Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists News

OSRP 2025 Annual General Meeting

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:57:36 GMT

OSRP 2025 Annual General Meeting

The Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists invites all members to the 33rd Annual General Meeting:

Friday, December 12, 2025
1:00–3:00 p.m. ET (via Zoom)

Pre-registration is required to ensure quorum.

This year’s AGM reflects an important moment of renewal for OSRP. Members will receive updates on society activities, review key documents, elect the Board of Directors for the coming term, and look ahead to the organization’s priorities for the upcoming year.

Your participation helps guide decisions that shape the OSRP community and its work on behalf of Registered Psychotherapists across Ontario.

AGENDA

Call to Order, Welcome, Land Acknowledgment, Orientation

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes of the 2024 AGM, held November 22, 2024
(Linked below)

Approval of Minutes of the Special Session of the Membership, held June 13, 2025
(Linked below)

Introduction of the Board of Directors

Motion to Approve the Actions of the Board of Directors

President’s Report

Treasurer’s Report

– 2024–25 Financial Status
– Appointment of Public Accountant for 2025–26

Election of Slate of Directors

Volunteer Appreciation

New Business

Adjournment

Documents

Minutes of the 2024 AGM (November 22, 2024)

Minutes of the Special Session of the Membership (June 13, 2025)

Nominations Committee Report – Slate of Directors

Notice of the 2025 AGM

Instrument of Proxy (Fillable Print Out)

Instrument of Proxy (Online Form)

Registration Form

Annual Report

What’s in Your Ears? Podcast Review November 2025

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 21:54:30 GMT

We are re-launching our podcast review series! Each month, we showcase a member-suggested podcast episode as part of OSRP’s effort to bring you micro-reviews of insightful content in the field of psychotherapy.

This month, our Connect Chair is offering a podcast review as an example of this feature! If you would like to review your favourite therapy-related podcast episode, please email connect@psychotherapyontario.org. If your suggestion is accepted, you’ll also be compensated for your time. Enjoy, and happy listening!

Episode Review: Decolonizing Self in IFS

From the podcast Brown Girls Don’t Do Therapy with Diviya Lewis

Reviewer: Franklynn Bartol, Connect Chair & Qualifying Member of OSRP

Click here to listen to the episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/decolonizing-self-in-ifs/id1567102639?i=1000733926680

Who Will I Hear?

Diviya Lewis (host and OSRP Clinical Member!) & her guest Alexis Kamakanoe Ornellas.

What’s It About?

Two experienced IFS therapists reflect on the concept of Self in IFS therapy from a decolonial lens. They draw on examples from their client work and training experience to break down myths and misconceptions while offering alternative ways to think about the Self, whether with clients or your own decolonial healing journey.

How Can It Help?

If you’re an IFS practitioner, this is a must-listen episode! It addresses core IFS concepts from a lens that is both appreciative of the approach and critically reflective of the ways that it’s taught and used. Rather than simply critique though, they offer a more expansive view of how we can use IFS concepts.

Even though I don’t personally practice IFS, I got a lot out of this discussion! It helped me further deconstruct Western-based ideas of ‘self’. I particularly liked the critical questioning they offer around ideals such as calmness and neutrality, which make their way into all sorts of therapeutic approaches and wellness advice. They each give powerful examples of how we can, however unintentionally, use our therapeutic concepts in harmful ways. As a way to combat this, or notice and repair when it happens, they also discuss how to foster more collaborative relationships with clients.

Why Does This Reviewer Love It?

The insightfulness, humility, and humour Diviya brings to this conversation is reflected throughout her series – I’d highly recommend checking out more episodes from Brown Girls Don’t Do Therapy!

(These podcast recommendations are for inspiration and learning. They don’t replace supervision, instruction, or CRPO regulations, and OSRP doesn’t officially endorse the content. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and use your professional judgment in applying what you learn.)

Join the Conversation: OSRP Listserv

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 20:20:13 GMT

Got questions, concerns, referrals? Need support or have an office to rent or seeking an office rental? This group is for OSRP members only. It links you to each other and to a community rich in resources and expertise. This is where you can ask your peers practice questions, share information about events, post a space for rent, seek referrals and so on.

Click here to watch a short video about the listserv

Click on the buttons below for detailed instructions on how to subscribe yourself to the listserv and ensure you receive notifications of listserv posts.

Click here to read instructions on how to subscribe to the listserv

Click here to view a video on how to subscribe to the listserv

Your documentation done your way, with Jane

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:30:44 GMT

You put so much heart into caring for your patients or clients – and we get how disruptive it can be when documentation doesn’t work the way you need it to. That's why Jane designed templates with dozens of customization options, so you can tailor your templates to your workflow and focus your energy on what matters.

Here’s how Jane’s templates can help you stay on top of your documentation:

Never start from scratch with access to Jane’s practitioner-built template library.
Easily customize your templates with intuitive options as your practice grows and evolves.
Begin each appointment prepared with templates for every step of patient care, including intake form questionnaires, clinical surveys, and treatment plans.

Ready to change your relationship with documentation? Book a demo with our team and explore how Jane can help.

Is Your Online Profile Up to Date?

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:21:36 GMT

We recommend periodically checking your online profile to ensure that your information is accurate. This includes changes to your name and practice information. Maintaining accurate information allows clients to find you when they are searching for a psychotherapist.

If changes are needed, you can update this information directly in your OSRP user account by going to your “Profile” page.

Please note, if you are a Clinical or Qualifying member and wish to have your name appear on our online referral service, you must provide permission. Go to the Privacy tab under your member profile and click the “Show profile to others” box.

You can then choose which information to make public and which to keep private. Remember to save your changes.

Instructions on how to add your name to the OSRP online referral service/membership directory can be found below.

Click here to read the instructions

Click here to view the video instructions

Member Spotlight: Melissa Manning

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:56:13 GMT

Melissa has been practising psychotherapy for 20 years and brings a thoughtful, integrated approach to her work. Her toolkit includes CBT, DBT, EFT, SFT, Trauma Therapy, EMDR, and Integrative Relationship Therapy.

She shared that her own challenging adolescence set her on a personal healing path — and that psychology felt like a natural fit both for how she’s wired and for her deep interest in people’s inner worlds.

Melissa completed her undergraduate studies in psychology and worked in a juvenile sex offender facility in the U.S. before returning to Canada in 2010. She now lives and works in St. Catharines.

A passionate trauma therapist, Melissa continues to weave her lived experience into the support she offers clients. She’s also the proud (and busy!) mom of three daughters, ages 5, 7, and 16.

Outside of work, she loves reading — both fiction and books that deepen her understanding of psychotherapy. At the time we spoke, she was reading Fire on the Horizon by Wilbur Smith and Judgment Detox by Gabby Bernstein.

Melissa is currently accepting new clients and offers both virtual and in-person sessions. You can connect with her here:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/277770

Thank you, Melissa, for your dedication to the art and craft of psychotherapy — and for all you bring to this field with heart and presence.

With love,

Mahshad

June National Indigenous History Month in Canada

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:46:08 GMT

Photo by Galen Crout on Unsplash

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada and we have curated a few resources to learn more, get involved and ways to support Indigenous communities here.

Healers and Mental Health Workshops and Trainings

Asha Frost

Asha is an Ojibwe (Crane clan) Indigenous healer, who offers different courses and has two medicine oracle decks that offer beautiful reflections, intuitive guidance and celebrates indigenous wisdom and artistry in each card pull. She also has a book that follows the full moons, with rituals, teachings and practices throughout each full moon.

Her various offerings can be found here

Buy it local here

Indigenous Wisdom in Trauma Recovery

“Grandmother's Voice is offering the ‘Indigenous Wisdom in Trauma Recovery: Land-Based Focusing Oriented Therapy’ certificate program, starting May 2025 in Halton Region, Ontario. This transformative one-year training, led by Elder Dennis Windego, comprises seven modules delivered in three-day block sessions. The curriculum integrates Indigenous teachings with contemporary therapeutic practices, focusing on healing complex trauma through land-based methodologies.”

The Eternal Song

This is a film sharing ancestral wisdom for trauma recovery as well as an online gathering (the live version is over but you can purchase the recordings and they are wonderful) with a range of indigenous elders and wisdom keepers from across the globe.

Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Providers

If you have adequate cultural competence around indigenous communities on turtle island and are an independent practitioner, you might be eligible to be an NIHB provider.

Click here for more information or to apply

Member Spotlight: Anastasia Assuras

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:58:45 GMT

April 2025

Anastasia’s path to becoming a psychotherapist started when she was studying life sciences and psychology in her undergraduate degree. With a growing interest in psychology and healthcare, she gravitated towards supporting folks through talk therapy and pursued training in psychotherapy.

Anastasia works with individuals, couples and families, and has extensive experience supporting families impacted by addiction.

We spoke in depth about how, initially, as a psychotherapy trainee, she did not expect to work as much as she has with couples; however, couples work has now become the core of her practice. Anastasia found her work as a couples therapist to be extremely rewarding and realized that the more directive approach required in this role sparked her interest in and aptitude for work as a clinical supervisor and mentor. She has now expanded her solo private practice to include another therapist. Her practice is called Hera Therapy, referring to Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage, and a nod to her Greek identity as well as primary focus on relationships.

She is currently accepting new clients (individuals, couples and families) both online and in-person on Fridays. Anastasia can be contacted via: https://www.heratherapy.ca/

Her office is in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood.

Thank you, Anastasia, for the wonderful conversation, it was a pleasure getting to know you and learning about your work.

Sincerely,

Alice

If you'd like to be featured, or know of someone who should be featured (with their consent), please fill out the form by clicking on the link below — we’d love to hear from you!

With love,

Mahshad

OSRP members, apply to be a Member Spotlight!

If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

Perkopolis

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:34:59 GMT

Get ready for an unforgettable day of thrills and excitement! Perkopolis is thrilled to invite you to Perkopolis Day at Wonderland, an exclusive members-only event.

Date: May 3rd, 2025

Exclusive Perkopolis Access – Special pricing, shorter lines, and a day filled with fun!

This is your chance to experience the park like never before, with exclusive perks and access available only to Perkopolis members. Gather your friends and family for a day of non-stop rides, delicious treats, and endless excitement.

Click here to download the Perkopolis Day at Wonderland flyer with all you need to know about registering for your Perkopolis account and purchasing your tickets!

Your exclusive WestJet savings of up to 15% have returned!

WestJet is back on Perkopolis, bringing you exclusive perks on flights worldwide!

Click here to download the flyer.

Your perks are waiting

Explore our top offers! Click here to download the flyer with Perkopolis’ top brands.

Perkopolis is excited to announce our partnership with Shell!

With your Perkopolis account, you can save on fuel, car washes and in-store purchases at participating Shell locations. Sign in or register for your Perkopolis account to access this exclusive perk.

Click here to download the flyer.

If you have any questions you can contact Perkopolis customer service through live chat, phone, or email.

Jane App

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:08:55 GMT

Talking about raising fees can be tricky, especially when you don’t know how to start the conversation. But with thoughtful communication, you can show your value as a practitioner while maintaining relationships with your patients or clients.

Here are some tips to help you communicate fee changes confidently:

Start early: give yourself a two-month window to finalize rates, get comfortable with the decision, and inform your patients.
Use multiple channels: reduce surprises by notifying patients through emails, booking reminders, physical signage, and phone calls — making sure your messaging is consistent.
Be confident and clear: you don’t need to over-apologize! Your patients trust you and will appreciate a straightforward explanation.
Offer flexibility: Be open to one-on-one conversations for special circumstances.

It might feel uncomfortable, but communicating your fee change thoughtfully will help your patients feel informed and respected.

At Jane, we want to be a part of the process of raising your fees — with features built to support. Take a look at our pricing plans at jane.app/pricing.

OSRP members receive a 1-month grace period on your new account when you sign up with Jane. Check our member benefits page to find the discount code.

April is Stress Awareness Month

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:52:25 GMT

Stress affects everyone differently. Stress can be good, but chronic stress can take its toll on our mental and physical health. Since stress is a normal part of human existence, it is important to recognize when stress is affecting you. If we as psychotherapists do not recognize this, we may respond in ways that are damaging to our patients and/or to ourselves. Therapists need to be aware of their own needs and limitations.

Acknowledging stress can lead you to get the support you need help you prioritize your mental health. Psychotherapy can help us deal with all types of stress.

In Canada, April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month, a time to focus on mental well being and reduce stress. It is a perfect time to highlight the symptoms that stress can present, both physically and mentally, and its triggers.

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April, since 1992. This year’s theme is #LeadWithLove

How to get involved:

Take the initiative: Consider taking steps to reduce your own stress or help others do the same.
Seek support: If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't hesitate to reach out for professional help. Use OSRP’s Find a Therapist feature on our website.
Utilize resources: Explore resources like psychotherapy, mental health assessments, stress management courses, and community support services.
Engage in activities: Participate in activities that promote well-being. Join the 30 Day Challenge hosted by the Stress Management Society, which can give you the tools to turn “useful knowledge and techniques into positive behavioural change.”

Click here to access some resources.

What’s in Your Ears? Podcast Review April 2025

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:43:28 GMT

Each month, we showcase a member-suggested podcast episode as part of OSRP’s effort to bring you micro-reviews of insightful content in the field of psychotherapy. All materials are available free of charge as part of our member engagement initiative.

We invite you to submit podcast episodes that you found inspiring or educational. If your suggestion is accepted, you’ll also be compensated for your time. Enjoy, and happy listening!

“Emotionally Immature” Parents

Reviewer’s Name: Alice Blackwell, Clinical Member, OSRP

Title of Podcast Series: The Daily

Title of Episode: “The Interview”: Dr. Lindsay Gibson on What We Owe Our “Emotionally Immature” Parents

Date released: March 22, 2025

Link to Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000700370452

Who Will I Hear?

Interviewer: David Marchese, Guest: Dr. Lindsay Gibson

What’s It About?

This episode is a conversation with Dr. Lindsay Gibson, a clinical psychologist and author of the bestselling book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents. They explore Dr. Gibson's notion of emotional immaturity, and the impacts it can have on the children of emotionally immature parents. Thankfully, Dr. Gibson posits that it’s possible to recover from such a reality, even if that means, in some cases, breaking off the relationship entirely.

How Can It Help?

I think this episode gives clinicians a solid entry point into Dr. Gibson's work.

Why Does This Reviewer Love It?

I appreciated the interviewer's candour, and how he brought in his personal experience of a challenging relationship with his father.

If you would like to review your favourite therapy-related podcast episode, please use the link below.

Click here to submit your podcast review.

Member Spotlight: Anastasia Assuras

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:30:20 GMT

Anastasia works with individuals, couples and families, and has extensive experience

supporting families impacted by addiction.

We spoke in depth about how, initially, as a psychotherapy trainee, she did not expect to

work as much as she has with couples; however, couples work has now become the core of her practice. Anastasia found her work as a couples therapist to be extremely rewarding and realized that the more directive approach required in this role sparked her interest in and aptitude for work as a clinical supervisor and mentor. She has now expanded her solo private practice to include another therapist. Her practice is called Hera Therapy, referring to Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage, and a nod to her Greek identity as well as primary focus on relationships.

She is currently accepting new clients (individuals, couples and families) both online and in-person on Fridays. Anastasia can be contacted via https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/anastasia-assuras-toronto-on/724400

Her office is in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood.

Thank you, Anastasia, for the wonderful conversation, it was a pleasure getting to know you and learning about your work.

Sincerely,

Alice

OSRP members, apply to be a Member Spotlight!

If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

BIPoC Membership Bursaries: Apply Now!

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 21:01:52 GMT

OSRP wants to ensure that race and other forms of marginalization are not barriers to entry into the field of psychotherapy. To that end, we put structures in place to provide ongoing support to therapists in the BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community. We recognize there is a tremendous need for more BIPoC psychotherapists in Ontario.

One of the ways we can provide support to BIPoC psychotherapists is to offer a limited number of annual memberships through a bursary. The BIPoC bursary covers the cost of one year of membership with OSRP, with a total of nine bursaries in each membership year.

Each of the following OSRP membership categories will have three membership bursaries:

Student Member
Qualifying Member
Clinical Member

Click here to see the requirements for each membership category.

Interest in applying for a BIPoC Membership Bursary? Click here to apply.

BIPoC Bursary Committee — BIPoC Members Needed!

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:55:17 GMT

OSRP’s BIPoC Bursary Committee is looking for members. This is a sub-committee of the EDI committee. It’s role is to review applications for BIPoC membership bursaries and makes recommendations to the OSRP Board based on those reviews We are hoping that — if this committee resonates for you and you identify as being part of the BIPoC community — you will join the committee!

The selection process for 2025 included the following criteria:

Membership category
A paragraph or two in which applicants tell us about themselves

If you would like to help BIPoC therapists get more support, please join this important committee!

Click here to read more about this committee

Interested in joining the committee? Click here to complete our Volunteer Application Form.

Perkopolis

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:41:22 GMT

While it still may feel far off, spring is headed our way! As we move out of a snowy winter, there’s no better time to refresh your style and home! Be sure to register for your Perkopolis account to browse exclusive offers on the latest in fashion, home decor and more.

In the March document, you will find all the necessary information to register for your account. Be sure to register now and save this season!

If you have any questions you can contact Perkopolis customer service through live chat, phone, or email.

Click here to view the March flyer

GoodLife

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:11:28 GMT

Wellness Watch On-Demand Monthly Seminars

Boost employee wellness with GoodLife’s new pre-selected 30-minute on-demand seminars. Each seminar is available in English and French, accessible 24/7 each month, and supports self-paced learning, with handouts provided. See flyer for more details and to make a purchase now.

Available April 1 – 30, 2025
Can’t Stay Motivated to Workout? You’re not Alone and we can Help!

We can’t rely on motivation alone to reach our fitness goals. Learn effective strategies that work for you, to overcome obstacles and successfully achieve your goals in, and outside the gym.

Available May 1 – 31, 2025
Stress Management in the Moment

Learn personalized stress release strategies that can be completed anywhere, in 1-minute or less.

Available June 1 – 30, 2025
Exercise in Warmer Weather

Staying safe while exercising in warmer weather is vital. Learn tips on hydration, heat management, and optimizing your outdoor workouts this summer.

Click here to view the flyer and register.

New Workplace Wellness Seminars 2025

Enhance your team’s health with our new 2025 wellness seminars, covering a variety of topics to promote overall well-being in the workplace. Empower your employees to thrive both personally and professionally. Contact us for our full list of wellness seminars. Available now for purchase:

Mother’s Day is just around the corner — Gain valuable insights and expert advice on navigating this important stage of life with confidence.
- Menopause Nutrition
June is Men's Health Month — break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, improve well-being, and prioritize having conversations to support mental health in and outside of work.
- Breaking the Stigma: Understanding Men’s Mental Health
Join us this Summer for a rejuvenating seminar on well-being in nature, designed to help reconnect us with the outdoors and restore balance to mind, body and spirit.
- The Natural Path to Wellness: Well-Being with Nature

Plan Ahead for Summer and Get Ready for Fall!

GoodLife is partnered with Lifemark to offer Skin Cancer Screenings and Flu Shot Clinics to help you stay ahead of the seasons. Don't wait — ensure you're protected and prepared for the summer and fall months ahead. Contact us today for more information.

Click here to request information.

Move 4 Kids: your corporate team can engage in several impactful ways:

Fundraising Goal of $1,500: provides one (1) youth FREE access to MOVE by GoodLife Kids for a year
MOVE Maker Sponsorship ($5,000): unlocks experiential and digital opportunities to engage with communities across Canada
Raise Awareness: Help spread the word about the MOVE 4 Kids initiative and its benefits

Visit www.move4kids.com or contact Kendall Clark at Kendall.clark@goodlifekids.com for more information.

GoodLife Health & Wellness Tip – April 2025

Planks and crunches are essential for targeting your abs, but here are some other exercises that incorporate different movements. These straightforward yet highly effective core exercises require no equipment and can be performed virtually anywhere.

Click here to view the April tips

GoodLife Rewards for Members & Associates

Exclusive Perks, Discounts and Savings for GoodLife Members and Associates. Categories include: Health & Fitness, Food & Drink, Travel & Finance, Lifestyle, Gadgets & Electronics, Clothing & Events.

Click here to download the list of program partners.

For more information, visit www.goodlifefitness.com/rewards

Member Benefit: Jane

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:39:33 GMT

OSRP is pleased to announce we have renewed our partnership with Jane.

Jane is an all-in-one health and wellness practice management platform designed to be helpful to you, no matter how or where you practise. Available online and on any device, Jane offers branded online booking, beautiful scheduling, insurance management, customizable charting, online intake forms, patient reminders, integrated payment processing, online appointments (telehealth), and more!

Delight your patients, reduce your admin time and start loving the business side of your small business. Jane is here to help!

Click here to check out Jane.

Jane has agreed to provide a one-month grace period code for OSRP members should they wish to sign up. The discount code can be found on the member benefits page of our website

OSRP members, click here for the discount code.

Member Spotlight

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:33:06 GMT

Dear OSRP Community,

Member Spotlight is a member-engagement initiative designed to bring our community together, foster connections, and create opportunities to share your work and services.

If you'd like to be featured, please fill out the application form — we’d love to hear from you!

With love,

Mahshad Aryafar

OSRP members, apply to be a Member Spotlight!

New Feature! What’s in Your Ears? Podcast Review

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:15:13 GMT

Welcome to our new feature! Each month, we showcase a member-suggested podcast episode as part of OSRP’s effort to bring you micro-reviews of insightful content in the field of psychotherapy. All materials are available free of charge as part of our member engagement initiative.

We invite you to submit podcast episodes that you found inspiring or educational. If your suggestion is accepted, you’ll also be compensated for your time. Enjoy, and happy listening!

We’re debuting with an episode that speaks about two topics that might not get enough airtime, especially for new therapists: the art of the consultation (and saying “no”), and the therapist’s inherent vulnerability.

Learning to Say No Means Recognizing our Vulnerability

Reviewer’s Name: Rachel Fulford, Clinical Member, OSRP

Title of Podcast Series: New Books in Psychoanalysis: part of the New Books Network

Title of Episode: The Analyst’s Vulnerability: Impact on Theory and Practice

Date released: December 23, 2021

Link to Episode: https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-analysts-vulnerability

Who Will I Hear?

Guest: Karen J. Moroda, Ph.D., APBB, certified psychologist and psychoanalyst, with CBT training, 30+ years as a therapist (Milwaukee), and author of the book in the episode title

Interviewer: Roy Barsness, Clinical Psychoanalytic Psychologist, Founder and Executive Director of the Post-Graduate Program in Relationally-Focused Psychodynamic Therapy, 30+ years as a therapist (Seattle)

What’s It About?

Moroda uses her analysis of the personality type of the average therapist to better understand where we are vulnerable, and what we can do to recognize and shore up our practices.

How Can It Help?

Her thoughts on therapeutic “fit” and the importance of listening to your gut during consultations to decide if you are really the best person to work with a new client can provide some self-confidence in new therapists, or even in those looking to mindfully enlarge their practices.

She reminds us to prevent disruptive “enactments” (which can lead to complaints) by being aware of our own vulnerabilities, while also finding the courage to carefully provide useful and tactful feedback to the client.

Why Does This Reviewer Love It?

This warm and frank talk between veteran therapists is eye-opening (ear-opening?) re: the therapist’s stance and boundaries. I could relate to their discussion of what we aren’t taught about how to intervene effectively when we feel negative emotions towards the client.

Moroda’s practical, common-sense style is a cool breath of fresh air. Barsness keeps her focused on useful tips for new therapists, or for any therapist looking for a new, and validating, perspective.

