This article was first published in the July 2026 Communiqué.
All CRPO registrants have the required education and training to provide psychotherapy. Within the broad scope of psychotherapy, the Professional Practice Standards require RPs to know their own capabilities and limitations, and work within them. So, how does a Registered Psychotherapist evaluate their own competence? What should an RP do when they want to work in a new area of practice?
Read this article for information and answers to these questions and more.
What is scope of practice?
To define professional limits, we must first state what a profession does:
CRPO registrants may assess and treat cognitive, emotional, or behavioural disturbances by psychotherapeutic means. These services are delivered through a therapeutic relationship, based primarily on verbal or non-verbal communication.
What is competence?
Competence means having the “knowledge, skill, and judgment” to provide psychotherapy in a safe, effective and ethical way.
What is a practice area?
CRPO recognizes that RPs practice a diversity of modalities and interventions.
No RP has the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practise every aspect of psychotherapy. Rather, each RP has their own area of competence. They are required to practise competently within that area.
CRPO identifies five broad categories of therapy. The psychotherapeutic modalities used by Registered Psychotherapists generally fall within these categories. These categories, along with a non-exhaustive list of examples of each, can be found here: Modalities of Psychotherapy.
Think about these questions to define your practice area:
- Who do I work with? For example, individuals, couples, families.
- What age groups do I work with? For example, children, youth, adults, seniors.
- What psychotherapy modalities have I been trained to use?
- What issues am I able to assess and treat?
How do I know if I have the competence to work in a practice area?
Registrants must engage in ongoing self-assessment and use professional judgment to determine their ability to work in a practice area.
Reflect on questions such as these:
- Do I have formal education related to this area?
- Have I completed specific courses, workshops, or certifications?
- Was I trained in the theories and methods relevant to this work?
- Have I worked with this population or issue before?
- Have I engaged in appropriate clinical supervision in this area?
What should I do when I want to expand my competence?
Standard 2.1.4 requires that “Registrants complete appropriate, verifiable education, and receive clinical supervision or consultation, before changing or expanding their practice area.” Verifiable means having a record to show evidence of completion.
Psychotherapy is a diverse profession, so CRPO cannot say exactly how much or what kind of training will be needed for a particular change. It would depend on factors such as:
- how big the departure is from an RP’s current practice area
- how experienced the RP is overall
- and how risky the new practice area is.
Ultimately, registrants should ask themselves what a panel of their peers, or a member of the public, would consider reasonable.
Some specialized issues require training beyond entry-to-practice requirements. Registrants who advertise competency to treat a specific issue (for example, addiction, eating disorders) must be able to show that they have completed relevant training to treat the issue. Registrants who do not have verifiable proof of training in an area of practice should not advertise or provide that service.
I’ve taken a continuing education course and completed certification. Am I qualified to practise in this new area? Do I have CRPO approval to provide services in this area after taking this course?
CRPO does not have a formal approval process for registrants who want to expand their scope of practice. Similarly, the College does not formally recognize or grant specialty designations.
CRPO operates on a competence model, not a credentials or qualifications model. This means the College does not list the qualifications for an RP to practice in a new area. Instead, an RP must be competent to provide the service before they can practise in the new area.
Standard 2: Competence outlines that RPs must assess their own areas of competence regularly.
When an RP wants to expand their competence to a new practice area, they should plan activities that will develop their competence while safeguarding client well-being. The upgrading could include consultation, clinical supervision, workshops, courses, a full training program, or a combination of activities.
What are the rules for advertising my area of practice? Can I call myself a specialist?
Standard 1.2 sets out the rules for use of terms, titles, and designations. Registrants can only use a specialty designation if they’ve earned it. ‘Earned’ means they received it from a recognized credentialing body. ‘Earned’ also means a registrant has to demonstrate knowledge or ability to use the credential, rather than simply attending a course or receiving an honour.
Standard 6.2 outlines the requirements for advertising. Registrants may advertise an area of practice only if they have proof of verifiable training in that area. Registrants must not exaggerate the conditions they can treat or the modalities they are competent to use.