A College to regulate Psychotherapy in Ontario

On June 4 2007, Royal Assent was given to a historic event, the passage of the Psychotherapy Act 2207 which establishes at last a professional regulatory College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists in the Province of Ontario.

The Government of Ontario now officially recognizes that psychotherapy, such as the members of the site provide, is a legitimate activity that is useful and valuable to all residents of Ontario.

We thank all political parties within the Ontario Legislature for supporting the foundation of the new College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists.

The foundation of the new college also ends a long dispute by recognizing that psychotherapy is different and distinct from psychology. In fact, this marks the end of a long battle over who is entitled to provide psychotherapy in Ontario.

We commend the professional College of Psychologists and Psychological Associates for its integrity and courage in supporting the creation of the College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists despite opposition by many of its own members. Many psychologists came forward publicly to oppose the new College, claiming exclusive control over all psychological services despite not being trained to do psychotherapy. There is talk that these psychologists fear an open market and free consumer choice.

Now a Transitional Council selected by the government is at work to define the standards and credentials required for entry into this College of Psychotherapists. Among other things it will define the two categories for membership in the new College and grant the privilege of using the legal terms Psychotherapist and Registered Mental Health Therapist.

The details can be found within the omnibus Bill 171. This omnibus bill is called "An Act to improve health systems by amending or repealing various enactments and enacting certain Acts'. Look under Section R, Psychotherapy Act for details.

The legislation itself can be found here. Look under Section R, Psychotherapy Act for details.

For more about the Transitional Council and its Public meetings, as well as contact information, click here.

Members of the Toronto Therapy Network have played an active part in the creation of the new legislation.

We will post further developments in the months ahead.