If you would like to review your favourite therapy-related podcast episode, please use the link below.

Click here to submit your podcast review.

Member Spotlight: Deborah Walker

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:26:52 GMT

Deborah has come to psychotherapy later in life, with a deep belief that her life journey has given her the insights and experiences that now shape her work.

Her interest in the field of psychotherapy sparked in high school, but she shifted her focus toward a health studies program at Brock University, where she became especially drawn to mental health and eating disorders. She then moved on to work as a nurse and life went on. Eventually, she decided to return to her original goal of becoming a therapist. She enrolled at Adler Graduate Professional School and graduated in 2022, feeling like she had finally returned to the path she was meant to take.

Deborah is accepting new clients and focuses on adults, nurses, and professionals. You can find her here: https://www.deborahwalkerpsychotherapy.com/

Thank you, Deborah, for sharing your meaningful life story. Your diverse experience and open heart are sure to contribute positively to your work with clients.

We’re a community of over 1,000 members, and I’d love to meet and showcase as many of you as possible! If you’d like to be featured, please reach out through the form below — I can’t wait to hear and share your story!

With love,

Mahshad

OSRP members, apply to be a Member Spotlight!

If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

World Teen Mental Wellness Day: March 2, 2025

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:42:52 GMT

World Teen Mental Wellness Day 2025 is observed on Sunday, March 2nd. This is an annual event that is always held on the same day each year.

World Teen Mental Wellness Day is dedicated to creating conversations, raising awareness, and destigmatizing issues around teen mental health. The day seeks to help teens in the right way and get them talking about the issues that are relevant to them. Teen mental health can drastically affect the rest of their lives and lead to depression and other negative outcomes. It is so important to create an environment in which teens feel comfortable enough to share their true feelings to ensure their mental wellbeing. It is also necessary to participate in the process of destigmatizing mental illnesses so that teens can feel more at ease about getting the help that they need.

What is the History of World Teen Mental Wellness Day?

World Teen Mental Wellness Day was founded in 2020 by the Hollister Confidence Project. This was the first day to be established solely focusing on the mental health of teenagers. The Hollister Confidence Project is a 24/7 organization that is supported by people. They are dedicated to helping teens around the world feel their best and have the best possible mental health. In addition to their other work, the Hollister Confidence Fund provides grants to non-profit organizations such as teen mental health and equity for marginalized youth.

Why is Teen Mental Health so Important?

Teen mental health and wellbeing deserves extra attention because this is around the age that young people become more independent and potentially, withdrawn. Teenagers are going through the formative years of their lives as they are experiencing changes in their physical and emotional states. They need support, encouragement, and a comfortable, safe environment that they can express themselves in. Unfortunately, many teens do not have this kind of environment and as a result struggle to express themselves emotionally. This can have many negative effects, particularly on their mental health. Additionally, identifying and beginning to resolve mental health issues from an early age can be hugely beneficial for the individual.

How to Observe Teen Mental Wellness Day 2025

Observing Teen Mental Wellness Day 2025 is all about ensuring that the teens in your life are being supported and cared for in a way that benefits their mental wellbeing. This may sound like a tall order but in fact, doing what you can to help is all that is asked of you. Any assistance that you provide to a teen will likely improve their mental health. There are a number of ways you can do this including: having a conversation with them, sharing your own mental health journey, and creating a space that is safe for frank conversation.

For informational and helpful materials to help support Teen Mental Wellness Day, please click here.

CRPO Renewals Due March 31

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:40:00 GMT

CRPO registrants are required to renew their registration annually. Registration renewal for the upcoming 2025-2026 registration year opened on February 10, 2025, and will close March 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET.

Please note that, according to OSRP’s by-laws, Clinical and Qualifying members must be registered in good standing with the CRPO in order be eligible for membership with OSRP.

As of February 10, registrants can go to the “Renewal” page of their CRPO user accounts to complete the renewal form and pay their annual renewal fee. Detailed information about this year’s renewal process is available on CRPO’s Annual Registration Renewal Information page.

OSRP Trademark Application Approved

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:47:42 GMT

In 2023, OSRP entered into a trademark co-existence agreement with the CRPO, which allowed us to register and use OSRP’s slogan "For RPs, by RPs."

We submitted an application last year to register a trademark with the patent office. The application we submitted has recently been approved, so the slogan “For RPs by RPs” belongs to OSRP. This is great news and long awaited.

Volunteer Opportunities for Members

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:38:06 GMT

Interested in helping out but don’t want to Chair a committee? Volunteer to be a member of a committee or assist with a project. Volunteering is one of the most rewarding benefits of membership!

Information on all OSRP’s committees — and their terms of reference — can be found on the governance page of our website. Click here to see a list of our committees and read their terms of reference.

Our committee Chairs are:

Advocacy: Co-Chairs Hammam Farah and Cindy Elkerton
o PRPA Subcommittee: Natasha Tuletta-Bowman
Connect: Chair Mahshad Aryafar
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Chair Kimberly Cato
o BIPoC Bursary & Scholarship Committee Subcommittee: Chair Nerissa Hutchinson
Ethics: Chair Cindy Elkerton
o Protect Subcommittee: Chair Alethia Cadore
Nomination: Chair Kimberly Cato
OSRP-CRPO Committee: Chair Mahshad Aryafar
Wellness: Chair Natasha Tuletta-Bowman

If you are interested in joining a committee, please click here to complete our online volunteer application form. The Chair(s) of your chosen committees will reach out to you soon.

GoodLife: Wellness Seminars Now Available for Purchase

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:22:53 GMT

In celebration of Heart Health Month this coming February, we’re excited to introduce GoodLife’s new 30-minute, on-demand wellness seminar topic: Heart Healthy Habits for Longevity and Healthspan.

Available in English and French, these 30-minute seminars offer practical tips empowering individuals to adopt heart-healthy habits that can positively impact not just lifespan, but overall healthspan, starting at any age.

Purchase by January 31, 2025 to access the recordings from February 1–28, 2025.

It’s not too late to support your January goal setting with our current on-demand seminar: Stronger Mind, Stronger Body: Setting Goals for Physical and Mental Well-being. These 30-minute seminars are available in English and French, supporting goal setting to promote optimal well-being. Viewing will be available until January 31, 2025.

January: Stronger Mind, Stronger Body: Setting Goals for Physical and Mental Well-Being with Nathalie Lacombe

February: Heart Healthy Habits for Longevity and Healthspan with Nathalie Lacombe

March: Brain Foods and Stress Solutions With Lisa Tsakos and Sara Tarek

Click here to view the January Workplace Wellness On-Demand Flyer.

Click here to view the February Workplace Wellness On-Demand Flyer.

Click here to view the March Workplace Wellness On-Demand Flyer.

Contact GoodLife for more details and to make a purchase now.

Yours in good health,

Workplace Wellness

GoodLife Fitness

Apply Now to Volunteer With OSRP

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 21:17:30 GMT

Our committees are welcoming new members and would love to hear from you. We are seeking volunteers to provide diverse and varied perspectives to our association.

All members are welcome to join a committee that fits with their interests. Your voice is important. Join the OSRP Community!

All committee meetings are virtual, so you can volunteer from the comfort of your home/workspace, wherever you live!

Click here to read our committee descriptions

Complete and submit the following form to start the volunteering process.

Click here to volunteer for a committee

You will be contacted by the Committee chair to discuss next steps. Please allow up to 30 days for a response.

Volunteering on a committee is a member benefit. Volunteers must maintain a current membership with OSRP while volunteering.

Member Spotlight

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:21:53 GMT

Dear OSRP Community,

Thank you for embracing the Member Spotlight feature with me over the past year. When I joined the board and started chairing the Connect Committee, my goal was to highlight the incredible diversity within our membership and create opportunities for connection.

The Connect Committee serves as OSRP's communications arm. Our role goes beyond sharing news and updates; we aim to foster a sense of belonging across our wonderfully diverse community. OSRP is made up of members with unique identities, psychotherapy approaches, and life experience. I truly believe our differences enrich us, and by leaning into them, we can find deeper connection and understanding.

This belief inspired the Member Spotlight. I wanted the monthly newsletter to not only share information but also give us a chance to know one another better. Behind every member is a beautiful human with something unique to contribute to our collective.

This month, I'm writing this piece in lieu of a Member Spotlight. I thought it was a perfect opportunity to start the year by sharing the intention and vision behind this feature:

Each month, we get to learn about a member - what led them to this profession, the populations they serve, their approach to psychotherapy, and what inspires them.
Member Spotlight is a personal introduction to one of our valued members and does not necessarily represent the views of the OSRP as an organization.
Participation is voluntary and we welcome every member.

Each conversation has been an incredible learning and growth opportunity for me. I hope it offers you the same gift — a chance to see the world through someone else’s eyes and/or to feel kinship with a member you may have otherwise not known.

If you'd like to be featured in the Member Spotlight, please fill out the form below. We'd love to hear from you!

With love,

Mahshad Aryafar

OSRP members, apply to be a Member Spotlight!

Bell Let’s Talk Day: January 22

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:17:10 GMT

Bell Let's Talk Day 2025 to Prioritize Youth Mental Health as Young Canadians Face Growing Crisis

A new comprehensive national report was released on October 10, 2024 by Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) which shows there is a growing mental health crisis among young Canadians. Bell announced it will prioritize youth mental health on Bell Let's Talk Day and will launch a text-to-donate campaign with 100% of the funds raised going to six youth mental health providers: Integrated Youth Services, Jack.org, Kids Help Phone, National Association of Friendship Centres, Strongest Families Institute and Youth In Mind Foundation.

On Bell Let's Talk Day, Canadians can give $5 by text with Bell matching all donations up to a total of $1 million, as part of Bell's $10 million mental health commitment in 2025.

Bell has created a toolkit that includes stickers, posters and activities to share with your family, friends and colleagues to help start the conversation and show your support.

Click here to download the toolkit

If you are in a crisis, please go to your nearest emergency department or call the appropriate crisis line that meets your needs. Here are some suggestions:

Mental Health Crisis Line: 1-888-893-8333

Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (text: 45645)

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto: 1-416-408-4357

Women’s Health in Women’s Hands: 1-416-593-7655

LAMP Community Health Centre: 1-416-252-6471

TAIBU Community Health Centre: 1-416-644-3536

Youth Line for LGBTQ+ youth 26 and under: 1-800-268-9688

Gerstein Crisis Centre, Toronto: 1-416-929-5200

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Member Spotlight: Mia Omara

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:47:18 GMT

I had the pleasure of chatting with Mia Omara, our final Spotlight member of the year — and what a beautiful conversation it was.

Mia came to psychotherapy as a second career after working as an editor in medical publishing. Her path into this field began in 2019, when she graduated from Yorkville University. Mia’s approach is both trauma-informed and deeply human, drawing on somatic, attachment-based, EMDR, CBT, and person-centred modalities.

Her journey into therapy is a touching one. After the sudden loss of a close family member, Mia had a transformative experience with her own therapist — an experience that sparked her passion for this work and the deep curiosity about human behaviour that still guides her today.

Mia’s practice focuses on neurodiverse young adults and healthcare workers, offering both in-person and virtual sessions. Outside of therapy, Mia is a voracious reader, drawing inspiration from Stoic and Buddhist philosophies. When we spoke, she was excited about attending 2024 PESI ADHD Conference — if you’re curious, here’s the link: PESI ADHD Conference.

Mia is currently accepting new clients, and you can learn more or connect with her here: Mia on Psychology Today.

Thank you, Mia, for sharing your story and your warmth with us. You are truly a gift to this profession!

Warmly,

Mahshad

OSRP members, apply to be a Member Spotlight!

Holiday Office Hours

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:28:17 GMT

OSRP’s office will be closed from 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, until 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 2, 2024, which means we won’t be returning phone calls or emails until January 3 or 4, 2024.

We wish you all the best for a healthy and prosperous new year!

Happy Festive Season Happy New Year

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:24:23 GMT

The month of December is filled with various festivals, religious events, national days, and a multitude of celebrations that bring people together for food, fun, and frolicking. This may include Festivus, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and Independence Days for Kenya, Qatar, Bahrain, Libya, Mongolia, Finland, Tanzania, Portugal, and many more.

Though these are just a few significant dates people may celebrate or take time off to take care of themselves, friends or family, there are many different traditions associated with each holiday or significant day. Learning about the significance, stories, and histories of various holidays can help broaden our perspective beyond the holidays we celebrate year after year.

As active, retired, and student psychotherapists, we know that there are many for whom this time of year is uncomfortable, lonely, isolating, or riddled with thoughts of traumatic experiences, grie,f and loss. We are aware of the tumultuous emotional rollercoaster of this season for many. As we continue through this month of December, we may wish to use inclusive language in how we greet each other and not make assumptions about how people are getting through this time. In addition, we might consider providing our clients and loved ones with a crisis line number/website and other culturally responsive community resources to help them get through this time safely.

We might practise asking open-ended questions of each other first, so we are not making assumptions. For example, “What are you doing over these next few weeks?” This question does not assume someone will be on holiday because they may choose to or must work; it doesn’t assume they will be with family members; and it doesn’t assume they celebrate a specific holiday.

Another open-ended question might be, “How do you spend your time in these winter months?” This example invites discussion without imposing a specific belief, expectation, mood, or pattern of behaviour. Once we’ve learned more about the person we’re talking to, we can then decide how to wish them well.

May all OSRP Members find showers of positivity, pockets of joy, and prosperity in HEALTH, WEALTH, and WISDOM in 2025!!!

SickKids CCMH: Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale: Save 30%!

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:22:32 GMT

Get ready to elevate your learning with SickKids CCMH Learning Institute’s biggest sale of the year! This is your chance to invest in expert-led, evidence-based training at an unbeatable price.

Enjoy 30% off ALL training programs
Use code BFCM2024 to claim your discount
Act fast! This offer is only available until December 3, 2024!

Now is the perfect time to invest in your professional development. Whether you're building new skills, refreshing your knowledge, or exploring new areas of growth, from foundational courses to specialized training, you’ll find something to help you succeed. Hurry! Our Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale won’t last long. Register today at www.sickkidscmhlearning.ca.

*Some restrictions apply, visit www.sickkidscmhlearning.ca for details

Member Spotlight: Mahzad Ghahremani

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:08:43 GMT

This was my first chat with a Qualifying member, and I was excited to meet her. Mahzad is warm, caring, and passionate about helping others. She shared her career path, which began with a BA in psychology and sociology. She started working with the autism community by volunteering and eventually found a job in the field. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to pursue psychotherapy and attended Yorkville University.

Mahzad currently holds three roles: a full-time care coordinator position in the autism space with Access OAP, an independent contractor role at a private clinic, and she facilitates a weekly group therapy session for families with loved ones in rehab. She loves her work with the autism population and plans to focus more in that area moving forward.

We also talked about the importance of self-care for therapists. We agreed that, as therapists, taking care of our own well-being is essential to continue providing quality support to our clients. She’s mindful of the need to set boundaries, prioritize rest, and engage in activities that rejuvenate her. Our conversation reinforced how self-care isn’t just about relaxation — it’s about creating sustainable habits that prevent burnout and help therapists stay grounded, resilient, and present for those they serve.

Outside of work, Mahzad enjoys long walks, reading fiction (currently reading The Nightingale), practising yoga, and spending time with her pets. I even got to meet her cat, Pishi, who was sleeping as we chatted on Zoom. Although she identifies as an introvert, she cherishes her social connections as a source of emotional nourishment.

Mahzad can be reached via https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/mahzad-ghahremani-toronto-on/1352712.

Mahzad has been an OSRP member since 2022 and has less than 100 hours to go before becoming a Clinical member. Thank you, Mahzad, for being part of the OSRP.

With love,

Mahshad

OSRP members, apply to be a Member Spotlight!

PS: Protect Seminar — From Hidden Gem to Digital Star: How to Make Your Brand Unmissable

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:04:25 GMT

For our final seminar of 2024, we are thrilled to share with you how to make your brand unmissable on December 7 from 12 to 1:30 p.m.

Nadine Daff is the Founder and CMO of Starlit Studio, a Creative Agency that specializes in branding and video for coaches and startups.

Nadine combines branding and marketing as seamlessly as a 2-in-1 shampoo. She has successfully monetized numerous business ideas by applying a consistent formula. Her approach to branding is comprehensive, encompassing design, copywriting, and marketability — each an integral part of your brand's constellation.

We look forward to sharing this experience with you.

Click here to register.

OSRP AGM on November 22

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:37:02 GMT

OSRP members, join us at our Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Friday, November 22, 2024
1 to 3 p.m. ET, Zoom

You’ll receive a confirmation email that includes the Zoom link when you register.

Here’s some of what’s happening:

Confirmation of incoming Board
Approval of financial statements
Reports from the various committees
Mary Kate Grey from Sheridan College will be present to discuss EDI and the OSRP/Sheridan College partnership.

Click here to view the agenda.

New to the OSRP? New therapist? Student? Welcome to your professional home!

The AGM is where you get to voice your opinions. It’s where you get to meet the Board and ask questions. It’s where you get to meet your colleagues and find your people. It’s where change happens. It’s where you find out how you might want to contribute to the organization that is your professional home by joining the Board or a committee.

We look forward to seeing you!

Click here to register for the AGM

Not able to attend? Assign a proxy!

If you are unable to attend the OSRP AGM scheduled for November 22, 2024, please click on the button below to complete a proxy form. Proxies are required so we can ensure we have a quorum to hold the meeting.

Click here to assign a proxy

Reduce Admin Work & Increase Earnings – Try World’s First Multi-Lingual* AI Note-taking Tool CliniScripts for Free!

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:25:54 GMT

As a fellow mental health professional in Ontario, we understand the administrative burden you face daily. That's why we developed CliniScripts, an AI-powered note-taking solution designed specifically for mental health professionals to reduce documentation time by 20-30%.

Here’s how CliniScripts can help you:

Free up time to see 1-2 more clients per day, potentially earning an extra $4,000 to $6,000 monthly.
Improve patient care with organized, automated documentation tailored to your practice.
Reduce pajama time and burnout and enhance your work-life balance with our easy-to-use platform.

Why CliniScripts?

Designed & developed, locally in Ontario, Canada, it follows strict PHIPA & PEPIDA security policy, in partnership with Google, MARS, University of Toronto, Clinical Psychology Dept, Dr. Sohail Khattak, Dr. Hanif Chatur, Mashad Arayfar, and several other Psychotherapists, and other mental health experts.
Built with Ontario based mental health professionals in mind, offering solutions to meet the unique needs of your practice.

Why sign up today:
Sign up for a 30 day free, risk-free, no credit card trial today for 50 minutes or a month! No commitments, just an opportunity to see how CliniScripts can make a difference in your daily work. Also, if you like this service, and commit to one year, we will offer Clini Assist to you for FREE. Plus

Get FREE Access to Multi-Lingual Feature soon in Q4 2024

Attend for FREE Client Appreciation Day 11^th December at 12 noon?
We'd love to show you how CliniScripts can work for you. Schedule a brief demo with us, and join our upcoming educational webinar on 11^th December at 12 noon hosted by Dr. Michael Brown, (ex-CIO and Lecturer at Harvard Medical).

Ready to transform your practice now?

Click here now.

Looking forward to supporting you in providing the highest standard of care with less stress.

Best regards,
Nauman Jaffar, Founder
CliniScripts.com

Member Spotlight: Diviya Lewis

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 19:53:42 GMT

April 2024

Diviya and I had a dynamic chat about her work, what matters to her in the field of psychotherapy, and some of our core responsibilities as therapists. I am genuinely excited about the new generation of psychotherapists entering the field and feel lucky that so many of them are choosing the OSRP as their professional homebase.

Diviya is warm, articulate, and passionate about the work we do as therapists, and especially interested in decolonizing psychotherapeutic spaces from the old, rigid models of being that are not equitable, inclusive, or diverse. She is a graduate of Yorkville University and utilizes Relational Somatic IFS (Internal Family Systems) in her practice. She shared that therapy was not part of her inherited culture, but after trying therapy and seeing the deeply positive impact on her sense of self and her relationship with the colonized aspect of her culture, she decided to pursue it as a career and a calling.

Decolonization of self, culture, and therapeutic practices is at the heart of her work with clients. She mentioned that part of the reason she joined the OSRP was the Society’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion practices. She calls on the board and the Society to do more to further the practice toward liberation from colonized systems of being.

She finds solace and inspiration in nature and shared with me some of her current reading material:

The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color by Natalie Gutierrez

For anyone interested, she’s also a co-founder of a listserv that has Equity and Justice as their core principal: Therapists of Equity & Justice

Diviya is accepting clients at the moment and can be found here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/diviya-lewis-toronto-on/408104

Thank you, Diviya, for sharing your contagious passion with us!

Recap From the Special Session of the Membership Meeting

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 21:52:08 GMT

The Special Session of the Membership meeting held on October 10 was a success! We officially recorded the results from the electronic votes to amend the constitution and by-laws.

We also released several policies.

The listserv policy and acknowledgment form were released in the spring, in conjunction with the launch of our new listserv platform. All members signing up for the platform are required to sign off, ensuring a safe and productive space for member exchange.

Listserv Acknowledgement Form

Listserv Policy

The new policies that were released can be found below.

These policies were crafted in tandem with the by-laws changes that were approved. The intent and vision was to ensure that our by-laws and policies align with and encompass OSRP's commitment to equitable practices in everything we do. We have come to realize in recent years that these policies are necessary as we grow and forge a path forward. Click on the buttons below to view the new policies.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Conflict Resolution Policy

Contractor Hiring Policy

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Sharing of Race-based Data Policy

Whistleblower Protection Policy

Abolish the Position of Parliamentarian

Resources for Mastering Test-taking Strategies

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 14:21:26 GMT

The Protect Committee presented a seminar with Aisha Heywood on October 9 titled Mastering Test-Taking Strategies for Professionals.

Aisha shared a range of tools, from understanding key action words in exam questions to using mnemonic aids for memory retention, making them valuable for improving overall exam performance

The following resources have been carefully selected to support Professionals & Psychotherapists in enhancing their test-taking strategies. These materials provide insights into effective exam preparation, case study analysis, managing test anxiety, and developing practical skills for various types of exams

If you require strategies for the upcoming CRPO exam, the list is provided here

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. (n.d.). https://crpo.ca/practice-standards/
Shier, M. (2020, September 11). 6.1 test anxiety and how to manage it. Student Success https://opentextbc.ca/studentsuccess/chapter/test-anxiety/ Schellenberg, R. C. (2012)
The school counsellor’s study guide for credentialing exams. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203831601
Subject & Study Guides: Key Study Skills: Answering essay and case study questions in exams. Answering essay and case study questions in exams — Key Study Skills - Subject & Study Guides at Unitec. (n.d.). https://guides.unitec.ac.nz/studyskills/essayanswers Rummel, N., Levin, J. R., & Woodward, M. M. (2003).
Do Pictorial Mnemonic Text-Learning Aids Give Students Something Worth Writing About? Journal of Educational Psychology, 95(2), 327–334. Utoronto. (n.d.-e). https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/rgasc/media/2097/download?inline= Ward, H., Barratt, J., & Paul, N. (2009).
Passing Your Advanced Nursing OSCE: A Guide to Success in Advanced Clinical Skills Assessment. Taylor & Francis Group

Click here to purchase the recorded seminar.

Are You Getting Your Discounts?

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:47:19 GMT

All members in good standing with OSRP are entitled to:

$50 off your next year’s membership dues for every new member you refer who joins OSRP
1-month grace period with Jane for new accounts
a free membership with Perkopolis
25% discounted membership at GoodLife Fitness
Discounts on training with SickKids CCMH
Discounts on training with Leading Edge Seminars
Group liability insurance through McFarlan Rowlands

This is win-win for all our members who want to save! Details can be found on the member benefits page once you log in to our website.

