FACTBC’s public messaging has correctly stated that any person can legally describe themselves as a Counsellor or Therapist and there is no question that members of the public, made vulnerable by their circumstances, have been harmed through actions of persons describing themselves as Counselling professionals. Many counsellors in BC have chosen to join voluntary professional associations which exist to serve the interests of the profession. These associations work hard to promote their members as competent, ethical and caring providers of services. They usually create codes for ethical behaviour, specification of required practice skills and processes for handling complaints. This is why they are called self-regulating and why they claim to provide protection against harm.
The level of public safety provided to clients by this voluntary self-regulation model is clearly limited, no matter how highly regarded the association itself may claim to be.
Unfortunately, the effectiveness of voluntary self-regulation in the face of complaints, is strictly circumscribed and is limited to the set of professionals who actively choose to remain members of the association. An individual under investigation can resign from membership at any time and immediately be beyond the reach of the association’s influence. Thus, the level of public safety provided to clients by this voluntary self-regulation model is clearly limited, no matter how highly regarded the association itself may claim to be.
In contrast, when a health profession is regulated by statute, public safety is substantially increased. Regulated professionals can be held legally accountable via clear and enforceable procedures for handling concerns and complaints, and for adherence to published standards of practice, liability insurance coverage and competency criteria for membership in the regulatory body. This is the highest standard for the regulation of health professions and represents the goal which FACTBC seeks for our profession in BC.