Regulation of Psychotherapy

Bill 171, the Health System Improvements Act, 2007 amends a number of Acts, including the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) and also includes new Acts, such as the Psychotherapy Act which establishes the new College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario. The Act creates a new controlled act of psychotherapy and, in its original form, authorized only physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, and members of the new college to perform it.

After a great deal of work by the OCSWSSW, the Ontario Association of Social Workers and a number of College members, an amendment to the legislation was introduced authorizing members of the OCSWSSW to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy in compliance with the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, regulations under the Act and the bylaws approved by Council.

Additionally, in its original form, the Psychotherapy Act restricted the use of the titles “psychotherapist” and “registered mental health therapist” to members of the new College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists. However, in May 2009, Bill 179, the Regulated Health Professions Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009 amended the title protection provisions in the Psychotherapy Act and amends the Social Work and Social Service Work Act to provide that a member of the OCSWSSW who is authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy may use the abbreviated title “psychotherapist” if the member complies with certain conditions.

Below are further facts College members need to know regarding the regulation of psychotherapy:

• By virtue of the amendment to the Regulated Health Professions Act, contained in Bill 171, members of the OCSWSSW are recognized in the legislation as being key players in the delivery of psychotherapy services; 
• The controlled act of psychotherapy is not yet proclaimed, therefore is not yet in force. Members of OCSWSSW who currently have the competence to provide psychotherapy services can continue to do so; 
• When the controlled act is proclaimed, members of the OCSWSSW will be authorized to perform the controlled act. The College is in the process of determining the competencies and processes necessary to regulate members who practise psychotherapy; 
• When the Psychotherapy Act and the Regulated Health Professions Statute Law Amendment Act come into force, members of the College who are authorized to perform the controlled act will be able to refer to themselves as psychotherapists, subject to certain conditions. Therefore members of the OCSWSSW authorized to perform the controlled act are not required to join the new college in order to practise psychotherapy or use the title; 
• The College will remain in close communication with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Ministry of Community and Social Services and other regulatory Colleges as implementation of the Act moves forward and we will keep members well informed on this matter.

For more information regarding the regulation of psychotherapy, please email the Professional Practice Department or call 416-972-9882 or 1-877-828-9380.