News

The CRPO is asking all Registrants – and members of the public – to have their voices heard re: proposed amendments to the Clinical Supervisor definition.

Feedback received through this survey will be considered by Council.

The deadline to submit feedback is April 30, 2023.

The draft revised definition is available here.

Did you know:

• you can invite a colleague to join OSRP at any point in their career
• if this is their first time with OSRP, you will receive $50 off your membership renewal in July, and:
• they will get $50 off their first year?

This is a great opportunity to invite folks who might appreciate the low member-only pricing on PS: protect yourself: PROTECT SEMINARS, and exclusive access to after-seminar-materials including video – a member-only benefit.

April 1 is a terrific start date for a new member, with a minimal financial commitment up front.

Other members-only benefits are listed in this handy INVITE TEMPLATE, which you can address to your colleague as a special gift from you.

Please find a list of membership benefits – including health insurance, discounts on many products and services, access to the ListServ, and so much more – HERE.

Thank you for welcoming new members, and making OSRP the professional home for over 1,200 Ontarians…and rising!

The good news:  Our efforts are being NOTICED. 

OSRP members, united in a National Coalition, have been effective and impactful.

See OSRP Facebook post of volunteers with Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett as just one example of helpful contact with changemakers.

But there is some not-so-great news. It doesn’t seem that the GST/HST Exemption for our profession is in the 2023-24 Federal Budget. This is disappointing, given the launch of the House of Commons petition in September 2022, and all the great work by OSRP members signing, sharing and sending letters to their MPs.

Members of the OSRP Advocacy Committee, buoyed by the Finance Committee recommendation to remove GST/HST on mental health services, and the new Bill introduced by MP Ellis, asked you to write LETTERS. And write you did!

Those letters, and all that pressure, opened the door to several extremely important meetings with government MPs/Cabinet Ministers, and with the Finance Minister’s staff.

Please keep writing your well-informed and respectful letters and emails to your MP, and/or politely engaging with them about this at virtual or in-person community gatherings — it really, really does help. We are building a coalition that includes government leaders!

From our meetings last week, we repeatedly heard:

• RPs have done a great job with our advocacy – MP offices were flooded with emails. We've gotten the message in front of all the right people.  WELL DONE EVERYONE!!!
• Our cause is supported by MPs
• The GST/HST exemption would cost very little within the approx $433 Billion projected spend. $15 Million per year in tax loss for the government is a nominal expense, not overly impactful for any budget
• The change could be made outside of an annual budget announcement but –
• The issue is currently stuck. The challenge is with how the profession is defined differently in each province, related to the lack of clarity and consistency in a multi-provincial manner.
• If we can find a way to break this deadlock –
• Amendments to the Excise Tax Act exempting therapy will have to come from the Liberal government; they can't come from either of the two opposition bills, but debates on this issue will keep this on the agenda!
• In May/June, which we’ve been advised is ideal timing,  we will reach out again to key folks in Finance to learn more about exactly how and why this is stuck, and try to dislodge it as best we can.

To join the Advocacy Committee please click HERE.

To read our updates, please visit our webpage ADVOCACY CORNER.

The CRPO has responded to questions and concerns from OSRP members.

Thank you to all members who shared their questions and concerns with the Board. We were active in amplifying and relaying your voices. The CRPO has responded. 

WHO TAKES THE CBA? AND WHEN? AND HOW DOES THIS FIT INTO MY REGULAR QA SCHEDULE?

The CRPO indicates that each year, 20% of all registrants will be randomly selected to do the CBA. (Half in spring; half in fall.)

This will replace the previous random selection of registrants for a “Peer and Practice Review.”

“2023 CBA dates are as follows:
Spring CBA: Friday, May 26 to Sunday, June 4, 2023

Fall CBA: Friday October 27, 2023 to Sunday, November 5, 2023

Registrants who have been randomly selected for the May 2023 CBA will be notified the week of February 27, 2023.”

CRPO February 2022 Communiqué

So, after five years, it seems that all Registrants will have taken the CBA.

WHY THE CBA? 

“The CBA is intended to assist RPs in identifying opportunities to improve their practice with the goal of supporting safe, ethical and effective care.”

CRPO clarified that it is not meant to be punitive. Nor was it created because of a large number of complaints from the public. (See chart below.)

