Psychotherapy Provider vs. Complementary/Alternative Service

Psychotherapy providers

PM includes providers of Psychotherapy Services that meet the criteria of the Ontario Psychotherapy Act (2007). This includes the following professions:

• Medical doctors
• Nurses
• Occupational Therapists
• Social workers
• Psychologists
• Psychotherapists and registered mental health therapists

Complementary/Alternative services

Many talented and helpful providers and practitioners of a wide range of services are not specifically licensed to offer psychotherapy services or choose not to provide psychotherapy.

PM includes Complementary/alternative services such as:

• Acupuncturist
• Chiropractor
• Dietician
• Kinesiologist
• Massage therapist
• Naturopath
• Psychopharmacologist (must be a medical doctor)
• Speech-language pathologist

Why do we suggest regulated professionals?

• They must meet educational and ethical requirements of their College*.
• They are expected to keep up-to-date to maintain their qualifications.
• There is a disciplinary mechanism so you can complain about them.
• They must have malpractice insurance.
• Each college website allows you to check their membership yourself to verify qualifications and to see if there have been complaints against the member.

*We usually use the word College to refer to an educational institution, like a Community College. The word College is used here to describe a self-regulatory institution set up by Provincial law.

If you want to receive help from any one of these practitioners, we want you to be informed and aware. Always ask about credentials and registrations to check.