Counsellors offering services in the province can expect that there will be more regulations in place in the near future, according to the province.

In an announcement on Friday, the provincial government said that it is working with counsellors and the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) to regulate and license the profession.

"Alberta’s government will be putting forward legislative changes that, if passed, would amend the Mental Health Services Protection Act and the Health Professions Act to support these changes and provide legislative clarity on the government’s path forward," a release last week stated.

It is anticipated that these regulations will be put in place in 2025. The release added that, as regulated health professionals, counsellors will be held to professional standards including education, safety standards and a code of ethics. Unprofessional or unethical conduct can also be investigated.

"These are important safeguards that will protect Albertans receiving counselling and improve mental health services for those in need."

According to Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, the regulations which will be placed under the College of Alberta Psychologists, will add consistent standards that will protect patients and improve care.

The province said that because of the close alignment of mental health service delivery between psychologists and counsellors, CAP is well-positioned to oversee and provide regulation for this profession.

"The College of Alberta Psychologists looks forward to working with the Alberta counselling community, stakeholders, Indigenous and rural communities on the shared goal of developing registration and practice standards for counselling that will protect and serve the public interest. This initiative will maintain the integrity and quality of mental health care in Alberta," said Dr. Richard Spelliscy, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the College of Alberta Psychologists.

The proposal to regulate counsellors was put forward in 2018 within the Mental Health Services Protection Act. Since then, government policy has evolved to prevent professional associations and regulatory colleges from being the same body, as this creates a conflict in protecting Albertans. 

The Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 was passed by Alberta’s government to separate regulatory colleges from professional associations and allows for the regulation of multiple professions within a regulatory college. In spring 2024, a legislative amendment will be put forward and if passed, would repeal Section 29 of the Mental Health Services Protection Act.

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