HOW DOES THE CBA COMPARE WITH OTHER COLLEGES?

“Each health college is obliged to have a QA program that satisfies section 80.1 of the RHPA (Minimum requirements for quality assurance program). In introducing the College Performance Measurement Framework, or CMPF, the Ministry of Health established the expectation that all colleges would ‘effectively administer the assessment component(s) of its QA Program in a manner that is aligned with right touch regulation.’

Not all colleges have updated their programs since this requirement was introduced. As the Ministry is beginning to enforce the standards set by the CPMF, it is reasonable to assume that the other health regulators will be…revising their approach to how they deliver QA program elements in order to comply with the expectation that they align with the right-touch approach.”

COTO uses a competency assessment process and a risk-based selection process: https://www.coto.org/registrants/quality-assurance/competency-assessment”

We requested further information re: how our College’s registrants compare to others in terms of complaints. CRPO shared the following table: 

COLLEGE	FORMAL COMPLAINTS* in 2021	REGISTRANTS as of 2021
College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)	132	4,620
College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO)	16	6,452
College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)	420	193,405
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)	1751	45,183
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)	69	9,220

*Note that these numbers are for complaints received about all registrants of each college, not just those practising psychotherapy.

IS THE CBA ACCESSIBLE? 

CRPO indicates they are “committed to an ongoing evaluation and will be reviewing every offering of the CBA. This evaluation will include accessibility. RPs will be consulted at each step of the program delivery…those RPs who would benefit from any form of accommodation are encouraged to participate by providing specific, constructive feedback.  Additionally, accessibility was considered in designing the process and in the selection of the assessment platform.”

The CRPO is “in the process of engaging with a consultant to review accessibility across all core regulatory processes, including the QA Program.”

“CRPO will be working with an expert in competence assessment and quality assurance for ongoing competency requirements to evaluate the results of each CBA sitting. Part of this evaluation will be an equity impact assessment of the program that will be undertaken to identify any differential rates of success among BIPOC RPs, registrants who are Neuro-Diverse or disabled as well as RPs from other equity-deserving communities that may have faced barriers to entry to the profession. CRPO now has an active Diversity Equity and Inclusion Working Group that will be able to provide guidance around applying an equity and intersectional lens to evaluation of the program.”

OSRP Members please note:

“Registrants will be asked to provide self-identification data that will assist CRPO in carrying out an equity impact assessment of the QA Program.”  All OSRP members are encouraged to confidentially self-identify in the CBA process if they are comfortable doing so.

CRPO indicates that: “CBA development has been informed by the perspectives of a diverse group of 50 professionals representing a variety of psychotherapy modalities, communities of practice, and lived experiences. As the program continues to be developed, CRPO will be recruiting more RPs and will actively seek out the involvement of registrants who may face barriers.”

CRPO indicates they are committed to continually improving the CBA. “Results will be assessed after each offering.”

OSRP members taking the CAB are encouraged to fill out the survey afterwards.

WHERE DO I FIND SUPPORT AND INFO re: CBA?

The OSRP is offering guidance re: the CRPO Standards, and support with the CBA in our first PS: protect yourself Protect Seminar on April 6. REGISTRATION LINK

Please contact us at [email protected] if you require additional support or resources. 

CRPO adds that “the changes to the QA Program will result in a program that is more risk-focused; does not create unnecessary burden for clinicians who are already knowledgeable about the Standards; and assists registrants who demonstrate gaps in their knowledge of the Standards to avoid breaches that could lead to complaints about their conduct or care and – most importantly – harm to clients. This approach ensures that CRPO and registrant resources are used in a way that is most likely to mitigate any risk of harm to the public without creating undue burden on the profession.”

The CRPO has suggested that members “review the College’s Quality Assurance Enhancement Project webpage, which is updated regularly and provides accurate, up-to-date information about the project and links to the other QAP resources. We would also encourage you to review the January 11th message (Addressing misinformation about CRPO's QAP enhancement project) that was sent to all registrants…

Finally, the full set of Quality Assurance Program Policies are available online; they provide a complete overview of the requirements, process and approach that CRPO will be using to administer the QAP in accordance with right-touch and risk-based principles.

I’d also note that a brief update on the project will be provided at the March 29 Council meeting.” 

