Reference · Statutes verified as at 5 October 2026
Counselling regulation in Canada, province by province
Whether you may call yourself a therapist and whether you may do the work are two different questions, governed by two different statutes. In three provinces the answers point opposite ways.
Counselling is regulated in five provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. It is not regulated in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador or the territories, although Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan restrict some clinical acts, and BC will reserve the title “psychotherapist” for licensees from 29 November 2027.
All 13 provinces and territories, checked against the legislation itself rather than against other people’s summaries. Statute citations, section numbers and in-force dates for each. This is a reference, not legal advice.
Title and activity are separate questions
Summaries of Canadian counselling regulation can stop at one question — is the profession regulated here? That question is not precise enough to act on, because two different things can be restricted and they are restricted by different laws.
- Title protection governs what you may call yourself. In Ontario, only a CRPO registrant may use “Registered Psychotherapist”.
- Activity restriction governs what you may do, whatever you call yourself. Alberta protects no counselling title at all, yet restricts performing a psychosocial intervention aimed at a seriously impairing mental disorder.
Across Canada, 5 jurisdictions protect a counselling title (plus 1 partially), while 5 restrict the activity (plus 1 partially). Those are not the same 5 and 5.
The three cells where people get caught
Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan protect no counselling title — nobody owns the words counsellor or therapist there — but each restricts specific conduct. A clinician who checks only whether the title is protected concludes the province is wide open, and is wrong.
The reverse also happens. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick protect the title but their statutes carry an express saving permitting anyone to do the work, provided they avoid the reserved designations. Reading “regulated province” as “closed market” is wrong in the other direction.
Is “therapist” a protected title in Canada?
Usually not on its own. The protected titles are specific: Ontario reserves “psychotherapist”, “registered psychotherapist” and “registered mental health therapist”; Quebec reserves “psychotherapist” (psychothérapeute); Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI reserve versions of “counselling therapist”; and Nunavut reserves “psychotherapist” for licensed psychologists. Alberta protects no counselling title, and in BC “psychotherapist” becomes protected on 29 November 2027.
All 13 jurisdictions
Select a jurisdiction for the statute, the operative provision, in-force dates and sources.
| Jurisdiction | Title protected | Activity restricted | Status | Check a registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Yes | Yes | Regulated | CRPO |
| Quebec | Yes | Yes | Regulated | OPQ |
| Nova Scotia | Yes | No | Regulated | NSCCT |
| New Brunswick | Yes | No | Regulated | CCTNB |
| Prince Edward Island | Yes | Yes | Regulated | CCTPEI |
| Alberta | No | Yes | Not regulated | CCPA (association) |
| British Columbia | No | No | Not regulated | BCACC (association) |
| Saskatchewan | No | Partial | Not regulated | CCPA (association) |
| Manitoba | No | Yes | Not regulated | CCPA (association) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No | No | Not regulated | CCPA (association) |
| Yukon | No | No | Not regulated | CCPA (association) |
| Northwest Territories | No | No | Not regulated | CCPA (association) |
| Nunavut | Partial | No | Not regulated | CCPA (association) |
“Activity restricted” means an in-force statutory prohibition on performing psychotherapy, or a psychosocial intervention aimed at a serious mental disorder. “Partial” means a prohibition exists but reaches something materially narrower — in Saskatchewan, for instance, only the communication of a diagnosis.
“Check a registration” links to the regulator’s public register where counselling or psychotherapy is regulated. Where it is not, the link goes to a voluntary professional association (BCACC in British Columbia, CCPA elsewhere). An association is not a regulator, and nobody is required to appear on its list.
Jurisdiction by jurisdiction
Ontario
Title: Yes Activity: Yes Regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. Do not call yourself a registered psychotherapist or registered mental health therapist in Ontario unless you are CRPO-registered, and do not call yourself a psychotherapist unless you are CRPO-registered or an authorized member of one of the five other colleges that share the controlled act and you meet the identification conditions (RHPA s.33.1; for social workers, Social Work and Social Service Work Act s.47.2). Separately, do not treat a SERIOUS mental disorder by psychotherapy technique unless you belong to one of the six authorized colleges — but ordinary counselling about emotional, social, educational or spiritual matters is expressly outside the controlled act (RHPA s.29(2)).
