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Psychotherapy is a process where a therapist and a client enter a therapeutic relationship and work together to create positive changes in the client’s thoughts, feelings, behaviours and social functioning. The overall goal of psychotherapy is to help people become more resilient and to ultimately live a more satisfying life. Psychotherapy can address many different issues beyond just diagnosed mental health disorders, including:

• Identity issues
  
• Relationship and intimacy issues
• Life transitions
• Grief and loss
• Spiritual or existential crisis
• Any other issues where an individual’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours are causing a negative impact on an individual’s life

Outro’s virtual therapy is a form of humanistic therapy called client-centered (or person-centered) therapy, which is a popular approach created by American psychologist Carl Rogers in the 1940s and 1950s. Through working with clients, Rogers observed that under the right conditions, people can find their way through challenges and make positive changes in their lives. The therapist provides a safe and understanding environment that encourages “agency” in the client - a sense of autonomy, choice and control over their life.

You can think of this approach as teaching the client to fish. We all know that life will have its ups and downs, so learning to take on challenges and solve problems independently can have a positive lasting impact on one’s overall quality of life.

Today, it’s more and more common for a therapist to be trained in several modalities and apply them according to what a client is working through. This is called integrative psychotherapy - and this also informs how we approach therapy at Outro. Each client and each issue is unique, and therapy here is delivered in a flexible, personalized way to address whatever might come up on that day or in that moment. Above all, we value creating safe and trusting relationships with our clients and working in collaboration with them towards their goals.

Therapy is a subjective process and the frequency of sessions will be determined through ongoing discussions between you and your therapist as the process evolves, including creating an initial care plan with your therapist during your consultation. When beginning therapy it is recommended to commit to at least 6-10 weekly sessions to help build on the work you do in the previous session. Like learning anything new, commitment and consistency can help you to get the most out of the experience. Eventually, as you feel better and build your skills, the frequency of sessions may lessen.

Again, because therapy is a subjective process influenced by many factors, it is difficult to determine in advance how many sessions you will need. Some individuals benefit from a shorter process focused on specific goals, while others find themselves in therapy long-term as they continue to work through issues. It’s also common to reach a point where a client returns for maintenance sessions as needed. Regardless, at Outro you and your therapist will collaborate on your treatment plan along the way, including helping you to understand when it might be time to take a break or complete your treatment.

Outro’s Psychotherapy is not covered by provincial health insurance, however most private insurance plans include coverage for psychotherapists.

Please confirm your coverage with your group benefits administrator before booking a session with one of Outro’s Psychotherapists. If therapy is covered by your plan, Outro will provide you with a detailed receipt after each session to submit for reimbursement.

Yes! Research consistently shows that online treatment can be very effective for many mental health concerns, with some key benefits over traditional face-to-face therapy such as accessibility and efficiency.