Psychologists have, at the very least, a Masters degree and are licensed with a governing body. Counsellors can have a variety of backgrounds and levels of education and are not required to be part of a regulatory board. Psychiatrists are medical practitioners who can prescribe medication, and generally work with clinical populations.
Many people go for therapy as a last resort. However, It is best to address concerns before they become significant problems. If you have noticed a decline in functioning, or are distressed about a particular problem, you may want to at least call and learn more about services available to you.
At ECSS we work under a brief therapy model. How long a client attends varies depending on the presenting problem and the goals being worked toward. Generally, you should notice positive changes within 2 or 3 sessions, and many clients meet their goal(s) within 6 to 8 sessions. For some it is shorter, for others longer.
Typically sessions run 50 minutes. There are, however, occasions where a longer session is required. Assessment appointments vary depending on the type of testing being conducted. This can be discussed with the therapist when your appointment is made.
Again, there is no fixed answer. Most clients attend every week or 10 days until they begin to experience some changes. As improvement continues, intervals between sessions increase until goals are achieved and therapy is terminated.