COUNCIL AGENDA - please note QA item scheduled for 2:25–2:40 PM ET 

To register using the Council Meeting Observer Registration Form will allow you to receive the link to watch the live stream.

How do you stay nourished, regulated and avoid burnout? We all want to know. Learn and share with world experts in their fields. 

Develop in community. Safe and effective, together.

Click here to download the flyer. Please share with colleagues and friends! Flex Pass available until May 1.

Protect yourself with these five seminars offered throughout 2023. Starting with CRPO QA, take a dive deep into culture, sexuality, our cyber world, and then land with you. Yes, you. 

And a big thank you to the 82+ members who have already signed up!

Can’t wait to see you, virtually or in person, starting April 6.

RISK MITIGATION FOR PSYCHOTHERAPISTS 

Analysis of the most common causes for complaints and lawsuits, with advice on how to avoid mistakes, and minimize the risk of discipline or malpractice judgments.

Members discuss CRPO Case-Based Assessment (CBA) with practice questions.

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023

Time: 11 AM-1 PM ET

Location: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St, Toronto (Grosvenor Room) and Online via Zoom

Lisa E. Hamilton, Partner, Temple Bell LLP, Litigation Lawyers. Bell Temple Bell LLP is recognized as one of the top 10 insurance defense boutiques in Canada.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL COMPETENCY: WHAT IS IT?  

The CRPO has clearly mandated all Registrants to continue developing cultural competencies. This roundtable event discusses what this actually means in practice.

Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Time: 11 AM-1 PM ET

Location: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St, Toronto (Grosvenor Room) and online via Zoom

Shanique Victoria Edwards, B.Sc., M.Div.(c), a member of Black Mental Health Canada’s Circle of Leaders and Founder and CEO of the Eden Legacy Foundation, works as knowledge translation coordinator for the Cundill Centre for Child and Youth Depression at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

Dr. Oren Gozlan, Psy.D., ABPP, FIPA, is a clinical psychologist and a psychoanalyst in Toronto. He is Chair of the scientific committee at the Toronto Institute for Psychoanalysis and a member of the Committee for Gender and Sexuality of the IPA. He is faculty at the University of Toronto (Applied Psychology and Human Development).

Dr. Chase McMurren(Spirit name: Water Song Medicine Keeper) is Michif/Metis (Turtle Clan) from Lethbridge, AB, located on traditional Siksikaitsitapi, Blackfoot Confederacy Territory and covered by Treaty 7. He currently lives and works in Tkarón:to |GichiKiiwenging and serves as the Indigenous Health Theme Lead in the MD Program and the Indigenous Practitioner Liaison within the Office of Indigenous Health in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. 

CYBER THERAPY: PROTECTING OUR PROFESSIONAL IMAGE, ENSURING BOUNDARIES AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Date: Thursday, July 6, 2023

Time: 5-6:30 PM ET

Location:  Online via Zoom

Lawrence Murphy, MA, Counselling Psychology, and Instructor, Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University. Lawrence Murphy is the founder of Worldwide Therapy Online, the world’s first online clinical practice, established in 1994.

PROTECTING RPs FROM SEXUAL BOUNDARY VIOLATIONS

Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Time: Noon-1 PM ET 

Q&A with Presenter Online via Zoom

Dr. Andrea Celenza, Ph.D., is a Psychoanalyst, Psychologist, and world expert who literally wrote the book on Sexual Boundary Violations: Therapeutic, Academic and Supervisory Contexts. She is a Training and Supervising Analyst, Boston Psychoanalytic Society/Institute; faculty, at Mass. Institute for Psychoanalysis; and Assistant Clinical Professor, Harvard Medical School.

STAY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE: NEUROBIOLOGY, SELF-REGULATION AND DOSE (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins)

Who Takes Care of the Caretakers? How do we resource ourselves and self-regulate to avoid “compassion fatigue,” burnout, illness and enactment?

Date: Sunday, November 26, 2023

Time: 4–5:30 PM ET

Location: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St, Toronto (Grosvenor Room) and online via Zoom

Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas, Ph.D., Medical Neuroscientist, Professor in Brain Disorders Management, Mental Health and Disability Management at Mohawk College, is an expert in brain-related medical conditions and mental health. Dr. Krissy was recognized in CBC TV’s “HERstory in Black,” and named an honouree in 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women 2022.

