Bill 21, recently passed by the National Assembly, redefines areas of professional expertise in the field of mental health and human relations, in particular for psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, vocational guidance counsellors and psychoeducators.

Under this Act, members of these professions will also engage in the educational, promotional and prevention activities common in certain health professions. The Act specifies suicide prevention as a prevention activity. It also reserves activities where there is a risk of harm in the field of mental health and human relations to the members of certain professional orders.

Finally, this Act eliminates the confusion surrounding the field of psychotherapy, a situation long denounced by professionals, mental health care users' groups, and the media. It establishes a definition of psychotherapy, restricts the right to practice psychotherapy and use of the title of psychotherapist to physicians, psychologists and members of certain professional orders, provides for the administration of such permits by the Ordre professionnel des psychologues du Québec, and creates an interdisciplinary advisory council on the practice of psychotherapy.

An interdisciplinary advisory council on the practice of psychotherapy has been established within the Ordre des psychologues du Québec. Its mandate is to give advisory opinions and make recommendations to the Office des professions on the draft regulations made by the Office as set out under Bill 21, and on any other matter concerning the practice of psychotherapy that the Office des professions or the board of directors of the orders concerned consider expedient to submit to it.

The Act is designed to protect the public and ensure access to qualified psychotherapy services.

You may view Bill 21 in its entirety on the website of the National Assembly of Quebec:

An Act to amend the Professional Code and other legislative provisions in the field of mental health and human relations

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