Check a registration. College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) public register — kept by the regulator.
More on the Ontario title: Registered Psychotherapist vs RP (Qualifying) in Ontario.
Looking for a counsellor in Ontario rather than the statute? Online therapy in Ontario.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. regulated
Regulator. College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Statutory legal name: "College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario" (Psychotherapy Act, 2007, ss.1, 5). The controlled act of psychotherapy is shared among SIX bodies: CRPO, College of Nurses of Ontario, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) — five RHPA colleges — plus the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), which is NOT an RHPA college and derives its authority from RHPA s.27(4).
Protected titles. RESERVED: "psychotherapist", "registered psychotherapist", "registered mental health therapist" — and any variation, abbreviation or equivalent in another language (Psychotherapy Act, 2007, s.8(1)). s.8(2) separately bars holding oneself out as qualified to practise as such. Offence s.10: up to $25,000 first offence, $50,000 subsequent. CARVE-OUT: an OCSWSSW registrant authorized to perform the controlled act may use the title "psychotherapist" subject to co-identification conditions (Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, s.47.2). RHPA s.33.1(1), which applies despite Psychotherapy Act s.8, gives the same permission to members of the College of Nurses of Ontario, the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Psychologists of Ontario (as s.33.1(1) names it) who hold a certificate of registration authorizing them to perform the controlled act, subject to the oral and written identification conditions in s.33.1(2) to (4); in force 30 December 2017. NOT RESERVED as bare words: "counsellor", "therapist", "counselling therapist". CAUTION — do not read that as a blanket permission: s.8(1) reaches "a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language" of the three reserved titles, so constructions such as "registered mental health therapist" or near-variants of it are caught even though "therapist" alone is not.
Statute. Psychotherapy Act, 2007, S.O. 2007, c. 10, Sched. R (title protection + authorized act); Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 18 (controlled act + prohibition + exemptions); Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 31 (OCSWSSW basis — NOT an RHPA health profession Act).
Operative provision. RHPA s.27(1): "No person shall perform a controlled act set out in subsection (2) in the course of providing health care services to an individual unless, (a) the person is a member authorized by a health profession Act to perform the controlled act; or (b) the performance of the controlled act has been delegated to the person by a member described in clause (a)." RHPA s.27(2) para 14 (the controlled act): "Treating, by means of psychotherapy technique, delivered through a therapeutic relationship, an individual's serious disorder of thought, cognition, mood, emotional regulation, perception or memory that may seriously impair the individual's judgement, insight, behaviour, communication or social functioning." RHPA s.27(4): "Despite subsection (1), a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is authorized to perform the controlled act set out in paragraph 14 of subsection (2)..." Carve-out — RHPA s.29(2): "Subsection 27 (1) does not apply with respect to a communication made in the course of counselling about emotional, social, educational or spiritual matters as long as it is not a communication that a health profession Act authorizes members to make." Title: Psychotherapy Act s.8(1). Authorizing provisions: Psychotherapy Act s.4; Nursing Act, 1991 s.4 para 4; Medicine Act, 1991 s.4 para 13; Occupational Therapy Act, 1991 s.3.1(1); Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act, 2021 s.4 para 2.
In force. Psychotherapy Act, 2007 proclaimed 1 April 2015 (title protection). Controlled act (RHPA s.27(2) para 14) proclaimed 30 December 2017, transition ended 31 December 2019. Fully in force. e-Laws currency date 30 September 2026; last amendment 2021, c. 25, Sched. 25, s. 29 (repealed s.9). None of the seven Ontario statutes cited here has a consolidation period starting after 1 January 2026. Verified as at 5 October 2026.
Quebec
Title: Yes Activity: Yes Regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. In Quebec, unless you are a physician, a psychologist, or (since 2 April 2026) a thérapeute conjugal et familial, you must belong to one of the listed professional orders AND hold a psychotherapist permit from the Ordre des psychologues du Québec before you may practise psychotherapy, use the title, or even advertise in a way that suggests you are entitled to. Fines run $2,500–$62,500. There is NO working interprovincial recognition route yet — the new art. 187.3.1.1 is only a power to make one, and no such regulation has been found.
