In this video essay, Dr. Hugo reflects on the long and often difficult path to becoming a psychotherapist. He shares stories from his own formation—beginning at York University, through his work at Warren Shepell, to his eventual registration as a psychologist—and unpacks the pressures, doubts, and joys that have shaped his vocation. This piece is dedicated to new and aspiring therapists, especially those navigating the modern landscape of private practice, supervision, and identity in the field.
Why Did You Want to Become a Psychotherapist?
It’s one of the most common questions asked in the field—and often the hardest to answer. In this intimate reflection, Dr. Hugo doesn’t just answer it. He walks us through what it truly means to hold this vocation, from the earliest signs of calling to the unpredictable shape the journey can take.
You’ll hear about the structural hurdles: the fierce competition in academic psychology, the exclusion of non-clinical students from practice paths, and the ways vocational desire often runs up against institutional constraints. But you’ll also encounter something quieter and deeper: the soul of the therapist being formed—not by textbooks, but through mentorship, vulnerability, and lived clinical experience.
The School of Real Practice
Dr. Hugo recounts his years at Warren Shepell, a clinical environment that became a kind of apprenticeship. There, surrounded by seasoned clinicians like Rosie and Gertrude, he discovered what supervision was meant to be: emotionally alive, strategically sharp, and relationally rich. It wasn’t a checkbox. It was a transmission of wisdom.
This reflection is a love letter to that kind of learning. To peer consultation over lunch. To knocking on a colleague’s door after a tough session. To the relief of not being alone in the work.
The State of the Field Today
The creation of the CRPO brought structure to psychotherapy in Ontario, and Dr. Hugo shares his admiration for those who now have access to the profession in ways he did not. But he also raises hard questions:
- What happens when private practice becomes the norm too early in a therapist’s formation?
- What are we losing when team environments are replaced by isolation and online platforms?
- Can we truly train the next generation without mentors who model emotional presence and procedural wisdom?
A Call to Reflection, Not Action
One of the most striking lines in the video is this: “Psychotherapy is not a call to action. It’s a call to reflection.”
Dr. Hugo challenges us to resist the pressure to “do something” too quickly. Instead, he invites viewers into the uncomfortable, essential work of holding space—for clients, for each other, and for ourselves.
What You’ll Take Away
Why early emotional experiences often draw people into the field
How mentorship—not just coursework—is essential to therapeutic formation
What supervision is really for (and why many are missing out)
How to find your voice as a therapist in a crowded, competitive field
Why the therapeutic relationship is the arena—not the technique
Questions for the Road
Dr. Hugo offers nine questions for emerging therapists—not to rush into, but to live into. Here are just a few:
- What originally drew you to this work—and has that evolved?
- Where are you learning procedural and participatory wisdom, not just technique?
- Are you cultivating your psychotherapeutic soul—or just collecting tools?
Watch the Full Reflection
If you’re a therapist, a student, or someone considering this path, this video is for you. It won’t give you quick tips—but it may just give you something more valuable: a renewed sense of purpose.
🎥 Watch now → Dr. Hugo’s Reflection on the Psychotherapy Vocation
