Dr. Syras Derksen

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WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGIST?

Psychologists are professionals who receive extensive education, nearly a decade of university. There are two things that set psychologists apart from other mental health professionals.

  • Psychologists’ training focuses on research as well as clinical practice. This helps them base their care on the most recent and reliable science.
  • Psychologists receive extensive training in using different assessment tools to evaluate personality and intellectual functioning. This provides them with advanced, proven methods for understanding the most complex challenges in the field.
  • Psychologists are trained to treat all types of mental health difficulties, but they are specially trained to treat the complex cases and those problems that weren’t helped by other treatment options.

SUMMARY

  • Extensive education (typically 9 to 11 years)
  • Able to read and conduct research
  • Expertly trained to treat complex and severe challenges
  • Trained to use the latest assessment tools
  • Services often covered by insurance

WHAT IS A PSYCHIATRIST?

Psychiatrists are medical professionals who receive extensive education, completing a medical degree before specializing in mental health. There are two primary features that set psychiatrists apart from other mental health professionals:

  • Medical and Prescription Privileges: While family physicians frequently prescribe standard medications, psychiatrists possess specialized training to manage complex pharmacological treatments for severe or treatment-resistant mental health conditions.

  • Diagnostic and Medical Focus: Although some psychiatrists offer therapy, their clinical focus is primarily centered on evaluating complex symptoms, establishing formal diagnoses, and managing medical treatment plans.

SUMMARY

  • Extensive education (medical specialist)
  • Able to prescribe medication
  • Trained to treat severe mental illness
  • Services covered by provincial health care

WHAT IS A COUNSELLOR?

Counsellors come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds, including social work, occupational therapy, nursing, and dedicated counselling programs. Generally speaking, counsellors receive 1 to 3 years of education focused on providing therapy. There are three primary features that distinguish counsellors within the mental health field:

  • Counsellors offer accessibility and affordability: Because there is a large network of practitioners, it is often easier to access a counsellor quickly. Their services are typically less expensive, though coverage varies by private insurance provider.

  • Counsellors focus on mild-to-moderate concerns: Counselling services are highly effective at helping individuals navigate everyday life stressors, relationship challenges, and less severe mental health difficulties.

  • Counsellors work under voluntary regulation: Unlike psychologists and psychiatrists, the title “counsellor” is currently unregulated by provincial law. While anyone can legally use the title, reputable counsellors voluntarily register with professional associations that enforce strict ethical standards and oversight.

SUMMARY

  • Varied educational paths: Backgrounds encompass social work, occupational therapy, nursing, or counselling programs, typically involving 1 to 3 years of training.
  • Focused on mild-to-moderate concerns: Best suited for navigating everyday life stressors, relationship challenges, and less severe difficulties.

DOES THERAPY WORK?

Does Therapy Help with Symptoms?

In 2012, a comprehensive review of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) examined its efficacy across a broad range of clinical presentations. The study demonstrated robust support for the use of CBT in treating:

  • Mood disorders (such as Depression, Dysthymia, and Bipolar Disorder)
  • Anxiety disorders (such as Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and OCD)
  • Eating disorders (including Bulimia)
  • Sleep disturbances and insomnia
  • Anger and emotional regulation challenges
  • Stress Management
  • Substance use and addictions
  • Psychotic disorders (such as Schizophrenia)

A Comprehensive Approach to Care While this landmark study highlights CBT as an exceptionally effective framework for a wide variety of concerns, it is not the only proven modality. Other evidence-based frameworks—such as Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)—are widely recognized and highly effective for addressing specific clinical needs.

Are Clients Satisfied?

In 1994, Consumer Reports partnered with mental health researchers to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of therapy from a consumer’s perspective. Their landmark survey revealed that approximately 90% of respondents reported therapy to be significantly helpful.

Conclusion

The data is clear: therapy works. Decades of research consistently show that well-trained clinicians delivering well-constructed treatments achieve highly effective outcomes. Today, clinical research has evolved past simply questioning iftherapy works, focusing instead on identifying which specific therapeutic modalities produce the best outcomes for particular clinical presentations.

REFERENCE

Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of Cognitive Behavior Therapy; A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36, 427-440

MEDICATION VS. THERAPY

Effectiveness Comparison

For depression, therapy and medication demonstrate comparable long-term effectiveness, with a significant body of research suggesting that therapy can offer more sustained, lasting benefits. When deciding between medication and psychotherapy, several individual health and lifestyle factors should be carefully considered.

Medication Benefits

The primary advantages of medication are that it is readily accessible, requires minimal immediate time investment, and does not demand active self-exploration or immediate lifestyle adjustments. However, key considerations regarding pharmaceutical treatments include potential side effects, ongoing costs, and varying individual response rates.

Mental health medications frequently present side effects; while these symptoms are often temporary and subside over time, they can occasionally persist. Additionally, long-term medication use can become a significant cumulative expense compared to a time-limited course of therapy. If cost is a central factor in your treatment planning, we recommend discussing more affordable or generic alternatives directly with your prescribing physician.

Therapy Benefits

Psychotherapy offers distinct clinical advantages for long-term health and emotional well-being:

  • Addresses Root Causes: While medication primarily manages and relieves surface-level symptoms, therapy focuses on resolving the underlying core issues. By tackling the root cause of distress, therapy helps prevent challenges from resurfacing or intensifying down the road.

  • Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness: Although therapy requires an upfront financial and time investment, it is often more economical over time. A standard course of therapy is time-limited, whereas medication costs can accumulate over years. Additionally, psychological services are frequently subsidized or covered by extended health insurance plans.

  • Effective When Other Treatments Fail: Therapy provides a powerful path forward when pharmaceutical interventions do not yield results. Clinical data shows that therapeutic interventions remain highly effective for individuals who have tried medication without success.

Conclusion

Ultimately, both medication and evidence-based psychotherapy are highly effective frameworks for navigating mental health challenges. Because every individual’s needs are unique, a combination of both approaches often yields the most robust and comprehensive clinical outcomes.