Dangers of not choosing the right psychotherapist:
It is important to keep in mind that therapy in BC is currently ungoverned; thus, almost anyone with minimal experience, a diploma or less can open a practice and call themselves counselors or a certified life coach. As mentioned in this CBC article, which shows through an investigation how someone could become a certified life coach by just paying $250 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/marketplace-life-coach-1.6364745 . Thus, it becomes important to do your research into their education, training and experience. It even becomes more important to do so if you are having mental health concerns/symptoms, querying a diagnosis or going through a crisis in your life. Getting professional help is important; you and your loved ones deserve the best care possible. At Unitive Wellness Clinic we have taken the guesswork out by having done the research; thus you can feel assured, knowing that our psychotherapists have graduated with a minimum masters degree from an accredited university. We also do our due diligence in matching you and your family to the therapist and modality that would best meet you and your family’s needs.
Furthermore, with the increased offering in online therapies from all over the world, one might want to consider not being able to hold a therapist accountable if harm is done. If a therapist is not registered in the province or country of the client they are serving; one is most likely unable to hold them accountable for any harm done, which would not be the case if the psychotherapist you are seeing works and lives in the same province as yourself.
Also, at Unitive Wellness Clinic we do our best to support our clients outside of sessions by providing them with resources, guidance and support in things such as systems management to the best of our ability. Working with a psychotherapist in your own community can help guide you to further appropriate services/resources when/if need be, given the familiarity with community resources.