Psychotherapy Regulation
For further information about psychotherapy regulation, please visit The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
Transitional Council History of Events
As you may be aware, in November 2012 the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care requested that the Transitional Council for the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario reconsider the draft Registration Regulations related to the Registered Mental Health Therapist title.
The Transitional Council (TC) met on January 16, 2013 and, at that meeting, the redrafted Registration Regulations were presented to Council for their discussion and potential approval. While the discussion was centred on the two titles of Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Mental Health Therapist, there were also other very important changes in the draft regulations.
The Two Titles
The two options discussed for the Registered Mental Health Therapist Title were to have the RP and RMHT titles have the same registration requirements (the practitioner would be able to choose which title to use) or to include the RP title in the revised regulations and reserve the RMHT title for future use.
At the January 16, 2013 meeting, the Registration Regulation Committee announced that it had chosen to shelve the RMHT title and only proceed with the RP title. This was done in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and with the full support of the Ministry. The main reason cited for using only one title was to avert any possible public confusion and, thus, enhance public protection.
Education and Training Requirements
In the earliest drafts of the Registration Regulations, the requirement of a Master’s degree as ONE option for licensure was included. At the Ministry’s direction, this requirement was removed and only competency-based criteria were included. In the newest draft of the regulations, a Master’s degree has again been included as ONE of the options, as the Ministry now feels that this can be included. Competencies are no longer referenced but will be used as guidelines by the TC. The other options remain the same.
The clause now reads:
“ii. a master’s degree, which includes at least ten (10) semester courses (360) hours of training and education central to the practice of psychotherapy, recognized by the Registration Committee or a body that is approved by the Registration Committee; or”
In addition, the following was added
“The Registration Committee or a body approved by the Registration Committee shall not recognize a program unless one of its core components is to develop competency in the safe and effective use of self in the psychotherapeutic relationship.”
Currency
The grandparenting option required that candidates have at least 500 currency hours in Ontario. This has been changed to in Canada. This is an extremely important change, as we have many practitioners who practise across the Quebec-Ontario and Ontario-Manitoba borders.
Citizenship, Residency, Work Status
Former clauses 2(1) 5, 3(1) 2 and 3(1) 3 that were related to citizenship, residency and work status were eliminated. As part of the NAFTA agreement, they cannot be included in the regulations.
Definition of Currency Hours
This definition has been revised to include "other professional activities that impact the practice of psychotherapy." Examples of this would be teaching, supervising, research, serving on regulatory bodies.
Clinical Experience
Clause 5(1) 3 has been amended to read “The applicant must have successfully completed clinical experience that includes at least 450 direct client contact hours and at least 100 hours of clinical supervision related to these client contact hours. This clinical experience must not commence before the commencement of the educational program referred to in paragraph 1.”
The change was made for clarity.
Next Steps
The motion to accept these revised regulations and to allow them to be circulated for stakeholder feedback passed by a majority vote of the council.
Transitional Council Update
The Professional Misconduct Regulation was approved by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council and filed with the Registrar of Regulations on October 19, 2012 as O. Reg. 317/12. The regulation, which will come into force on the day the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 is proclaimed, is posted here to the e-Laws website.
Please refer any questions or comments to CRPO.