Psychotherapy Takeover Fears II: Québec’s Example
This discussion paper was originally published June 26, 2015. The full text is available here.
As most of those following this issue are aware, the Psychotherapy Act was proclaimed on April 1, 2015. It has gone through all of the steps necessary to become law.
The problematic definition of the controlled act of psychotherapy and other sections of the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) were not proclaimed. For now, the title, not practice is restricted in Ontario. In its May 11 Communiqué, the College of Regulated Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) explains that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care prompted the six regulatory colleges whose members will be authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy to further define its meaning.
This ought to be good news. However, as previously discussed, the definition is overbroad and leaves many practitioners wondering whether they risk facing enforcement actions from the CRPO. Please continue putting pressure on your MPP, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the CRPO by explaining how your practice may be at risk because of the lack of clarity between counselling and psychotherapy definitions. Your professional associations should have clear standards and scope of practice guidelines, as discussed in the earlier paper. It’s important for these groups to be providing leadership on your concerns as well.