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1. Why undertake Psychotherapy? 2. When should I consult a Psychotherapist? 3. When should a child or teenager seek Psychotherapy? 5. What happens in the first session? 6. How long does the Psychotherapy treatment take? 7. Are the psychological services free? 8. What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist? .......................................................... 1. Why undertake Psychotherapy? * "Anyone, at some point or other, can experience personal problems of a psychological nature. The most frequently mentioned reasons for seeking the help of a psychologist are: · Dissatisfaction with one's present life and the desire to bring about certain changes, or to find a new meaning in life; · Experiencing distress or having experienced a traumatic event: mourning, separation, illness, job loss or physical aggression; · Problems in relationships with others: difficulties in meeting people we like, keeping friends or speaking to a group of people; · Couple problems-Relationship Problems: communication problems, increasingly frequent conflicts; · Family problems: a child who constantly breaks established rules, a spouse who seems to evade responsibility; · Sex problems: low sexual drive, pain, premature ejaculation; · Lack of control over our behavior: overeating, drinking problems, smoking, drug problems or gambling; · an intolerable work environment: burnout, abuse of power, work conflicts." * Extract from the site "Ordre des psychologues du Québec" .......................................................... 2. When should I consult a Psychotherapist? * "When we feel a little down or depressed, when life seems difficult and happy moments seem few and far between, we naturally try to solve our own problems and turn to those close to us for help or sound advice. Sometimes it doesn’t take much — a vacation, a heart-to-heart talk with a spouse, starting an exercise program — to regain our sense of balance and move on. It sometimes happens however, that after trying various solutions, the situation does not improve. It may then be time to consider seeking professional help to evaluate the problem and find solutions to make things better. Here are a few situations where you might consider consulting a psychologist without delay: · When you are no longer able to carry out the tasks of daily living such as going to work or taking care of yourself, your children or your home; · When you have the feeling that no one understands you, that people avoid you or that their advice is useless; · When you cannot overcome your feelings of distress or a traumatic event and find that the solutions you try are not working out; · When you are feeling depressed, anxious, tense, angry or irritated more often than usual; · If you are finding it increasingly difficult to sleep; · If you are afraid of dealing with situations that seem ordinary to others; · If you have a lump in your throat or cry often; · If you feel your life is meaningless, with no hope of change." * Extract from the site "Ordre des psychologues du Québec" .......................................................... 3. When should a child or teenager seek Psychotherapy?* "Your child or teenage may also need help if you see any of the following signs: · He shows a lack of interest in activities he once enjoyed (games, going out with friends, etc.), and always seems bored; · He is depressed or cries without reason, refuses to go to school, eats much more or much less than usual, spends too much time sleeping or has trouble falling asleep; · He exhibits odd or unusual behavior: irrational fears, uncontrolled anger or tantrums, repeated nightmares, refusal to talk, or any other disturbing behavior; · He abuses alcohol or drugs, or is involved in gambling; · His school grades have dropped dramatically and his teachers have noticed a change in his attitude; · He exhibits aggressive and violent behavior towards himself or others." * Extract from the site "Ordre des psychologues du Québec" .......................................................... "For over one hundred years, psychotherapy has been the cornerstone of psychological services. Through the use of very specific techniques, psychotherapy enables people who are experiencing personal problems to change their thoughts, feelings and behaviors in order to reduce their suffering and lead a more satisfying life. In many cases, psychotherapy will provide people with new and more effective ways of dealing with the obstacles that life presents. For those who wish to resolve a serious psychological problem, both the general public and the scientific community agree that psychotherapy has proven to be one of the most effective and accepted means of doing so. When you start psychotherapy, you engage in a process of change that requires close collaboration with a psychologist. It is a process in which you can let yourself go, expressing your thoughts and feelings freely without fearing that you will be judged or criticized. Psychotherapy is rewarding but also often demanding. In psychotherapy, you may be encouraged to do exercises outside of the therapy sessions or to examine situations or emotions that frighten you. You may talk about things you have never discussed before. You may become aware of the fact that relationships with a others are changing as progress is made. You may also realize that certain thoughts and behaviors need to be modified. Although psychotherapy may also be used with groups, families and couples, it is best known and most frequently takes the form of an individual helping relationship between the psychologist and his client. The first step in psychotherapy is an evaluation, during which the psychologist evaluates your problems, perhaps using tests and questionnaires or perhaps simply through an interview, in order to fully understand them and determine the best treatment plan for you. The first session is also an opportunity for you to break the ice and ask any questions that may be bothering you." * Extract from the site "Ordre des psychologues du Québec" .......................................................... 