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 2007 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.

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

The foundation of the new college is de facto recognition that psychotherapy is distinct from psychology.

We thank the College of Psychologists and Psychological Associates for supporting the creation of the College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists.

Under the new act a Transitional Council has been tasked to define the standards and credentials required for entry into the new College. Among other things it will define the two membership categories for membership in the new College and permit the use of the professional designations Psychotherapist and Registered Mental Health Therapist.

The legislation itself can be found here.

This 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.

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

In November 2011 the Transitional Council will make public all of its recommendations for the College. These will be reviewed by the government before the College opens, most likely in 2013.We will post further developments in the months ahead.