BCACC is waiting for legislative regulation of the psychotherapist profession

Expected to have a positive impact on increased public protection and availability of mental health services

VICTORIA, BC, May 24, 2024 /CNW/ – The BC Association of Clinical Counselors (BCACC) is pleased that psychotherapy regulation under the Health Professions Act and ultimately the new Health Care Professions Act is moving forward, as indicated in the Government of BC regulation May 24, 2024 Press Release.

ON October 19, 2022Ministry of Health under the leadership Adrian Dix, have expressed their intention to regulate clinical counseling under the new Health Professions and Professions Act (HPOA). A decision that was applauded by the BCACC. With over 85% of physicians in BC having a Master’s degree and a Registered Clinical Counselor (RCC) designation from the BCACC, the BCACC supports the need for legislative regulation and its potential to reduce accessibility barriers and increase public protection. IN British Columbia the terms “clinical counseling” and “psychotherapy” are used interchangeably.

BCACC General Director, Michael Radano says “The BCACC has been regulating the clinical counseling/psychotherapy profession for 36 years and has created the environment and regulatory elements required for statutory regulation – the profession is ready. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Health to improve public protection and quality of care while improving accessibility for British Columbians at the appropriate time.”

Currently, the province British Columbia there is no regulation of clinical counselors and psychotherapists at the master’s level, unlike in provinces such as AB, PEI, NB, NS, QC and ON. As BC witnesses increasing negative migration, the province may lose skilled professionals to provinces such as Albert, where counselors with a master’s degree in psychology can register with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). More than 37,000 of the 70,000 people who emigrated from British Columbia moved to Albert last year. Designation of a profession by the Ministry and Government of British Columbia will go a long way to ensuring that those practicing this profession remain in British Columbia.

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As demand for mental health services increases, British Columbians need timely access to high-quality clinical counseling/psychotherapy services and coverage by benefit plans and government programs. Regulating psychotherapy will expand access to doctors and reduce waiting times for British Columbians. Once regulated by statute, certain tasks may be delegated from one licensed profession to another by the government and regulatory colleges, provided the requisite training is obtained. This could further increase the accessibility of various aspects of mental health services to the public.

Over the years, there have been incidents of sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and false qualifications that have plagued the practice and society at large. Statutory regulations will strengthen public protection and prevent such cases.

BCACC has been approached by veterans who do not have access to mental health services due to a lack of professionals who can provide services through federally funded programs. Provincial regulation of psychotherapy would increase the pool by 7,200 specialists, thereby improving access, lowering costs and shortening wait times.

The BCACC welcomes the British Columbia Government’s move to regulate the profession as it is an urgently needed step that will provide British Columbians with safer and faster access to licensed medical professionals.

BCACC: BCACC is a not-for-profit provincial professional association founded in 1988 with over 8,000 members. BCACC advocates for the clinical counseling/psychotherapy profession and public access to mental health services. Its 7,200 Registered Clinical Counselors (RCCs) are committed to the highest standards of practice and a rigorous code of ethics in serving and protecting the public: https://bcacc.ca

SOURCE BC Association of Clinical Counselors

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