Find a Student Therapist may be a good fit if you,
If you are looking for long-term therapy, know that student therapists typically see clients for their practicum period and then move into full-pay work in a variety of settings. You may or may not be able to continue with them at that stage. Each therapist includes the details of when their practicum placement ends as part of their profile, so you can take into consideration how long you want therapy to last when choosing.
Psychotherapists typically discuss the end of service with their clients along the way, and may provide options such as referral to a new therapist, a new student therapist, or following them to their new workplace. Continuation of care is important, and the clients best interest should be a priority.
Student therapists are trained to have an entry-to-practice competency, as this is the beginning of their careers. They typically can see clients to treat issues related to anxiety, depression, relationship problems, life transition problems, workplace stressors, self-image, boundaries, etc.
Some may have additional training; however, their school program and practicum site may limit the complexity or severity of the cases they take on, and the methods they are permitted to use as new practitioners. For example, some schools do not allow student therapists to utilize EMDR techniques, even if they have training. This would be considered a more advanced tool than an entry-to-practice competency.
Student therapists may not be equipped to deal with things such as eating disorders, psychosis, mood disorders, self-harm and suicidality. It’s difficult to fully differentiate what is within or beyond their scope, as the human experience is very complex. If you have a serious mental health problem or psychiatric disorder requiring specialized care, that may be beyond the scope of student therapists.
It’s a good idea to reach out to a student therapist and ask whether your case would be within their scope. They typically offer a free initial call to help both parties decide if there is a good match for therapy.
Many clinics with practicum students will charge lower or minimal fees for sessions with their student therapists. Sometimes this is a specific reduced fee (eg. $40 a session). Sometimes this is sliding scale, pay-what-you-can, or needs based. Sometimes student therapists provide sessions at no cost. Inquire with individually listed student therapists to learn more about their fee structure.
Insurance policies are each different. Some cover student therapists under appropriate supervision, but others might not. Some cover certain designations, but not others. Some cover therapists across provincial lines, and some may not. The most commonly covered designations in Ontario, for example, are Psychologists, Social Workers and Registered Psychotherapists.
It is advised that you check with your specific insurer regarding your coverage, based on the student therapist’s details.
Browse through the listings and use the search feature to narrow down criteria you are looking for in a therapist. Consider their areas of interest, their personal ethnicity, language, style of therapy, communities they serve, and past experience.
Use the provided contact information to set up an initial call with as many therapists as you feel might be a good fit. We recommend speaking to at least two before choosing one. Ultimately, the choice is up to you, based on who feels good/right to you.
Your first full session is an intake session. This may be structured or unstructured, depending on the therapist. You can expect to go over an Informed Consent process with your therapist, discuss some of your personal history, problems, and goals. You can also ask questions!
By the end of the session, you may have discussed how you’ll know when you are feeling better, how often you will have therapy sessions, the benefits and risks of psychotherapy and administrative details. You may also have a better feel for how well you and your therapist work together – which is important, because evidence shows that the relationship between client and therapist is the most predictive factor for good outcomes.
Remember, you may realize after a few or more sessions that it’s not the right fit for you. Your therapist should appreciate hearing from you about what is and isn’t working. Sometimes providing feedback is helpful in making the therapy work better for you. It is always a good policy to be upfront with your therapist!
If that does not work to make the relationship better, there is nothing wrong with and no shame in switching therapists. Try someone else! You deserve therapy that works for you.
Psychotherapy is regulated, or not regulated, differently across Canada’s provinces. In some places, there are regulatory bodies protecting the act of psychotherapy, or the titles of psychotherapists. In other provinces, there is no regulation and therapists often belong to a professional association, such as the CCPA. Visit the CCPA website to learn more about this topic.
Find a Student Therapist does its best to verify credentials. Registration with a regulatory body is part of the public record, and each college has a list of registrants that we refer to for verification. However, we do not take responsibility for ensuring that every student therapist listed has the appropriate training, registration/licensure, appropriate practicum site and supervision, and liability insurance. It is each person’s responsibility to ensure that their therapist is qualified. You are invited to check with your chosen student therapist and their practicum site about their training, regulation, supervision and insurance.
For more information about this, visit https://www.crpo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CATG-Information-for-Ontarians.pdf and https://www.crpo.ca/find-a-registered-psychotherapist/what-is-psychotherapy/
That is up to you, your school, site and supervisor. We allow students to list themselves, or their site can list them, as long as everyone is following the rules applicable to them and their circumstance.
We expect each student to understand the rules of their school program and practicum site regarding advertisement during practicum. We expect each student therapist to coordinate with their practicum site about who will register and pay for their account with us. We will not be verifying the rules of individual educational programs or practicum sites, or student adherence to those rules. Please use your discretion, common sense and respect of your school or site’s ethics.
If we receive a complaint, we will investigate the issue on a case-by-case basis. We reserve the right to de-activate listings at your cost for the remainder of your agreed subscription period, if you are found to be violating your school or practicum site’s rules around advertising.
Photos:
Select a professional looking photo. A neutral or contrasting, uncluttered, blurry background tends to look more professional. Dress and groom yourself to be the best version of you! It’s ok to look like yourself, and to show your personality.
If you don’t have a professional photographer, ask a friend to use the portrait mode on your phone. Take many photos. Try different poses and facial expressions. Get playful. It’s often better to stand at an angle to the camera and turn your head toward the camera.
About yourself section:
This is where you get to show your individuality and personality. You can sell yourself to your ideal clients. Consider including any details that are not covered by the preset filters/checkbox areas. For example, if you speak other languages or come from a particular ethnic, cultural or religious background.
Write about who you are, what makes you a great therapist, what you feel is special about yourself or your approach. If you practice a particular modality that is more specific than the broad areas included in the filters (eg. you use ACT, Motivational Interviewing, DBT), include that information.
Checkboxes & Filters:
Choose as many checkboxes as fit you. If you are still experimenting with different modalities, check all the ones that fit. In general, checking more boxes helps you show up in more searches, however please only check boxes which apply to you.
Credentials and Supervisor Information:
We do collect information about you, your supervisor, school program and practicum site. Most of these details will not be displayed on your directory profile. They are for internal use only. Your practicum site contact information will be displayed in your listing, so that clients can contact you.
All information you enter should be factual and verifiable.
Your profile is not yet approved. After initial set-up, and any updates to your profile, it will be delisted for 24-48 hours until it can be screened for content and approved.
Though we understand that you may have met all your practicum hours early and no longer need to advertise, we have set a minimum of four months subscription based on a portion of a typical practicum period. This ensures that we can continue to operate this service in the long-term.
We are happy to remove your listing from the directory early, however there are no refunds for months purchased and your card will continue to be charged until the end of your subscription period.
Practitioners listed in this directory may come from a variety of academic institutions, credentialing bodies, and experience levels, from across Canada. Requirements to practice psychotherapy vary from province to province. Some provinces regulate the title of counsellors, others regulate the act of psychotherapy, and some do neither. This directory is limited to those going through an accredited Master’s level counselling program in Canada. Find a Student Therapist does it’s best to verify credentials of listed therapists, however it does not guarantee the quality, credentials, or qualification to practice, of individual student psychotherapists. It does not endorse or recommend any of the listed therapists. It is the responsibility of each user to ascertain if any individual student therapist meets their needs and is qualified to practice in your area. By using this directory you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy.