session as it is my role to guide the session to explore who you are, what your needs are, and what you hope to gain from therapy. Together we will build an alliance and find our rhythm as a team. I will also go over some administrative briefing (confidentiality, consent) and you are welcome to ask me any questions about the process. From this session onwards, we will have a preliminary plan for how to move forward together.

Question 7

What issues can psychotherapy help with?

Accepted Answer

Psychotherapy is designed to support anyone struggling with a problem in their life. Whether you’re dealing with relationship challenges, life transitions, trauma, grief, or issues with emotional well-being, psychotherapy is here to help give you insights, coping tools and strategies to improve your situation. No concerns are “too small” to bring into therapy. To learn about the issues I work with, please see the Services page.

Question 8

Is virtual (online) therapy effective?

Accepted Answer

The simple answer is yes. Virtual therapy provides the same evidence-based support that in-person offers and it allows you to have sessions in spaces and at times that are convenient for you. At Pearson Psychotherapy Clinic, virtual sessions are held through the OWL Practice platform which offers fully encrypted, secure, and PIPEDA/PHIPA/HIPAA-compliant virtual video sessions. Additionally, OWL Practice is designed for secure, high-quality video therapy directly through a browser or client portal, requiring no extra software.

Question 9

Is psychotherapy confidential?

Accepted Answer

YES. As a Registered Psychotherapist, I am legally and ethically committed to protecting your privacy. I cannot confirm to anyone - including your partner, employer, or family members - that you are even a client of mine without your written consent. What you disclose in sessions remains between the two of us, with a few legal exceptions: 
Risk of Harm to Self: If I believe there is an imminent risk that you will seriously hurt yourself.
Risk of Harm to Others: If there is an imminent threat of serious physical harm to another person.
Abuse of a Minor or Vulnerable Adult: If there is reason to suspect that a child (under 18) or an elder in long-term care is being abused or neglected.
Legal Order: If my records are subpoenaed by a court of law.

Question 10

How often are sessions?

Accepted Answer

The frequency of sessions depends entirely on your unique goals, the complexity of what you’re working through, and your schedule. During the beginning stages of therapy, it is common to meet weekly or bi-weekly to build consistency and to start applying techniques. Once we’ve seen some improvement, it is standard to space out sessions a bit further apart. However, if issues intensify, it is acceptable to have multiple therapy sessions per week.

Question 11

How long does therapy last?

Accepted Answer

It is important to note that therapy isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” and it does not come with a finite number of sessions. The duration of therapy depends on your needs, your goals, and the degree to which you feel that it is benefiting you. Throughout the process we will discuss progress and re-assess your needs accordingly. Additionally, you are free to stop or pause therapy at any point. The ultimate goal is to empower you to apply the tools learned in sessions so that you can navigate life’s challenges outside of therapy.

Question 12

What approaches do you use in therapy?

Accepted Answer

I am a person-centered therapist which means that I view you as the expert of your own life. My role is to provide you with the space to explore who you are and introduce new skills and techniques that align with your goals. The modalities I use are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy, positive therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy.

Question 13

What’s the difference between a psychotherapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist?

Accepted Answer

Psychotherapists must have a Master’s degree in counselling psychology or a related field. The role of a psychotherapist is to help you understand emotions, patterns, and behaviors to improve well-being as well as provide clinical impressions.

Psychologists have a Doctoral Degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology and they often focus on psychological testing, assessments, and research-based therapy and are qualified to provide a formal diagnosis.

Psychiatrists have a Medical Degree (MD) with a residency in Psychiatry and they focus on the biological causes of mental illness and medical management. Psychiatrists can provide formal diagnoses, assess physical health factors, and can prescribe and manage psychiatric medications.

Question 14

Is psychotherapy covered by insurance in Ontario?

Accepted Answer

It is the client’s responsibility to determine if they are covered for psychotherapy services by their insurance provider. If you have coverage, a digital receipt will be provided at the end of each session and your insurance provider will reimburse you for payment. Pearson Psychotherapy Clinic is a provider for Canada Life, Sun Life, and Bluecross, and Kristina Pearson is listed as therapist for EAP under Public Safety Canada.

Question 15

Is psychotherapy evidence‑based?

Accepted Answer

Yes it is! Registered psychotherapists are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree in counselling psychology or a related field which makes them qualified to offer evidence-based care. Each treatment modality is grounded in academic research and the tools offered in sessions have been studied in clinical trials.

Question 16

What if I’m nervous about starting therapy?

Accepted Answer

It is completely reasonable to be nervous about starting therapy. Many people feel this way when they start, but it’s important to remember that you are in the driver’s seat. You get to decide what you want to share with your therapist and you are not expected to disclose everything. We move at a pace that is comfortable for you and your therapist is here to guide you through the process. You are not alone in this journey and by starting, you are giving yourself the opportunity to be heard.

Pearson Psychotherapy Clinic

Rooted in confidence, resilience, and lasting change.

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