Communiqué

June 2024

version française

Council Nominations & Elections

The CRPO Council elections closed on May 31. We are pleased to announce that Kayleen Edwards, RP, has been elected to Council in District 5 (South West). Kayleen began working with the CRPO in November 2018 as a non-Council member appointment to the Quality Assurance Committee. We look forward to continuing to work with Kayleen in her new role as elected Professional Member. 

Thank you to the voters and candidates for participating in the election process this year, with special thanks to Miranda Monastero, RP, for her valuable contributions as a member of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports; Examination; and Quality Assurance Committees since her election to Council in June 2018. 

For information about CRPO Elections, check out our website. 

Council Elections – College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (crpo.ca) 

Options for Clients When an RP Leaves a Group Practice 

CRPO's Practice Advisory Service often hears about RPs leaving a group practice to start their own private practice. Common questions include who continues to provide care to the client and what happens to the client record. These situations can be challenging for clients, the departing RP, and group practice owners. How can everyone's interests be respected while maintaining professional practice standards? Read our article for ideas. 

Working in Small Communities

In each Communique for 2024, we will be highlighting aspects of the Professional Practice Standards, which came into effect on January 1. This month discusses updates to Standard 1.6: Conflict of Interest and 1.7: Dual Relationships as they apply to working in small communities.  

Both standards were expanded to include an increased emphasis on clinical and ethical judgment when dealing with conflicts and dual relationships. As a major example, conflicts and dual relationships can arise when working in small communities. A small community is defined as one in which it is impractical or impossible not to have a dual relationship with a client. Communities refer not only to a particular geographic area, but also to racialized, equity-deserving, academic, professional, social, spiritual, or cultural groups, or to those bound by any other unifying experience or characteristic including disability, sexuality or identity. This means it’s possible to live and work within a small community even when residing in a large population centre like Toronto or Ottawa.  

Living and working within these communities means there will be a certain level of overlap between the personal and professional realms. RPs must use their professional and ethical judgement when a conflict of interest or dual relationship arises, reflecting on the safe and effective use of self and the best interests of clients. 

In general, it is preferable to avoid conflicts of interest or dual relationships altogether. Where this is not possible, RPs should mitigate potential issues by discussing the risks and benefits of the conflict of interest or dual relationship as part of the informed consent process. Registrants should also have a conversation on what to do when the client and therapist encounter each other within their small community.  

2024 Spring CBA Results

1024 registrants completed the CBA between April 26 and May 5, 2024. 

Individual results have been sent to all participants. Here is a breakdown of the overall results. 

The 2024 Fall CBA is scheduled between October 25 and November 3, 2024. All selected registrants have been notified. Please check your email and ensure that qa@crpo.ca and QAassessments@crpo.ca are added to your contact and safe sender lists. 

Detailed information about peer and practice reviews and CBA outcomes is available on the peer and practice page of our website.

Using Restricted Titles

In Ontario, only certain regulated professionals are allowed to use the titles “psychotherapist” and “Registered Psychotherapist”. Under legislation, CRPO can take legal action to prevent someone from using a restricted title. Unauthorized use of the restricted title or misrepresentation of registration status can have implications for a person’s CRPO application. For more information, please see the page on Unregulated Individuals. 

For recent applicants to CRPO, here’s what to do before you use a restricted title: 

• Confirm that you are registered with the CRPO and in good standing. If you can’t find your name on the Public Register, contact info@crpo.ca.  
• Remember: becoming a member of a professional association does not enable you to use a restricted title. Make sure your application to CPRO has been approved and you have been issued a certificate of registration prior to using the title. 
• Review the Professional Practice Standards. Standard 1.2: Use of Terms, Titles, and Designations provides guidance on how applicants and registrants should represent themselves. 
• Make sure you are using the correct title for your registration category. If you are in the Qualifying category, you must include the word “Qualifying” in full after “Registered Psychotherapist” or “RP”. Abbreviations such as “RP(Q)” are not acceptable. 

For CRPO registrants: Please do not unsubscribe. CRPO uses email to communicate with registrants about important College updates. If you choose to unsubscribe, it is then your responsibility to regularly check our website to keep yourself informed about your College obligations. It is the responsibility of each registrant to make sure CRPO has your current contact information, updated within 30 days of a change, and ensure that the organization you work for does not block CRPO emails. CRPO may collect information about whether a recipient has read a message. CRPO may use this information for communication planning and record-keeping.