A psychologist studies how
we think, feel and behave
from a scientific viewpoint
and applies this knowledge
to help people understand,
explain and change their
behaviour.
To
practice psychology in , one must be licensed. Alternate terms for
licensure are registered and chartered. When considering the
services of any professional, it is always wise to seek the services
of someone who is licensed. Licensure helps to protect the public by
ensuring that the professional has met, and is accountable to,
rigorous standards of practice.
In Canada, psychologists, like other health care professionals, are
licensed to practice by regulatory bodies in each Canadian
jurisdiction. A listing of all the Canadian regulatory bodies of
psychology can be accessed from our webpage
Psychology in the Provinces & Territories.
The requirements for licensure vary from jurisdiction to
jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions, the doctorate degree is
required for registration and in others it is the master’s degree.
Psychologists with a doctoral degree can use the title ‘Dr. ’ A
listing of all the provincial and territorial regulatory
requirements, can be found on our website at
Provincial & Territorial Licensing Requirements.
For psychologists already registered in one Canadian jurisdiction
wanting to practice in another jurisdiction, their mobility might be
facilitated by the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). The MRA and
its provisions is also available
here on our website .
For those trained in psychology outside of , and who want to move to
a Canadian jurisdiction to practice psychology, they should contact
the regulatory body in the jurisdiction in which they want to
practice to determine if they have the necessary qualifications for
registration.
Psychology in the Provinces & Territories and
Provincial & Territorial Licensing Requirements.
For those wanting to study psychology outside of Canada, and then
return to work as a psychologist in Canada, they should also contact
the regulatory body in the jurisdiction to which they are likely to
return, to ensure that the foreign studies they are planning to
undertake would give them the necessary credentials for registration
to practice psychology in Canada.
Psychology in the Provinces & Territories and
Provincial & Territorial Licensing Requirements.
Psychologists engage in
research, practice and
teaching across a wide range
of topics having to do with
how people think, feel and
behave. Their work can
involve individuals, groups,
families and as well as
larger organizations in
government and industry.
Some psychologists focus
their research on animals
rather than people. Here are
some of the kinds of topics
towards which psychologists
focus their research and
practice:
mental health
problems such as
depression, anxiety,
phobias, etc.,
neurological,
genetic, psychological
and social determinants
of behaviour,
brain injury,
degenerative brain
diseases,
the perception and
management of pain,
psychological
factors and problems
associated with physical
conditions and disease
(e.g. diabetes, heart
disease, stroke),
psychological
factors and management
of terminal illnesses
such as cancer,
cognitive functions
such as learning,
memory, problem solving,
intellectual ability and
performance,
developmental and
behavioural abilities
and problems across the
lifespan,
criminal behaviour,
crime prevention,
services for victims and
perpetrators of criminal
activity,
addictions and
substance use and abuse
(e.g. smoking, alcohol,
drugs),
stress, anger and
other aspects of
lifestyle management,
court consultations
addressing the impact
and role of
psychological and
cognitive factors in
accidents and injury,
parental capacity, and
competence to manage
one’s personal affairs,
the application of
psychological factors
and issues to work such
as motivation,
leadership,
productivity, marketing,
healthy workplaces,
ergonomics,
marital and family
relationships and
problems,
psychological
factors necessary to
maintaining wellness and
preventing disease,
social and cultural
behaviour and attitudes,
the relationship between
the individual and the
many groups of which he
or she is part (e.g.
work, family, society),
the role and impact
of psychological factors
on performance at work,
recreation and sport.
For more
information on psychology
and specific diseases and
conditions, visit our
webpage
Psychology Works Fact Sheets.
For
information about how to
choose a psychologist and
psychological treatment,
visit our webpage
Public.
Psychologists
apply scientifically validated procedures to help people change
their thoughts,
emotions,
and behaviors.
Psychotherapy is a collaborative effort between an individual and a
psychologist. It provides a supportive environment
to talk openly and confidentially about concerns and feelings.
Psychologists consider maintaining your
confidentiality extremely important and will answer
your questions regarding those rare circumstances when confidential
information must be shared.
The simplest way to describe the difference between them is that a
psychologist primarily aids the depressed patient by counseling and
psychotherapy. A psychiatrist may also perform psychotherapy; but,
in addition, can prescribe medications and perform ECT
(electroconvulsive therapy). A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. A
psychologist may hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) and be called
"doctor"; but, is not a medical doctor (M.D.).
Psychotherapy is a process by which you examine your thoughts,
feelings, actions and relationships, evaluate where problems exist,
and learn how to make whatever changes are necessary to achieve
better life adjustment and satisfaction. Counseling and
psychotherapy are interchangeable because they describe the same
process, and have similar goals. The term counseling has its roots
in personal development and life adjustment, while the term
psychotherapy has its roots in a more medically oriented model of
treating a mental disease process. Health insurance companies use a
medical disease model, so insurance reimbursement is for
"psychotherapy" not "counseling." The distinction is unimportant in
applying the process to life management problems.
Many people do make a distinction between counseling and
psychotherapy, but the distinction is artificial. Some people think
that counseling is short term treatment and psychotherapy is long
term treatment. Others think that counseling is for life adjustment
problems, while psychotherapy is for psychiatric or psychological
disorders. Finally, some think that counselors are less
well-trained, while psychotherapists are better trained. All of
these distinctions are false and misleading. In practice, both
counseling and psychotherapy are used to help people change
psychologically. Both can be either short term or long term
treatment methods, depending on the issues.
The training for both counseling and psychotherapy is variable, and
depends on the professional discipline, not the name of the service
technique used by the professional. If someone refers to themselves
as either a counselor or a psychotherapist, you should
inquire further into their professional training. Most often, those
referring to themselves as counselors or psychotherapists, or simply
therapists, instead of by their professional discipline (e.g.
psychology, psychiatry), usually have training at the Masters level
or below, rather than doctoral training.
