The Association Of Counselling Therapy of Alberta

Update March 1, 2024

New Government Direction for Regulation

of Counselling Therapy in Alberta

For the last six years, the Association of Counselling Therapists of Alberta (ACTA) has worked at the behest of the Government and legislation to regulate counselling therapists, addiction counsellors, and child and youth care counsellors under the College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (CCTA).

On March 1, 2024, the government announced its new plan to regulate the counselling profession within an existing regulatory college, the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), rather than establishing a separate College (CCTA). As part of this plan, in spring 2024, a legislative amendment will be put forward and, if passed, would repeal Section 29 of the Mental Health Services Protection Act. ACTA recommends the legislation not be repealed until new legislation to regulate counselling professionals is ready to be enforced; nevertheless, it is ultimately the Government’s decision.

ACTA supports the new direction for regulating counselling therapists and acknowledges the Government’s preference to have newly regulated professions regulated within existing colleges in the HPA. While this direction adds significant delay to regulation compared to simply proclaiming the legislation and approving the draft regulation, it is a viable path forward that ACTA will support in the interest of finally regulating the profession in the public interest and building off the work already done.