Check a registration. Ordre des psychologues du Québec (OPQ) directory of members and psychotherapist permit holders — kept by the regulator.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. regulated
Regulator. Office des professions du Québec makes the regulations. The permis de psychothérapeute is issued and administered by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec (OPQ) (art. 187.3). Penal prosecution for illegal practice is brought by the OPQ and — since 2 April 2026 — may also be brought by the Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec (OTSTCFQ) where the activity is carried out with a couple or a family (art. 187.4.3 as replaced by Loi 8, art. 30).
Protected titles. "psychothérapeute" and any title or abbreviation that could lead someone to believe the person is one (art. 187.1). Loi 8 BROADENED art. 187.1 beyond practice and title use to also cover "prétendre avoir le droit de le faire ou agir de manière à donner lieu de croire qu'il est autorisé à le faire" — i.e. claiming the right to practise psychotherapy or acting so as to give reason to believe one is authorized. This reaches advertising into Quebec from outside. Members of the listed ordres (conseillers d'orientation, criminologues, ergothérapeutes, infirmières, psychoéducateurs, sexologues, travailleurs sociaux) still need the permit; physicians, psychologists and — new since 2 April 2026 — thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux (T.C.F.) do not.
Statute. Code des professions, RLRQ c. C-26, Chapitre VI.1 ("Permis de psychothérapeute"), arts. 187.1 to 187.4.3 as amended — arts. 187.5 to 187.5.6 REPEALED by Loi 8, art. 31; new arts. 187.3.1.1, 187.3.1.2 and 187.3.3 added by Loi 8, arts. 28 and 29. Amending statute: Loi modifiant le Code des professions et d'autres dispositions..., Projet de loi n° 15, S.Q. 2026, c. 8 ("Loi 8").
Operative provision. Code des professions art. 187.1, para 1, as amended by Loi 8, art. 25 (LégisQuébec consolidation "À jour au 12 août 2026"): "À l'exception du médecin, du psychologue et du thérapeute conjugal et familial, nul ne peut exercer la psychothérapie, prétendre avoir le droit de le faire ou agir de manière à donner lieu de croire qu'il est autorisé à le faire, ni utiliser le titre de psychothérapeute ni un titre ou une abréviation pouvant laisser croire qu'il l'est, s'il n'est membre de [six listed ordres] ou s'il n'est travailleur social et s'il n'est titulaire du permis de psychothérapeute." Before Loi 8 the exception covered only the médecin and the psychologue, and the "prétendre avoir le droit de le faire" limb did not exist. A new second paragraph lets a person practise and use the title if they hold a permit issued under a regulation made under art. 187.3.1.1. Loi 8, art. 28 enacts art. 187.3.1.1: "L'Office peut, par règlement, déterminer les autorisations légales d'exercer la psychothérapie délivrées dans une autre province ou un territoire du Canada qui donnent ouverture à un permis de psychothérapeute..." — an enabling power only. Loi 8, art. 29 enacts art. 187.3.3, empowering the Office to determine by regulation which permit-holder activities may be performed by non-permit-holders (relevant to interns and supervised practice). Loi 8, art. 30 replaces art. 187.4.3 (OPQ prosecution; OTSTCFQ concurrent where the activity is with a couple or family). Penalty art. 188: $2,500 to $62,500 for a natural person, doubled on repeat. Art. 187.1, third paragraph (the second before Loi 8), defines psychotherapy and expressly excludes help with everyday difficulties and mere advice or support.
In force. Bill 15 presented 12 December 2025; adopted and sanctioned 2 April 2026 as S.Q. 2026, c. 8. Loi 8, s.120 sets 2 April 2026 as the commencement date subject to seven listed exceptions; arts. 25–31 (all psychotherapy provisions) are NOT among the exceptions, so they are in force since 2 April 2026. Transitional art. 107 limits the psychotherapy practice right of a T.C.F. who on 1 April 2026 "n'était ni titulaire d'un permis de psychothérapeute, médecin ou psychologue, ni détenteur du diplôme visé" until they satisfy OTSTCFQ. CURRENCY NOTE: on 15 August 2026 the LégisQuébec consolidation of C-26 was stamped "À jour au 1er avril 2026" — the day BEFORE sanction — and still displayed the pre-Loi 8 text. Re-checked 5 October 2026: it is now stamped "À jour au 12 août 2026" and shows arts. 187.1 to 187.4.3 as amended by Loi 8. No regulation under art. 187.3.1.1 has been found.
