Art Therapy Advocacy and Practice in Ontario

In Ontario ‘Art Therapy’ and ‘Art Therapist’ are not protected titles, however the practice of psychotherapy and the use of the title psychotherapist is protected under the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). Many members of OATA are Registered Professionals with the following Colleges and can be found on their respective websites. The most common college for Art Therapists is the CRPO, however some members are registered with other colleges.

Regulatory Colleges that Regulate the Practice of Psychotherapy in Ontario.

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
https://www.crpo.ca/

The Council of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) is the governing body of a new health regulatory college in Ontario. The College is established under the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA).The mandate of the College is to regulate Registered Psychotherapists in the public interest, striving to ensure that practitioners are competent, ethical and accountable.

Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
https://www.ocswssw.org/

“The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) is the regulatory body for social workers and social service workers whose primary duty is to serve and protect the public interest. The College is accountable to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.” OCSWSSW

College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
https://www.cno.org/

“The College of Nurses of Ontario is the governing body for Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Ontario, Canada.” CNO

The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO)
https://www.coto.org/

“The College is a regulatory organization that oversees the practice of occupational therapists (OTs) in Ontario. Our job is to make sure you receive safe, effective, ethical care from OTs. We are a public resource. We are here to help you and provide information so you can make decisions about your health care. We can answer questions about OTs and let you know what to expect when you meet with an OT.” COTO

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)
https://www.cpso.on.ca

“The role of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is to regulate the practice of medicine to protect and serve the public interest. All doctors in Ontario must be members of the College in order to practice medicine.” CPSO

The College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)
https://www.cpo.on.ca/

The College of Psychologists of Ontario is the governing body for Psychologists and Psychological Associates in Ontario. The College is not a university, school or community college; its mandate is to protect your interests by monitoring and regulating the practice of psychology.”

Advocacy

OATA engages in advocacy practices for the practice of Art Therapy in Ontario.

The Partnership of Registered Psychotherapist Associations (PRPA)

 Mission Statement
Advocacy

PRPA is a collective of Ontario associations joined in discussion regarding advocacy issues as they emerge for Ontario RP’s.

The goal of the PRPA is to strengthen the profession of Registered Psychotherapists in Ontario by responding to and advocating for issues pertaining to the practice of psychotherapy.

PRPA achieves this goal by identifying common issues/goals, pooling resources and engaging with Ontario stakeholders with “a collaborative voice.”

PRPA OATA Representatives: Kim Bird, Ana Seara

PRPA Terms of Reference (pdf)