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:
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.
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.”
So, after five years, it seems that all Registrants will have taken 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.)
“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.
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.
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 mail@psychotherapyontario.org 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.
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: April 6, 2023
Only available only available through the purchase of a "Flex Pass" or "Next Best Thing" registration.
Lisa E. Hamilton, Partner, Bell Temple LLP, Litigation Lawyers. Bell Temple 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
Date: Thursday, July 6, 2023
Time: 5-7 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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:
(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.)
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:
In light of the upcoming CBA, we have chosen our first Seminar as follows:
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:
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 mail@psychotherapyontario.org, to offer your wisdom to others.
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 mail@psychotherapyontario.org 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
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 advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org
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/
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 mail@psychotherapyontario.org
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)
All of us should have received this email in late January –
“This is a reminder that CRPO’s annual registration renewal period will be opening on February 1, 2023. Your renewal will be due by March 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Please login to the registrant portal (https://crpo.ca.thentiacloud.net/webs/crpo/service/#/login) and complete your renewal.
Please see the Renewal page (https://www.crpo.ca/renewal/) for more information. If you have questions about the Health Professions Database (HPDB) Questions or renewal, please see the Renewal FAQ (https://www.crpo.ca/registration-renewal-faq/).”
We are advising ALL members to plan for this process early, because it is not a simple, or easily-affordable, undertaking for many of us.
A few things to note about your CRPO Renewal:
Please plan for the $$$ cost of CRPO Renewal.
List of fees: CRPO Fees – College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
The OSRP Board is thrilled to announce the appointment of Michael Diotte, OSRP Clinical Member in good standing, who has an Accounting degree as well as Bookkeeping and extensive Board/Not-for-Profit experience, to the role of Acting Treasurer. The Board appointed Michael in accordance with the OSRP bylaws and in consultation with our Parliamentarian. His email is treasurer@psychotherapyontario.org
Please join us in welcoming Michael to his new role, until the next Special General Meeting or Annual General Meeting of the Members, at which time we hope he will be willing to stand for election with the slate of 2023-24 Board Directors.
Now, we have another vacant position to fill: Executive Committee Secretary to the Board of Directors. We would welcome a member with strong communication skills and an eye for detail.
The OSRP is growing and developing as an organization representing a diverse group of RPs across Ontario. We intend to increase BIPoC and LGBTQ2S+ awareness and engagement at the OSRP. We need your voices. Please consider if having a seat on our Board as Acting Secretary would be a good fit for you.
If you are interested, or even “Board-Curious,” please email with your questions to nomination@psychotherapyontario.org and let’s talk!
Black History Month, recognized and celebrated here since 1995 following the initiative of the Honourable Jean Augustine, Canada’s first Black MP, who represented her Ontario riding for 13 years, is an opportunity for psychotherapists to continue resourcing ourselves for the work we do, and the experiences we have, all year long. We encourage all members to research (and re-re-re-search) the best sources for you.
We do have a few ideas to share below, and would love to hear yours. Please send your favourite resources to mail@psychotherapyontario.org and you may see them posted on our website.
To resource, or “re-Source” ourselves, is appropriate for Ontarians. After all, the word “Ontario'' comes from the Iroquois “kanadario,” meaning “sparkling” water. Lakes and rivers make up one-fifth of Ontario’s footprint. Each lake and river is continually re-Sourced and re-Freshed by springs, aquifers, reservoirs, ponds, streams, estuaries, ice, rainfall, and waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, including at Niagara. These sources continually oxygenate and revive our water – an essential source of vitality for all human, animal and plant life. Continuous flow and circulation, and re-circulation, makes our water safe and effective. So must we as RPs, RP(Q)s, Students and Retired Members continually dip our toes, and occasionally take deep dives, into new sources that re-Fresh and re-Vive our learning and our lives.
As documented in our Annual General Report in November, the OSRP Board was moved by the February 2022 Report released by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, cited in CRPO’s February 2022 Communiqué, entitled "Shining a Light on Mental Health in Black Communities." The MHCC Report spotlighted health disparities in Black Communities that speak directly to the gaps in service and resources that OSRP identified and began responding to in 2021.
Statistics from this report include:
Deborah Adams, Registrar and CEO of the CRPO, responded to the MHCC Report by stating, “The message that these statistics carry is clear: we need to work to reduce barriers like systemic inequities resulting from anti-Black racism and lack of representation in the profession to improve access to much-needed mental health care for the Black community in Ontario.”
Please have a look at the lived experience behind these statistics in “All Booked Up: The Frustration of Finding a Black Therapist” by Alicia Lue from The Walrus https://thewalrus.ca/why-are-there-so-few-black-therapists/
The CRPO has clearly mandated all Registrants to continue developing our cultural competencies. For example:
“Registrants are strongly encouraged to develop their learning on Canada’s Indigenous people and the ongoing effects of colonization.”
–Indigenous Healthcare Law and Policy section of Professional Practice and Jurisprudence for RPs Professional Practice and Jurisprudence for Registered Psychotherapists – College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (crpo.ca)
“A registrant must not discriminate against any person on any prohibited ground. Examples of discrimination may include the following:
It is not discrimination to make clinical decisions for reasons other than prohibited grounds. For example, if an RP does not have the competence to treat or continue to treat a person, a registrant should not initiate or continue therapy with a client. Such a decision to refuse or discontinue services must be made in good faith, communicated sensitively, and documented. It is discriminatory to claim one lacks competence as a pretence for refusing to provide service based on protected grounds.
RPs are similarly entitled to rely on professional knowledge, judgement, and experience to comment upon clinically relevant matters that relate, for example, to a person’s age, gender, or cultural background.”
–Human Rights and Accessibility Legislation section of Professional Practice and Jurisprudence for RPs - our emphasis in bold Professional Practice and Jurisprudence for Registered Psychotherapists – College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (crpo.ca)
The OSRP Board has taken, and continues to take, our role as your elected representatives in this space very seriously. We have found ourselves and our clinical practices richly re-Sourced this past year by many currents of learning, including the following (all of which are intended for all adults):
Also please consider viewing or re-Viewing this OSRP seminar:
Embodied Liberation: Facilitating Healing, Recovery & Transformation, facilitated by Shalyn Isaacs, MEd, Counselling Psychology Candidate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POEk-He5LJo&list=PLYjVEWwVcJEInS0BJ6Ftn_wwmbzhYytfi&index=2
She discussed how:
Other re-Sources, flowing from far and wide:
25 Best Black Therapy Podcasts (chosen by FeedSpot): https://blog.feedspot.com/black_therapy_podcasts/
Some Black Therapist directories:
Wishing all OSRP Members a re-Sourceful, re-Circulating and re-Viving Black History Month!
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