The Lotus 3 Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are you a psychologist?
A: No, I am a registered psychotherapist (RP), a profession which is regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
Q: What is the difference between a registered psychotherapist and a psychologist?
A: Both psychotherapy and psychology are protected practices in the province of Ontario. Psychologists are qualified to administer diagnostic testing, formulate and deliver diagnoses, in addition to delivering psychotherapeutic/psychological treatment.
Psychotherapists are not qualified to formulate and deliver diagnoses. We do use some assessment tools to inform how we approach our treatment strategies but they are not sufficient to formulate a formal diagnosis. The assessments we conduct give us an idea of where you're at emotionally, satisfaction with your life, not diagnostic information. A diagnosis is NOT required in order to participate in and benefit from psychotherapy.
The practice of psychotherapy is regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). To register as a psychotherapist in Ontario, one must complete Masters level graduate program which meets the training requirements for registration (https://crpo.ca/apply-to-crpo/how-to-apply/recognized-non-recognized-programs/)
The practice of psychology is regulated, in Ontario, by the College of Psychologists and Registered Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO). To register as a psychologist or psychological associate, one must have a Masters degree or PhD in an eligible professional psychology training program which meets licensure requirements (https://cpbao.ca/applicants/general-information/).
Q: How long will it take to achieve my psychotherapy goals?
A: There's no reliable way to answer that question because it depends on a number of considerations, such as the complexity of your circumstances, commitment to treatment and regular implementation of the strategies between sessions, social support network, stressors in your life, etc.. What I generally tell clients is that you are in control of our work together. As such, if you find that we're not making progress or that we have achieved the goals you set out to achieve, you can terminate, pause, return to our services at any time. This process is meant to be helpful, not burdensome.