COST

NON-MEMBERS:

• $50 + HST per event to attend in person or virtually. No post-event access to video or materials.

OSRP MEMBERS

Option 1:  Live Pass (per event)

• $10 + HST to attend in person or virtually and receive post-event access to video & available materials.

Option 2: Next Best Thing Pass (per event)

• $20 + HST for post-event access to video & available materials. Pass available until Dec 31, 2023.

Option 3: Flex Pass (live access and all available materials for all events)

• $75 + HST for guaranteed attendance to all five events and post-event access to video & available materials. Pass available until May 1 2023.

REGISTRATION & MORE INFORMATION

Click here to register and get detailed information on each event.

A number of OSRP members have contacted the OSRP Board about the upcoming Case-Based Assessment (CBA), part of the CRPO’s ongoing Quality Assurance (QA) Enhancement Project.

This is something that will, at some point, affect every CRPO Registrant, so even if you are not currently aware of the upcoming CBA, we want to help you learn more. Your association wants to help inform and empower all members as much as possible.

The OSRP/CRPO Committee does not currently have a Chair, so the Executive Committee of the Board has absorbed this responsibility. We have posted a job description for a newly-created position – OSRP Liaison to CRPO.

In the meantime, we have taken some action with regard to the CBA. 

The OSRP is a member of a larger, umbrella group of fellow associations called the PRPA: the Partnership of Registered Psychotherapist Associations.

The PRPA collectively represents one-third of all 11,000+ CRPO Registrants.

We have been working with the Chair of their standing PRPA CRPO Committee to bring items forward to the CRPO. We have raised all of the questions and concerns you shared with us (anonymized, of course). The PRPA, in consultation with OSRP, has focused its interventions with CRPO on seven areas:

• What led the CRPO to implement the CBA as part of its “Right Touch” efforts?
• How does our College compare to others, including those whose members practise the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy, in terms of:
  a) number of complaints received, and
  b) assessment/QA of its members?
• Can the CRPO explain to all Registrants:
  ○ who will be asked to take the CBA,
  ○ when they will be asked to take it, and
  ○ how it fits in with their overall QA schedule?

(NB: Most recently, the CRPO advised those who just did their regular bi-annual QA that the CBA will be randomly applied to 20% of all Registrants per year. It seems that every Active Registrant will be asked to do the CBA once every five years.)

• Is the CRPO certain that accessibility needs of neurodiverse, BIPoC, differently-abled, Senior, and other Equity-seeking Registrants have been met in all aspects of the CBA (even in the practice questions section of the CRPO website, which currently offers no accessibility supports, unlike the pilot CBA which offered multiple opportunities to obtain accessibility supports)?
• Is there a way for CRPO to know if there is an impact on neurodiverse, BIPoC, differently-abled, Senior, and other Equity-seeking Registrants (with reference to anxiety and other barriers)?
• Will the CRPO be offering alternate modes of assessment such as an open-book oral exam, if requested by Registrants?
• Registrants are aware of  the Ontario Human Rights Code and other protections. Has the CRPO had the opportunity to evaluate the administration of the CBA through this lens, or do an “accessibility audit” of materials?

We expect that the answers to the above questions, and others, will be found in upcoming CRPO communications to all Registrants.

Further, the Protect SubCommittee was established by the OSRP Board on Feb 17, 2023. 

Its mandate is to:

• help RPs, RP(Q)s and Students to protect themselves by identifying common ethical challenges and self-education around practising safely and ethically.
• initiate programs including webinars, newsletter articles etc. that help protect members before an ethical breach happens, from which complaints to the CRPO may arise
• drive discussions in Community groups for RPs
• propose topics that make impact (changemakers) 

In light of the upcoming CBA, we have chosen our first Seminar as follows:

PS: protect yourself Protect Seminar #1

RISK MITIGATION FOR PSYCHOTHERAPISTS

Analysis of the most common causes for complaints and lawsuits, with advice on how to avoid mistakes, and minimize the risk of discipline or malpractice judgments

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023

Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Location: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St, Toronto (Grosvenor Room) and Online via Zoom

Presenter: Lisa E. Hamilton, Partner, Temple Bell LLP, Litigation Lawyers.

