What is an RN Psychotherapist?
Written by Tara Tourloukis BScN RN MPN
You may have heard the terms psychotherapist or psychotherapy before, and maybe you don’t even really know what they mean. The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) defines psychotherapy as “primarily a talk-based therapy and is intended to help people improve and maintain their mental health and well-being” (CRPO, 2022, psychotherapy section). Huh. Now that sounds pretty interesting, and probably helpful. And did you know that RN’s can also be psychotherapists? Yes, not every nurse starts IV’s, or assists in the OR, or attends to traumas in the ER. I know, a lot of people have pretty specific ideas about what nurses do, but I’m here to tell you about a whole different role that nurses can fulfil!
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) states that psychotherapy “includes a deep assessment of life processes that focus on behaviour modifications, thinking patterns, cognition, emotional response and social functioning. In order to competently practice psychotherapy, nurses need in-depth knowledge, skill and judgment” (CNO, 2022, “psychotherapy” section). The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) restricts the controlled act component of psychotherapy to certain regulated professions, including registered nurses with the College of Nurses of Ontario. The other 5 regulated colleges whose members are permitted to perform psychotherapy include:
The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers
The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
The College of Psychologists of Ontario
“Nurses work both autonomously and in collaboration with others to enable individuals, families, groups, communities and populations to achieve their optimal levels of health”
So, do nurses posses the in-depth knowledge, skill and judgment to perform psychotherapy? Sure, some do. Much like some nurses have the in-depth knowledge, skill and judgment to hang blood products, or meticulously clean and dress a burn wound, or take care of the tiniest human beings in the NICU. We wouldn’t expect nurses to work in these highly skilled areas, without a solid foundation and an ongoing commitment to their specialized role. The same can be said for RN psychotherapists. In any area of healthcare, you will find individuals dedicated to their specialty, and who take the necessary time and effort to expand their foundational knowledge. RN psychotherapists are typically highly trained therapists, who bring experience, knowledge and skill to the therapy table. You will know a therapist is an RN, as they’re required to identify themselves as such to clients, as well as in writing – Tara Tourloukis, RN, Psychotherapist.
Here are some statistics on Ontario nurses who renewed their college registration in 2021:
2021 - 109,782 registered nurses renewed their registration in the General Class.
2021 - 5,749 nurses are noted to be working in Addiction/Mental Health Centre/Psychiatric Hospital. (CNO, Membership Statistics Report, 2022)
Although not all nurses working in mental health develop (or choose to) skills related to practicing psychotherapy, there are thousands of nurses in Ontario who have a foundation in mental health to do so. Moreover, like any position in healthcare, RN psychotherapists are a significant addition to the field of therapy. The Canadian Nurses Association defines nursing as “health care professionals who work both autonomously and in collaboration with others to enable individuals, families, groups, communities and populations to achieve their optimal levels of health. RNs deliver direct health care services to those at all stages of life and in situations of health, illness, injury and disability; they also coordinate care and support clients in managing their own health. RNs contribute to the health care system through their leadership across a wide range of settings” (CNA, 2015, framework pdf). Nurses practice from a unique lens that is person centered and holistic. In order to help support an individual in achieving their optimum level of health, the entire person needs to be considered - mind, body, spirit and mental wellness. Nursing is often viewed as a caring profession, and additionally, nurses are leaders, educators, collaborators and even therapists.
References
Canadian Nurses Association. (2015, November). Framework for the practice of registered nurses in Canada. https://hl-prod-ca-oc-download.s3-ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/CNA/2f975e7e-4a40-45ca-863c-5ebf0a138d5e/UploadedImages/Framework_for_the_Pracice_of_Registered_Nurses_in_Canada__1_.pdf
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2019, December 23). Psychotherapy and the controlled act component of psychotherapy. https://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/educational-tools/ask-practice/answers-to-your-questions-about-psychotherapy/
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2021, October 27). Membership statistics report 2021. https://www.cno.org/globalassets/2-howweprotectthepublic/statistical-reports/membership-statistics-report-2021-final.html
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (2022). What is psychotherapy? https://www.crpo.ca/find-a-registered-psychotherapist/what-is-psychotherapy/