Click here for details.

Advertise With OSRP

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:42:16 GMT

Are you interested in advertising your event with OSRP? Are you looking to hire an RP? To assist you, we have initiated a new, streamlined process for submitting advertisements.

Information on how to advertise can be found on our Advertise With Us page. You have two options:

1. Include your ad in a Central e-blast

2. Send a standalone e-blast

Information on how to advertise a job post can be found on our Post a Job page.

How Do I Submit My Advertisement?

Advertisements are submitted through our new online form. Once you have submitted your advertisement, you will be directed to our payment page. Payment must be submitted along with your advertisement.

Member Spotlight: Alethia Cadore

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:36:25 GMT

As I reflect on my recent conversation with Alethia, our very own OSRP board member and Protect Committee Chair, I am reminded of the importance of our shared experiences in psychotherapy and community engagement. Alethia has been a psychotherapist since 2017, but her journey spans over two decades, working with adolescents and adults in various hospital settings. Her extensive background in emergency departments and psychiatric stabilization units has shaped her understanding of mental health care for Black and marginalized communities.

Our dialogue delved into the evolution of mental health interventions, particularly concerning the Black community. Alethia raised valid concerns about the initial Eurocentric focus of these interventions, emphasizing the necessity for culturally sensitive approaches that consider family involvement and community support. This perspective resonates deeply with me as I find it so important that as psychotherapists, we create treatment plans that are not only effective but also respectful of individual identities and cultural backgrounds. Throughout our discussion, I was inspired by Alethia's commitment to personal growth and community outreach.

Alethia also spoke about her practice called , where she not only offers individual therapy, along with two interns, she also organizes wellness retreats that incorporate mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and nutrition — her first event attracted 50 attendees! She brings the same energy for community outreach and self-healing to the OSRP through the various offerings of the Protect Committee.

Alethia’s two student interns are offering free counselling to young adults ages 18-30 until April 2025, and starting in November, Alethia is starting a DBT group for women of colour.

Feel free to reach out to her via alethia@mindsilike.com, or through her website to find out more.

Rescheduled: OSRP Special Session of the Membership on October 10

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:30:32 GMT

Thank you for your continued support of the OSRP. As a valued member, you had the opportunity to vote on proposed by-law amendments that will ensure you continue to have a voice while also supporting the advancement of the society and its mandate.

The amendments were released for electronic vote in July and the motions and results will be read into the minutes of this meeting to make them official.

Unfortunately, we were challenged with registrations for the August 30 Special Session of the Membership meeting (18 received) and proxies (9 received). Under our current by-laws, we require over 90 registrations and proxies to achieve a quorum, so we have rescheduled this meeting.

The new meeting date and time are:

Thursday, October 10, 2024
12 to 1 p.m. ET, Zoom

To register for the meeting, please use this link.

Proxy Voting

If you are unable to attend the OSRP Special Session of the Membership meeting scheduled for October 10, 2024, please click on the button below to complete a proxy form. There will be no voting during the meeting. Proxies are required so we can ensure we have a quorum to hold the meeting.

Click here to register your proxy.

Member Spotlight: Alice Blackwell

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:28:34 GMT

Alice is a lively and passionate human. We spent our time talking about her journey to becoming a therapist and what matters to her in her work. She shared her positive experience with therapy during her teenage years, her volunteer work at Jesse's and Sistering, Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/Advocate Diploma at George Brown College, and her ultimate decision to apply for a 5-year experiential psychotherapy training program at OPC to further her personal growth and become the therapist she aspired to be.

Alice does standup comedy and loves to read and see impactful films. She just saw the film “Hard Truths” at TIFF festival and recommended the book Love Me Tender by Constance Debray, which I’m looking into.

Alice has an office in central Toronto and offers a combination of in-person and virtual sessions. She works mostly with queer young adults and has a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive approach to therapy. She is accepting clients at the moment and can be contacted via: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/alice-blackwell-toronto-on/1122544.

Thank you Alice for this inspiring conversation. Your energy is contagious!

Clarifying the New GST/HST Exemption for Psychotherapy and Counselling Therapy Services

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 18:49:27 GMT

On June 27, we were pleased to announce that the GST/HST exemption from counselling and psychotherapy services went into effect as of June 20, 2024, after having received royal assent.

As of June 20, 2024, certain psychotherapists and counselling therapists are no longer required to collect the GST/HST on their services. The Canada Revenue Agency wants to ensure that all providers of these types of services have the information they need to determine their tax situation and take any next steps, such as closing their GST/HST account. The CRA released a statement on July 15 which provides further clarity.

Please keep in mind that the exemption applies only to psychotherapy services. If you are providing other services (e.g., coaching, workshops, etc.) that you charge HST on, you should continue to charge HST on those services.

We would again like to thank all those who worked diligently over many years to make this happen, including those on the Tax-Free Therapy campaign, our partners at the Partnership of Registered Psychotherapy Associations (PRPA) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and our very own OSRP Advocacy Committee.

Event: Principles of Successful Investing

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:05:03 GMT

For OSRP Members Only

Presented by RBC

Marty Nanasi, investment retirement planner-financial planner with RBC, will be presenting a free seminar only for OSRP members on how to best utilize RSPs to reduce taxable income, save for first time homebuyers’ downpayments, including advice towards how to invest and options available within an RSP at RBC.

He will also cover how to use a RSP vs TFSA to maximize results and First Home savers account, which is a new addition the Canadian government has put in place to allow further deduction from income taxes and save further in addition to first-time home buyers' account allowable in RSP.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024
12 to 1 p.m. ET, Zoom

Fees: Free for members

Click here to register.

Member Article: Why is it important to treat trauma in Black People Differently?

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:24:34 GMT

By Brandon Hay (MES, Business)
Founder of the Black Daddies Club
Therapist-in-Training at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto
OSRP member

Less than 1% of therapists identify as Black men in the USA. This statistic was shared at a Black Men Therapists conference in Chicago that I attended in February 2023. This number is even less for Black men practicing therapy in Canada.

This lack of representation of Black men in the mental health profession in Canada has impacts on the larger mental health crisis that Black folks across Canada are navigating. The Shining a Light on Mental Health in Black Communities report states that 60% of the Black Canadians surveyed "would be more willing to use mental health services if the mental health professional were Black". The report also indicated the importance of innovative mental health interventions for the Back community, as “Black persons in Canada have higher unemployment rates, as well as lower average incomes, which may preclude them from the wider selection of mental health services available to those able to pay privately or go through employer-covered insurance plans."

My name is Brandon Hay and I am a Black man who is a therapist-in-training in Gestalt therapy, and I am also the founder of the Black Daddies Club (BDC), which is a social grassroots movement that has been co-creating spaces for Black folks and Black men in Toronto for the past 18 years.

As a therapist in training, I believe the trauma that Black folks experience looks different due to racism and their other lived experiences that come with the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, class, etc. The events below will be co-created communal and decolonized spaces for Black therapists, counsellors, healers, and those who support Black folks to learn and network with each other.

On Sunday, August 11th, 2024, BDC is collaborating with community stakeholders from Canada, USA, and South Africa to do two events (virtual and in-person) that will focus on innovative approaches with Black folks and mental health. The event will take place at Movember Canada, Toronto, 588 Richmond Street West, Toronto,

The first event taking place from 11 am-2:30 pm, will be Sunday Brunch: A Decolonized Space for Black Therapists, Counselors, Healers, and those who work with Black Folks, a panel discussion and networking and knowledge-sharing event for the purpose of decolonizing therapeutic strategies for Black, Indigenous and Racialized therapists, counselors, healers and those who support Black folks with their mental health.

This event, the first in a series, will launch The Revelry Group, an Employment Assistance Program (EAP) that works with Black, Racialized, and Indigenous Counsellors, Therapists and Healers. We are currently working on inviting Black and Racialized therapists to be a part of this network.

The second event for the day, taking place from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, will be Sunday Dinners: Conversations with Black Men. The purpose of the Sunday Dinner gatherings is for Black men to have conversations with other Black men to explore our similarities and differences. This conversation series is for Black men who identify as cis-gendered, heterosexual, trans-men, gay, bi-sexual, mixed race, living with a disability or non-binary Black men, etc.; as long as you identify as a Black man, the Sunday Dinners space is for you.

The Sunday Dinners initiative is innovative because it takes away the stigma of therapy which is still prevalent in some Black communities. The event is also free which helps to decrease the financial barriers that often stand in the way of Black men and their mental health and wellness. The design of Sunday Dinners is built on the Gestalt Therapy theories of dialogical relationship, awareness of our bodies, and being present in the here and now with the other person. Sunday Dinners also relies on Black men connecting (speaking and listening) with other Black men in a vulnerable way, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, as one participant who attended the in-person Sunday Dinners event which was held in March 2024 in Toronto, said,

“I love having an intergenerational space where I can learn from black men. Having a space to talk to other black men is healing, especially during COVID. I also like having this space because I can share my experiences and unpack some of my own insecurities and experiences. It feels like therapy’.” Sunday Dinner attendee

If you are a Black therapist or counselor, or a non-Black therapist or counselor who works with Black men, Black boys, and the Black community at large, please register for the Sunday Brunch (in-person or virtual).

If you are a Black man and interested in attending Sunday Dinners, please register (in-person or virtual).

As these events are not wheelchair accessible, we encourage folks who experience mobility issues, or those who will be out of the geographic area, to access both events via the virtual registration options.

I would love to see you at these events. Bring a friend!

Member Spotlight: Ellis Nicolson

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:09:37 GMT

It’s always a treat to chat with OSRP members and this one was no exception. Ellis has been a practicing psychotherapist for 20 years. Like most psychotherapists, he wanted his life to impact others positively. Through his training it became clear that he wanted to have a broader impact than on just an individual; he wanted to create the possibility of generational change. So, he pursued a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Tyndale University, believing that if a couple can change their negative patterns into positive, connected patterns, then a new normal would be modeled for their children, thus creating the possibility of generational change. I couldn’t agree more.

Ellis’ practice has two locations, one in Mississauga and the other in Downtown Toronto, and serves clients virtually and in person. His modalities include EFT, narrative therapy, CBT, and Internal Family Systems theory.

Ellis’ self-care practice includes running, and listening to podcasts, particularly one hosted by Lex Friedman, who explores the balance between science and the human condition

Ellis’ clinic is accepting clients at the moment, and can be found through the link below:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/ellis-nicolsonassociates-relationship-specialists-mississauga-on/145297

Thank you, Ellis, for a lovely chat. I wish you and your practice health and success!

With love,

Mahshad

THANK YOU!

I want to thank all the members who have filled out the Member Spotlight form since the beginning, especially the ones I didn’t get a chance to meet in person. Unfortunately, I only have time to speak with one member each month, but I want the rest of you to know that I see you, and appreciate your engagement and courage in putting your name in the Member Spotlight hat.

With love,

Mahshad

Would you like to be featured in the next Member Spotlight? Just fill in our quick survey and tell us about yourself. If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

I look forward to learning and sharing about members all over Ontario, especially the ones working in the more remote regions, and ones with diverse approaches, or serving diverse and marginalized populations.

With love,

Mahshad Aryafar, RP

Connect Committee Chair

Reminder: Renewal Fees Were Due July 1

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:03:27 GMT

This is a reminder for our 1,300+ wonderful members that membership fees were due July 1. Members know that the OSRP is the only Ontario association dedicated exclusively to RPs, keeping focus on our unique needs, abilities and goals.

Very well done for those who have already renewed your membership - 5 Gold Stars to you!!!

We have chosen NOT to raise our rates, in view of helping our members continue to thrive in your professional home, the OSRP.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

A vibrant online and offline peer community rich in resources, expertise and support
OSRP Connect — A members-only listserv for connection and resources
OSRP Central — A monthly newsletter to keep you in the know with events, resources and news you can use
Affordable group plan for liability insurance through McFarland Rowlands for full Legal Defence. Its premiums that do not go up if there is a legal case or College complaint against you
Liaison with the CRPO to ensure your voice is heard
Opportunity to join vibrant committees including Advocacy, EDI, Wellness, Connect, Ethics and more
Opportunity to join the Board of Directors

If you have any questions, please contact Society Manager Evonne Brant at mail@psychotherapyontario.org or call 416-923-4050 – all messages with be returned during normal business hours.

Don't know your password? Reset it here

Click here to renew your membership

Are You Board Curious? Join Us Friday, July 26 at noon

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:56:24 GMT

The OSRP is growing and developing as an organization representing a diverse group of 1,300+ RPs across Ontario. To do so, we need your voices. Please let us know what we can do to make joining our Board a good fit for you.

If you are Board-Curious and interested in learning more about becoming part of the OSRP Board, you are invited to an Open House on Friday, July 26, with Dan Sileshi, Chair of the Nomination Committee.

Friday, July 26, 2024
12-1 p.m. EDT
Zoom

Click here to register.

Tax-Free Therapy: When Can You Stop Charging GST/HST

OSRP Administrator — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:56:26 GMT

We are pleased to announce that the GST/HST exemption from counselling and psychotherapy services has gone into effect as of June 20, 2024, after having received royal assent.

Now for the big question on everyone’s mind: When do we stop charging HST?

While some of the national associations have suggested that their members can stop charging HST immediately, we would like to err on the side of caution and suggest that OSRP members wait for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to publish guidelines. Since we are a provincial association, what applies to us may be different than what the national associations have suggested or advised.

At this time, the CRPO is recommending that your individual accountant or a CRA representative would be in the best position to provide guidance that is specific to your situation.

Please keep in mind that the exemption applies only to psychotherapy services. If you are providing other services (eg. coaching, workshops, etc.) that you charge HST on, you should continue to charge HST on those services.

Once again, this is exciting news that has been a long time coming.

We would like to thank all those who worked diligently over many years to make this happen, including those on the Tax-Free Therapy campaign, our partners at the Partnership of Registered Psychotherapy Associations (PRPA) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and our very own Advocacy Committee.

Keep an eye on the CRA website in the coming days.

Member Spotlight: Kennedy Mclean

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 20:25:44 GMT

Kennedy has been practising psychotherapy for the past 10 years. She started as an addiction counsellor in 2010, which she found very interesting but it felt like something was missing…the approach felt like a Band-Aid for the trauma that was underneath the symptoms. So she decided to pursue her education at Yorkville University and obtain her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She now utilizes Psychodynamic, Relational, PACT, and RLT as her main modalities, and her practice areas of focus are trauma, addiction, and couples counselling.

Kennedy is also a new mother to 10-week-old Tyler who slept soundly during our conversation. I asked her about her self-care practices, and she mentioned that she does yoga several times a week, and loves to delve into detective shows and work-related reading. She’s currently reading “in each other’s care” by Stan Tatkin.

Kennedy has learned that being a real person in the sessions is important. She takes a soft and gentle, yet no-nonsense approach in her practice. I could feel her realness during our chat too.

She is accepting new clients in her exclusively virtual practice and can be found here

Would you like to be featured in the next Member Spotlight? Just fill in our quick survey and tell us about yourself. If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

With love,

Mahshad Aryafar, RP

Connect Committee Chair

Member Spotlight: Adam Gelinas

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 31 May 2024 18:08:38 GMT

Adam is a Registered Psychotherapist and is the founder of First Step Men’s Therapy Clinic in Ottawa. He began his therapy journey in 2016 after returning from Dubai. Life had hit a crisis point and he felt lost. He happened upon a conversation with a psychologist on a panel discussion on TV and felt an inkling to contact the therapist. In therapy, he found the healing power of vulnerability and decided to create the same space for other men. He started First Step Men’s Therapy to create a safe space for men to open up, feel supported, and challenge the stigma and shame they can feel about mental health and therapy. The clinic has 17 practitioners of diverse backgrounds and modalities. They offer individual and couples counselling, low cost, and pro bono sessions to make this service accessible to as many men as possible and serve all of Ontario virtually.

Adam shared that at the beginning of his practice, he wanted to fix his clients’ problems, relationships, and emotions. He now understands that he can best serve his clients by holding space and trusting the process. In his practice, he uses Narrative, Emotion-Focused, Attachment Theory, Motivational Interviewing, CBT, CSAT, and Person-Centered therapeutic modalities.

He's passionate about his work and is in the process of opening more clinics across Ontario and starting group therapy for men this year.

Adam has allocated Mondays as self-care days and loves to exercise, spend time in solitude and in nature, and has recently been inspired by the author and Hindu priest Dandapani’s talks.

Contact Adam: adam@firststepmenstherapy.com

And the clinic https://www.firststepmenstherapy.com/

Thank you, Adam, for the inspiring chat. I wish you the best in expanding your purpose and practice!

Would you like to be featured in the next Member Spotlight? Just fill in our quick survey and tell us about yourself. If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

With love,

Mahshad Aryafar, RP

Connect Committee Chair

Hey Community, Would You Like to Write for the Central E-Blast?

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 13 May 2024 16:59:22 GMT

If you love to write about psychotherapy, please contact me at connect@psychotherapyontario.org, and let’s chat about the possibility of adding your voice to this amazing community.

With love,

Mahshad Aryafar, RP

Connect Committee Chair

Wellness Committee Reminder: Have You Signed Up for Perkopolis?

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 13 May 2024 16:52:17 GMT

Since 2021, OSRP has provided Perkopolis as a member benefit, allowing our members discounts on a wide variety of products and services. Perkopolis is a 100% Canadian-owned-and-operated company.

Gifting season is right around the corner and Perkopolis is the best place to save. Whether it is for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, or wedding season, you can find the perfect gift on Perkopolis.

Perkopolis is our perks provider with over 5,000 exclusive offers on everything including travel, retail, and tickets.

Some of the many products and services offered at discounted rates through Perkopolis include:

Clothing, footwear, jewellery, handbags
Gifts, hair and body care, skincare, men’s grooming
Items for the home (furniture and décor, kitchen, mattresses and bedding, electronics)
Moving services/storage
Nutrition
Entertainment (e.g., dance, Cirque du Soleil, comedies, musicals, concerts and festivals)
Home, auto and pet insurance
Travel discounts on flights, car rentals, hotels and cruises
And services such as tax returns, cell phone service providers and home security

To register for Perkopolis you’ll need your OSRP membership number. Log in to osrp.ca and click on View profile. You will find your membership number beside User ID/Membership Number.

Accessing Perkopolis is easy. Go to perkopolis.com. Your Perkopolis membership number is OSRP plus your membership number. (E.g., OSRP123456.)

Detailed information on how to register for Perkopolis can be found on the Member Benefits page once you log in to osrp.ca. You will also find a link to a short video showing you how to register.

Is your online profile up to date?

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 13 May 2024 16:45:55 GMT

If changes are needed, you can update this information directly in your OSRP user account by going to your “Profile” page.

You can then choose which information to make public and which to keep private. Remember to save your changes.

Update From the April 12 Special Session of the Membership

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:04:31 GMT

OSRP held a Special Session of the Members on April 12 to vote on proposed changes to our constitution and by-laws.

The following motions were approved:

Electronic voting
Proxy voting

Electronic Voting

We can now implement electronic voting to ensure we hear from all members. You have the option to have your voice heard! The platform will allow members to cast their votes through secure and verified means.

Electronic Voting By-law

9.2 Electronic Voting Implementation - The Corporation shall adopt electronic voting methods for By-laws, elections of new slates, and the election of new Board of Directors members. The electronic voting platform shall allow members to cast their votes remotely through secure and verified means, ensuring a fair and transparent voting process.

9.3 Pro-Democracy Measures - The introduction of electronic voting aligns with the Corporation's commitment to democracy, inclusivity, and member engagement. This contemporary approach aims to provide every member with a direct say in the decision-making process.

9.4 Interim Board of Directors Elections - The adoption of electronic voting also enables the Corporation to conduct elections for new Board of Directors members in between Annual General Meetings without the necessity of convening a special meeting of the members. This facilitates the timely filling of vacant Board of Directors positions and the continued effective governance of the Corporation.

Proxy Voting

The process of proxy voting shall be revised to ensure that members are fully informed about how their proxies will be voted. Members shall be required to indicate their voting preferences on the proxy form, specifying how their proxy shall cast their vote on each matter.

Proxy Voting By-law

9.1 Proxy Voting Process - The process of proxy voting shall be revised to ensure that members are fully informed about how their proxies will be voted. Members shall be required to indicate their voting preferences on the proxy form, specifying how their proxy shall cast their vote on each matter.

Thank you to all members who attended or submitted their proxy votes, allowing us to vote on these important by-laws.

The meeting was recorded. Click here to access the link to the video.

Are You Board-Curious? Join Us Friday, May 24 at Noon

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:56:37 GMT

If you are Board-Curious and interested in learning more about becoming part of the OSRP Board, you are invited to an Open House on Friday, May 24, with Dan Sileshi, Chair of the Nomination Committee.

Scheduled Zoom Meeting Date & Time:
DATE: Friday, May 24, 2024
TIME: 12-1 p.m. EDT

Click here to register.

OSRP Special Session of the Membership April 12

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 18:25:37 GMT

At our Annual General Meeting in November, resolutions to change our constitution and by-laws were presented to the membership for approval. These were included with the materials for that meeting in accordance with our by-laws.

Unfortunately, we did not get to voting on most of the proposed changes at the Annual General Meeting. In recognizing that our members had a number of questions about the changes, we scheduled an "Ask me Anything" open house event in December to allow for more dialogue on this. Thank you to those who were able to attend and for your thoughtful questions.

We are now looking to schedule a Special Session of the Membership to proceed with voting on these changes.

Please take some time to review the below document, with particular attention to the "rationale" with which these proposed amendments were decided. Where a pre-existing by-law exists, we have provided a side-by-side comparison for you.

Click here to view the by-law rationales.

Understanding that you may have questions with respect to each of these proposed amendments, we have created a portal for you to submit these in advance of the meeting. This is in hopes that we can provide responses prior to the meeting, allowing us to get through the voting process in the allotted two hours for the meeting. The link below will take you to a survey where can enter questions as they pertain to each by-law. We will be responding to these a week prior to the Special Session of the Membership.

Please note we will not be responding directly to questions posted on the listserv about these by-laws.

Click here to submit your questions.

This meeting will be recorded.

As a member in good standing of the Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists, you have the privilege of voting and having your voice heard. One way to do this is to attend our Special Session of the Membership and use your vote there. However, if you are unable to attend in person, you may still weigh in by assigning someone else to vote for you by proxy.

We need your votes!

Quorum for our Special Session of the Membership is 130 members, so it is important that you register to attend the meeting or assign a proxy to vote on your behalf.

Click here to register for the Special Session of the Membership

How do I assign a proxy?

Assigning a proxy is easy. First, make sure the Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists member you are assigning as your proxy has registered to attend the Special Session of the Membership and let them know you wish to assign your proxy vote to them. Then, enter their name on the proxy application form. We have also provided the option to choose from your Executive committee as they are guaranteed to attend.

Click here to fill in the proxy form.

Call for Board Members

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:52:48 GMT

My name is Dan Sileshi. I am a registered psychotherapist with the qualification of Diplomate Clinician in Logotherapy.

In July 2010 I joined the OSRP. In 2017, after participating as a regular member for seven years, Ms. Kimberley Cato, being Chairperson of the Professional Development Committee, invited me to join her Committee. Several training seminars were organized by the Committee; these include the 30-hour, two-part supervision training program, which was well received.

My experiences in the Committee sharpened my focus on the bigger purpose behind the work of the OSRP as it serves the interests of psychotherapists in Ontario, and informed my decision to accept Ms. Cato’s invitation to join the Board of the OSRP in 2022. I currently hold the role of Vice-Chair.

