The following is being circulated at the request of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO):
As OCSWSSW members are aware, on December 30, 2017, the government of Ontario proclaimed into force the controlled act of psychotherapy, with a two-year transition period to allow the mental health sector a period of time in which individuals must either become registered with one of the appropriate colleges or restrict their services so that they do not perform the controlled act.
NOTE: Members of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) are authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy in compliance the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, its regulations and bylaws. OCSWSSW members must practise in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, Second Edition, 2008, as revised from time to time, which have been approved by bylaw.
In conjunction with the proclamation, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care directed the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) to provide more clarity on the meaning of the controlled act of psychotherapy and what practices would not be considered to be part of the controlled act.
Specifically, CRPO was compelled to:
1) Use its regulation-making authority under section 11 of the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 to make a regulation “prescribing therapies involving the practice of psychotherapy, governing the use of prescribed therapies and prohibiting the use of therapies other than the prescribed therapies in the course of the practice of psychotherapy.”
2) Develop policies, guidelines and other supporting resources that clearly articulate the activities that Council does not consider to be part of the controlled act of psychotherapy … [to] assist individuals in determining whether their activities fall within the public domain or whether they would need to register with the College.
The deadline set by the Minister for the completion of this work was July 1, 2018. In response to the Minister’s direction, CRPO has developed a suite of documents – which include the required regulation and policy – that are being shared with interested stakeholders for their review and comments prior to the CRPO Council’s decision to adopt any of the documents. To view the CRPO Controlled Act Task Group Draft Consultation Documents, click here.