Transitional Council of the College of Registered Psychotherapists

Transitional Council of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario www. collegeofpsychotherapists. on. ca

‘Grandparenting’ Psychotherapists in Ontario Presentation to SPCR/ CASCSWONT/ WLS Conference Joyce Rowlands, Registrar Transitional Council College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario May 24, 2013 2 2

Overview of Presentation • Brief Hx of Psychotherapy Act 2007 • Legislative Framework • Deferral of RMHT title • (Draft) Registration Requirements • Grandparenting • Questions 3 3

Psychotherapy Act, 2007 § Transitional Council appointed ‘ 09 § Challenge: 2 titles § 3 regulations required § Professional Misconduct (done) § Quality Assurance (done) § Registration Regulation (in process) § ‘Pre-registration’ fall 2013 § Goal: proclamation by Apr 1, 2014 4 4

Legislative Framework (Psychotherapy Act + RHPA) Key Provisions: § Scope of practice § Restricted titles • Reg. Psychotherapist (RP) • Reg. Mental Health Therapist (RMHT) § Controlled act of Psychotherapy § ‘Holding out’ clause 5 5

Psychotherapy – Scope of Practice The practice of psychotherapy is the assessment and treatment of cognitive, emotional or behavioural disturbances by psychotherapeutic means, delivered through a therapeutic relationship, based primarily on verbal or non-verbal communication. § Not exclusive to College of Psychotherapists …nor to regulated professionals § Unregulated practitioners may provide services that fall within the scope 6 6

Controlled Act of Psychotherapy (Subset of Scope of Practice) “…to treat, by means of psychotherapy technique …an individual’s serious disorder that may seriously impair his or her judgment, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning. ” 7 7

Exemption for Counselling Exemption in Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) for counselling “Communication made in the course of counselling about emotional, social, educational and spiritual matters” … is exempt from regulation 8 8

‘Holding Out’ Clause § Prohibits anyone who is not a member of the College* from holding him/herself out as qualified to practise psychotherapy * or one of the other authorized Colleges 9 9

Deferral of Reg. Mental Health Therapist § MOHLTC disagreed with RMHT category as proposed, i. e. § those work overlaps scope of practice; and § who may be doing the controlled act, e. g. addiction counsellors § Outcome: deferral of RMHT title 10 10

Other Regulated Professions may use “Psychotherapist” title (but not Reg. Psychotherapist) § Physicians § Nurses § Social workers (by exemption) § Psychologists § Occupational therapists … along with their professional designation or the name of their regulatory College 11 11

What does all this mean? § If your work primarily involves the practice of psychotherapy, you should consider becoming a member …unless you’re a member of another college § If your work involves the controlled act of psychotherapy, you must become a member …unless you’re a member of another college, or MOHLTC creates an exemption 12 12

Unregulated Practitioners … § must take care not to work with clients who have serious disorders… § may not use any protected title, variation or abbreviation § may not ‘hold themselves out’ as qualified to practice psychotherapy in Ontario 13 13

Registration Requirements Revised draft Registration Regulation… § includes 1 main category of members (RP) § also, Qualifying, Temporary & Inactive categories 14 14

Summary of Proposed Registration Requirements DRAFT for Discussion Purposes ONLY (Subject to Change) 15 15

Summary of Proposed Registration Requirements DRAFT for Discussion Purposes ONLY (Subject to Change) Revised April 29, 2013 16 16

Registration Requirements (RP) Education/ Training: Ø Coherent education/ training program requiring undergrad degree for admission; or Ø Master’s degree; or Ø Substantially equivalent program; or Ø Equivalent program in Indigenous healing 17 17

… other registration requirements Ø 450 hrs direct client contact Ø 100 hrs clinical supervision Ø Jurisprudence e-learning module Ø Registration exam * For independent practice: 1000 client hrs &150 hrs clinical supervision 18 18

Qualifying Member Category Applicant must: § Be enrolled to take registration exam, having completed recognized education program, or § be completing full registration requirements, after substantially completing education & training program Recent graduates may register in Qualifying category and then apply for ‘grandparenting’ 19 19

Qualifying Member Category (cont’d) § Registered members § Must practise under supervision § May perform controlled act § May use title: RP (Qualifying) § 5 year time limit 20 20

Questions and Comments? 21 21

Grandparenting § Alternate route for experienced practitioners § Available for 2 yrs § Registration exam (no); JRP Module (yes) § “Portfolio evidence” of education, clinical experience, other professional activities (weighted point system) 22 22

Currency Requirement for ‘Grandparenting’ § Must be current in the practice of the profession § 750 “currency” hrs required with 3 yrs prior to application § 500 currency hrs must be in Canada § Currency hours include: § Direct client work § Preparation and record-keeping § Teaching, research, supervision, consulting, managing, etc. 23 23

Grandparenting cont’d… Minimum requirements: § 100 hrs education/ training related to scope of practice § 800 direct client contact hrs § 40 hrs supervision (min. 20 hrs clinical supervision) § 30 hrs educ’n/ training in “safe & effective use of self” § Other professional activities (possible bonus points) 24 24

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Scoring of Portfolio Evidence for ‘Grandparenting’ (cont’d…) 26 26

Portfolio Scoring System: § Min. points required in each category § Overall minimum score of 65 is required § Min. pts in each category will not meet overall minimum 27 27

Scoring example: § Min. 100 hrs educ’n & training c 10 points § Max. possible pts. for educ’n & training is 25 § Min. & max. points in each category § Min. overall score required is 65 § 5 possible bonus points for “other professional activities” 28 28

Supervision § Min. 40 hrs supervision required, including at least 20 hrs clinical supervision § Clinical supervision can be individual, dyadic or group § Groups can be 12 or greater (some flexibility) § Min. 40 hrs c 10 points (max. possible pts. in this category is 25) 29 29

Application process for ‘Grandparenting’ § § § Pre-registration Oct. 2013 Online application Certain disclosures req’d Detailed info re portfolio evidence Random sample asked to submit supporting documentation § Letter of verification § Statutory declaration 30 30

Questions and Comments? 31 31