Membership on the Board has been a valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth for me. I see possibilities for significant, positive impact on this profession and on its members, through the collaborative work that takes place at the Board level. I would, therefore, strongly encourage you, my fellow members of OSRP, to join us on the Board as we commit ourselves to the overall vision of this organization. We seek to be accountable, and to work towards goals that will be beneficial for the work we do as psychotherapists.

I warmly invite you to join us as we put systems in place to make the OSRP a stronger, safer home for all.

Live outside of the GTA?

Don’t let that stop you from joining our Board! Our Board meetings are held via Zoom.

Click here to view the Board roles and responsibilities.

Click here to view Board member expectations

Click here to submit your nomination for the Board.

Membership Invitation Program

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:04:35 GMT

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?

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

Use this handy INVITE TEMPLATE, which you can address to your colleague.

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!

Click here to watch a video about this program.

Member Spotlight: Rosetta Racco

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:59:02 GMT

Our first Member Spotlight features Rosetta Racco, RP. She works with neurodivergent children, adolescents (3-22 years of age), and Autistics of all ages, and their families. She’s accepting new clients at the moment and offers sessions both online and in person.

I had a fascinating conversation with her about her life/work experience that spans over three decades. She has worked in various professional roles such as an Early Childhood Educator, Resource Consultant for Ministry of Children & Youth, Behaviour Therapist, Infant Mental Health & Family Counsellor etc. She’s also lived and worked in Africa and the UAE and brings this rich diversity to her practice with clients.

She realized her own neurodivergence when pursuing her education in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. It helped her make sense of her life-long passion, deepened her practice in the way she supports not only her clients, but also their families.

Fortunately, Neurodivergnece has started to become a more positive movement with neuro affirming aspects and she feels lucky to be a part of this age of inclusivity. Brava Rosetta!

Outside of work, she enjoys long walks in nature, reading and self study through books, podcasts and articles.

Find Rosetta at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/rosetta-racco-oakville-on/407986

Would you like to be featured in the next Member Spotlight? Just fill in our quick survey and tell us about yourself.

Just fill in our quick survey and tell us about yourself. If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

With love,

Mahshad Aryafar, RP

Connect Committee Chair

New Feature: Member Spotlight

OSRP Administrator — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 17:07:38 GMT

The Connect Committee is launching a new feature called Member Spotlight. The purpose is for our members to get to know each other, and to bring a sense of community to our Central e-blasts.

Are you interested in sharing a bit about yourself and your practice with other members and contacts?

Maybe some members have the right client for you or would like to collaborate with you.

We all win when we feel less alone and more in community with other like-minded humans.

Imagine hearing about members all over Ontario, especially in the more remote regions, learning about the diversity of approaches and the population that our members serve. We want to tap into this rich community of practitioners. We want to hear from you.

Just fill in our quick survey and tell us about yourself. If chosen, your spotlight will also be shared on OSRP's social media platforms.

With love,

Mahshad Aryafar, RP

Connect Committee Chair

February is Black History Month

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 18:21:10 GMT

Black History Month Experience

By: Kimberly Cato, Past Chair

I have always had mixed feelings about Black History Month (it being the shortest, coldest month of the year and all) but I cannot be silent about the opportunity it gives me to revel in the Beauty & Excellence of my Blackness, as seen on the social media pages of SO many people, other than just myself.

I AM GENUINELY GRATEFUL!

“Yes I’m Black, I’m proud of it, I’m Black and Beautiful!” as heralded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I hold this declaration as my badge of truth but not just for the 28 days of February –– these words are my heart’s cry 365 days of every single year.

The month is short, but the momentum is tremendous with new daily discoveries of heroic, innovative, revolutionary achievements of Black People whose contributions to the betterment of humanity are often unknown, buried, and invisible –– by design. The first week or two of February, I am usually just blessed by the things I learn about my Blackness and the contributions of my people, but by the third week of February, I am irritated at best and highly agitated. I question how it is possible, year after year, that there remains more to learn about our greatness and how these lessons of Black Excellence are not taught as common curricula in classrooms or universities. Our stories –– which are too often secretly shared and inevitably challenged, debated, and argued as inciting shame, discomfort, and harm toward those sitting comfortably as the status quo –– must be intentionally sought.

By the end of February, I am inevitably exhausted and in desperate need of grounding, community, and restoration.

With increased awareness of my tendency to spiral in despair because of BHM, I proactively engage in activities that speak directly to issues related to Black Mental Health. TAIBU Community Health Centre is a multidisciplinary, non-for-profit, community led organization established to serve the Black Community across the Greater Toronto Area as its priority population. TAIBU CHC celebrates Black Mental Health Week in March with events designed to raise awareness, eradicate stigma of Black Mental Health, confront Anti-Black Racism, and build community.

This year, TAIBU CHC has many events planned in honour of Black Mental Health Week that may be of interest to anyone engaged or invested in the work of Black Liberation and Mental Health.

The OSRP Board is Looking for Directors

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 17:35:18 GMT

The OSRP is growing and developing as an organization, representing a diverse group of over 1,000 RPs across Ontario. To do so, we need your voices.

The function of the Board of Directors is to formulate policy on matters relating to the implementation of the objectives of the Society and to oversee the implementation of such policies. Please let us know what we can do to make joining our Board a good fit for you.

Live outside of the GTA?

Don’t let that stop you from joining our Board! Our Board meetings are held via Zoom.

Clinical, Qualifying, Student and Honorary members in good standing are eligible to be nominated as Officers of the Board of Directors or the Chair of any committee. All Board members shall be elected for a period of two years.

The positions currently open are:

Secretary: This is a great entry-level position for the Board. It has well-defined numbers of hours per month. You don’t need to do minutes if you prefer not to. You can be trained in Board governance (you will need to thoroughly understand the by-laws and policies and procedures manual)

Member-at-Large: The primary role of the Member-at-Large is to become familiar with the operations of the Board of Directors. The Member-at-Large will assist the Chair in achieving the goals of the Board and, ultimately, the members of the Society. This is accomplished through effecting the policies and/or decisions made by the Board. This position provides opportunity to get to know colleagues in an atmosphere of common focus.

This position is a great step for new members to become involved in their profession while acquainting themselves with Board format and activities.

Members-at-large attend monthly Board meetings and are free to join any of the other committees in which they have a specific interest.

Click on the links below to view the list of Board positions and responsibilities. To submit your nomination, simply fill out our online nomination form.

Click here to view the Board roles and responsibilities.

Click here to view Board member expectations

Click here to submit your nomination for the Board.

GST/HST Update

OSRP Administrator — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:16:52 GMT

The Minister of Finance introduced legislation on November 29, 2023 in the House of Commons which included the GST/HST exemption.

Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland tabled the 2023 Fall Economic Statement on November 21, announcing the government’s plans to make psychotherapy and counselling services exempt from GST/HST.

Once this announcement becomes legislation, it will impact everyone across Canada who requires psychotherapy services.

Congratulations to all therapists and their clients in Canada, and thanks all OSRP members for their hard work in getting this done!

Click here for campaign updates

Get Your Dose: Insights From the Latest PS: Protect Seminar

OSRP Administrator — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:13:45 GMT

–by Christina Forde, RP(Q)

“Within DOSE you find the keys to resilience, purpose, and authentic well-being” stated Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas during the November 26 PS: Protect Seminar, “Stay Safe and Effective: Neurobiology, Self-Regulation and DOSE (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins).”

I was intrigued to learn more about the mind-body connection and how DOSE impacts our mental health. Dr. Doyle-Thomas, a Medical Neuroscientist, used her expertise in brain health to teach attendees so much about how to improve mental resilience and avoid burnout. She highlighted the importance of Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins (DOSE) for all people, including Psychotherapists.

The speaker provided an overview of these neuro-chemicals’ role in the brain and also gave us opportunities to try out activities that can increase production of DOSE.

Dr. Doyle-Thomas introduced Dopamine and how it is “intricately tied to our experiences of motivation, pleasure, and the pursuit of rewards.” She explained that Dopamine can be increased through anticipation and achievement of goals. She then asked us to think of a win we have experienced. I did find it encouraging to reflect on the dopamine boosts I have received from past successes and to also celebrate with other attendees as they shared their own wins.

Next, the love and connection hormone, Oxytocin, was spotlighted. Dr. Doyle-Thomas explained that gratitude is a great way to boost our moods. She said that it is “so very powerful in shaping your brain, activating oxytocin as well as other happy brain chemicals and really being protective to our wellbeing [and] your brian.” She then gave us a few minutes to do some gratitude reflection. During this time, I could feel my mood lift a bit as I focused on my blessings instead of what I came into the seminar worried about.

Next up was the mood regulating neurotransmitter, Serotonin. Dr. Doyle-Thomas explained that serotonin boosting activities “really enhance our sense of inner peace and contentment.” A Singing Bowl Sound Meditation video was played during the seminar. I was not sure what to expect, as I have not done this type of activity before. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how I pretty much immediately felt calmer as it started playing.

Finally, Dr. Doyle-Thomas focused on our body’s natural pain killers, Endorphins. Exercise is of course a great option for producing endorphins. She shared that research shows how exercise has an impact “not only in promoting resilience, but on protecting our brain.” I definitely agree with her explanation of the benefits of endorphins. Exercise, laughter and creativity have been some of my favourite stress relievers throughout my life.

I found it really helpful to gain more understanding of how brain chemistry impacts mental health. It was also empowering to learn practical tips I can incorporate into my daily life to improve my well-being. I plan on taking what I have learned and applying it as a Safe and Effective Use of Self strategy because, as Dr. Doyle-Thoman reminded the group: “Deliberately activating DOSE is a valuable self-regulation strategy, helping you navigate your emotional work with resilience and authenticity.”

Holiday Office Hours

OSRP Administrator — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:03:29 GMT

OSRP’s office will be closed from 5 p.m. ET on Friday, December 22, 2023, until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, which means we won’t be returning phone calls or emails until January 3 or 4, 2024.

We wish you all the best for a healthy and prosperous new year!

Happy Festive Season Happy New Year

OSRP Administrator — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:56:03 GMT

The month of December is filled with various festivals, religious events, national days and a multitude of celebrations that bring people together for food, fun, and frolicking. This may include Festivus, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Independence Days for Kenya, Qatar, Bahrain, Libya, Mongolia, Finland, Tanzania, Portugal, and many more.

Though these are just a few significant dates people may celebrate or take time off to take care of themselves, friends or family, there are many different traditions associated with each holiday or significant day. Learning about the significance, stories and histories of various holidays can help broaden our perspective beyond the holidays we celebrate year after year.

As active, retired and student psychotherapists, we know that there are many for whom this time of year is uncomfortable, lonely, isolating or riddled with thoughts of traumatic experiences, grief and loss. We are aware of the tumultuous emotional rollercoaster of this season for many. As we continue through this month of December, we may wish to use inclusive language in how we greet each other and not make assumptions about how people are getting through this time. In addition, we might consider providing our clients and loved ones with a crisis line number/website and other culturally responsive community resources to help get through this time safely.

We might practise asking open-ended questions of each other first, so we are not making assumptions. For example, “What are you doing over these next few weeks?” This question does not assume someone will be on holidays because they may choose to or must work; it doesn’t assume they will be with family members; and it doesn’t assume they celebrate a specific holiday.

Another open-ended question might be, “How do you spend your time in these winter months?” This example invites discussion without imposing a specific belief, expectation, mood, or pattern of behaviour. Once we’ve learned more about the person we’re talking to, we can then decide how to wish them well.

May all OSRP Members find showers of positivity, pockets of joy and prosperity in HEALTH, WEALTH, and WISDOM in 2024!!!

Bouquets, Awards and Accolades: A New Section!

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 17:04:32 GMT

We’re kicking off a new feature in this newsletter to cheer and clap for OSRP members who are doing great things for the profession and in the community. Please submit suggestions about yourself or other OSRPers to mail@psychotherapyontario.org. Don’t be shy!

We’re starting with a note from our surprised Board Chair, Kimberly Cato, who was nominated without her knowledge for the Charity Village (Canada’s top not-for-profit clearinghouse/resource site) Best Individual Contribution to DEI in the workplace award. This is for the Race-Based Data Collection Initiative. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Kimberly and the EDI Committee, and to everyone who participated by providing their data, OSRP is on the finalist list.

Check out the AWARD FINALIST page for details. The Conference is on November 29, at which point the winners will be announced. Regardless, it’s a thrill to be nominated for such a breakthrough development, the fruits of which will be shared at the AGM.

Final Protect Seminar Still Open: How to Take Care of YOU

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:58:52 GMT

As our final seminar of an inaugural year to which we have attracted 170 individuals to join us and learn together, we are thrilled to share with you the wisdom of the delightful Dr. Krissy Thomas-Doyle for a special, Zoom-only, interactive event on November 26 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. To find out more, or to register, please click here.

Dr. Thomas-Doyle, a Medical Neuroscientist, is not only an expert in brain-related medical conditions and mental health, she is also a sparkling communicator who has a way of explaining the nuts and bolts of self-care from a brain health perspective, and making it fun and relaxing to learn more.

The Protect Subcommittee, chaired by Alethia Cadore, with members Kusum Dole, Rachel Fulford and Maria Wallis, has been working with Dr. Thomas-Doyle to create a unique, experiential and unforgettable trip through your own brain. We know you will find it invigorating.

Participants on Sunday, November 26 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom will learn how to generate a daily D.O.S.E. – Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins – from our own experiences and worlds, and how to help our clients do this as well.

The focus is on you, the therapist, retiring therapist or therapist-in-training, and how to enhance your own brain health, vitality, and longevity in this demanding profession.

Three previous PS Videos are also available to members till the end of 2023. All videos are $20 each for members; those who purchased a “Flex Pass” prior to June 1 already have access to all materials and live/online seminars.

We look forward to sharing this experience with you at a comfortable, insightful and bonding event for all members.

Website Revamp of OSRP.ca

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:46:12 GMT

The OSRP is proud to re-launch a streamlined, accessible and updated website which includes a translation option, our social media feeds, a moving image wall spotlighting important new initiatives on the home page, and cleaner menus to help you get the most out of your membership.

We are also thrilled with improvements to our “Find a Therapist” directory (Click here for more information.)

Thank you to OSRP office staff for their hard work on this new website, designed to welcome our members with calming images of the natural world and community building that embody the spirit of the OSRP.

Please visit your website and let us know your thoughts! Email us at mail@psychotherapyontario.org

OSRP AGM November 24: Annual Report Available Now

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 15:36:55 GMT

Thank you to every member who has already registered to attend the AGM or chosen a proxy for:

Friday November 24
1-3 p.m. ET on Zoom

Click here to register.

Click here to choose a proxy.

Let’s keep up the momentum so that we can achieve quorum, meet as peers, and vote on important changes to OSRP’s Constitution and By-Laws, which you can read all about in the ANNUAL REPORT - both in your inbox, and available here.

Click here to view the Annual Report.

Your 2023 Board of Directors, in conjunction with our Ethics Committee, has developed proposed By-Law changes which, should they be approved, will usher the OSRP into a frontrunner position of Advocates for Advancement in Psychotherapy. Come out and let your voice be heard!

Q: How do I register to attend, or assign a proxy?

A: Click HERE to register/assign a proxy today.

Q: What if I registered, but then something happens and I can’t attend?

A: For those who have registered, we are counting on you to attend. But, we understand that emergencies happen. If something does, please click here to assign a proxy as soon as you can, and before November 22.

Q: Will I get a chance to review and vote on the By-Law changes?

A: Yes. The only way we can evolve as an organization is with your support and participation. All proposed changes are in the Annual Report, so please take a moment to read, review and consider.

At the AGM, these proposed changes will be reviewed, along with an explanation of why they are necessary.

Q: Why do I need to attend or send a proxy?

A: OSRP Quorum currently requires 10% of members – so we will need 100+ members to attend or select proxies.

Q: What are the results from the Race-Based Data Collection Initiative?

A: At the AGM, we will present the results of this initiative that puts OSRP at the forefront of Race-Based Data Collection in Psychotherapy in Ontario with 1000+ members completing the survey upon renewal. OSRP has established a benchmark we can now use to measure improvement and target membership recruitment to fill the identified gap of representation in the survey.

We are also really excited about the Door Prizes available for those who attend this AGM, including gift certificates generously donated by Caversham Booksellers.

Save the Date: November 26, final PS: Protect Seminar of 2023

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:17:48 GMT

The PS: Protect Seminar group is so proud to announce that 165 individuals have joined us already for at least one seminar since April; many of you have participated in more than one. We’re even prouder to be working with Dr. Krissy Thomas-Doyle on a very special last seminar of the year.

Dr. Thomas-Doyle, a Medical Neuroscientist, is not only an expert in brain-related medical conditions and mental health, she is also a delightful communicator who has a way of explaining the nuts and bolts of self-care from a brain health perspective, and making it fun to learn more.

Participants on Sunday, November 26 from 4-5:30 p.m. on Zoom will learn how to generate a daily D.O.S.E. – Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins – from our own experiences and worlds, and how to help our clients do this as well. But the focus for this last seminar of 2023 is on you, the therapist or therapist-in-training, and how to enhance your own brain health, vitality, and longevity in this demanding profession.

To register (you won’t want to miss this), please visit the OSRP website under Events.

Three previous PS Videos are also available to members till the end of 2023. All videos are $20 each; those who purchased a “Flex Pass” prior to June 1 already have access to all materials and live/online seminars.

We look forward to sharing this experience with you at a comfortable, relaxed and bonding event for all members.

Are You Getting Your Discounts?

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:13:00 GMT

All members in good standing with OSRP are entitled to a free membership with Perkopolis, a club for people who like discounts. And who doesn’t like discounts?

You could save the cost of your membership many times over with up to 30% off on 5,000+ everyday items such as:

Home and car insurance
Flights, car rentals, hotels and cruises
Home accessories, furniture and electronics
Clothing and school supplies
Tickets to movies, concerts, museums, theme parks and more
And services such as tax returns, cell phone service providers and home security

These are not off-brand items. A quick visit to https://www.perkopolis.com/ will show you an array of brands you already know. Their website is super easy to search and to make your choices online. You can also contact the retailer directly with questions and, as long as your purchase is made through perkopolis.com, your discount applies.

Perkopolis is a 100% Canadian-owned-and-operated company, and it’s easy to sign up. You only have to register once.

This is win-win for all our members and their families who want to save on everyday goods and services. The OSRP is proud to offer “perks that work” with Perkopolis.

Instructions on how to sign up are on the OSRP website under Member Benefits.

Missed Sessions and Receipts

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:05:50 GMT

Did you know that CRPO registrants must mark invoices and receipts for missed sessions accordingly? This issue came up in a recent Advocacy Committee meeting, where a member asked that the OSRP highlight this in our newsletter, since it’s not always emphasized by educational programs.

The CRPO standard re: Issuing Accurate Documents indicates that it is not appropriate to issue an invoice for services not provided, EXCEPT when it is clearly reflecting an established fee for a cancelled appointment (e.g., a cancellation fee). What does this mean for you?

If you have an established cancellation policy to which your client has provided informed consent, for example that you charge the full fee without 24 hours notice of a cancellation and/or rescheduling, you can provide a receipt for that payment, but you must indicate that it’s a fee for a session that didn’t happen.

Why? Most insurers will not reimburse for a missed session. So, if you provide a receipt for the cancellation fee paid to you, but you don’t indicate that this fee is for a session cancelled and/or rescheduled and paid according to your policy, the client could inadvertently submit it to their benefits plan and be fraudulently reimbursed, based on false information you provided.

Even clients without a benefits plan, or without coverage through a spouse or parent, may submit their receipts with their taxes as “Uninsured Medical Expenses,” so the documentation must be accurate.

Some clients can become (understandably) upset to discover that you need to mark the cancellation fee as such rather than as a fee for a session that was actually delivered, since this means they will be paying out of pocket. You really don’t want this to come as a surprise to a client, as it could affect the therapeutic alliance or cause a termination of services if it comes out of the blue.

This is why it is crucial to be clear and upfront, ideally in writing and verbally, about not only your cancellation/rescheduling policy, but how you will need to provide accurate receipts. Making sure your clients understand your policy before proceeding is essential; don’t assume prior knowledge of your business practices.

If you work at a clinic or for another provider, it’s important to make sure their invoice/receipt policy follows this standard, and that you inform your clients in advance of any policies related to cancellation/rescheduling fees and how such fees will be documented. Even if you don’t personally create or issue the invoice or receipt, you are responsible for its accuracy.

The CRPO asks registrants to demonstrate this standard, standard 5.2, by:

“exercising care to ensure the accuracy of information presented in documents prepared for their signature and transmittal. This includes documents they themselves prepare, and those prepared by others;
considering how the reader will interpret the information upon receipt and using clear language that cannot be misconstrued;
not signing or sending documents containing misleading or false information;
issuing invoices, bills and receipts that are accurate. This includes listing the correct fee, date and time of services provided.”

Co-Creating Community for Black and Racialized Therapists in Canada: A Member Takes Action

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 14:58:01 GMT

L to R: “The Social” Hosts Marci Ien and Lainey Liu; Brandon Hay, founder of the Black Daddies Club and Therapist-in-Training; Legendary Father Twysted Miyake-Mugler, co-founder of the Toronto Kiki Ball Alliance.

I am a Therapist-in-Training with the Gestalt Institute of Toronto. What led me to join OSRP was that it was the only Canadian association for therapists that mentioned anything about collecting race-based data, and this was important for me as a Black man. I am also the founder of the Black Daddies Club (BDC), a grassroots organization based in Toronto that works with Black men, Black fathers and their families. BDC will be celebrating its 16th anniversary in November 2023.

What led me to therapy over six years ago was my separation and divorce, in which I realized I wanted to support myself to heal and reach my higher self (whatever this means). I found myself bouncing around from therapist to therapist trying to locate the right fit. Initially, I was looking for a Black male therapist. However, this was a harder task than I expected – like finding a needle in a haystack. A statistic shared at a Black Male Therapists conference in Chicago that I attended in February 2023 indicated that less than 1% of therapists identify as Black men. I assume that this percentage is lower in Canada, but I cannot confirm this as we do not keep statistics by race in this country.

As I reflect on my own experience as a Black male training to become a Gestalt therapist in Toronto, I have seen only one Black man who was a student at my school over the past five years. I often wonder if this profession is for me because of the lack of representation of other Black men doing this therapeutic work.

I also realize that there is a lack of spaces for Black and racialized therapists or students (of all genders) to connect and learn from each other. Now is a better time than ever to co-create a community for Black and racialized therapists in Canada.

Black Daddies Club will be doing our 16th anniversary event entitled Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation with Black Folks, at Evergreen Brick Works on Saturday, November 25, 2023. The event will feature Black folks and Black therapists talking about the realities of Black people finding a partner after the age of 40. The BDC event will also be a quarterly networking series, for Black and racialized therapists to connect with and learn from each other, this networking and knowledge sharing series will begin in March 2024 in Toronto, Canada.

You can find out more about the the Black Daddies Club at our website: https://theblackdaddiesclub.com/ or on our instagram @theblackdaddiesclub

Regards,
Brandon Hay (MES, Business)
Founder of the Black Daddies Club
Therapist-in-Training at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto

HST Update: Vote Tallies, New Letter to Your MP

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 14:49:52 GMT

Good news: MP Stephen Ellis’ Bill C-323 went to the floor for its Second Reading, and moved on to the next step, with 327 “yes” votes and zero “no” votes. Click HERE for a list of which MPs voted in favour of exempting our work from this unfair tax. (Some of the “yes” voters include: The Finance Minister, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Labour and the incoming Minister of Mental Health, among other Cabinet Ministers; and every party leader from the Greens to the Conservatives.)

