Let’s start with the name: Federation of Associations for Counselling Therapists in British Columbia.
We are twelve associations who all believe in the same principles, namely that:
- Regulating counselling therapy offers increased accountability and protection to all British Columbians from the youngest of our citizens to the oldest and everyone in between;
- A regulatory body should be inclusive of all practitioners of the profession by relying on a nationally validated, entry-to-practice competency profile combined with rigorous registration requirements;
- Inclusive regulation offers all British Columbians a wider range of practitioners who are accountable to the same regulated body thus:
- giving the public an opportunity for increased trust in the profession;
- more choice;
- improved accountability;
- reduced confusion of titles;
- and enhanced public protection.
The question again: What does FACTBC stand for?
The success of any organization like FACTBC is rooted in the people who volunteer their time to take on leadership roles and the people and member organizations who support those leaders.
The respect and trust that is formed between organizations and the relationships that are built between people are pivotal. Without good, healthy relationships it is hard to get things done and over the years FACTBC has accomplished a great deal.
As the chair of FACTBC and a longtime volunteer supporting the efforts of regulating the field of counselling therapy I wanted to take a moment today to tip my hat to all those who have come before me and all those volunteers who are yet to come in our pursuit of an inclusive profession.
Although our journey to regulate counselling therapy has been a lengthy and, at times, difficult one in British Columbia, we accomplished so many amazing things while working together. I believe in the mandate and principles that brought those first associations to the table twenty-five years ago and I continue to support the values that FACTBC holds dear.
Anything is possible if we keep talking, sharing and working to weave together our similarities and work through our differences. This is the message that I continue to offer to colleagues, FACTBC members, government officials and bureaucrats, and most of all, to the public.
~ Michelle Oucharek-Deo, Chair of FACTBC