This seminar includes:

• A slide presentation on risk mitigation and an opportunity for Q&A from in-person, and virtual attendees.
• Information from members about the CRPO’s upcoming CBA (Case-Based Assessment)

This will give all members an opportunity to work through the CBA practice questions in community, with supports and guidance from members who have completed the open-book pilot CBA when it was three hours long (now it’s four hours for the same number of multiple-choice questions (30), with an option to make an advance request more time as needed).

We hope many of you who have taken the pilot CBA might be able to attend, or anonymously submit comments in writing beforehand to [email protected], to offer your wisdom to others.

• Deck and video available post-seminar for all member attendees and OSRP members who choose the “Next Best Thing” or “Flex Pass” options.

To register for this PS: Protect Seminar, and/or the other four offered in 2023, please visit: https://osrp.ca/events 

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work through this addition to the CRPO QA. The OSRP is trying to mitigate the impacts on all members, with special consideration for those who struggle with anxiety, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity, and the impacts of oppression such as racism, classism, sexism, ageism, and ableism in all its forms.

We will continue to try to support and advocate for all members as best we can.

Please contact us directly at [email protected] if you are one of the 20% of Active Registrants randomly selected to do a CBA this May and you require additional supports. 

Also, if you want a sense of overall advocacy by the OSRP Board on behalf of psychotherapists, please visit a new feature on our website, Advocacy Corner.

Sincerely,

The Executive Committee of the OSRP

The Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists (OSRP) calls on Government to Take Action now that three parties have expressed support

The Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists (OSRP) calls on Government to Take Action now that three parties have expressed support

TORONTO, March 15, 2023 — An association of 1,200+ psychotherapists across Ontario calls on the federal government to remove the inequitable GST/HST requirement for counselling therapists and psychotherapists by immediately passing legislation to make therapy services tax-free in Canada. 

This month, bipartisan calls to end the bureaucratic semantics behind this tax have reached a crescendo of consensus. 

The March 2023 FINA Report from the Standing Committee on Finance, Chaired by Liberal MP Peter Fonseca, recommends that the Minister of Finance: "Exempt counselling therapy and psychotherapy from the application of GST/HST."

On March 9 2023, MP Stephen Ellis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, introduced his own Bill C-323 to exempt all mental health professionals from GST/HST. As he noted, “It makes no sense for psychotherapists and mental health counsellors to be subjected to this kind of taxation when physicians, psychiatrists, registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers are all exempt.” 

In December 2021, a bill was tabled by NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen to amend the Excise Tax Act and make psychotherapy services tax free — Bill C-218 — but a budgetary bill also must be tabled to make the change, something noted in the Coalition’s petition, signed by nearly 14,500 Canadians, and tabled this past March 6. The government has 45 business days from the tabling of the petition to respond in writing, but the Coalition hopes for action, not just more words, as soon as possible. 

“Now more than ever, Canadians deserve a mental health care system that provides them with the resources and supports they need in an accessible, and affordable fashion,” said Ms. Mathyssen. “I am pleased to be sponsoring a Bill to make that a reality, and to be supporting this campaign.”

Members of three national parties appear to have aligned on this issue. As noted in Ellis’ announcement: “According to Health Canada statistics, nearly one-quarter of Canadians over the age of fifteen self-report having unmet mental health needs. The services of a psychotherapist or a mental health counsellor are just as important to the health of Canadians and their families as those of a nurse or family doctor.”

And the toll of mental illness is an economic one as well. The Mental Health Commission of Canada estimates that the economic cost of those living with untreated mental health struggles is more than $50 billion annually.

“Increasing access to mental health services by eliminating this tax will result in saving far more money than would be taken out of the GST/HST revenue,” says Dr. Natasha Tuletta-Bowman, Co-Chair of the OSRP’s Advocacy Committee.

“Given everything that Ontarians from all regions, including BIPoC, LGBTQ+, Differently-Abled, Senior, Youth and Child Ontarians, have been through in the past few years, this is something that matters now more than ever,” says Rachel Fulford, a member of the National Coalition for Tax-Free Therapy.

“The government can easily demonstrate its commitment to supporting the mental health of Canadians by eliminating the tax on psychotherapy and counselling therapy services.” 

