You've decided to try therapy. Then you hit the title problem: one profile says Registered Psychotherapist, another says Psychologist, a third says Registered Social Worker, and they all seem to offer the same thing.
In Ontario, these are distinct, regulated professions with real differences in training, legal authority, and cost. The good news: for most people seeking talk therapy, all three can be an excellent choice. This guide explains who does what, so you can choose based on what you actually need.
The Short Answer
- All three (psychologists, Registered Psychotherapists, and Registered Social Workers) can provide psychotherapy in Ontario. Psychotherapy is a legally restricted "controlled act" that only members of specific regulated professions may perform.
- Only some professionals can communicate a diagnosis. Psychologists and physicians can; Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers cannot.
- Cost differs. Psychologists in the Ottawa region charge around $240 to $250 per session on average; psychotherapists and social workers typically charge less: at Culminate Therapy, $170 to $185.
Now the detail.
Psychologist vs Therapist: What's the Difference?
A psychologist is a regulated professional, typically with doctoral-level training, who can assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions. "Therapist," on the other hand, is an everyday word rather than a protected title in Ontario: it can describe a Registered Psychotherapist, a Registered Social Worker, a psychologist, or someone with no regulated credential at all. So the useful question isn't whether someone calls themselves a therapist; it's which regulatory college they're registered with, because that tells you their training, what they're legally allowed to do, and how your benefits plan is likely to treat them.
When people in Ontario say "my therapist," they usually mean one of these:
- A Registered Psychotherapist (RP): trained specifically in psychotherapy and regulated by CRPO. Can assess and treat, but can't communicate a diagnosis.
- A Registered Social Worker (RSW): usually holds a Master of Social Work and is regulated by OCSWSSW. Can provide psychotherapy, but can't communicate a diagnosis.
- A psychologist: provides psychotherapy too, and can also carry out formal psychological assessment and communicate a diagnosis.
If a "therapist" isn't registered with one of the regulatory colleges described below, they aren't authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy.
Who Regulates Whom in Ontario
Every legitimate therapist in Ontario answers to a regulatory college that sets entry requirements, practice standards, and a public register you can check:
- Registered Psychotherapists (RPs) are regulated by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). RPs complete recognized psychotherapy training, typically at the graduate level, plus supervised practice hours and a registration exam. You can verify any RP on the CRPO public register.
- Psychologists are regulated by the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (formerly the College of Psychologists of Ontario). Psychologists typically complete a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) plus supervised practice and examinations; the college also registers master's-prepared psychological associates.
- Registered Social Workers (RSWs) are regulated by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Clinical RSWs usually hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) and provide psychotherapy within the social work scope of practice.
If a provider isn't on one of these registers (or a physician or nurse), they are not authorized to provide psychotherapy in Ontario; "counsellor" and "coach" on their own are not protected titles here.
The Controlled Act of Psychotherapy
Ontario law treats psychotherapy as one of 14 "controlled acts": activities considered risky enough that only properly qualified, regulated professionals may perform them. Treating a serious disorder of thought, emotion, or behaviour through a therapeutic relationship is legally restricted to members of specific colleges, including CRPO registrants, psychologists, physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, and registered social workers.
Practically, this is a consumer protection: when you see an RP, psychologist, or RSW, someone with the power to investigate complaints and revoke registration is standing behind that title.
Is a Counsellor the Same as a Psychotherapist in Ontario?
Not necessarily. "Psychotherapist" is a protected title in Ontario, but "counsellor" is not, so anyone can call themselves a counsellor, whether or not they're regulated. Many counsellors are Registered Psychotherapists or Registered Social Workers who simply use "counselling" to describe their work, but the word on its own tells you nothing about someone's training or accountability. Before booking with someone who describes themselves only as a counsellor, check whether they appear on a regulatory college's public register.
A few points worth knowing:
- Who can use the title "psychotherapist": it's reserved for CRPO members and, under specific conditions, for members of the other colleges whose registrants can practise psychotherapy.
- What an unregulated counsellor can offer: CRPO lists counselling and support, such as advice-giving, help resolving dilemmas and improving coping strategies, among the activities that fall outside the controlled act. Treating a serious disorder of thought, mood or emotional regulation through psychotherapy is different: that's the controlled act, and it requires registration.
- Why registration matters: a registered professional answers to a college with practice standards and a complaints process. An unregistered counsellor doesn't, and your benefits plan may not reimburse their fees.
Psychotherapist vs Social Worker: Who Can Provide Therapy?
Both can. Registered Psychotherapists (regulated by CRPO) and Registered Social Workers (regulated by OCSWSSW) are both authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy in Ontario, and neither can communicate a diagnosis. The difference lies mainly in training and lens: RPs complete education focused specifically on psychotherapy, while clinical social workers usually hold a Master of Social Work, a degree that also emphasizes how family, community and life circumstances affect wellbeing. For most people seeking therapy, fit with the individual clinician matters more than which of the two titles they hold.
Two practical differences to check:
- Insurance wording: some benefits plans list social workers and psychotherapists as separate provider categories, so confirm which one your plan covers.
- Titles: a social worker who practises psychotherapy may describe themselves as a psychotherapist, but must pair it with their social work registration (for example, "RSW, Psychotherapist").
Psychotherapy vs Therapy vs Counselling
In everyday conversation, the three words overlap, and most people use them interchangeably. The distinction that matters in Ontario is legal: psychotherapy that treats a serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory is a controlled act that only members of six regulatory colleges may perform. "Therapy" and "counselling" have no legal definition of their own, so they tell you less about who you'll be seeing than that person's registration does.