What Does this Mean?

The Bill now moves forward to the next phase: it goes to the Finance Committee for further review. This is the same Committee that, this past March, recommended psychotherapy be exempt from GST/HST.

What Are the Coalition’s Next Steps?

Coalition members from the CCPA have already requested the opportunity to testify to the Finance Committee about this Bill. We sincerely hope and expect that this Bill should come out of Finance and go to a third reading and a new vote in Parliament in the next few months.

Our Lobbying firm, Impact, will continue to meet with members of the Finance Committee individually to make our case.

What Can I Do Next?

If you see your MP on this list of those who voted “Yea” (which means “Yes”) to Bill C-323, feel free to send him/her an email saying “thank you” and asking for their continued support going forward.

Odds are high that your MP will be on this list – 327 of 338 total current MPs were present and voted “yes.” This is an impressive showing.

If you MP wasn’t able to vote, please ask for their support for Bill C-323 going forward.

You can find a letter generator on the Tax Free Therapy Coalition’s website here; then click “SEND A LETTER TO YOUR MP” — the red box in the upper right corner. You can edit the suggested letter as you see fit; we suggest including a “thank you” to those MPs who voted in favour of Bill C-323, and encouraging them to support this Bill at its next stage too.
Feel free to share this news and the link to the letter generator to friends and colleagues. It’s at www.TaxFreeTherapy.ca.

To learn more about how a Bill becomes a Law, click here.

Thank you for your continued support to remove HST from our services and removing a barrier to access when so many Ontarians need psychotherapy.

- Rachel Fulford & Dr. Natasha Tuletta-Bowman, Co-Vice Chairs, OSRP Board of Directors, Co-Chairs, Advocacy Committee of the OSRP

OSRP AGM November 24: Registration Ongoing

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 14:39:39 GMT

Thank you to every member who has already registered to attend the AGM or chosen a proxy. Let’s keep up the momentum so that we can achieve quorum, meet as peers, and vote on important changes to OSRP’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Your 2024 Board of Directors, in conjunction with our Ethics Committee, has invested a considerable amount of time and resources in determining gaps in our existing policies and By-laws, in order to be able to take action this year. The changes being brought forward, should they be approved, will help propel the OSRP into an even stronger position in the years to come. Come out and let your voice be heard!

Q: How do I register to attend, or assign a proxy?

Click HERE to register/assign a proxy today.

Q: Will I get a chance to review and vote on the By-Law changes?

A: Yes. The only way we can evolve as an organization is with your support and participation. All proposed changes will be sent out in the Annual General Report no later than 30 days before the AGM.

Further, the AGM will include a detailed presentation of these proposed changes, and why they are necessary.

Q: Why do I need to attend or send a proxy?

A: OSRP Quorum requires 10% of members – so we will need 100+ members to attend or select proxies.

Q: What are the results from the Race-Based Data Collection Initiative?

We are also really excited about the Door Prizes available for those who attend this AGM, including gift certificates generously donated by Caversham Booksellers.

CRPO: Two Opportunities for Feedback

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:25:19 GMT

Supervision Tool

The CRPO has developed a new tool for RP(Q)s and their supervisors to reflect together on the efficacy of supervision, and wants your feedback, which OSRP will compile and share on your behalf if you send it to mail@psychotherapyontario.org, or you can comment directly HERE.

There are two opportunities to participate in improving the supervision tool:

Simply review and comment on the content (due October 16)
Use the tool and provide feedback on how effective you found it to be (due January 31, 2024).

Survey links are included in the linked PDF. CRPO is interested in hearing back from both supervisors and supervisees, and it doesn’t matter whether the qualifying registrant has made an exam attempt or not.

Zoom meetings/Q&As

The CRPO is offering a series of Zoom meetings/Q&As regarding Professional Development Obligations including the Case-Based Assessment (CBA). The goal is to help Registrants understand the program and be better prepared to complete their PD obligations.

The next one is Thursday, October 12, 1-2 p.m. ET

Pre-registration is required using this link to register and submit any questions you would like CRPO to answer.

HST Update: Media Conference, Coverage and You

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:08:08 GMT

At an August 22 media conference which generated an estimated 1.2 million impressions, RP Lindsey Thomson spoke passionately about the deadly consequences of limiting access to therapy. Thomson’s call to the Federal government to end this tax can be seen HERE. The Tax Free Therapy Coalition’s Countdown clock to the 2025 (likely) election and need to change can be found HERE.

More than a million Canadians saw, heard or read about this issue following the media conference. The majority of coverage came from CTV television news outlets across Canada, including Vancouver, Winnipeg, Atlantic and Edmonton local news broadcasts (see image below). Coverage also came from online sources, blogs and radio. Known as “earned media” (as opposed to expensive paid advertisements), these impressions are highly valued and indicate how much interest there is nationally in this issue.

These media hits could not be better timed as Canada’s leaders headed to pre-Parliament cabinet and caucus meetings, readying themselves for the Sept 22nd opening of this Parliament. We hope September's house business will include Dr. Stephen Ellis’ Bill C-323: An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (mental health services) completing its second reading in the House. As previously reported here, the NDP has pledged to support it.

Thank you to all advocates who have written, called, and visited their MPs to push for this important measure. Now is a great time to revisit this with your MP – please find an updated letter template HERE. Meanwhile, the Tax-Free Therapy Coalition continues to meet with important policy-makers and advocate for the end of this unfair tax.

Should you wish to join the Advocacy Committee, which meets next via Zoom on September 29th, please do not hesitate to contact us at: advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org

Rachel Fulford & Dr. Natasha Tuletta-Bowman, Co-Vice Chairs, OSRP Board of Directors, Co-Chairs, Advocacy Committee of the OSRP

Partnership With Sheridan College: Micro-Credential

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:59:15 GMT

OSRP is proud to partner with Sheridan College in offering a curated suite of courses, starting with past, present and future Board and committee members, up to 35 registrants for the first offering in Winter/Spring 2024. This is intended as a benefit for OSRP volunteers who provide extensive unpaid labour that enables the association to flourish. This new partnership gives volunteers the opportunity to complete and graduate with a micro-credential designed to enhance their practice, as a demonstration of appreciation for their work with OSRP.

Sheridan continues to support organizations like OSRP as well as workplaces, colleges, and institutes in their efforts to advance Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Recognizing diversity as the fuel for excellence, this support comes in the form of courses and programs that provide training and education on equitable practices and inclusive leadership. Sheridan Continuing and Professional Studies is offering the micro-credential program, Building Literacy in Equitable Practices, with the objective of integrating different perspectives and experiences related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Micro-credentials are short-duration programs that help lay the foundation by expanding a learner's knowledge, awareness, and skills in a specific area of interest. The Building Literacy in Equitable Practices micro-credential program explores the fundamental concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and offers strategies to engage in more inclusive practices, language, and behaviours.

The program only requires three (3) courses and can be completed in as little as one (1) to two (2) academic semesters. Participants need to complete two (2) mandatory courses, Fostering Equitable Practices I and Fostering Equitable Practices II, which examine power, privilege, unconscious bias, micro-aggressions, racism, and intersectionality to integrate different perspectives on equity and diversity. These courses explore strategies to enhance one's capacity to be more inclusive both at work and in other relationships. Participants also need to complete one (1) elective course to obtain the micro-credential. They can choose one from the three elective courses available: Modelling Inclusive Leadership Practices, Exploring Disability and Difference, and Cultivating LGBTQ2S+ Inclusivity. Participants who successfully complete the two (2) mandatory courses, plus one (1) elective, and pass all course requirements, will receive a certificate to formally acknowledge completion of the micro-credential.

The learning experience for the Building Literacy in Equitable Practices micro-credential program includes group discussions, in-depth exploration of videos and articles, and participation in online learning activities where participants reflect on their own experiences to deepen their learning.

Former, current and future Board Members who may be interested in registering, please contact Evonne at mail@psychotherapyontario.org so we can get a sense of numbers (dates and times TBD.)

October Screening and Q&A: A Personal POV

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:37:44 GMT

Protecting RPs from Sexual Boundary Violations with Dr. Andrea Celenza

I was fortunate enough to attend Dr. Celenza’s riveting presentation on Sexual Boundary Violations at the 2018 Ontario Psychiatric Association fall conference and I was blown away by her insights. So, when I joined the Protect Subcommittee to help come up with speakers, she was an obvious choice, and we’re so lucky she agreed — although access is different than other PS Seminars with this Harvard professor.

We can only offer her video for one week: October 10 to 17.

ALso, the Q&A is live only, not recorded, October 18 from noon to 1 p.m.

You don’t want to miss this opportunity to pre-register and save the dates in your calendar. Learn more here. (Flex Pass holders are already registered.)

Part One: October 10–17, 2023
Video Release available 24hrs/day to screen at your convenience

Two-minute teaser: SBV: How do they happen? | Andrea Celenza

Registrants will have access to Dr. Celenza’s 90-minute video and PowerPoint presentation Sexual Boundary Violations: How Do They Happen? in which she debunks the myths and illuminates the realities of this prevalent phenomenon, and offers a psychological profile of clinicians at highest risk.

This video will provide participants with the ability to identify myths and misunderstandings about the problem of sexual boundary violations.
Participants will be able to describe the most typical erotic transference/countertransference scenarios where sexual boundary violations occur.
Discussion of prevention and rehabilitation as well as erotic countertransference will help participants identify risks in their own practice, as well as in situations where they are seeking therapy, supervision, instruction, etc.

This video would normally cost $450 USD per individual viewing or $750 USD for groups up to 20. The OSRP is exclusively offering this on a one-week basis for you to screen at your own pace, with the unique Q&A opportunity below.

Part Two: October 18, 2023
Q&A with Presenter Noon to 1 p.m. ET on Zoom -— NOT RECORDED

Dr. Celenza will address questions and comments arising from her 90-minute video.

This is an opportunity for a live community interaction in a confidential space to discuss your questions, responses and concerns.

The first part of her deck on Sexual Boundary Violations will be available by email to all registrants.

REGISTER HERE for both Parts 1 and 2

$50 for non-members ←please SHARE with your colleagues
$20 for OSRP members
Included with “Flex Pass” for those OSRP members who hold one

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.

Her books are available in person in Toronto or online for shipment at Caversham Booksellers, PS Protect Seminar’s promotional partner.

To attend/receive materials for all five PS: protect yourself Protect Seminars, if you would appreciate financial support and identify as BIPOC, please email edi@psychotherapyontario.org

Article by Rachel Fulford, RP, Member of Protect SubCommittee

PS: Protect Seminars are Co-Presented by

Are You Board-Curious? Join us Friday, September 22, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:30:37 GMT

The OSRP is growing and developing as an organization representing a diverse group of RPs across Ontario. With this top of mind, we intend to increase Black, Indigenous, Racialized, and LGBTQ2S+ awareness and engagement at the OSRP. To do so, we need your voices. Please let us know what we can do to make joining our Board a good fit for you.

DEADLINE for nominations to the slate prior to this AGM is September 29 at 5 p.m.

EXCLUSIVE: Board Members will be eligible to take Sheridan College’s Building Literacy in Equitable Practices Micro-Credential training program, developed for OSRP. See below for details!

If you are Board-Curious and interested in learning more about becoming part of the OSRP Board, you are invited to an Open House with Kimberly Cato and Dan Sileshi, Co-Chairs of the Nomination Committee.

Click HERE to register!

Scheduled Zoom Meeting:
DATE: Friday, September 22
TIME: 1:30-2:30 p.m. EDT

Please let us know if you can make it and if you have any specific questions we can prepare to answer when we meet. May your week be truly spectacular.

Feel free to contact Kimberly Cato and Dan Sileshi at: nomination@psychotherapyontario.org

Registration Open: OSRP AGM November 24

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:18:20 GMT

You are invited to the OSRP’s 31st Annual General Meeting on:

Friday, November 24
1-3 p.m. (on Zoom)

This year’s AGM is of particular importance.

Q: Why?

A: Your Board has been hard at work making important and necessary changes to the OSRP’s By-Laws.

Q: Will I get a chance to review and vote on these changes?

A: Yes. The only way we can evolve as an organization is with your support and participation. All proposed changes will be sent out in the Annual General Report no later than 30 days before the AGM.

Further, the AGM will include a detailed presentation of these proposed changes, and why they are necessary.

Q: Why do I need to attend or send a proxy?

A: OSRP Quorum requires 10% of members – so we will need 100+ members to attend or select proxies.

Door prizes will be available for those who attend.

It’s a great chance to connect with fellow members, and vote on matters of importance to you.

Click HERE to register today.

Click HERE to assign a proxy.

Thank you!

Advocacy Update: Standing Up for RP(Q)s

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:49:23 GMT

An OSRP Qualifying Member recently alerted the Advocacy Committee to an unfair disqualification of RP(Q)s from funding from an Ontario-funded program called the Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP+) for Victims of Crime administered by Victim Services. This program deems RP (Qualifying) to be ineligible to be "approved counselling providers" because of their qualifying status. The argument is that they require supervision.

The OSRP is well aware that supervision continues throughout the lifespan of psychotherapists, social workers, psychologists and many other professionals covered by the program, and that until 1,000 Direct Client Contact Hours are provided by an RP, they must continue supervision. We also know that most benefits plans do not distinguish between RPs and RP(Q)s in their coverage. We will be addressing this issue directly with VQRP and hope to report a positive outcome in the future.

Do you know of any other organizations that discriminate against RP(Q)s? Please don’t hesitate to let us know at advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org

Rachel Fulford & Dr. Natasha Tuletta-Bowman, Co-Vice Chairs, OSRP Board of Directors, Co-Chairs, Advocacy Committee of the OSRP

City Mouse to Country Mouse: Member Moves Her Practice

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:20:34 GMT

by Gwen Shandoski, RP, M.Sc.

Moving my practice out of Toronto to Picton was hard, unplanned, unknown.

I always thought being a psychotherapist meant living in Toronto. My future was me, 80, in my basement office in Leslieville in the city’s east end, seeing clients face to face.

When the world shut down, anything seemed possible.

I had never worked virtually before. Once I used Zoom to meet new clients and it worked, I downloaded real estate apps. I checked out gorgeous homes on Haida Gwaii, waterfront in Newfoundland and Muskoka. Old homes in Goderich. California for kicks. Winnipeg, Sudbury for a change. Window shopping a new life was a fun way to spend those lockdown evenings.

What I could not know or google was — what is it like to work and practise psychotherapy outside Toronto?

I picked a town based on activities I enjoy — coffee shops, an active movie theatre and film community, artists, and a bookstore. Prince Edward County had all those.

Dissociation wore off as soon as our offer on a Picton house was accepted. I panicked and said to my partner, I can’t do this. Thoughts jammed. A vision of me working as a psychotherapist outside Toronto was not there. I’d depended on the senior therapists who trained me to demonstrate life as a psychotherapist. I had not seen any RPs living rurally without commuting to work.

photo: Gwen (left) and her partner, Barb Hannah, on “move day,” realizing that they accidentally dressed as “City Mouse” (Gwen) and “Country Mouse” (Barb).

However, I took the leap. I was soon discouraged from trying to share an office with a therapist renting on Main Street. The rules were that no other therapist could be in that building. My friends from Picton kept assuring me there was work and possibilities for office space nearby.

Eventually, I rented an office by the water and hung my shingle. I had many inquiries and enough referrals this winter. Few this summer.

I’m finding my footing here. I volunteer at a queer youth group out of the library. I was hired for the "Arts Together" pilot program to facilitate connectedness and expression through art for those at risk of social isolation and mental health challenges (not therapy though). Once funding is secured, I have the promise of 20 hours of expressive arts therapy work at an afterschool program for young girls.

My rent is paid but there’s room to grow. I’ve left my card at coffee shops and other local spots. I need to do more. I have savings after selling our house, so retirement is a possibility at some point. I am living a good life in a beautiful part of Ontario. One I hope to enjoy for the next 15 years.

photo: Gwen’s porch for group work

If you are interested in forming a group to support rural therapists, please check the OSRP Listserv for details.

Would you like to write about your experiences and POV for this newsletter? We would love to work with you! Please email us with your ideas at mail@psychotherapyontario.org and let’s get writing!

Must-See Seminar in October: Exclusive to OSRP

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:56:35 GMT

Join us for a unique two-part opportunity for guidance from a world expert in how Sexual Boundary Violations (SBVs) happen in a clinical setting; who is at risk; and how to become aware of the risks in your practice.

Dr. Andrea Celenza has spent more than 20 years studying, writing about, and advising regulators about SBVs, and providing remediation, expert witness testimony, and therapy to over 300 clinicians who have transgressed, as well as to over 100 victims. She literally wrote the book on Sexual Boundary Violations. She brings a deeply compassionate, personal and insightful approach to her work and her lectures, and shares examples to help others practise safely and effectively. This is a do-not-miss event.

Part One: October 10–October 17, 2023

Video Release available 24hrs/day to screen at your convenience

Two-minute teaser: SBV: How do they happen? | Andrea Celenza

This video would normally cost $450 USD per individual viewing. The OSRP is exclusively offering this on a one-week basis for you to screen at your own pace, with the unique Q&A opportunity below.

Part Two: October 18, 2023

Q&A with Presenter Noon to 1 p.m. ET on Zoom — NOT RECORDED
Dr. Celenza will address questions and comments arising from her 90-minute video.

This is an opportunity for a live community interaction in a confidential space to discuss your questions, responses and concerns.

The first part of her deck on Sexual Boundary Violations will be available by email to all registrants.

REGISTER HERE for both Parts 1 and 2

$50 for non-members ←please SHARE with your colleagues
$20 for OSRP members
Included with “Flex Pass” for those OSRP members who hold one

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.

She recently released a new book, Transference, Love, Being: Essential Essays from the Field: books | Andrea Celenza

Her books are available in person in Toronto or online for shipment at Caversham Booksellers, PS Protect Seminar’s promotional partner.

To attend/receive materials for all five PS: protect yourself Protect Seminars, if you would appreciate financial support and identify as BIPOC, please email edi@psychotherapyontario.org

PS: Protect Seminars are Co-Presented by

OSRP in the News re: HST

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 18:02:16 GMT

We were approached by Canadian Affairs, a new national media organization, with questions about why therapists charge HST. We provided interviews, including from a client’s POV, showing how this tax is a barrier to access. Here is a LINK (free to read if you register for Canadian Affairs), and it is here as a PDF.

Feel free to share and post it far and wide.

If you have any questions about what you can do to help with this effort, or news about support from your MP or others, please don't hesitate to reach out to us by emailing advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org.

We hope you have a restorative Summer.

All the best,

Rachel Fulford & Dr. Natasha Tuletta-Bowman, Co-Vice Chairs, OSRP Board of Directors, Co-Chairs, Advocacy Committee of the OSRP

HST Summer Update

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 17:57:21 GMT

The Tax Free Therapy Coalition, of which the OSRP is a founding and active member, continues to lobby high-level decision makers re: the unfair tax on Psychotherapy/Counselling Therapy while The House of Commons is in summer recess. (Click here for their schedule.)

HST updates are always available on the OSRP Website’s Advocacy Corner.

There are two HST Bills which, come fall, will continue to move through this parliament.

NP MP Lindsay Mathyssen's Private Members' Bill C-218, which received first reading December 2021, and which was referred to in the petition she sponsored, signed by 14,200+ supporters and tabled March 6, 2023,

and
PC MP Stephen Ellis' Private Members' Bill C-323, which received first reading April 23, 2023. CLICK HERE for video/transcript of an incredible debate about this issue on the floor of the House of Commons.

The NDP have pledged their support to the PC Bill, which received a better number in the "order of precedence" than theirs.

The PC Bill is scheduled for a second reading/debate in fall 2023.

Meanwhile, we are keeping the pressure on with ongoing activism including letter writing, the two Bills, and the petition, all of which have been effective in raising awareness and opening doors for us to make our case.

Letter-writing tools and social media shareables can be found at TaxFreeTherapy.ca

Are You Board-Curious? Join us Friday, August 25 @ 1 p.m.

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 17:51:51 GMT

NEW: Board Members will be eligible to take Sheridan College’s Building Literacy in Equitable Practices Micro-Credential training program, developed for OSRP. Details to follow!

Click HERE to register!

Scheduled Zoom Meeting date & time:
DATE: Friday, August 25
TIME: 1-2 p.m. EDT

Please let us know if you can make it and if you have any specific questions we can prepare to answer when we meet. May your week be truly spectacular.

If this date and time don’t work for you, fear not –– we will host another Open House next month!

Feel free to contact Kimberly Cato and Dan Sileshi at: nomination@psychotherapyontario.org

Let’$ Talk About Rate$ — Survey EXTENDED to July 31

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 17:46:53 GMT

It can be uncomfortable for psychotherapists to talk about money. Some of us feel shame about how much we charge; many of us feel shame about how little we charge. For many, this is a calling, and how can you put a dollar value on a calling?

At the same time, it’s important for our profession that we gather data (anonymously) to discover how much we are charging for our services. To be clear: this is not about SETTING rates or even RECOMMENDING rates. This will help the PRPA (of which the OSRP is a dues-paying member, and which is lobbying the national association of insurance companies) to generate information that will help benefit plans better budget for MORE psychotherapy coverage for our clients. It will also give us data about how charging and remitting HST can depress our take-home fees.

So far, approximately 950 therapists have filled out the survey. Thank you!

However, we need at least 1,000 for the data to be significant. To encourage more therapists to fill out the survey, which takes about 10 minutes, the deadline has been extended to the end of this month.

Please feel free to share with colleagues. We believe this will be hugely beneficial to our advocacy efforts, and our profession, from coast to coast to coast.

Your voice matters!

PREAMBLE: The intent of the RP Rate Survey is to take a benchmark, at this point in time, of what RPs (RP-Qs) are charging clients.

The data will inform us as to the lay of the land regarding what rates are being charged. While different stakeholders are interested in this information (insurance industry, RPs, CRPO), PRPA and OSRP members will be consulted before any data is shared externally. There is no intent to set a minimum, maximum or standard rate.

All answers are anonymous.

The link to the survey is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/823HVGT

Please feel free to share the survey with other therapists in Canada. The more data, the better.

If you have any questions about the survey, don’t hesitate to email advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org

“Online is a Space” — Remote Therapy Guidance from Expert

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 17:39:50 GMT

With 147 already registered in the PS: Protect Seminar series, organizers headed into the third event with great expectations, which were exceeded by Lawrence Murphy’s informative and energizing Zoom presentation on July 7th. To quote Murphy: “This is not simply a modality. This is a place. It’s a space…and each online space has its own culture. If you don’t know the culture of this place, if it doesn’t feel authentic or natural to you,” Murphy advises caution and professional restraint.

Even those of us who thought we understood all regulations and best practices for ethical, safe and effective online therapy learned how to enhance our work. This is absolutely a must-see, including the excellent questions brought forward by our astute and curious members.

“I was blown away, and I really hope many more OSRP members will sign up and watch this particular video,” said Alethia Cadore, RP and Chair of the Protect SubCommittee. “I don’t want anyone to miss out on important tips for your practice, especially as many of us navigate the possibility of returning to (some) in-person work while managing online reputations, communications and self-care.”

