Delay in counselling therapist regulation hindering access for Indigenous people in Alberta – CBC

Jan 09, 2023

Alberta’s UCP government reluctant to proclaim new professional college

Mental health professionals say the Alberta government’s delay in creating a new professional college for counselling therapists is creating financial and logistical barriers for Indigenous people seeking help.

Indigenous people can’t receive coverage under the First Nations and Inuit Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) plan for sessions with Alberta counselling therapists because the federal program only covers fees for practitioners that are regulated by a professional college.

Counselling therapists in Alberta are not regulated. Alberta’s United Conservative government could change that by proclaiming a regulation but has delayed doing so, previously stating it was not a priority.

Leigh Sheldon, CEO of Indigenous Psychological Services and a member of the Swan River First Nation near Slave Lake, said creating the proposed College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (CCTA) would increase the pool of practitioners who could become eligible providers under NIHB.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/delay-in-counselling-therapist-regulation-hindering-access-for-indigenous-people-in-alberta-1.6706474