Brianna97

Hi,
I have recently moved to Canada in July from Northern Ireland, and I am looking for some advice/guidance or own personal experiences for finding Psychology related jobs in Ontario.

I have a bachelors degree in Psychology and a masters degree in applied psychology (mental health and psychological therapies), with psychological well-being practitioner (PWP) traineeship. I am now a fully qualified Psychological Well-being Practitioner (mostly just recognised in the UK currently), which aims to helps individuals with common mental health problems (mild-moderate depression and anxiety related difficulties) using a guided self-help approach/ CBT based interventions (Low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy).

I am currently a graduate member with the BPS (British psychological society) and beginning the process of being registered with them.

I have noticed the majority of mental health therapist/clinician’s or anyone practising psychotherapy in Canada (Ontario) are required to be registered with a
Regulatory body (eg CRPO). I am not sure I meet the criteria/ requirements to become registered/qualified here at the moment as I do not have the sufficient amount of direct clinical contact hours and supervision hours.

I have 7 months PWP trainee experience (which included supervision hours and clinical contact). I also have 11 months experience as a fully qualified PWP working in primary care- IAPT, which also included weekly supervision and clinical contacts.

I was just wondering what type of jobs/ roles would be similar to working as a PWP back home, here in Canada? And how to gain the required supervision / clinical contact hours to work towards registration.

Any advice/ information would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Brianna

mdonald1987

I think you would struggle to meet the requirements to meet CRPO with the quals/experience you have. And because the supervised practice hours must be part of a coherent structured course, you couldn’t just top them up. Even I’m struggling to meet CCPA criteria and I did the high-intensity training (low-intensity training too). With your qualifications, however, I’d be more inclined to go for the doctorate. Is that something you’ve considered? As the IAPT training is so niche to what we offer in the UK, it just doesn’t translate well to anywhere I’ve seen in Canada. That doesn’t mean to say your skills won’t be recognised and valued. Just that you’ll have to try and find a different way of using them perhaps?

Brianna97

Hi,

thanks for your reply.

it is definitely a lot different from how things work in the UK, I’m really stuck at the moment as everywhere is asking for registration. However, I did come across a programme here called the Bounce Back Programme which offer guided self-help (CBT based interventions), which include 6-8 telephone sessions, for 30 mins (very similar to what PWP’s would do). I have also seen something called Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program (OSP), which seems to work on a stepped care model (i.e LI-CBT being the first step), that I might look in to. If you are currently living in Ontario, these might be places you could perhaps look in to?☺️

Do you mind if I ask how you are getting on with jobs at the moment? & I have thought about a doctorate in the near future, however I am not sure about studying internationally as the fees are absolutely extortionate.

Thanks again!
Brianna

mdonald1987

Ooh, great finds! I may have missed those as I've been searching exclusively in BC. Again, given that healthcare differs from province to province, this is another complexity to finding work!

So we're still in the planning stage. Still in the UK. My Wife is a mental health nurse, so we're focusing on having her credentials validated, and then registering with her professional body. This is our ticket to getting a visa, given the huge shortage of nurses in BC. In the background, I'm thinking about what I'll do for work over there. The difficulty is that at present, the act of Psychotherapy (in BC) is not a protected title, with no accrediting body. There are some voluntary associations, such as the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), whom a lot of employers state you must be registered with. It has just been announced, however, that BC will be protecting the practice of Counselling/Psychotherapy with a governing body, but there's no criteria at present. So I have a lot more questions than answers atm. This hasn't stopped me from looking at jobs, though. Looking at the person specification, my skills appear to be in demand. It's just getting registered with whichever association/accrediting body the employer is asking for. I've got no chance with the BCCNM, as their criteria is weighted heavily towards counsellors. I'm hopeful that I will get accreditation with the CCPA, though.

Interestingly, I've found a role with Interior Health in BC. It's called Mental Health and Substance Use Counselling Clinician. They just ask for a degree and 2-3 years experience. No association registration. decent pay too of approx. $80,000. Not sure if they have those in On, but it's worth looking out for.

MrsT13

Hi Brianna

I am also from NI hoping to make the move to Canada & I work in psychology!

Have you checked out other provinces in Canada? I am hoping to move to Alberta, you can work toward registration as a psychologist there with the College of Alberta Psychologists. You have to get your qualifications assessed etc. but they have lots of info on the site. Might be worth checking out if you’re not tied to Ontario.

If sticking in Ontario could you register as a Psychotherapist? That might enable you to apply for higher paid jobs etc.

Best of luck with it all! If you’ve any advice or learning I would be happy to hear it!!
MrsT