DID YOU KNOW...? 
                                           SUBJECT: THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 
                                           PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELLING. 
                                           DATE:        December 2019 
                        
                      
                     DID YOU KNOW . . . THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PSYCHOTHERAPY 
                     AND COUNSELLING. 
                     PSYCHOTHERAPY 
                     Psychotherapy  is  a  controlled  act  under  the  Regulated  Health  Professions  Act,  1991 
                     (Paragraph 14 of s.27 (2)).  Audiologists and speech-language pathologists do not have access 
                     to the controlled act of psychotherapy. 
                     The practice of psychotherapy is the assessment and treatment of cognitive, emotional or 
                     behavioural  disturbances  by  psychotherapeutic  means,  delivered  through  a  therapeutic 
                     relationship based primarily on verbal or non-verbal communication. Psychotherapy Act, 2007 
                     c. 10, Sched. R, s. 3. 
                     For more information on Psychotherapy click here. 
                     COUNSELLING 
                     Counselling is one of the activities outside of the controlled Act of psychotherapy.  For more 
                     information on the activities click here. 
                     Audiologists and speech-language pathologists frequently provide counselling to patients, 
                     family  and  other  caregivers  who  are  living  with  communication,  swallowing,  hearing,  or 
                     balance disorders. 
                     Counselling comprises activities and behaviours that educate and support patients and their 
                     families who experience emotional distress related to a communication, swallowing, hearing, 
                     or balance disorder. Counselling activities may include measures that systematically reduce 
                     anxiety  related  to  specific  situations,  or  helping  a  patient  accept  their  communication, 
                     swallowing, hearing, or balance diagnosis. 
                     The College of Psychotherapy identifies similar distinctions and also acknowledges that there 
                     are occasions when they may overlap. Of particular interest to our registrants is the following: 
                      “counsellors may employ psychotherapeutic techniques to support the fostering of skills to 
                     assist clients in increasing their ability to cope with a specific dilemma.”  
                     Dilemmas for audiologists and SLPs would be issues related to communication, swallowing, 
                     hearing and balance. This in and of itself would not constitute performing the controlled act 
                     of psychotherapy. 
                      
                     College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario                                                                 2 
                     Did You Know..? 
                    POINTS TO REMEMBER 
                         •    The patient’s communication, swallowing, hearing or balance must be the primary 
                              concern  when  providing  counselling,  support,  education,  or  helping  with  problem 
                              solving and emotional regulation. If the primary concern is disorder of thought, mood 
                              or  emotion  and  you  intervene  with  psychotherapy  techniques,  that  would  be 
                              considered performing the controlled act of psychotherapy. 
                               
                         •    Registrants must have the knowledge, skills and judgement to provide counselling 
                              within  their  scope  of  practice.    They  must  also  know  when  to  refer  to  other 
                              professionals if the issues fall outside their scope or skill level. 
                               
                         •    If  you  have  the  required  education  and  want  to  perform  the  controlled  act  of  
                              psychotherapy, you must first apply to the College of Registered Psychotherapists. 
                    To learn more, visit: caslpo.com 
                     
                    College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario                                                           2 
                    Did You Know..?