ACTA Press Release - January 26, 2024

Alberta doctor, found guilty of sexually abusing a patient, now offering counselling services.

CURRENTLY ALBERTA HAS NO REGULATORY COLLEGE FOR COUNSELLING PROFESSIONALS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

ACTA (The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta) hears stories of counsellors in Alberta perpetuating abuse, misconduct, and harm to clients without recourse. Brianne Hudson is a recent example of a health professional in Alberta losing their practice permit for sexual abuse against a vulnerable patient and soon after offering counselling services. It has come to ACTA’s attention that Hudson is continuing to work with the same vulnerable population as an addiction counsellor in Grande Prairie with no regulatory oversight. These are the risks we have been asking the government to easily prevent.

As soon as a college is proclaimed this individual and others with similar histories will not be able to work as counsellors in Alberta, until then these risks will continue. ACTA has been ready to open CCTA (College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta) since the government drafted the regulations and completed widespread consultation in 2021. Counsellors in Alberta have been advocating for public safety for decades. 

In most other jurisdictions in Canada counselling is regulated. The Alberta Government  needs to proclaim the CCTA immediately.