Choosing Therapy: Why Collingwood Residents Are Turning to Professional Help
Collingwood, Ontario is a beautiful place to live: the downtown core has a variety of excellent shops, cafes, and restaurants; the waterfront beaches and trails are accessible and gorgeous; there’s ample parkland, nature space, and there are numerous hiking and biking trails; and beautiful Blue Mountain overlooks the town. Given all of these wonderful features, why are so many Collingwood residents seeking out professional psychotherapy for support?
It seems like every month there is a new report or article sounding the alarm about rising rates of mental illness, addictions, and worsening mental health among Ontarians. Collingwood Today recently published an article entitled “’Jarring’ survey results reveal worsening mental health among Ontario youth,” which highlighted a report showing trends of increasing emotional distress and worsening mental health among youth in the province.[1] Recent public health data indicates that among 25 municipalities in the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit, Collingwood had the 5th highest rate of emergency department visits for mental illness, the 6th highest rate of psychiatric hospitalizations.[2]
There are many reasons why these trends could be occurring. Economic pressures due the effects of inflation and tight labour market conditions have increased stress for most Canadians in recent years. Lagging negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health policies may still be impacting Ontarians. The prospects of climate change, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty about the future on a global scale can understandably contribute to increased anxiety levels, which may be felt more acutely among youth and young adults. Research continues to show the potential negative mental health effects of the increased prevalence of social media use (again, particularly among youth), and may also contribute to a decrease in the amount of in-person social connection that people need to maintain wellness.
Are you looking for in-person therapy in Collingwood or online psychotherapy sessions (or are you open to both options)?
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, access to and acceptance of virtual/online psychotherapy and mental health counselling platforms increased dramatically. Since the pandemic restrictions lifted, many people have continued prefer to see their therapists virtually due to the convenience, flexibility, and comfort of online psychotherapy. Some people still prefer in-person psychotherapy over virtual sessions, however, particularly at the outset of establishing a new therapeutic relationship.
While I was initially reluctant to see therapy clients online, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the majority of people still benefited from virtual psychotherapy sessions. It seems that the ability to form a connection with another human being and to work through difficult experiences together is not limited to being in the same physical room. If you do have a strong preference for in-person sessions, however, then how far you’re willing and able to commute to see your therapist is also something to consider.
Do you have extended health benefits/third party insurance coverage for psychotherapy/mental health counselling? If so, what designations does your plan cover?
The fees for seeing a psychotherapist in private practice are not covered by OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) in Collingwood or anywhere else in Ontario. Some extended healthcare benefit plans offered by private/third party insurance carriers may cover the costs of seeing a Registered Psychotherapist (RP). If you have healthcare insurance offered through your workplace, academic institution, or you pay for private insurance yourself, you can consult your benefits package or contact your insurance company to see if they cover the costs of seeing an RP (usually covered under “paramedical expenses”). Sometimes benefits will list “psychotherapy” or “mental health counselling,” but are very specific about the designation of the therapist you see (e.g. some plans specify only seeing a Psychologist or Registered Social Worker; for more about the differences between therapist designations, click here).
If your insurance company or employer does not list RPs under their list of paramedical practitioners, you can advocate for this coverage by writing a letter to your employer and insurer requesting this coverage. For a sample letter that you can use as a template for this purpose, please click here.
How do I know which therapist or type of therapy is right for me?
Finding the right psychotherapist to help you address your concerns is important, whether you live in Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Barrie, or anywhere else on the map. Research on psychotherapy effectiveness has shown that the quality of the therapeutic relationship between the psychotherapist and client (the “working alliance”) is a key factor in determining psychotherapy outcomes. In fact, the quality of the therapeutic relationship itself (as well as some other “common factors” in therapy) affect therapeutic outcomes more than the specific modalities, techniques, or approaches employed by the therapist. Given these findings, it’s usually worth the time and effort to make sure that you get connected with a therapist that you feel is a good fit for you personally.
Most therapists have a website or a profile listed online with more information about themselves, their credentials, education, and experience, and their approaches to therapy. Taking the time to read through different therapist profiles to see which ones you feel drawn to or resonate with is one way to help increase the likelihood of finding a good fit for therapy. If you’re looking for help with specific problems (e.g. anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma), then seeking therapists who specifically focus on these problem areas is also sometimes helpful. Some therapists also offer free initial consult calls to help assess if working together is likely to be a good fit.
Where do I find a therapist?
There are several ways to find a therapist, some of which are listed below:
- Do a web search for “psychotherapists near me” or “therapist for ______ (insert specific problem you are looking for help with, e.g. depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma).”
- Look through listing on Psychology Today (a popular online directory for therapists that allows you to filter results by location and a number of other attributes).
- Ask trusted family and friends for a recommendation; sometimes word of mouth from people you trust and who know you well can be a good way to find the right therapist.
- Ask your family doctor if they have any recommendations for therapists in the area. They may also be aware of publicly-funded mental health resources that you can access.
- Search the public register of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) – you can search by city if you prefer: https://registration.crpo.ca/mpower/mpp/member-directory-page
[1] https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/ontario-news/jarring-survey-results-reveal-worsening-mental-health-among-ontario-youth-9377461
[2] https://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Health-Stats/HealthStatsHome/MentalHealth/MentalIllness