To learn more, and to send your letter of support calling on the government to remove the GST/HST requirement for counselling therapy and psychotherapy (almost 2,000 have already been sent via the site), visit www.taxfreetherapy.ca/

-30-

Media Inquiries: Rachel Fulford, Co-Chair, Advocacy Committee  [email protected]

For more evidence, and the story behind this inequitable tax, please visit: RESOURCES @ TaxFreeTherapy.ca

____________________________

^[1] Recommendation 32, p. 53 Committee Report No. 10 - FINA (44-1) - House of Commons of Canada

^[2] Video: Bill C-323 read in House of Commons by MP Stephen Ellis

^[3]https://www.conservative.ca/conservatives-introduce-bill-to-relieve-canadians-of-financial-burden-when-accessing-mental-health-services/

^[4] Mental Health Commission of Canada (2018 & 2014). Making the Case for Investing in Mental Health in Canada and Strengthening the Case for Investing https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/resource/strengthening-the-case-for-investingbackgrounder/ 

^[5] Ensuring all mental health services are tax exempt would result in a financial cost of 0.0004% of Canada’s total estimated budgetary revenue in 2023-2024 (15 Million per year). https://www.taxfreetherapy.ca/_files/ugd/b625ef_d3a5f6065d7e46fcb665b6a50d3bf672.pdf

 

Position Closing Date: March 24, 2023 

How and Where to Apply: send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] 

Company Information: Anglican Diocese of Ottawa 

Contact Information: [email protected]awa.anglican.ca 

The Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre (OPC), a Community Ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa (ADO), is searching for a compassionate psychotherapist and dynamic leader to serve as its next Executive Director. For more than fifty years, the OPC has provided professional pastoral counselling and psychotherapy services for individuals, couples, and families (including children and teens). The counsellors at the OPC honour the spirituality of every person, whether they are Christian, religious, spiritual, agnostic or atheist. Affirming the dignity and self-worth of all people, OPC counsellors accompany their clients in their own personal journey towards healing and wellness.

Executive Director Role Summary

The role of the OPC Executive Director is to execute the mandate of leading the organization in three key areas: to ensure the delivery of its core services; to provide operational leadership in the day-to day management of the Centre; and to offer executive leadership on the strategic governance of the OPC. 

Key Areas of Responsibility 

Core Service Delivery: 

• Participate in the ministry of the OPC as a direct service psychotherapist. This will include supervision by a registered psychologist of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. The Executive Director role, as a direct psychotherapist, is approximately 20% of their total workload. 
• Oversee the case management of the OPC, including overseeing the intake and client assignment process, clinical student placements, and the Employment Assistance Program of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. 
• Provide consultation services for clergy and pastoral caregivers of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. 

Operational Leadership: 

• Provides day-to-day executive leadership to the OPC, ensuring strategic and annual plans are operationalized and aligned with OPC’s Vision and Mission. 
• Leads and provides operational supervision to a staff, which includes an Intake Coordinator and a team of psychotherapists, to support OPC’s delivery of services within a collaborative environment. 
• Provides leadership in all areas of OPC’s administration, including financial operations, human resources, contracts, program evaluation, and partnerships. 
• Champions the Counselling Support Fund, which provides financial support for those unable to afford a fee for service, through promotion and acquisition of funding. 
• Reports directly to the Director General of Community Ministries, participating in the collegial relationships between ADO Community Ministries and their Executive Directors. 

Governance/Strategic Leadership: 

• Involved in governance of OPC through ongoing engagement with its Management Board (MB), providing executive leadership and ensuring appropriate administrative support to the MB. 
• Working with the MB, develops and implements a multi-year strategic plan as well as an annual operational plan tied to OPC Vision and Mission. 
• Develops an annual budget, which is approved by the MB, and reports to MB regularly on the finances of OPC. 
• Ensures risk management is an ongoing element of OPC governance and operations, including policy development and compliance with relevant legislation, policies, and professional associations. 
• Participates in the governance of the Community Ministries of the Diocese as a staff resource to the Community Ministry Committee and relevant working groups. 

Qualifications:

Education 

• Master’s Degree in Counselling or its equivalent. 
• Member in good standing of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), or an equivalent body that regulates the act of psychotherapy. 