A few of the topics covered in the seminar, co-presented by Jane, the therapy app:}

Virtual Safety Plan
Navigating Dual Relationships (Clients on Peloton, Multi-Player Game, VR Space, etc.)
Dis-Inhibition in Online Spaces
Privacy Issues with Various Platforms
Safety Considerations re: Texting — even re: Scheduling Changes
The Hand Signal That Your Client Could Learn to Make When in Danger: Described Here
The 20-20-20 Rule to Protect Your Eyes
Comments Sections: Hidden Dangers
Creating Safe Boundaries Around Online Work (e.g., not answering client emails in your PJs)
Having a Clear Start and End to Your Day

It’s not too late to register HERE and watch all three seminars, including CYBER THERAPY: PROTECTING OUR PROFESSIONAL IMAGE, ENSURING BOUNDARIES AND CONFIDENTIALITY, on your timetable.

To quote Lawrence Murphy: “[With remote therapy,] the pain enters our sanctuary…I want you to model self-care for your clients.”

To attend/receive materials for all five PS: protect yourself Protect Seminars, if you would appreciate financial support and identify as BIPOC, please email edi@psychotherapyontario.org

ARE YOU BOARD-CURIOUS? Join us July 7

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 12:16:58 GMT

The OSRP is growing and developing as an organization representing a diverse group of 1,300+ RPs across Ontario. With this top of mind, we intend to increase Black, Indigenous, Racialized, and LGBTQ2S+ awareness and engagement at the OSRP. To do so, we need your voices. Please let us know what we can do to make joining our Board a good fit for you.

If you are Board-Curious and interested in learning more about becoming part of the OSRP Board, you are invited to an Open House this Friday with Kimberly Cato and Dan Sileshi, Co-Chairs of the Nomination Committee.

Click HERE to register!

Scheduled Zoom Meeting date & time:
DATE: Friday July 7, 2023
TIME: 1-2 p.m. EDT

Please let us know if you can make it and if you have any specific questions we can prepare to answer when we meet. May your week be truly spectacular.

If this date and time don’t work for you, fear not –– we will host another Open House next month!

Feel free to contact Kimberly Cato and Dan Sileshi at: nomination@psychotherapyontario.org

PS Protect Seminar #3: Cyber-Therapy July 6

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 12:09:52 GMT

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.

Starting to transition back to in-person therapy? Continuing online but wondering about the impacts on you and your practice? Have you noticed yourself inviting some clients to in person and not others? What are the ethics of this?

What kind of social media messages should you be posting publicly? How do you interpret or document if a client adds a or a to you to your text or post? What if you find out the other player in a multiplayer game is your client? What happens when your client Googles you and wants to talk about your past? This seminar Zooms in on the difficult ethical and therapeutic questions we all face in this challenging time of continuous online presence.

CYBER THERAPY: PROTECTING OUR PROFESSIONAL IMAGE, ENSURING BOUNDARIES AND CONFIDENTIALITY on July 6 from 5-7 p.m. brings you an incredibly engaging expert on these topics, Lawrence Murphy.

Lawrence brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and a great sense of humour to everything he does. Bring your anxieties, concerns, hopes and clinical questions because we are planning for a lot of Q&A. Think of Lawrence as your “cyber-supervisor” for the day, and join us in community as we enhance our practice with someone who has been there, has done the research and hard thinking about these new issues that most of us were never trained to handle. Register HERE.

THANK YOU to the 144 registered members — your support makes it possible to continue offering these programs.

To attend/receive materials for all five PS: protect yourself Protect Seminars, if you would appreciate financial support and identify as BIPOC, please email edi@psychotherapyontario.org

Culture Matters: Experts Share Tips with Members at the 2nd PS: Protect Seminar

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:55:32 GMT

L to R: Alethia Cadore, RP, OSRP Board Member and Chair, Protect SubCommittee; Kusum Dole, RP, Protect SubCommittee Member; Dr. Chase Everett McMurren; Shanique Victoria Edwards, RP(Q); MDiv; Rachel Fulford, Board Member, Protect SubCommittee Member; Dr. Oren Gozlan

Caversham Booksellers table on-site. L to R: Joe Adelaars, Co-Owner, Caversham Booksellers; Dr. Oren Gozlan, Shanique Victoria Edwards RP(Q).

– by Christina Forde, RP (Qualifying), Member, Connect Committee

“What we’re uncomfortable with affects how comfortable others are to talk with us about certain topics,” stated Dr. Chase McMurren during the June 15 PS Protect Yourself hybrid Seminar: “Cultural Competency: What is It? An Introduction.” This statement has challenged me to consider how I can make therapy a safer space for the unique cultural experience of each of my clients. Dr. McMurren explained that he acknowledges the impact of power dynamics in therapy by “respecting all the things people are afraid to tell me or think that I can’t handle.”

As therapists, I believe that there is room for us to become better at viewing “clients as the experts to address our own biases,” as stated by Shanique Victoria Edwards, RP(Q).

Another statement she made that stood out to me is when she highlighted that race and culture are core aspects of humans and that “we are asking them to leave a part of themselves outside if we don’t acknowledge it.”

While reflecting on the fear of appearing uncomfortable about discussing culture, OSRP member Susie Costello asked the presenters: “Can you give some specific examples of what I might say to break the ice around cultural issues”? The presenters considered how to make the process more comfortable by “melting the ice instead of breaking it,” as per Dr. McMurren, and Dr. Gozlan responded with this great question: “Why does it feel like ice in the first place?” It resonated with me when he suggested that we ask about a person’s experience and “listen to their inner world and how they describe it.”

“Within each culture is many cultures and each person experiences it in a particular way,” as said by Dr. Gozlan during discussion about how we can better understand a person’s lived experience of culture. He further emphasized his point by saying: “I cannot stand in someone else’s shoes. I have my own shoes. It is still my own experience of their shoes.. This statement really helped me reflect on the beautiful uniqueness of every person I meet. The presenters appeared to all agree that there is always so much to learn about each of our clients. Edwards explained her perspective that we often rely on what we know, and I believe she made a significant point by saying that our professional training leads to the “fallacy that we’re never unprepared.” The solution, according to Edwards, is to be “consistently curious.”

The two-hour seminar video is available for purchase HERE for OSRP members only. The PS series is sponsored by Jane, who designed and printed posters and sent a representative to meet with members. Cross-promotion provided by Caversham Booksellers who also shared a curated booklist for all registrants. McFarlan Rowlands supports the OSRP’s BIPOC Bursary and Scholarship Program, to which you can contribute by clicking HERE.

OSRP Renewal Deadline: Friday, June 30th

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:46:27 GMT

It’s time for our 1,300+ wonderful members to renew as we embark on the new OSRP year starting July 1st. Members know that the OSRP is the only Ontario association dedicated exclusively to RPs, keeping focus on our unique needs, abilities and goals.

Very well done for those who have already renewed your membership - 5 Gold Stars To You!!!

For those who haven't renewed yet, there’s only a few days before Friday’s deadline.

CLICK HERE TO BEAT THE DEADLINE & RENEW NOW.

We have chosen NOT to raise our rates, despite inflation, in view of helping our members continue to thrive in your professional home, the OSRP.

As our association grows in numbers, so does our capacity to do more for RPs in communities across Ontario. Join us!

Questions? Contact Society Manager Evonne Brant at mail@psychotherapyontario.org or call 416-923-4050.

Benefits of Membership

A vibrant online and offline peer community rich in resources, expertise and support
OSRP Connect — A members-only listserv for connection and resources
OSRP Central — A monthly newsletter to keep you in the know with events, resources and news you can use
Affordable group plan for liability insurance through McFarland Rowlands for full Legal Defence. Its premiums that do not go up if there is a legal case or College complaint against you
An extended group health benefits plan through Equitable Life that includes dental, prescription drugs, extended health care including psychotherapy, travel insurance, and much more – tailored to your and your household’s needs
Liaison with the CRPO to ensure your voice is heard
Opportunity to join vibrant committees including Advocacy, EDI, Wellness, Connect, Ethics and more
Opportunity to join the Board of Directors

New Race-Based Data Collection Initiative

The OSRP is committed to respecting and advancing our diversity and reducing inequities by gathering information about our community in order to establish a baseline that measures success. The collection of race-based data is an essential component of addressing disparities prevalent in Ontario's Health Care system.

We invite you to complete the five demographic questions found when you click, EDIT PROFILE, on the renewal page. The option to not participate in any particular question is available for those choosing “prefer not to say” for one or more of the data points.

This Initiative is part of a larger data collection project launched across Canada, in collaboration with the Black Psychology Section of the Canadian Psychological Association.

Thank you in advance for participating in the efforts to reduce barriers like systemic inequities in Ontario.

More Good News! We have chosen NOT to raise our rates, despite inflation, in view of helping our members continue to thrive in your professional home, the OSRP.

Annual Membership Rates for July 1, 2023—June 30, 2024 are as follows:

Clinical and Qualifying Members: registered as RP or RP (Qualifying) in good standing with CRPO — $195 + 25.35 HST = $220.35
Friend of the Society: individuals interested in helping professions in the wider community who wish to be affiliated with the Society — $125 + $16.25 HST = $141.25
Retired: former Clinical or Qualifying member no longer practising psychotherapy — $50 + $6.50 HST = $56.50
Student Member: registered in a CRPO-recognized program — $95 + $12.35 HST = $107.35

Your amount owing may be less if you or someone you referred took advantage of our membership invitation program.

Your discount code for 2023 is OSRP2023-150. If no discount code appears here, it is because you do not have one.

IMPORTANT: For information on how to renew (and apply your discount, if applicable), please read this document.

Don't have a password? Create it here https://osrp.ca/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest.

Click here to renew your membership

If you have any questions, please contact Society Manager Evonne Brant at mail@psychotherapyontario.org or call 416-923-4050 – all messages with be returned during normal business hours

Don't know your password? Reset it here https://osrp.ca/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest

Warm regards,
The OSRP Board of Directors and Administrative Staff

Affordable Clinical Supervision

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:13:23 GMT

Calling all RPQs: did you know that 50% of your clinical supervision hours can be group supervision?! At $95 for 2 hours, group supervision eases the financial strain of achieving your 100 hours, and keeps your $ in your pocket.

To book a free consult click here https://towardsindependentpractice.janeapp.com/

Save the Date: OSRP AGM November 24

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:09:32 GMT

The OSRP will be holding its 31st Annual General Meeting on:

Friday, November 24
1-3 p.m. on Zoom

OSRP Quorum requires 10% of members – so we will need 130+ members to sign up or send proxies.

Door prizes will be available for those who attend.

It’s a great chance to connect with fellow members, and vote on matters of importance to you.

Details and registration information to follow.

Like to Write? How About For This Newsletter?

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:08:14 GMT

Would you like to see your copy here? On on OSRP’s social media?

Did you enjoy reading Christina Forde’s report on the May 31st Lunch & Learn? The Connect Committee is thrilled to have Christina join us, and we invite more member perspectives in our communications.

Please get in touch with us at: mail@psychotherapyontario.org

RATE SURVEY - We NEED Your Input (Closes June 30th)

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:05:45 GMT

For those who haven’t yet filled it out, please take 10 minutes (anonymously) to help understand rates charged by therapists. Thank you to all respondents!

Open only until the end of this month, this Nation-wide Rate Survey hopes to shed some light on what psychotherapists are charging. Insurance companies need this aggregated data to set more realistic budgets, and allow for more hours of therapy to be covered.

We believe this will be hugely beneficial to our advocacy efforts, and our profession.

PREAMBLE: The intent of the RP Rate Survey is to take a benchmark, at this point in time, of what RPs (RP-Q’s) are charging clients.

The data will inform us as to the lay of the land regarding what rates are being charged. While different stakeholders are interested in this information (insurance industry, RPs, CRPO), PRPA and OSRP members will be consulted before any data is shared externally. There is no intent to set a maximum or standard rate.

All answers are anonymous.

The link to the survey is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/823HVGT

Please feel free to share the survey with other therapists in Canada. The more data, the better.

If you have any questions about the survey, don’t hesitate to email advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org

PS Protect Seminar #2: Tomorrow!

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:50:38 GMT

OSRP members have been working around the clock to prepare for this meeting of the minds tomorrow at 11 am to 1 pm to discuss “Cultural Competency: What Is It? An Introduction.” Over 70 have signed up, with almost 140 engaged with the PS: Protect Seminar series. It’s not too late to register here - you won’t want to miss it.

“We’re creating a space of respectful openness, where we can all feel comfortable enough to learn together,” says Protect SubCommittee Chair Alethia Cadore, RP. “We’ve shaped this seminar to allow enough time for questions and contributions from the room and from Zoom, to foster inclusion and true listening of each other.”

In prep meetings, all three speakers have emphasized that culture is vital to our work as therapists; but that none of us can ever become “experts” or truly “competent.” That’s why we are borrowing a page from Dr. Chase McMurren’s wisdom around “cultural humility,” as he described it in this podcast interview.

Happy Pride Month, Happy Indigenous History Month, and Happy Juneteenth to all!

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.

Time: 11 AM to 1 PM ET
Location: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St, Toronto (Grosvenor Room) and online via Zoom

Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023

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.

THANK YOU to the 140 registered members - your support makes it possible to continue offering these programs.

To attend/receive materials for all five PS: protect yourself Protect Seminars, if you would appreciate financial support and identify as BIPOC, please email edi@psychotherapyontario.org

We can’t wait to see you in the room or on Zoom.

ARE YOU BOARD-CURIOUS? Join us June 16!

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:47:17 GMT

Scheduled Zoom Meeting date & time:

DATE: Friday June 16, 2023
TIME: 2:30 - 3:30 pm EDT

Zoom meeting information:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89919692020?pwd=d0NxcGlaSDhJWlFjMVc2V3dVblBOdz09
Meeting ID: 899 1969 2020
Passcode: 997324

Please let us know if you can make it and if you have any specific questions we can prepare to answer when we meet. May your week be truly spectacular.

If this date and time don’t work for you, fear not –– we will host another Open House next month!

Feel free to contact Kimberly Cato and Dan Sileshi at: nomination@psychotherapyontario.org

Tracking and Making Change - A Member Reflects on the May 31 Lunch & Learn

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:35:40 GMT

“The first place that you have to be at to execute change is understanding where you currently are,” stated Board Chair Kimberly Cato at the May 31st Lunch and Learn re:the OSRP’s Race-Based Data Collection Initiative. This initiative is included in the June 2023 Membership Renewal process in order to gain a better understanding of who is a part of the OSRP. I found this webinar to be very thought-provoking and enriching as I learned about how we can use this information to help address barriers caused by race-based oppression.

Click here to view a short video from Kimberly Cato.

Discussing the OSRP’s focus on inclusivity and their pursuit of creating change to reduce systemic barriers helped me understand why it is so important to know demographics. Race-based data gives us information we can use to help better serve all the members of a community.

Kimberly Cato hosted this meeting and posed a few questions to the panelists, Michael Bowe (Senior Equity and Inclusion Leader), Kafui Sawyer, RP (Canadian Psychological Association), Shequita Thompson-Reid (Senior Director of Equity), and Dr. Maria Wallis, Ph.D., Sociology (CASW, OSRP Member).

The panelists addressed the significance of race, intersectionality, and the benefits and challenges of collecting race-based data. Bowe made a couple points that really stuck with me. He explained that race is at the centre of this conversation because “you experience all of your other identities through your race.” Additionally, he emphasized the need for anti-racism efforts in support of black and indigenous people as we are “the most impacted in our society by racism.”

Click here to view a short video from Michael Bowe.

Each panelist brought diverse knowledge and expertise that helped attendees understand the purpose of race-based data collection. There seemed to be a consensus that this topic needs to be talked about. One long-time OSRP member shared the following reflection:

“I truly learned so much today in the webinar…as a therapist close to retirement, it is so deeply heartening to know that there are so many incredibly bright, socially conscious and engaged therapists coming up behind me! I feel I leave the profession in good, frankly better hands. Bravo!”

I found that there was a lot to reflect on after this webinar, including Thompson-Reid’s statement that there is “disproportionate access to care and all resources for BIPoC.” I believe this really highlighted the impact of race on lived experiences. I also agreed with Thompson-Reid’s perspective that data “always needs to be connected to context” in order to fulfill its intended need. Safeguarding this data is necessary so it can be used to develop actionable next steps.

Click here to view a short video from Shequita Thompson-Reid

– by Christina Forde, RP (Qualifying), Member, Connect Committee

Time to Renew! Have you Renewed Your Membership?

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:14:06 GMT

Renewals are well underway for all 1,300+ members as we embark on the new OSRP year starting July 1st. Members know that the OSRP is the only Ontario association dedicated exclusively to RPs, keeping focus on our unique needs, abilities and goals.

We have chosen NOT to raise our rates, despite inflation, in view of helping our members continue to thrive in your professional home, the OSRP.

The Board and all your fellow members appreciate your continued commitment. We also hope that you invite your colleagues to join us with a membership invitation! To send one of these out, we've also created an email template for your convenience.

As our association grows in numbers, so does our capacity to do more for RPs in communities across Ontario. Join us!

Questions? Contact Society Manager Evonne Brant at mail@psychotherapyontario.orgor call 416-923-4050.

Benefits of Membership

A vibrant online and offline peer community rich in resources, expertise and support
OSRP Connect — A members-only listserv for connection and resources
OSRP Central — A monthly newsletter to keep you in the know with events, resources and news you can use
Affordable group plan for liability insurance through McFarland Rowlands for full Legal Defence. Its premiums that do not go up if there is a legal case or College complaint against you
An extended group health benefits plan through Equitable Life that includes dental, prescription drugs, extended health care including psychotherapy, travel insurance, and much more – tailored to your and your household’s needs
Liaison with the CRPO to ensure your voice is heard
Opportunity to join vibrant committees including Advocacy, EDI, Wellness, Connect, Ethics and more
Opportunity to join the Board of Directors

New Race-Based Data Collection Initiative

We invite you to complete the five demographic questions found when you click, EDIT PROFILE, on the renewal page. The option to not participate in any particular question is available for those choosing “prefer not to say” for one or more data point.

This Initiative is part of a larger data collection project launched across Canada, in collaboration with the Black Psychology Section of the Canadian Psychology Association.

Thank you in advance for participating in the efforts to reduce barriers like systemic inequities in Ontario..

More Good News! We have chosen NOT to raise our rates, despite inflation, in view of helping our members continue to thrive in your professional home, the OSRP.

Annual Membership Rates for July 1, 2023—June 30, 2024 are as follows:

Clinical and Qualifying Members: registered as RP or RP (Qualifying) in good standing with CRPO — $195 + 25.35 HST = $220.35
Friend of the Society: individuals interested in helping professions in the wider community who wish to be affiliated with the Society — $125 + $16.25 HST = $141.25
Retired: former Clinical or Qualifying member no longer practising psychotherapy — $50 + $6.50 HST = $56.50
Student Member: registered in a CRPO-recognized program — $95 + $12.35 HST = $107.35

Your amount owing may be less if you or someone you referred took advantage of our membership invitation program.

Your discount code for 2023 isOSRP2023-150.If no discount code appears here, it is because you do not have one.

IMPORTANT: For information on how to renew (and apply your discount, if applicable), please read this document.

Don't have a password? Create it here https://osrp.ca/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest.

If you have any questions, please contact Society Manager Evonne Brant at mail@psychotherapyontario.org or call 416-923-4050 — all messages with be returned during normal business hours.

Don't know your password? Reset it here https://osrp.ca/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest

Warm regards,
The OSRP Board of Directors and Administrative Staff

Race-based Data Collection Official Launch

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:24:38 GMT

It was three years ago today that George Floyd’s public murder disrupted the status quo of racial inequity, causing organizations, institutions, and associations in Canada, the United States, and every continent of the world to acknowledge the need for change. There were extraordinary declarations of support, financial pledges made, Solidarity Statements publicized, and heartwarming apologies made to BIPoC, Equity-Deserving people who have carried the weight of oppression on their necks for centuries.

Promises to do better, now that knowledge has come, by representing the communities being supported and served in leadership and decision-making positions to ensure Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion become centred in everything. The Ontario Society of Registered Psychotherapists (OSRP) made these kinds of commitments, with cries of outrage for the injustices seen, and intentions to continue to do better moving forward.

It has been three years, and though we have a diverse Board of Directors, implemented some BIPoC Initiatives, and initiated an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, OSRP has no measurable way of demonstrating improvement, growth, or change beyond this. From the outside looking in, the efforts of the world’s Associations, Institutions, and Organizations who are similarly positioned are often labelled PERFORMATIVE because they lack any measurable signs of improvement.

With the intention of establishing a measurable benchmark to assess improvement, the EDI Committee of OSRP is excited to announce the Launch of their Race-Based Data Collection Initiative that begins this 2023-2024 Membership Renewal year.

The OSRP’s EDI Committee is working in collaboration with the Black Psychology Section of the Canadian Psychological Association to launch this Initiative. Race-Based Data Collection is in alignment with the February 2022 statement in the Communiqué made by Deborah Adams, “... we need 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.”

In the collection of this data we can specifically identify gaps in representation, develop plans for inclusion, repair harms due to inequities, and explore the varies areas where much change is required.

It will also put the OSRP in position to justify our declaration of representing the community being served, because we will have the data to prove this, or show what efforts are being made to implement change.

This is a big and bold step for OSRP which requires much discussion, learning and unlearning to ensure its success. Given this, the EDI Committee is facilitating Lunch & Learn about the importance of Race-Based Data Collection in Ontario on May 31st, 2023.

This is an invitation to participate in a Panel Discussion about the importance of Race-Based Data Collection in Ontario.

Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Virtual/Zoom
Cost: none

To register: https://osrp.ca/event-5279392

Feel free to bring your own lunch and enjoy it during the session.

This Lunch & Learn is open to all OSRP members and the community. Please feel free to invite your peers, colleagues, and community to join in this exceptional learning and unlearning event.

Confirmed panelists:

Michael Bowe (Senior Equity and Inclusion Leader)
Kafui Sawyer, RP (Canadian Psychological Association)
Shequita Thompson-Reid (Senior Director of Equity)
Dr. Maria Wallis, Ph.D, Sociology (CASW, OSRP Member)

This is an opportunity for you to learn more about OSRP's new initiative designed to reduce barriers like systemic inequities resulting from anti-Black racism and other systems of oppression, that perpetuate the lack of equitable representation in Psychotherapy in Ontario.

SURVEY RE: ADDRESSING RACIAL TRAUMA IN PSYCHOTHERAPY

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2023 22:09:59 GMT

Rajni Sharma, RP, a Ph.D. candidate in Community Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University, a practicing Art Therapist and Psychotherapist, is conducting a Ph.D. research study on how to address racial trauma in therapy. She will share the study with the OSRP to help better shape our programming.

“I am inviting you to participate in a research study entitled Addressing Racial Trauma in Psychotherapy by completing an online survey. The purpose of this survey is to understand how much we know and understand on the topics of racial trauma, as psychotherapists. A vast sample of practicing psychotherapists (18+ years of age) from across Ontario are being invited to complete this online survey…

This survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes. There are no wrong answers. This is an opportunity to identify gaps in training and practices that support the experiences of racialized (visible people of colour) communities. Your honesty, feedback and participation in this survey is highly valued. Your answers will remain anonymous.

To participate, you must be:

18+ years of age
Registered or qualified psychotherapist
Practise in Ontario

Participants in the survey are eligible for a chance to win one $50 Starbucks e-gift card.

Are you able to fill out the following consent form and survey (or direct link: https://wlu.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bq6fHqBxcwfV0Ds)?

If helpful, I or my supervisor, Dr. Melody Norton Ninomiya at mmortonninomiya@wlu.ca, are here to answer any questions or provide additional information about this process. This project has been reviewed and approved by the University Research Ethics Board (REB#8524).