Nova Scotia
Title: Yes Activity: No Regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. Only NSCCT licensees may call themselves a Counselling Therapist, Registered Counselling Therapist, RCT or Candidate in Nova Scotia. But s.66 expressly permits anyone else to actually practise counselling therapy, so long as they avoid those designations — the work is open, the label is not. Avoid advertising your service as "counselling therapy" while unlicensed: it forfeits the s.66 safe harbour even though it is not itself an offence. If prosecuted over a designation, the burden of proving you were entitled to use it falls on you (s.29(5)).
Check a registration. Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT) official registry — kept by the regulator.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. regulated
Regulator. Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT).
Protected titles. RESERVED: "Counselling Therapist", "Registered Counselling Therapist", "RCT", and any derivation or abbreviation (s.23(1)); "Counselling Therapist Candidate" and "Registered Counselling Therapist Candidate" (s.23(2)). NOT RESERVED as bare words: "psychotherapist", "counsellor", "therapist". ADVERTISING NOTE: s.66 is a SAVING provision, not a prohibition. Describing your work as "counselling therapy" in advertising while unlicensed takes you outside the express s.66 safe harbour and is evidentially risky, but no NS provision makes that description an offence in itself — the only title offence is s.23 read with s.29. s.29(5) reverses the onus: "In a prosecution of an offence contrary to this Act or the regulations, the onus to prove that a person accused of an offence has the right to use a designation protected by this Act is on the person accused."
Statute. Counselling Therapists Act, S.N.S. 2008, c. 37 ("CHAPTER 37 OF THE ACTS OF 2008").
Operative provision. s.23(1): "No person shall take or use the designation 'Counselling Therapist', 'Registered Counselling Therapist' or 'RCT', or any derivation or abbreviation thereof, in the Province, either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions to imply that the person is entitled to use the designation unless such person (a) holds a licence with or without restrictions; (b) is a holder of a temporary licence...; or (c) is otherwise authorized..." On activity — s.66: "Nothing in this Act prohibits the carrying out of the practice of counselling therapy by any person who does not take or use the designation 'Counselling Therapist', 'Registered Counselling Therapist', 'Registered Counselling Therapist Candidate' or 'RCT', or any derivation or abbreviation thereof, or describes the person's activities as 'counselling therapy' in any advertisement or publication, including business cards, websites or signage." Offence and penalty s.29(1): fine not more than $2,000 or up to six months' imprisonment, or both; s.29(6) makes each day a separate offence.
In force. s.67: comes into force on proclamation. Proclaimed and in force 11 October 2011. STILL IN FORCE as at 5 October 2026. CURRENCY NOTE: the Regulated Health Professions Act, S.N.S. 2023, c. 15 (as amended 2026, c. 4, ss. 12–15) contains s.180, "Chapter 37 of the Acts of 2008, the Counselling Therapists Act, is repealed" — but the official Nova Scotia consolidation dated 30 June 2026 lists s.180 among sections NOT PROCLAIMED. The repeal has NOT taken effect. Re-checked 5 October 2026: the Legislature's consolidated statutes list (consolidated to 30 September 2026) still marks the Counselling Therapists Act "repealed; repeal not proclaimed in force", and the Executive Council's Orders in Council register shows no proclamation under the Regulated Health Professions Act after 23 June 2026. Royal Assent and a repeal schedule are worthless without proclamation; only the proclamation table settles it. The NS RHPA contains no reserved/restricted-activity scheme and does not mention psychotherapy. Further NS RHPA sections came into force by proclamation in February, May and June 2026, so this position can change with a further proclamation.
New Brunswick
Title: Yes Activity: No Regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. New Brunswick reserves the LCT/LCC/RCT/RCC family of titles — and anything else implying you are entitled to practise as a licensed counselling therapist — for CCTNB registrants only. But s.31(2)(f) expressly allows anyone to practise counselling therapy provided they do not use those titles or hold themselves out as registered. Because the title list is open-ended, do not try to engineer a lookalike title.
