More than ever, mental health is a hot topic of conversation. Due to Covid-19, Canadian statistics highlight that Canadians are experiencing mental health struggles, especially as the pandemic continues without a so called “end-date”. With anxiety on the rise, as well as other prominent mental health concerns, such as depression and other mood disorders, people are considering accessing professional services to help them cope and to learn tools to manage or reduce their symptoms.
If this sounds like you, it’s important to acknowledge that if you’re hesitant or working up the courage toward taking the first step to find a mental health professional to work with, it’s important to know what type of professional with suit your needs! Here is some information that will hopefully save you time and ensure that you find the right fit for you and your insurance coverage if you have mental health benefits (and even if you don’t).
Understand the “type” of professional that you want to contact.
Psychiatrist? Psychologist? Counsellor? Therapist? Social worker?
Could this get any more confusing? Here’s the scoop:
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are doctors. This means that they went to medical school and often are found in hospitals or offices. Psychiatrists work with their patients to diagnose mental illness and they are the only professionals who are legally allowed to prescribe medication. It is common for people to see a psychiatrist for a diagnosis and/or prescription purposes and some psychiatrists will offer psychotherapy to their patients, however this depends on the specific doc. Psychiatrists are covered by provincial health insurance providers.
Psychologists
Psychologists typically have a PhD in clinical psychology. Psychologists do provide assessments and diagnoses to their patients/clients. Not all psychologists are covered by insurance providers (again, this depends on your province) so double check before booking an appointment if you want to get reimbursed so that you are sure when booking your appointment.
Counsellors/Psychotherapists
Counsellors/Psychotherapists: Here is where doing your homework is important. Depending on your province and the “designation” of your counsellor or psychotherapist, educational requirements differ and therefore, so does insurance coverage.
Understand Your Provincial Regulatory Bodies
In Ontario, Nova Scotia, Quebec and New Brunswick, there is a provincial college that regulates who can be a “Registered/Licensed Counselling Therapist or Psychotherapist”. These colleges have strict guidelines regarding who can practice counselling or psychotherapy with these “licensed” or “registered” titles. A Master’s degree is the minimum standard of education to be eligible to receive these titles.
As for the other provinces who are working toward provincial colleges to regulate mental health practitioners, there are still regulatory bodies however, they are referred to as associations. Some associations require a Master’s degree in counselling psychology or social work, whereas others do not. Check the wording in your insurance policy to ensure that you find a designated mental health professional who has the designation highlighted in your policy.
What does this mean? If you’re not sure about whether your insurance will cover a counsellor or psychologist who you want to work with, double check your policy’s wording or call the insurance provider to clarify. Also, you can ask the counsellor/psychotherapist who you’d like to work with about their designation and inquire about whether their clients get reimbursed by your specific provider. Some insurance providers allow more variety whilst others providers require a Master’s degree in counselling psychology or social work as a minimum requirement for which mental health professionals they choose to cover.
As if this isn’t confusing enough, many social workers also provide counselling or psychotherapy services. Most social workers are covered by insurance providers, as social workers have more consistent regulation that requires a Master’s degree. Please double check your policy regardless, to ensure that you will be reimbursed.
If you’re not sure, call your provider to clarify what professional designations they cover in your province. Also, ask the counsellor/psychotherapist if you’re not sure.
Financial Barriers to Mental Health Services
In all provinces, there are public programs to ensure services to help support individuals who cannot afford private practice practitioners.
Some programs provided by the government include Employment Assistance Programs (EAP), and non-profit organizations that offer low-cost services. Some private practitioners will also provide what’s known as a “sliding scale” rate. This is usually highlighted on the professional’s website. If you work for an organization and you’re not sure where to start, speak to HR, as they will point you in the right direction.
Here’s a simplified guide to finding the right professional for you:
1. Look at the exact wording or educational requirements written on your policy.
2. Find a professional who has the minimum requirements and same designation(s) as what is written on your policy.
3. If you’re not sure, ask the mental health practitioner you’re interested in working with specific questions related to what’s written in your policy.
4. If you cannot afford private help, ask your HR department to connect you with a program that is suitable to your benefits.
Associations and colleges all encourage the public to understand the qualifications of who you are choosing to work with to ensure that ethical guidelines and standards of practice are being met. While most provinces are currently advocating for regulatory colleges to protect the public, there are unfortunately individuals who use the lack of regulation to their advantage.