Knowledge and Experience 

• Knowledge of CRPO regulations for both in-person and telehealth counselling (local and across jurisdictions). Understanding of issues related to confidentiality and personal health information protection (e.g., PHIPA). 
• Five or more years of experience in the field of psychotherapy o Experience in conducting intake activities, managing critical events, and completing referrals.
  o Demonstrated commitment to continuing education and professional development.
  o Experience in managing or supervising a therapy team. 
• Five or more years in previous management experience in a social service organization at a senior level.
  o Experience in the areas of Administration, Financial Operations and Human Resources.
  o Providing executive leadership and inter-agency collaboration.
  o Demonstrated ability to work with groups who are stakeholders in organizational governance (Boards, committees, working groups). 

• Knowledge of, and experience in, current office software and online platforms for teletherapy. 

Qualities and Competencies 

• Proven leadership skills in managing a non-profit organization providing services to the public in collaboration with professional experts in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. 
• Excellent communication skills in written and oral English; knowledge of French would be considered an asset. 
• Ability to work with OPC’s Management Board in executing the vision and mission of the organization. 
• Strategic thinker, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and a sound decision maker with a demonstrated ability to lead change. 
• Organized with strong attention to details. 
• Results-oriented mindset with the ability to effectively manage multiple and competing priorities. 
• Ability and desire to work with diverse population of clients: general public, clergy of the Anglican Church and its employees. 
• Willingness to work within a faith-based organization. 

Other Requirements: 

• Must be willing to provide reference checks from previous work and to undergo police clearance for a criminal background check; both must have results to the satisfaction of the Diocese. 
• Must be willing to work on-site at the OPC office, acknowledging the need from time to time to work remotely. 
• Must be willing to work full time, including occasional evenings and weekends, depending on operational requirements. 

Where to submit your requirements: 

• Please apply by submitting your résumé and cover letter to this email: [email protected] 
• Deadline is on March 24, 2023. 

Compensation: $75,000.00-$85,000.00 per year. 

The Anglican Diocese of Ottawa is committed to accessibility, values diversity and is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and to protecting the human rights of its employees. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities.

Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Bill became a member of OSRP in 2009 and was very involved with RPIC on behalf of OSRP. For information about this ongoing campaign, please visit: https://rptherapybenefits.ca/

He was a very determined and dedicated therapist who was very passionate about the work he did for/with his clients. Bill passed away unexpectedly, at home on Sunday, December 25, 2022 at age 61.

Bill was a big man with a big heart whose laughter and lust for life touched many. For over 30 years, he dedicated himself to helping those damaged by the world, bringing his care and his wit to help them find a way through. His rough edges found their home in the world of rugby, often centred around the Aurora Barbarians RFC, where he found so much joy throughout his life, both on and off the field, as a great player and wonderful coach.

As a son, a little brother, an uncle, and cousin he was a charismatic maker of mischief who made everyone's life more interesting for having him in it. Both wise and innocent, warm and sharp, sometimes crass but always caring. Bill will be deeply missed by his family and his many friends.

The OSRP Board offers its sincere condolences to Bill's family, former colleagues and clients.

You can read more about Bill's life and legacy here https://www.hannahfuneralhome.com/obituary/Bill-McLaughlin

Please email us re: the passing of OSRP members so we can commemorate them, and please make a plan for someone to let us know in the event of your passing at [email protected]

With respect and appreciation for her service to our profession and the OSRP, we wish to note the passing of Mary Beatrice Greey, a founding member of OSRP.

Mary Greey trained and practised as a psychotherapist in the early days of the profession in Toronto. She was first a founder, and later — at 70 — became President of the Ontario Society of Psychotherapists. She was also a founding faculty member of the Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy. Though retired for 20 years from her professional activities, she is still remembered with warm respect by those who knew her as therapist, clinical supervisor, teacher/trainer, or colleague.

The OSRP Board offers its sincere condolences to her children, grandchildren, former colleagues, clients, students and supervisees, and her beloved spouse of 32 years, OSRP Clinical Member Pat DeYoung.

You can read more about Mary Greey’s life and legacy here: MARY GREEY Obituary (2023) - Midland, ON - Toronto Star (legacy.com) 

Please email us re: the passing of OSRP members so we can commemorate them, and please make a plan for someone to let us know in the event of your passing at [email protected]