Check a registration. College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick (CCTNB) licensed members directory — kept by the regulator.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. regulated
Regulator. College of Licensed Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick / Collège des conseillers et conseillères thérapeutes agréés du Nouveau-Brunswick, established by s.3 as an amalgamation of three predecessor associations. Brands publicly as CCTNB.
Protected titles. s.13(2) lists a CORE SET and then adds an OPEN-ENDED CATCH-ALL — it is not exhaustive. Core set: "licensed counselling therapist", "licensed career counsellor", "registered counselling therapist", "registered career counsellor"; initials "LCT", "LCC", "RCT", "RCC"; abbreviations "Lic. C.T.", "Lic. C.C.", "Reg. C.T.", "Reg. C.C."; French equivalents separately listed. The tail reads "...or other titles, names, descriptions, initials or designations, either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions that imply they are entitled to practise as a licensed counselling therapist." NOT RESERVED as bare words: "psychotherapist", "counsellor", "therapist" — but do not invent a near-miss title, because the catch-all and s.24(1)(b) will reach it.
Statute. Licensed Counselling Therapy Act, S.N.B. 2017, c. 35 (Bill 64), assented 5 May 2017.
Operative provision. s.13(2): "Persons whose names are not entered in the register or temporary register shall not practise as licensed counselling therapists or hold themselves out as a licensed counselling therapist in the Province, or take or use the designations [list]... or other titles, names, descriptions, initials or designations... that imply they are entitled to practise as a licensed counselling therapist." s.24(1) creates the offence: only a registered person may "(a) publicly or privately, whether or not for hire, gain or hope of reward hold himself or herself out in any way as being a licensed counselling therapist...; or (b) assume or use any title, name, designation, initials or description, including those referred to in this Act, that could lead the public to believe that person is a member of the College or a licensed counselling therapist." On activity — s.31(2)(f): nothing in the Act prohibits "the practice of counselling therapy by any person if that person does not represent or hold out to the public that the person is registered or licensed under this Act or a member of the College and provided such person does not assume or use the titles, names, designations, initials or descriptions referred to in this Act". Further exemptions s.31(2)(a)–(e),(g); s.31(1) for urgent need. Penalty s.27(1): first offence $240–$5,200.
In force. s.60: "This Act comes into force on June 1, 2017." In force since 1 June 2017; unrepealed as at 5 October 2026. It is a private Act, so it does not appear in the Province's consolidated statutes; no amending or repealing bill appears in the 2nd Session of the 61st Legislature (2025–).
Prince Edward Island
Title: Yes Activity: Yes Regulated Confidence: medium
In plain terms. PEI is a two-lock jurisdiction. Lock one: only CCTPEI members may use "counselling therapist" or "CT", and nobody outside a PEI college may put "registered", "licensed" or "certified" in front of a professional title. Lock two: PEI has separately designated psychosocial intervention aimed at a substantial, grossly impairing mental disorder as a RESERVED ACTIVITY, which no unregistered person may perform in the course of providing health care — and unlike Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, PEI provides NO express exemption for ordinary counselling. Treat unregistered clinicians as NOT authorised in PEI for that activity. Relabelling yourself does not help; general low-acuity counselling under a non-reserved title remains open.
Check a registration. College of Counselling Therapy of Prince Edward Island (CCTPEI) list of registered members — kept by the regulator.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. regulated
Regulator. College of Counselling Therapy of Prince Edward Island (CCTPEI), established by s.3 of the Counselling Therapists Regulations.
Protected titles. RESERVED: "counselling therapist" and "CT" (Counselling Therapists Regulations s.2(3), prescribed for RHPA s.89(1)). RHPA s.89(1) additionally bars "any other title, name, description, abbreviation or derivative in any language implying that a person is a member of a regulated health profession". RHPA s.89(1.1) separately bars any non-member using "regulated", "registered", "certified" or "licensed" as part of a professional title. CONSEQUENCE: "counsellor" and "therapist" alone are not reserved, BUT "Registered Counsellor" or "Licensed Therapist" would breach s.89(1.1) in PEI.
Statute. Regulated Health Professions Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. R-10.1 (amended through 2026, c. 23); Counselling Therapists Regulations, PEI Reg. EC578/21 (as amended, incl. EC951/23 and EC752/24); Reserved Activities Regulations (as amended, incl. EC756/24).