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Rajni Sharma (pronouns: she/her), MACP, RP
PhD Candidate | Community Psychology

Lab Coordinator, Interdisciplinary & Indigenous Pathways to Wellness

Wilfrid Laurier University

Waterloo, ON, Canada

I acknowledge that I am on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Learn more at https://www.lspirg.org/knowtheland/"

Advocacy Update

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2023 17:07:41 GMT

BREAKING NEWS: the CCPA-ACCP and the Tax Free Therapy Coalition have released a statement in both official languages – please click HERE for more. It’s obvious to everyone that your letters to MPs are making a difference.

And now there’s a video making a difference too!

OSRP Advocacy Committee member extraordinaire Daniel Farb, RP, created and narrated this entertaining and informative piece on the GST/HST exemption issue.

It’s the video you didn’t know you needed!

Please post and share widely. (The link is also on the OSRP website “Advocacy Corner.”)

As reported HERE in the March 28th Central, and ongoing since then, several MPs and their staff have advised that their offices have been flooded with GST/HST exemption letters.

The newly-merged Advocacy Committee + HST Task Force met April 14, and brought renewed energy to meeting with politicians and decision-makers, now that we are all fully briefed on this important issue.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Write to your MP AGAIN, cc-ing the Minister of Finance chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca. Call on government to take action now that three parties, including the Finance Committee, have advocated for GST/HST exemption for all mental health professionals
Consider asking for a meeting with your MP. A member of the Advocacy Committee can join you. If your MP is interested in meeting, let us know at advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org
Ask your colleagues and friends to write to their MPs
Consider writing a letter to the editor of your local paper, as this person did
Join the Advocacy Committee - click HERE.
Read our updates - visit our webpage ADVOCACY CORNER.

WHAT IS OSRP DOING?

Stepping up our work with partners (CCPA, PRPA, Impact etc.) on behalf of our members, to amplify our voices
Continue to call on the Federal Government to take action now that three parties have expressed support
Setting up more meetings with decision-makers
Stay tuned for a survey drafted by OSRP for all PRPA and CCPA members to learn more about rates for psychotherapy/counselling therapy in Canada, and how our rate-setting is affected by GST/HST

Important actions and meetings are arising from your activism, and we will keep you informed of all new developments.

Click here to read the Finance Committee's recommendation, echoing bills from two opposition parties, and our press release!

Review of Competency-Based Case Study Workbook and Exclusive Prep Notes for CBA

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2023 16:41:14 GMT

The CRPO has posted five new practice CBA questions here, in addition to the five previously available: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y527JZ9. They have also added more detailed explanations for each option, to better explain the rationale behind the ranking.

They have also highlighted key resources for CBA prep, or simply to help all registrants understand the standards, and how to apply them to your practice.

These resources have been shared with all PRPA member associations, including the OSRP. Click HERE for two key documents.

The “COMPETENCY-BASED CASE STUDY WORKBOOK for ENTRY-TO-PRACTICE PSYCHOTHERAPISTS” was developed with a company called Compass which developed the Exam for non-grandparented RP(Q)s and RPs to take. The workbook is also helpful to review, or read for the first time, when approaching the CBA.

So is this document exclusively available to members of The Partnership of Registered Psychotherapist Associations (PRPA) of which the OSRP is a dues-paying and Voting Member:

“PRPA Study Notes, For the May 2023 QAEP-CBA Sitting: An Assessment of Our Knowledge as Good Enough Therapists & Helpful Hints on How to Do the Ranking”

Each month, the OSRP will highlight more key Practice Review documents that may be useful to members sitting for CBA, or simply for those of us wanting the opportunity to review.

PS protect yourself: Protect Seminars Preview of June 15 event

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2023 16:00:17 GMT

L to r: Shanique Victoria Edwards B.Sc., M.Div.(c), Dr. Oren Gozlan, Dr. Chase Everett McMurren

Have you ever wondered how equipped you are to work with clients from a multiplicity of backgrounds, histories and lived experiences? So have we.

That’s why the OSRP Protect Subcommittee brought together three expert panellists with unexpected and unorthodox approaches, who so delighted us when we heard them speak individually elsewhere, to join each other and us for this Roundtable discussion. This inclusive space will allow for true conversation in a spirit of mutual respect in a desire to better understand.

Just in time for Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month!

And we heard you, so the Subcommittee is allowing much more time for members’ questions, discussion and sharing at this second PS: Protect Seminar with our eminent guests.

Here’s a link to a webcast interview (transcript included) with one of our esteemed speakers, just to give you a sense of how creatively they can approach this topic: CPSO invu Dr. Chase Everett McMurren

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: 11:00 AM-1:00 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.

IS IT TOO LATE TO GET INTO A PS: SEMINAR???

No!

You still have a chance to buy a PS: Protect Seminars Flex Pass for $75 + HST.

This member-only benefit gives you access to the April 6 video, PowerPoint and other valuable materials from this event, allows you to attend the June 15 event at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or get the video and material afterwards…and the next three seminars!

The OSRP Board wants all members to have access to this incredible “Risk Mitigation” session. It’s a must-watch for your practice.

And we know the “Cultural Competency” June 15 roundtable will be memorable, fascinating, and eye-opening.

So a $2,000+ legal consult + CBA Prep Session + A Cultural Competency Supervision Session – all for the cost of:

$20 per session, or

$75 for all five seminars – whether you attend in person, online, or simply receive all materials sent to your inbox.

“It’s the deal of the century,” as one satisfied member told us.

***Flex Pass – availability extended to JUNE 1***

Click HERE for more information & to register.

THANK YOU to the 131 registered members, including 2 BIPoC bursary recipients - your support makes it possible to continue offering these programs.

Protect yourself with 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.

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

Registration is open! Flex Pass available till June 1, 2023.

Also - did you know that the OSRP has launched the second edition of its BIPOC Bursary Program?

See our HOME PAGE for details on how you can donate to help a fellow OSRP member, or someone who wants to join!

Or simply CLICK HERE TO DONATE

To attend/receive materials for all five PS: protect yourself Protect Seminars, if you would appreciate financial support and identify as BIPOC, please email edi@psychotherapyontario.org

Join the Board!

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2023 15:40:15 GMT

Have you considered becoming more involved in OSRP leadership around Advocacy, Professional Development, and more?

Are you Board-Curious?

Or Committee-Intrigued?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your friendly neighbourhood Nomination Committee at nomination@psychotherapyontario.org and we can help pair your talents and enthusiasm to work that needs to be done to advance our profession and our Society.

Race-based Data Collection Lunch & Learn

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2023 15:31:03 GMT

OSRP's EDI Committee of OSRP is excited to announce the Launch of their Race-Based Data Collection Initiative, already part of PS Seminars registration, and now integrated into June 2023 Membership Renewal.

This is an invitation to participate in a Panel Discussion about the importance of Race-Based Data Collection in Ontario.

Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Venue: Virtual/Zoom
To register: https://osrp.ca/event-5279392

Feel free to bring your own lunch and enjoy it during the session.

This Lunch & Learn is open to all OSRP members and the community. Please feel free to invite your peers, colleagues, and community to join in this exceptional learning and unlearning event.

Confirmed panelists:

Michael Bowe (Senior Equity and Inclusion Leader)
Kafui Sawyer, RP (Canadian Psychological Association)
Shequita Thompson-Reid (STR Consultancy)
Dr, Maria Wallis, PhD, Sociology (CASW, OSRP Member)

Click here to register.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:25:38 GMT

Have you considered becoming more involved in OSRP leadership around Advocacy, Professional Development, and more?

Are you Board-Curious?
Or Committee-Intrigued?

BREAKING NEWS RE: GST/HST

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:22:07 GMT

MP Stephen Ellis’s Private Member’s Bill C-323, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (mental health services), received its second reading on April 25.

Read the transcript of the complete debate, with PC and NDP members pushing the government on all fronts to change this unfair tax for good:

BILL C-323 2nd reading April 25 - transcript
Transcript of the whole day's session on HOC website: House Sitting April 25 – Bill C-323 starts at 1730
Video of Intro and debate re: the GST/HST Bill: HoC Sitting April 25 video
VIdeo of just MP Ellis' opening remarks introducing the Bill

Here are some key quotes from MPs:

"...what can we do to help support all Canadians? We can modify the Excise Tax Act and eliminate the taxes on psychotherapy services and mental health counsellors. Even though we may say this is not a huge issue, we have an opportunity to do something. The government needs to look at opportunities so we can stop talking, make a difference and do something to help the health of Canadians." - MP Stephen Ellis, introducing the Second Reading of his Bill

MP Ellis's answer to the first question, from the Speaker of the House:
"We can find proper titles for professions such as psychotherapist and mental health counsellor. I think that it is possible, then, to group together all professions offering the same services even if they have different names. I think that this is a way to find the process that will be best for all Canadians."

Next question (similar) got the following response from Ellis:
"I do not think the nomenclature needs to allow us to not be able to move forward and cause us to have paralysis on this. We need to move forward for the betterment of all Canadians."

"The Bloc Québécois is really pleased to support Bill C‑323 to make a real difference in the lives of those who need help and to offer them a GST exemption." - MP Mrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Salaberry--Suroit, BQ)

"I want to talk a bit about our party's history on this. A 2017 NDP-sponsored bill would have removed GST from psychotherapy services. Bill C-218, sponsored by my colleague from London—Fanshawe, would also have removed GST from psychotherapy services. It is currently out of the order of precedence, so, again, we commend our colleague for moving this forward. The same colleague from London—Fanshawe presented a petition to the House of Commons to remove GST from counselling therapy and psychotherapy services. That petition received over 14,000 signatures. When the Conservatives' order of precedence comes forward, we do like it when they take NDP bills. This is something we are just starting to get used to." - MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni, NDP Health Critic, who seconded MP Lindsay Mathyssen's Bill first read Dec 2021 in the House.

Advocacy Update

Unfortunately, last week all 14, 244 House of Commons petition.signatories received a disappointing message from the Finance Minister.

This message is not new and has been received by her constituents and other letter-writers for years. This does NOT mean that our cause is hopeless.

Many meetings are happening with important decision-makers who can affect the status quo, empowered by the support for GST/HST exemption.
The National Coalition is working on a response to the response.
There will also be a second reading of MP Ellis’ bill (SEE ABOVE).
The response doesn’t kill MP Mathyssen’s bill from future readings.
We will update you further when we have more outcomes to share.

Your letters to MPs are making a difference.

As reported HERE in the March 28th Central, and ongoing since then, several MPs and their staff have advised that their offices have been flooded with GST/HST exemption letters.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Write to your MP AGAIN, cc-ing the Minister of Finance chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca. Call on government to take action now that three parties, including the Finance Committee, have advocated for GST/HST exemption for all mental health professionals
Consider asking for a meeting with your MP. A member of the Advocacy Committee can join you. If your MP is interested in meeting, let us know at advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org
Ask your colleagues and friends to write to their MPs
Consider writing a letter to the editor of your local paper, as this person did
Join the Advocacy Committee - click HERE.
Read our updates - visit our webpage ADVOCACY CORNER.

WHAT IS OSRP DOING? Click here to read more:

Stepping up our work with partners (CCPA, PRPA, Impact etc.) on behalf of our members, to amplify our voices
Continue to call on the Federal Government to take action now that three parties have expressed support
Setting up more meetings with decision-makers
Stay tuned for a survey drafted by OSRP for all PRPA and CCPA members to learn more about rates for psychotherapy/counselling therapy in Canada, and how our rate-setting is affected by GST/HST

Important actions and meetings are arising from your activism, and we will keep you informed of all new developments.

Click here to read the Finance Committee's recommendation, echoing bills from two opposition parties, and our press release!

REVIEW OF INFORMED CONSENT WORKBOOK & CORE COMPETENCIES

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:17:32 GMT

The CRPO has posted five new practice CBA questions here, in addition to the five previously available: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y527JZ9

They have also highlighted key resources for CBA prep, or simply to avoid complaints.

These resources have been shared with the OSRP.

The “Informed Consent Workbook” is a useful guide to everyday practice.

So is the Core Competencies document.

The OSRP will highlight more key study documents for members going forward.

PS PROTECT YOURSELF: PROTECT SEMINARS A SMASHING SUCCESS!

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:59:19 GMT

The reviews are in – our April 6 debut hybrid event was a hit!

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

Centre: Rachel Fulford, Event Producer, Co-Moderator

Right: Alethia Cadore, Executive Producer, Host, Co-Moderator

“The first session in the Protect series on Risk Mitigation was exactly what I needed to learn about minimising risk in my psychotherapy practice. Thank you for the key learnings and the reminder to care for self. The CBA case questions review was also highly informative and lessened my anxiety about this process.Thank you for creating this series!” - Roberta Currie, RP, Clinical Member, Collingwood

“What I found most helpful about the Risk Mitigation webinar was gaining a fuller understanding of the rationale behind the CRPO’s Case-Based Assessment, as well as how the CRPO will be responding to and supporting various scores. I now see the assessment as an opportunity to evaluate and sharpen my understanding of the CRPO's Professional Practice Standards.” - Dana K, RP, Clinical Member, Toronto

Surveys are unanimous – the seminar was relevant, the speakers were knowledgeable, and the seminar’s delivery made the material accessible to all participants.

SO HOW CAN I GET IN ON ALL THIS???

GOOD NEWS – it's not too late to purchase a PS: Protect Seminars Flex Pass which will give you access to the April 6 video, PowerPoint and other valuable materials from this event…and the next four seminars!

The OSRP Board wants all members to have access to this incredible “Risk Mitigation” session. It’s a must-watch for your practice.

It’s like a $2,000+ legal consult + CBA Prep Session – all for the cost of:

$20 for the individual session, or

$75 for all five seminars – whether you attend in person, online, or simply receive all materials sent to your inbox.

“It’s the deal of the century,” as one satisfied member told us.

***Flex Pass – availability extended to JUNE 1***

Click HERE for more information & to register.

THANK YOU to the 118 registered members - your support makes it possible to continue offering these programs.

Protect yourself with 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.

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

Registration is open! Flex Pass available till June 1, 2023.

Also - did you know that the OSRP has launched the second edition of its BIPOC Bursary Program?

See our HOME PAGE for details on how you can donate to help a fellow OSRP member, or someone who wants to join!

Or simply CLICK HERE TO DONATE

To attend/receive materials for all five PS: protect yourself Protect Seminars, if you would appreciate financial support and identify as BIPOC, please email edi@psychotherapyontario.org

OSRP IS GROWING…AND OUR VOICES ARE GETTING STRONGER!

OSRP Administrator — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:57:26 GMT

OSRP proudly welcomes 1,309 people among its members: 548 Clinical Members, 310 Qualifying Members, 418 Student Members, 16 Retired Members, 7 Friends of the Society and 10 Honorary Members. Thank you to each and every one of you for your continued support.

At this time last year, we counted 1,057 members: 485 Clinical, 234 Qualifying, 308 Student, 16 Retired, 6 Friends of the Society and 8 Honorary members.

OSRP is keeping pace with the growth of CRPO Registrants – 11,000+ by last count.

(Did you know there are more than double the number of RPs compared to Psychologists registered in Ontario?)

What a tremendous story of greater presence as more and more RPs, RP(Q)s, Students and Retired Members are moved to call the OSRP their professional home, and enjoy all the benefits of membership.

We appreciate the opportunity to grow with our valued members into a space of leadership among Ontario’s mental health professionals.

We look forward to inviting more of you to join – and providing more benefits, and more professional development opportunities (TBA!) to those who choose to renew in June.

CRPO Survey re: Supervision

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:13:57 GMT

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.

Membership Invitation Program

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:09:15 GMT

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!

GST/HST: Ongoing Advocacy and Letters to MPs

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:03:59 GMT

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.

CRPO QA/CBA Updates

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 15:50:06 GMT

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 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.

Registration Open! PS protect yourself: PROTECT SEMINARS

OSRP Administrator — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 00:38:31 GMT

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: 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

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: 5-7 PM ET

Location: Online via Zoom

PROTECTING RPs FROM SEXUAL BOUNDARY VIOLATIONS

Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Time: Noon-1 PM ET

Q&A with Presenter Online via Zoom

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.

OSRP & Advocacy

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:47:59 GMT

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 mail@psychotherapyontario.org, 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 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

MARCH CONSENSUS? FINANCE COMMITTEE, PC and NDP AGREE ON REMOVING GST/HST FROM THERAPY SERVICES

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:39:47 GMT

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/

^[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

In Memoriam: William McLaughlin

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 21:03:05 GMT

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

In Memoriam: Mary Greey

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:52:28 GMT

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 mail@psychotherapyontario.org

CRPO Renewal — All Registrants by March 31 — News You Can Use

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:46:58 GMT

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:

You won’t be receiving an invoice, not even within your CRPO portal/website.
The only way to pay is with a Visa credit card, or MasterCard credit card.
○ If you have neither, the only option the CRPO suggests is to buy a temporary Visa or MasterCard gift card.
○ These can be purchased from your bank, or from a chain store like WalMart, Shoppers Drug Mart, Best Buy etc.
When you get to your dashboard, you can correct your personal information on the landing page (a separate activity than your renewal), but don’t scroll down to the list of invoices - it won’t be there.
Go to the left menu and pick “Renewal.”
There are no accessibility accommodations for neurodiverse registrants, registrants with visual impairments etc. on the Renewal portal, or in the Ministry of Health database questionnaire.
○ If you require accommodations to complete your renewal, please do not hesitate to email the CRPO directly (and promptly, since their response may take time) at info@crpo.ca
You will be asked to confirm your currency hours (750 or more Direct Client Contact (DCC) hours for any of the Active categories).
○ You don’t need to provide documentation, but they may ask for it later, so good to have – even your own Excel or Word spreadsheet or other tracking document using initials or Unique Client Identifiers (such as numbers), not client names, addresses or any other identifying details, in case the CRPO asks for it later

The Ministry of Health questionnaire, completed as part of your CRPO Renewal process, takes time and reflection as well.
○ It asks you to divide your total number of hours worked (your DCC plus other hours, like teaching, supervision or research) into percentages, to give them a breakdown.
○ So you might say – 60% of my hours are direct client contact hours, 30% are administrative, 10% is research – or whatever is most accurate for you. There are no right or wrong answers.

Please plan for the $$$ cost of CRPO Renewal.

List of fees: CRPO Fees – College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

Registrants who do not renew their registration by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2023 will have a late fee of $150.00 + HST applied to their account.
Registrants who are late and do not renew (including paying the late fee) on or before 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2023, may be suspended.
Suspended individuals are no longer able to practise the profession and the suspension is reflected on the Public Register.
The fee for lifting a suspension is $350.00 + HST.

The OSRP may be posting a brief video webinar for members interested in a “share screen” opportunity to be guided through the renewal process, to be shared with all members.

WELCOME, MICHAEL DIOTTE! (New Appointment)

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:41:53 GMT

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!

RESOURCES & RE-Sources: BLACK HISTORY MONTH

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:28:01 GMT

RESOURCES & RE-Sources: BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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:

38% of survey respondents who are Black, and reported poor or fair mental health, stated that they had used mental health services
60% said they would be more willing to use mental health services if the mental health professional was Black
35.4% were experiencing significant psychological distress, 34.2% of whom never sought mental health services.

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:

refusing to accept or continue to treat a new client for a prohibited reason, such as race, gender identity, or sexual orientation;
making a treatment decision for a prohibited reason;
insulting a client in relation to a prohibited reason;
refusing to allow a client with a disability to attend an appointment with a support person, assistive device, or service animal; and
making assumptions, not based on clinical observation or professional knowledge and experience, about a person’s health or abilities because of their age or another prohibited reason.

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):

My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies, a NYT Bestseller by Resmaa Menakem, author, Psychotherapist and founder of Somatic Abolitionism, specialising in the effects of trauma on the human body and the relationship between trauma, white body supremacy, and racism.

My Grandmother's Hands—Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending ... by Resmaa Menakem (Excerpt) - YouTube

An interview with Menakem from “On Being” with Krista Tippett Resmaa Menakem — 'Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence' | The On Being Project
2022 Giller Prize winner for Fiction, Suzette Mayr’s The Sleeping Car Porter explores a crucial part of Canada’s Black History (also available as an audiobook): The Sleeping Car Porter | Coach House Books (chbooks.com)

An interview/Q&A with Mayr from “The Giller Book Club” with Donna Bailey Nurse, literary critic The Giller Book Club: The Sleeping Car Porter - YouTube
Internal Racism: A Psychoanalytic Approach to Race and Difference by M. Fakhry Davids, author and Psychoanalyst, British Psychoanalytical Society Internal Racism: A Psychoanalytic Approach to Race and Difference by M. Fakhry Davids (karnacbooks.com)

An Interview with Davids from “New Books in Psychoanalysis” with Tracy D. Morgan, Psychoanalyst, LCSW-R, M.Phil New Books in Psychoanalysis: M. Fakhry Davids, "Internal Racism: A Psychoanalytic Approach to Race and Difference" (Red Globe, 2011) on Apple Podcasts

Short video of Davids describing his interest in the geography of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis: Fakhry Davids - YouTube

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:

Systemic oppression experiences live in the bodies of those from marginalized groups.
How do we release limiting beliefs to promote healing?
How can we embody liberation?
What will happen when you start feeling like your body is a home?
Utilizing somatic frameworks, participants will create and embody narratives of empowerment.

Other re-Sources, flowing from far and wide:

25 books about being Black in Canada | CBC Books

25 Best Black Therapy Podcasts (chosen by FeedSpot): https://blog.feedspot.com/black_therapy_podcasts/

Some Black Therapist directories:

Black Therapists in Ontario via Psychology Today
Black Therapist Directory in Canada

Wishing all OSRP Members a re-Sourceful, re-Circulating and re-Viving Black History Month!

— The above was collected and written by Rachel Fulford, RP, Co-Vice-Chair and Chair of Advocacy, and approved by the Executive Committee.

November 18, 2022 AGM Follow Up

OSRP Administrator — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 21:01:07 GMT

Dear OSRP Members,

The OSRP Board would like to sincerely wish you and your loved ones all the very best for 2023. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the coming year.

It seems like a lifetime ago, but we held a very successful AGM on November 18, 2022.

As promised, we are including the below, for every OSRP member who attended and those who were not able to.

NB: Please refrain from sharing this material outside of the OSRP Membership.

Please click below for more Board updates:

A link to the video of the AGM:
Draft minutes of the AGM (which will be voted on at next year’s AGM), including all motions passed and vote tallies.
A copy of the AGM Zoom chat, from which no member has asked to have their name removed
A link to updated bios and photos of all current OSRP Directors
A list of Executive Committee members who were unanimously elected at the December 9, 2022 first meeting of the 2022-23 Board of Directors, with Dianne Wright unanimously elected as Interim Treasurer (for a 3-month term) on Friday January 6, 2023.
Following our second Board meeting on Friday January 20, we will be announcing Committee Chairs, with open calls to join committees where there is a need for more volunteers.

Thank you for your support as we establish our new Board, Executive Committee and other new Committees, and prepare to address the mandate you generously gave us at the November AGM.

Wishing all members good fortune and felicity,

The OSRP Board of Directors

HST Exemption UPDATE: Please Share Before January 13

OSRP Administrator — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 20:53:08 GMT

HST Exemption UPDATE: Please Share Before January 13

Thank you, amazing OSRP members, for your overwhelming support. The House of Commons Petition now has almost 13,500 signatures, and rising!

If you haven’t had a chance to sign and share: please do so here!

You can also write to your MP to ask them to support the removal of this unjust tax. Please visit www.taxfreetherapy.ca for a pre-written letter, and a tool to email it to your rep.

All the info you need is at www.taxfreetherapy.ca.

