BC introduces regulations regarding psychotherapy

Psychotherapy may soon become a regulated health profession in British Columbia, according to the province’s health ministry.

The province is proposing changes to the Health Professions Act to regulate psychotherapy so that people working in the field, including those who use titles such as clinical counselor, counseling therapist and psychotherapist, are subject to government supervision.

The provincial authorities announce that they will consult with the public over the next month and then decide whether to formally regulate psychotherapy.

If the province decides to regulate, a new regulatory board will be established and regulations will be created regarding liability, scope of practice and more.

At the moment anyone can call themselves a therapist and advertise their services to Britons looking for mental and emotional health support. They do not need any training and there is no official body with legal authority that can hold them accountable for any harm they may cause.

Erika Penner, a clinical psychologist and director of public outreach for the BC Psychological Association, said she’s unsure why people practicing psychotherapy in BC aren’t regulated.

“Psychologists have been regulated in our province for over 20 years, and we see what a difference it makes in terms of ensuring quality services,” Penner said. On the coast guest host Amy Bell.

According to Federation of Associations of Counseling Therapists in British Columbia (FACTBC), Nicole Le Bihan, psychotherapy practitioners can voluntarily join associations.

However, professional associations come into conflict because, as Le Bihan points out, they exist to both police and protect their members.

“Because being part of a professional association is voluntary, there may be many practitioners who do not have any supervision,” she told CBC. Early release host Stephen Quinn.

“If the government mandates that you belong to a regulatory college and you don’t comply, you won’t be able to continue practicing.”

FACTBC called on the province to regulate psychotherapy in the public interest in 2020. Le Bihan said regulation would help protect the public from harm.

“Patients will know what this means if they go to a psychotherapist,” she said.

“Just like when we go to see a doctor or nurse, we understand that… there is a certain code of ethics and expectations regarding their education, skills and competencies, and scope of practice.”

She said the first step is to define what psychotherapy actually involves.

“Psychotherapy deals with mental health disorders, problems or challenges, psychological challenges,” she said. “There are many different modalities and theories of change in the field of psychotherapy.”

The regulation “legitimizes” the profession, says FACTBC chairman

Le Bihan said one of the additional benefits of regulating psychotherapy is that it will increase the credibility of the profession and mental health care as a whole.

“If psychotherapy is recognized as a health care profession, it gives it much more legitimacy and that would be ideal. “Mental health is as important as physical health,” she said.

British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix echoed those sentiments.

“Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health,” Dix said.

“By continuing this consultation, we are ensuring that psychotherapy providers and clinical counselors who focus on treating mental health conditions are recognized as healthcare providers, and we are ensuring that they provide safe care for patients.”

LISTEN | Psychotherapy could soon be regulated in BC