5. What happens in the first session? "The first session is an opportunity not only for the client and the psychologist to meet but also to obtain information and evaluate, if necessary, the need to start psychotherapy. During the first session, each must get to know the other and establish the foundation for a mutually trusting relationship. The client can also openly describe the difficulties he is facing, enabling the psychologist to evaluate the ways in which he can offer professional help." * During the first sessions, the psychologist will usually ask you to describe your problem and will complete your personal history. Different questions will be asked, such as: Why do you consult? What is your problem? When did it start? What helps or aggravates it? How does it affect your work or your social life? You might also be invited to talk about your personal history, your marital, familial, social, professional life, etc. This phase of collection of information can take a session or more and can be completed by the use of personality tests. During those first sessions, it is appropriate to ask questions about the practical aspects of psychotherapy. For instance: What are the fees for each session, and when should they be paid? How long is each session? How frequent will sessions be? What happens when one misses a session? When are official receipts for tax or insurance purposes issued? Are the sessions completely confidential? * Extract from the site "Ordre des psychologues du Québec" .......................................................... 6. How long does the Psychotherapy treatment take? "Changing the ways in which we think and act is not an easy task that can be accomplished in a few days. The duration of the psychotherapy will depend on many factors such as the seriousness of the problem, the objectives one wishes to attain, the frequency of the sessions, the type of therapeutic approach used, the client’s reactions, the client’s motivation to change and commitment to the process. Psychotherapy can therefore last anywhere from a few weeks to a year or more." * * Extract from the site "Ordre des psychologues du Québec" .......................................................... 7. Are the psychological services free? "The fees of a psychologist in private practice are not covered by Quebec Health Insurance. The patient pays the Psychologist directly. However, ‘‘currently, most group insurance plans allow for the reimbursement of at least a portion of the expenses incurred for a psychological consultation. Some individual plans also cover these expenses. Since reimbursement policies vary from one plan to another, it is important to read your policy carefully or to get information from your employer or union representative to understand which clauses apply.’’ * Furthermore, ‘‘fees paid to a psychologist for therapy qualify as income-tax healthcare deductions provided the receipts issued by the psychologist are filed with the return. However, the expenses that have been reimbursed by an insurance company do not qualify as an income-tax healthcare deduction." * * Extract from the site "Ordre des psychologues du Québec" .......................................................... 8. What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist? ** "Psychologists and psychiatrists both specialize in human behavior and mental conditions. The training for the two professions is different, however, and the two also work in slightly different fields. Both psychiatrists and psychologists play an important role in understanding how humans behave and interact with each other. The primary difference between the two has to do with training. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, meaning that he or she has gone to both undergraduate and medical school, and has followed with a professional residency in psychiatry. During the residency, the psychiatrist may choose a particular aspect to focus on, such as treating schizophrenia or depression. After qualifying as a doctor, a psychiatrist is able to prescribe medications and administer therapy such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as shock therapy. A psychiatrist usually works with individual patients who need help." ** "Psychologists have received between five and eight years of specialized university training in psychology, depending on whether they have obtained a master's degree or a doctorate. They are trained in the understanding of human psychology and learn techniques that enable them to offer effective help to people with personal problems. In addition to academic courses, psychologists have completed supervised internships during which they have applied their knowledge in practice. Once they have received their diploma, psychologists are able to adequately evaluate the nature of a client’s problem, to establish a treatment plan adapted to the client's individual needs and to provide treatment so as to meet the objectives that were determined together with the client In Quebec, the title of psychologist is protected by law. Psychologists must satisfy very strict requirements in order to be licensed as members of the Ordre des psychologues du Québec." * * Extract from the site "Ordre des psychologues du Québec" |
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