None of this momentum would be possible without engaged members like you. Thank you so much!

PS: You can use the JPG attached & included here, or go here: Resources | TaxFreeTherapy to download our social media shareables, to share with your followers, tagging #taxfreetherapy please!

PPS: Please find celebrity video endorsements here: Media | TaxFreeTherapy alongside statements by MP Lindsay Mathyssen, Party Leader Jagmeet Singh and MP Carol Hughes which you can share as well as the CTV.ca article Psychotherapy should be tax-free in Canada, new campaign says | CTV News endorsing our campaign!

For questions or comments, or to share a response from your MP, please contact advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org

Holiday Office Hours

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 22:49:54 GMT

The OSRP office staff is getting ready to wind down for the winter season, and hopes to have time to rest and spend time with loved ones.

The OSRP’s office will be closed from 5 p.m. ET on Friday, December 23, 2022, until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, which means we won’t be returning phone calls and emails until January 3 or 4, 2023.

We wish you all the best for a healthy and prosperous new year!

WE DID IT! 30th AGM SUCCESS

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 22:43:33 GMT

OSRP’s 30th AGM was a resounding success!

A new complement of inspired and talented Members were voted onto the slate and became Board Directors on November 18, 2022.

This year’s AGM ended with a crescendo of cheers, applause and a commitment to elect the largest group of volunteer Board Members that the OSRP has ever seen or dreamed of! This is a clear sign of a thriving Association, and it is thanks to your votes, your membership, your volunteer work and your ongoing commitment to the OSRP that we are here.

Your feedback (in the chat and verbally) was unanimously positive and supportive, and you not only voted in the 2022-2023 slate, but provided a clear mandate (“yes” vote rates of 95% or higher, zero “no” votes on any resolution) to the new Board as represented by the leadership of the AGM. Quorum was achieved and maintained until the end of the three-hour meeting, which concluded with cheers, claps and expressions of gratitude and trust that the OSRP is in good hands.

A few examples of Member contributions from the AGM via Zoom “chat” – all of which were read aloud, because YOUR voices are important – include:

When at first we were a few members short of quorum, a number of you made valuable suggestions, and pitched in to help:

~ “...could folks reach out by email or phone to see if we can get a few more attendees?”

~ “...let's shoot to get 15-20 more, via proxy or attendance”

Many positive comments followed the Land Acknowledgement video prepared by Kimberly Cato, following a description of the Board’s work in this area over the past year:

~ “Beautiful ❤️”

~ “Beautiful land acknowledgement, Kimberly. Thank you.”

~ “Thank you. So beautiful, thoughtful.”

~ “We just reached quorum”

~ “well done everybody!”

Below is the link to the Land Acknowledgement video, as requested by members who attended the AGM.

Click here to view Acknowledging the Land Within video

Honouring fellow psychotherapists who passed away since the last AGM is our way of acknowledging their contribution to this work. We lost three people this past year, one of whom was a former Board member. We sincerely thank the member who shared the name of one of these three at the AGM, who we did not yet know had passed away, so we could commemorate together.

Rest in Peace to the dearly departed:

Joan Lacroix, Clinical Member, Retired. OSRP Member Nov 1994–Oct 2022

Richard Lowery, Clinical Member, former Board Member-at-Large. OSRP Member March 2017–Nov 2022

Mikela Ronning-Philip, Clinical Member, Retired. OSRP Member Sept 1996–June 2022

***

Members expressed felicitations and gratitude to Sonya Gotziaman and Rozanne Grimard as each received the “Honours of the Society Award”:

~ “Congratulations to Sonya and Rozanne!”

~ “Thank you for such a heartfelt acceptance speech. Congratulations!”

Re: the www.taxfreetherapy.ca campaign:

~ “I’m so grateful for all the hard work done to table this issue with the government - Thank you to all on the Task Force!”

~ “Nikki has taken this [Connect] committee and transformed it into a massive member benefit, keeping people informed and connected and supported, which is what makes an association a home. Way to go, Nikki!!

RE: The 11 BIPOC Bursaries provided last year:

~ “I agree Kimberly…I’m so very proud of our organization...taking action, not just words. Excellent.”

~ “Kimberly, thank you so much for all your hard work in EDI which is paramount. Your weaving of EDI into everything we do is necessary!”

Re: Sarah Posh and the CRPO Committee:

~ “Thank you for representing us so well. Much appreciated.”

Re: 2022-23 Slate of Board Members:

~ “This is so exciting! We dreamed of a day when the board would have many members…”

~ “Congratulations to all of you! Thank you and may you have a wonderful experience!!”

~ “This AGM is so exciting to me. I am recalling our first AGM 30 years ago. What wonderful work you are all doing and have done to bring our organization to this place. Congratulations!”

~ “Many thanks to everyone who worked and prepared things for this meeting, beyond all the work that you do throughout the year :)”

***

The Nomination Committee is honoured to welcome and orient all new Directors during this Interim period before our first Board Meeting on December 9.

Before the end of the calendar year, you and all members in good standing will receive:

A link to the video of the AGM
Draft minutes of the AGM (which will be voted on at next year’s AGM), including all motions passed and vote tallies.
A copy of the AGM Zoom chat PLEASE NOTE - IF YOU WANT TO REMOVE YOUR NAME FROM YOUR CHAT COMMENT, PLEASE EMAIL EVONNE at mail@psychotherapyontario.org. IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU IN THE NEXT WEEK, WE WILL TAKE THAT AS CONSENT TO PUBLISH YOUR ZOOM NAME ABOVE YOUR COMMENT.
A link to updated bios and photos of all current OSRP Directors
A list of Executive Committee members and committee Chairs, with open calls to join committees where there is a need for more volunteers

We thank you for your time, your energy and your trust in us to serve the OSRP faithfully over the coming year. It is thanks to you that we are in this wonderful position to do meaningful work on behalf of our honourable profession.

May you have a victorious day,

Kimberly Cato (Co-Chair, Nomination Committee)

Rachel Fulford (Co-Chair, Nomination Committee)

SEASON’S GREETINGS & WELL WISHES FOR 2023

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 21:24:42 GMT

The month of December is filled with various festivals, religious events, national days and a multitude of celebrations that bring people together for food, fun, and frollicking. This may include Festivus, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Independence Days for Kenya, Qatar, Bahrain, Libya, Mongolia, Finland, Tanzania, Portugal, and many more.

Though these are just a few significant dates people may celebrate or take time off to take care of themselves, friends or family, there are many different traditions associated with each holiday or significant day. Learning about the significance, stories and histories of various holidays can help broaden our perspective beyond the holidays we celebrate year after year.

According to AbacusData, a survey was done in 2019 asking Canadians if they celebrate Christmas and if they celebrate Christmas as a secular or religious holiday. 87% of respondents said they celebrate Christmas (51% secular holiday and 35% religious holiday), while 13% responded “no”. While this may or may not be representative of our OSRP population, it supports our awareness of those who may not celebrate Christmas or any of the many holidays during the month of December.

As active, retired and student Psychotherapists, we know that there are many for whom this time of year is uncomfortable, lonely, isolating or riddled with thoughts of traumatic experiences, grief and loss. We are well aware of the tumultuous emotional rollercoaster of this season for many. As we continue through this month of December, we may wish to use inclusive language in how we greet each other and not make assumptions about how people are getting through this time. In addition, we might consider providing our clients and loved ones with a crisis line number/website and other culturally-sensitive community resources to help get through this time safely.

We might practise asking open-ended questions of each other first, so we are not making assumptions. For example, “What are you doing over these next few weeks?” This question does not assume someone will be on holidays because they may choose to or have to work; it doesn’t assume they will be with family members; and it doesn’t assume they celebrate a specific holiday.

Another open-ended question might be, “How do you spend your time in these winter months?” This example invites discussion without imposing a specific belief, expectation, mood or pattern of behaviour. Once we’ve learned more about the person we’re talking to, we can then decide how to wish them well.

May all OSRP Members find peace that surpasses all understanding as you engage with these last weeks of 2022 and prepare for victorious showers of Health, Wealth, and Wisdom in 2023!!!

HST Exemption Update: Can You Feel the Momentum?

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 21:46:50 GMT

Thank you amazing OSRP members for your overwhelming support! The House of Commons Petition now has 8,100+ signatures and counting! If you haven’t had a chance to sign and share: please do so here!

As a next step, would you consider writing your MP/calling your MP/asking your network to do so? If so, please visit www.taxfreetherapy.ca for a pre-written letter, and a tool to email it to your rep. Or use this tool to find your MP’s contact info using your postal code: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en

All the info you need is at www.taxfreetherapy.ca.

Check out CTV.ca’s coverage of our campaign: Should therapy be tax-exempt? New campaign calls out "bureaucratic semantics."

None of this momentum would be possible without engaged members like you. Thank you so much!

Let’s keep it going, so we can one day see this tax in the rearview mirror, and know that we did everything we could to make it history.

For questions or comments, please contact advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org

New Member Benefit: 25% Off Goodlife Fitness Memberships!

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 21:30:54 GMT

With locations across the province, Goodlife offers group exercise, personal training, group fitness classes and classic fitness amenities.

Additionally, your discounted corporate rate can be extended to one family member to enhance the health and wellness of your loved ones.

Registration is now open. To join, log in to the Members Only section of our website and look on the Member Benefits page.

The Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) Has Launched!

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 20:00:58 GMT

We have been following the development of a new initiative that enables mental health providers to respond to mental health crisis and wellness checks among vulnerable, marginalized and racialized groups in Toronto. Now, by calling 211, people in crisis can receive support from non-police-based multidisciplinary teams working from a harm reduction, consent and trauma-based response framework.

“The Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) is a new, alternate approach to responding to someone in crisis that focuses on health, prevention and well-being. The service provides an alternative to police enforcement, creating a community-based, client-centred, trauma-informed response to non-emergency crisis calls and wellness checks.

This service aims to respond to the needs and desires of the communities most impacted by policing and establish trust and confidence in a new community-based response model.

The service is available six days a week and closed on Saturdays, and serves individuals 16 years of age and older.”

Click here to learn more.

OSRP/CRPO Committee: Stakeholders Meeting Report

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 20:28:56 GMT

On Wednesday, June 1, the CRPO hosted a Stakeholders meeting for representatives from the cooperative relationships they have been building with the OSRP, CCPA, OAMHP, CAPT and OEATA.

Summary of meeting:

CRPO acknowledged that through the outlook of the nursing and midwifery profession, that quality of care and protection of the public involves a partnership, ongoing relationships and healthy tension between the Regulator, the Educators and the Associations in order to provide care in the best interests of clients.

CRPO has now surpassed 10,000 registrants (10,035 at the time of the meeting). This is a 41% increase in overall applications and demonstrates the accelerated growth of the profession.
CRPO application processing timelines should be reduced to 4-6 weeks (recognized programs) or 4 months (non-recognized programs) by the end of June.
Ninety percent pass rate for the Entry to Practice exam (90% in ON, 91% in other provinces, 86% USA and 72% International).
They are currently reviewing the Clinical Supervision criteria and reduced group maximums from 12 to 8 participants as of April 2022.
Standards of Practice should be reviewed every five years and the Standard Review Policy may be extended to association leaders to contribute and become more involved.
Jurisprudence will be reviewed and updated, as it has not been since 2013 and laws, knowledge and experience have grown since the program launch.
Breakdown of Complaints detailed in the presentation slides, with General Conduct representing almost 42%.
Governance Reform Proposal: The CRPO is aiming for a 50:50 split between the Public and RP members (currently 49:51). Term limits may be introduced and the removal of the previously considered RMHP title may be removed.
CRPO will continue to work remotely, with Council meetings potentially becoming hybrid starting in the fall. The exam will continue to be offered remotely.

Click here to view the Stakeholders Meeting slides.

New Group Health Benefits Plan — Enrolment Now Active

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 17:36:13 GMT

We are excited to announce that enrolment for the new OSRP Group Health Benefits Plan is now active! The plan start date is July 1, 2022.

Our comprehensive and competitive new plan, through Equitable Life, will be administered online through a company called Effortless Admin. The plan contains all the benefits included in our first plan and does not require a medical examination in order to join. This makes it one of the most inclusive in our field in Ontario and will not preclude anyone with pre-existing medical conditions.

There are two levels of coverage options: Entry and Essential. You can choose the level of coverage that is right for you and/or for you and your family. Core benefits include prescription drugs, paramedical services (including coverage for RP services), dental care, vision care, long-term disability (Essential Plan only), travel coverage, as well as life, dependent life and AD&D coverage.

The Entry plan monthly premium is:

Single — $147.88
Family — $394.85

The Essential plan automatically includes Long Term Disability (LTD) coverage. At $2,000 LTD* coverage, the monthly premium is:

Single — $199.87 + $52.14 = $252.01
Family — $521.68 + $52.14 = $573.82

*To note, the LTD volume may be different, as the amount of coverage depends on your income. The maximum coverage amount that you can receive is $4,000 per month. If your income requires that you receive the maximum LTD coverage, your monthly premium for the LTD benefit will be $104.28 (instead of the $52.14 indicated above).

The premiums, including the maximum LTD coverage, are:

Single — $199.87 + $104.28 = $304.15
Family — $521.68 + 104.28 = $625.96

Below you will find a link to a document containing the plan details and rates. Please review the specific coverage level details, as the coverage level can only be changed every two years after the initial selection has been made. All plan information, as well as helpful webinars to learn more about the offerings and how to manage online claims, can be found on the Member Benefits page once you log in to osrp.ca

To enrol in the plan, please contact our broker, Joanne Rose, who will start the process for you. Joanne will require the following information from you:

Business Name (if different than your personal name)
Employee (to note you are an employee of your business) Legal Name
DOB
Gender Identification
Hire Date – must be longer than 6 months
Job title
Salary
Address
Email address
Coverage — single or family
Plan — Entry or Essential
Email address

Adonis can be contacted at
Email: joanne.rose@hubinternational.com OR
Phone: (416) 597-5723.

Open Call For Connect Committee Volunteers

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 31 May 2022 16:01:51 GMT

Our OSRP Blog is our public-facing communication about a few things: showcasing our members and sharing relevant professional information. Nikki Bianchi, the Chair of our Connect Committee, kick-started the blog again in 2021 with some wonderful member stories. You can read them here (http://blog.osrp.ca/).

We are looking for an OSRP member who has a passion for writing/editing to take on the blog!

Is this you?

If so, please reach out to Nikki via email connect@psychotherapyontario.org

Town Hall Postponement

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 31 May 2022 15:52:59 GMT

On March 21, 2022, the Board responded to a member’s request for decision-making transparency (regarding posts in Central) with a commitment to meet on June 3, 2022, for a Town Hall discussion about the impact of the Ukraine statement on the membership.

In preparation for this Town Hall, the Board sought an external, third-party consultant to facilitate an internal audit of our decision-making process and communication strategies and to review the purpose of Central moving forward. This consultant has also been asked to assist with ensuring that your Board is well prepared with insights to offer when we do meet at the Town Hall to hear what’s in your hearts and minds.

As our membership has grown exponentially over the past two years, so too has the demand of time and level of commitment from the Board. During our Friday, May 27 Board meeting, we realized that more time is required to complete the work we have begun with the third-party consultant. Furthermore, we ran into an unforeseen issue with the registration process for the Town Hall. Subsequently, because there has been no notice or registration information posted in Central, we are postponing our June 3 Town Hall until the internal audit is complete and we have given sufficient notice for registration and participation to occur.

Please know that the need to postpone this Town Hall in no way diminishes our appreciation for the importance of this discussion. On the contrary, we understand the magnitude of this issue and require the time necessary to address the multifaceted implications of this discussion on the work that we do for you as a Board.

We extend the hope that you continue to provide us with the grace we require to grow as a Board as we grow in membership.

Sincerely,

The OSRP Board

Reminder: Activate Your Online Referral Service Profile

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 17 May 2022 20:58:38 GMT

With the launch of our new website, changes were made to our online referral service. For privacy reasons, no profiles were automatically added to our referral service. Clinical and Qualifying members who wish to appear on the referral service need to log in to osrp.ca and give permission for their profiles to be visible to the public. Here's how.

Go to osrp.ca and click on the person icon at the top right-hand side of your window to log in.

If you don’t remember your password, click on Forgot password to reset it.

Once logged in, click on the person icon again and choose View profile from the drop-down menu.

Click on the Privacy menu. You will see that “Do not show profile to others” is checked. Click the EDIT PROFILE button to change this.

If you wish to have your name appear on our online referral service, click the box beside “Show profile to others.” You can then select what information you wish to share with the public (Anybody) or just with members (Members). If the button is greyed out, you do not have the option to change this information yourself.

Remember to click the SAVE button when you have finished making your selections.

GST/HST Advocacy Update Re: BILL C-218

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 17 May 2022 20:18:15 GMT

Top row (L to R): Monika Green, M.Ed., RP, CCC, Director of Public Affairs, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association; Lindsay Mathyssen, MP, London-Fanshawe; Andrea D'Onofrio, MA, RP, OSRP Board Member.

Bottom row (L to R): Laura Hetherington, RP, PRPA; Ben Howe, Senior Consultant, Impact Public Affairs; Rachel Fulford, RP, OSRP Board Member. Regrets: Stephanie Woo Dearden, MA, RP(Q).

As previously announced, in December 2021, MP Lindsay Mathyssen tabled a private member’s bill called C-218: An Act to Amend the Excise Tax Act (psychotherapy services) to support a GST/HST exemption for psychotherapy services.

On May 5, Andrea D’Onofrio (Chair of #StopTaxingMyTherapy) and Rachel Fulford (Chair of the Advocacy Committee) joined our partners at the CCPA (Canada-wide), PRPA (Ontario-wide) and Impact (Lobbying Firm) to meet on Zoom with MP Lindsay Mathyssen.

We were all impressed by Mathyssen’s commitment to the removal of GST/HST from our services, and her desire to work with us to correct this barrier to access as soon as possible. She recognizes that Canadians deserve better access to psychotherapy and sees exemption of psychotherapy services as part of the toolkit for pandemic recovery and the massive mental health needs facing Canada now.

Unfortunately, Private Member’s Bill C-218 was placed far down the list for this parliament – #199, with #1 being the first to go forward. Order of precedence is determined lottery-style. However, Mathyssen remains committed to working with us and our partners to use the Bill to pressure the government to bring forward its own Bill, which they can do at any time.

We have learned that private member’s bills such as this do not have the power to amend taxation law, as the power to amend taxation rests solely with the Federal Government through a finance bill. That means that this Bill cannot grant tax exemption to our profession. However, Bill C-218 can play an essential part in our advocacy by raising awareness and support around this issue with Members of Parliament and the Government, encouraging them to legislate a GST/HST exemption for the profession.

Our next step is to prepare a coordinated advocacy effort with our members and stakeholders to support Bill C-218 and encourage the Government to remove this tax on our profession. Please stay tuned for more information on how you can help support this Bill through one unified and loud voice.

We are grateful to MP Mathyssen for championing this Bill, to the many MPs who have already expressed their support for this Bill, and to all the OSRP #StopTaxingMyTherapy volunteers who have worked on this issue, with particular thanks to Stephanie Woo Dearden who first connected with MP Mathyssen and informed her of this issue.

We ask that you please keep us informed of any emails or conversations with your MPs via advocacy@psychotherapyontario.org

We look forward to sharing how you can get more involved as soon as we can.

Join the Conversation (Listserv)

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 18:36:04 GMT

The Listserv is a members-only space where you can ask each other questions, share practice information, advertise for office space and more!

The OSRP has been putting together a list of guidelines for this self-organized, self-moderated space. We will be sending out an email once a month with these guidelines.

If you wish to contact the OSRP office or our Board members, please do so directly, not through the listserv. For the office, use mail@psychotherapyontario.org. For Board members, go to the Board Members page on our website and choose the appropriate email address. The OSRP office and Board members do not monitor the listserv for messages.

To join the listserv, click here

Featured: Interview with Kimberly Cato, RP, OSRP Board Member, Interim Chair of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:33:11 GMT

In an effort to spotlight our incredible members, OSRP’s Connect Committee is thrilled to announce our latest interview: this one about our (returned) Board member, Kimberly Cato.

As a Black woman who navigates the world through a wheelchair; an RP with over 30 years of experience working from trauma-informed and asset-based practices; and with her practice grounded in methodologies of anti-racism and anti-oppression, Kimberly’s experience and expertise across intersecting dimensions make her a gift to the OSRP.

Kimberly’s commitment to healing and mental wellness is long-standing. These experiences motivated her to intentionally engage in dismantling racism by decolonizing therapy and seeking culturally adapted therapeutic practices that build multi-racial communities with anti-racist capacity and a determination to facilitate more racial trauma healing forums.

Kimberly is delighted to be part of OSRP’s Board, Executive Committee, and the Interim Chair of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, assisting with the process of embedding EDI principles into every aspect of the organization, and thereby creating a space that is welcoming, inclusive and safe for the differing identities of people we serve to know they belong here.

Our own Nikki Bianchi, Chair of the Connect Committee, interviewed Kimberly so that our members and the public could get to know who is helping guide the OSRP into more welcoming structures and practices for all therapists.

Click here to read the full interview

OSRP Now Has Over 1,000 Members!

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:24:42 GMT

In celebration of OSRP's growth in reaching 1,000 members, we have assembled prizes for our 1,000th member and our first member.

Our 1,000th member is Brendon Antill, a student at Yorkville University enrolled in the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program.

Our first member is Mary Helen Garvin, who was a founding member of OSP (now OSRP) and joined in February 1992.

Congratulations to both of our winners. Thanks to Jane and Perkopolis for contributing to the prizes, both valued at over $500.

Volunteer Opportunities for Members

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:22:32 GMT

We are committed to becoming an anti-racist, anti-marginalization organization and intend to increase BIPoC and LGBTQA2S+ awareness and engagement at OSRP. To do that, we need diverse voices for social justice on our committees, in our communications and, well, everywhere!

Is this your voice?

If so, the following committees are welcoming new members and would love to hear from you:

Advocacy
Connect
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
OSRP/CRPO

All committee meetings are virtual, so you can volunteer from the comfort of your home/workspace, wherever you live! If you would like to learn more about these committees or apply to join, click the following link https://funnelcom.typeform.com/OSRPVolunteerAp

Membership Renewals

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:22:00 GMT

When renewing your membership for 2022/2023, please ensure that you use the link in the reminder email sent to you. If you cannot find the email, please log in to https://orsp.ca/

Please also note that you will be paying the 15-month renewal rate. Because our online system only allows us to program for 12 months at a time, once you have paid, we will manually change your renewal date to July 1, 2023.

Launch of New OSRP Website

OSRP Administrator — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:20:24 GMT

We did it! We have transitioned to our new website with a new URL: OSRP.CA. BUT, this new website is still a work in progress and will feature a mix of new and old content. Please bear with us for the next few weeks as we work with the content and navigation. We had a tight deadline for moving it from our old provider, which has left us with a tight schedule for bringing it up to full speed. We will continue to update it over the next few weeks and months.

The website is where you have gone to renew your membership and register for OSRP-hosted events. This has not changed.

We are asking all members to log in (visit OSRP.ca and you’ll see the members login) and update your referral profile. Currently, all referral profiles have been turned off. To appear on our online referral directory, you must opt-in. This feature is controlled with the opt-in field (“Allow to show in member directory?”) in your member profile. Currently, only Clinical and Qualifying members are included in our online referral service.

We strongly urge you to choose yes for the option to receive Central (the option looks like this: Receive Member Emails and Newsletters), which is this email e-blast, as it’s the only way for the OSRP to share important information relevant to you as members and for your practices.