As a rough guide:
- Counselling often describes shorter-term, focused support: working through a specific decision, stressor or coping challenge.
- Psychotherapy usually means deeper or longer-term work on patterns of thinking, feeling and relating, including treatment for concerns like depression, anxiety or trauma.
- Therapy is the umbrella term most people use for either.
Many clinicians do both, and a single course of therapy can move between them. If the distinction matters to you, ask a prospective therapist how they'd describe their work, and which college they're registered with.
Who Can Diagnose, and Why It Matters
This is the clearest legal difference between the professions.
Communicating a diagnosis is itself a controlled act in Ontario. CRPO is explicit in its practice standards: registrants are not authorized to communicate a diagnosis to clients; however, they are permitted to assess clients. An RP can evaluate your symptoms, form a clinical impression, plan treatment, and treat a condition that has already been diagnosed, but cannot tell you "you have major depressive disorder." A psychologist or physician can.
The same limitation applies to Registered Social Workers.
When does this actually matter?
- You need a formal diagnosis on paper, for insurance claims, disability applications, workplace or academic accommodations, or a psychoeducational assessment. See a psychologist (or a physician/psychiatrist).
- You want treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, or relationship distress. A diagnosis is usually not required to do excellent therapeutic work. An RP or RSW can assess and treat, and will refer you to your family doctor if a diagnostic question needs answering.
What About Psychiatrists?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. They can diagnose, prescribe medication, and, uniquely, their services, including psychotherapy, are covered by provincial health plans, as CAMH notes. The trade-offs: you typically need a physician referral, wait times are long, and many psychiatrists focus on assessment and medication management rather than ongoing weekly talk therapy.
The Cost Difference
Training length shows up in the price:
- Psychologists: the Ontario Psychological Association's 2024 fee survey found psychological treatment most commonly billed at $250 per hour, with Eastern Ontario (Ottawa region) averaging about $240.
- Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Social Workers: generally lower. At Culminate Therapy, standard 50-minute individual sessions are $170 to $185.
- Neither is taxed. Psychotherapy and counselling therapy services have been exempt from GST/HST since June 2024.
We've broken down the full cost picture (including OHIP rules and free public options) in How Much Does Therapy Cost in Ottawa?
The Insurance Wrinkle
Extended health benefits plans reimburse by provider type, and the wording matters. Some plans cover "psychologists" only; many now cover "Registered Psychotherapists" and "Registered Social Workers" as well. Notably, the federal Public Service Health Care Plan (which covers much of Ottawa's workforce) now includes psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, and counsellors as eligible providers, with up to $5,000 per year in coverage.
Before booking anyone, check your plan for which provider types it covers, the percentage reimbursed, and your annual maximum. Our insurance page walks through this, and because our team spans both CRPO and OCSWSSW registration, we can usually match you with a therapist your plan covers.
So Which Do You Need?
Choose a psychologist when you need formal psychological assessment or a communicated diagnosis (psychoeducational testing, disability documentation, complex diagnostic questions) and your budget or benefits support the higher fee.
Choose a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker when you want ongoing therapy for concerns like anxiety, trauma, grief, burnout, or relationship difficulties. The therapeutic relationship (how well you and your therapist work together) is one of the most important ingredients in whether therapy helps, and it doesn't depend on which of the three titles is on the door.
Choose a psychiatrist (via your family doctor) when medication is a central question or your situation requires medical management.
These paths also combine well: many clients see an RP or RSW for weekly therapy while a physician manages medication.
Who You'll Find at Culminate Therapy
Our Ottawa team includes Registered Psychotherapists regulated by CRPO, including Ph.D.-level and master's-level clinicians and a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) practising with clinical supervision, as well as a Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW) regulated by OCSWSSW who provides psychotherapy services. Every clinician's registration can be verified on their college's public register.
Not sure who fits your situation and your benefits plan? That's exactly what our free 20-minute consultation is for, or you can browse our therapists and their approaches directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a psychotherapist diagnose you in Ontario? No. CRPO registrants are not authorized to communicate a diagnosis, though they are permitted to assess clients and treat previously diagnosed conditions. For a formal diagnosis, see a psychologist, psychiatrist, or family doctor.
Is a psychologist better than a psychotherapist? Neither is "better"; they're trained for different things. Psychologists have doctoral-level training and can diagnose and conduct formal assessments. Registered Psychotherapists specialize in delivering psychotherapy. For ongoing talk therapy, fit with your therapist matters more than the title.
Does OHIP cover psychologists or psychotherapists? Not in private practice. OHIP covers psychotherapy only when provided by a physician, such as a psychiatrist. Psychologists' and psychotherapists' private fees are paid out of pocket or through extended health benefits.
What does "Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)" mean? It's a CRPO registration category for therapists completing their final requirements for independent practice. Qualifying registrants are registered with and accountable to CRPO and practise with clinical supervision.
Is a social worker a real therapist? Yes. Registered Social Workers with clinical training (typically an MSW) are authorized to provide psychotherapy in Ontario and are regulated by OCSWSSW. Many insurance plans cover their services under "social worker" benefits.
How do I verify a therapist is registered? Search the CRPO public register for psychotherapists, or the OCSWSSW online register for social workers. Every regulated therapist in Ontario appears on their college's register, along with their status and any restrictions.
