PRESS RELEASE: Statement from the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta in response to Private Care Facility Shut Down

(Edmonton, AB) October 25, 2019 – The Association of Counselling Therapists of Alberta (ACTA) is concerned for the families and patients impacted by the recent closure of a private care facility in Alberta.  According to the media reports, this facility provided rehabilitation care for people with addiction and mental health issues.

While ACTA does not comment on the allegations about the facility, the closure highlights the critical importance of professional regulation in the fields of counselling therapy, addiction counselling, and child & youth care counselling in Alberta, and the need for a regulatory College to receive and investigate complaints. Regulation of counselling therapy currently exists in 4 provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia) and in all 50 states in the United States. 

To address this gap, in the fall of 2018 the Government passed legislation to regulate counselling therapists in Alberta.   The Mental Health Services Protection Act (Bill 30) proposed new regulations to the Health Professions Act to establish a College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta.  On behalf of the public, this College will oversee the practices of counselling therapists, addictions counsellors, and child & youth care counsellors. Alberta will be the first province to regulate addictions counselling and child & youth care counselling, in addition to counselling therapy.


The College will be funded through fees paid by the professionals; it will not be publicly funded by taxpayer dollars. 

ACTA is the organization that is working in partnership with the Government of Alberta to establish the College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta, in 2020.  ACTA applauds the Government’s shared commitment to proclaiming the regulation and starting the College as soon as possible.

The increased funding for addiction and mental health is a positive step, and we trust that this Government will continue to work towards prioritizing and advocating for safe mental health services, including through the regulation of practitioners. To truly ensure the safety of the public, it is imperative that both standards that govern addiction and mental health facilities, and standards that govern the professionals that work in them, are in place. 

ACTA is looking forward to Alberta Health beginning the public consultation, which is the next stage in the process.

“As more Albertans are seeking addiction and mental health services than ever before, this College is needed.  We look forward to the proclamation of the regulation and the establishment of the College in 2020. Albertans will then have peace of mind knowing that the counsellors they turn to for help will have the necessary qualifications and ethical guidelines, and a higher authority to be accountable towards,” says Nicole Imgrund, Chair of ACTA.

Available for interview or comment: Nicole Imgrund, Chair of ACTA

780-953-5649

Chair@acta-Alberta.ca