This type of therapy is called Psychosocial Intervention. In Alberta, it is a restricted activity. Restricted activities can only be provided by certain regulated health professionals who have to prove that they are competent to provide these activities every year (for more info, see section "What does 'regulated' mean," below). Examples of other restricted activities are prescribing medications or performing surgeries.
Choose a therapist with the appropriate education and training:
Psychologists: Come from a background of applying best research findings into clinical practice. Trained in psychosocial intervention (if they have either a Masters or Ph.D.) and research (if they have a Ph.D.). Being research-trained makes psychologists experts in understanding the latest innovations in psychosocial interventions. It can also help them advocate for you using the research as evidence, if needed.
Social Workers: Come from a background of addressing fair access to resources, services, and justice. Focus on the wellbeing of individuals, families, groups, and systems. Psychosocial intervention is an additional competency that they can add to their training. They are experts in navigating systems and resources, like government agencies and health care systems.
Psychiatrists: Come from a medical background with a specialization in mental health. In Canada, many psychiatrists focus on medications. They may or may not provide psychosocial intervention.
Other regulated health professionals: Some others, like nurses or occupational therapists, may also provide psychosocial intervention if they have received proper training and supervision. If you would like to work with these professionals, check with your insurance company to assure they are covered in your benefits plan.
This type of therapy is called Supportive Counselling. A psychologist or social worker can help you with this and so can a regulated counsellor or psychotherapist. A regulated counsellor or psychotherapist differs from a psychologist or social worker in a few ways:
Counsellors or psychotherapists (compared to psychologists and social workers):
Provinces usually regulate under one or the other title. In Alberta, "counsellors" will be regulated in the next few years. See here for regulation updates in your province.
The main purpose of regulating is to protect the public from harm. Regulated health professionals are responsible to uphold a certain standard of care. They have had to prove that they have proper training, pass multiple licensing exams, and they have to prove yearly that they continue to learn and stay up to date. Regulated professionals register with professional agencies who can investigate complaints, discipline members, and remove practice licenses if a professional is not meeting standards. Non-regulated professionals do not have this same oversight. If you choose someone who is not regulated and they cause harm, there is no governing agency to investigate and protect you and future clients.
Anybody can use unregulated titles, with or without any training or credentials. They are not responsible for upholding any standards of practice and there are no governing bodies to protect the public if they cause harm.
© Feldstain Psychological Services, Inc.