Operative provision. Two separate prohibitions. (1) Profession-level: RHPA s.2(3) "no person shall practise the regulated health profession except as a member of the college" is switched off for counselling therapy by RHPA s.2(4) ("Title protection only") plus Counselling Therapists Regulations s.2(2), "Counselling therapy is prescribed for the purpose of subsection 2(4) of the Act." (2) Reserved-activity: that switch does not reach Part XII. RHPA s.86(1)(n) is a catch-all — "a reserved activity designated in the regulations" — and Reserved Activities Regulations s.2(f) designates "performing a psychosocial intervention with an expectation of modifying a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behaviour, the capacity to recognize reality or the ability to meet the ordinary demands of life." RHPA s.86(2): "No person shall perform a reserved activity in the course of providing health care services to an individual unless (a) the person is a member of a regulated health profession, and is authorized by regulation to perform the reserved activity; (b) repealed by 2015,c.13,s.16; or (c) the person is authorized to perform the reserved activity by another Act." Counselling therapists are authorized: Counselling Therapists Regulations s.14.1 (EC752/24), "A counselling therapist may perform the reserved activity of performing a psychosocial intervention with an expectation of modifying a substantial disorder...". An express authorising provision would be pointless if the activity were unrestricted. Note: the s.86(3)–(4) exemptions cover only regulation-made exemptions, first aid, supervised students, prayer/spiritual treatment, Aboriginal healing, household members and routine acts of living — PEI has no ordinary-counselling carve-out equivalent to Ontario RHPA s.29(2), Manitoba s.5(3)(e) or Alberta s.1.3(2)(b).
In force. Counselling Therapists Regulations EC578/21 effective 1 August 2021; CCTPEI has received complaints about persons practising as Counselling Therapists on or after that date. RHPA consolidation read is current to 29 May 2026 (reflects 2026, c. 23 amendments to ss.2, 3 and 86). CURRENCY: both regulation consolidations (Counselling Therapists Regulations and Reserved Activities Regulations) are still stated "current to August 10, 2024". Re-checked 5 October 2026: the Legislative Counsel Office's Table of Regulations (updated 30 June 2026) lists no 2025 or 2026 amendment to either regulation, so the text relied on here is current to at least 30 June 2026. Confidence stays medium until the office consolidations themselves are brought forward.
Alberta
Title: No Activity: Yes Not regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. Nobody in Alberta owns the words counsellor, therapist or psychotherapist — there is no college, no protected title and no restriction on what you advertise, and the 2018 law that would have created one was repealed in 2024 without ever being proclaimed. What Alberta DOES restrict is conduct: you must not PERFORM a psychosocial intervention with an expectation of treating a severe, grossly impairing mental disorder unless you are an authorized regulated member. Ordinary supportive counselling, personal development and emotional support for individuals, couples, families and groups are expressly carved out (s.1.3(2)(b)). Note the reverse onus: if charged, you must prove you were authorized.
Check a registration. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Canadian Certified Counsellor directory — kept by a voluntary professional association, not a regulator.
Looking for a counsellor in Alberta rather than the statute? Online counselling in Alberta.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. not regulated as to title or profession — but the ACTIVITY of treating serious mental disorder is a restricted activity and has been in force for roughly two decades
Regulator. None for counselling or psychotherapy. No college registers counselling therapists or psychotherapists. Restricted-activity authorisations are administered by the existing Health Professions Act colleges (College of Alberta Psychologists, CPSA, CRNA, ACSW and others). CAP agreed on 1 March 2024 only to explore a possible future pathway and has no current jurisdiction; its own FAQ of 15 March 2024 says "Currently, nothing has changed".
Protected titles. NONE relating to counselling or psychotherapy. A full-text search of the King's Printer consolidation of the Health Professions Act (current to 31 July 2026) returns ZERO occurrences of "counselling therapist", "counselling therapy", "psychotherapist", "psychotherapy" or "counsellor", while "psychologist" and "social worker" each appear dozens of times. Anyone in Alberta may lawfully call themselves counsellor, therapist, psychotherapist or counselling therapist. "Psychologist" and "social worker" ARE protected under their own HPA schedules — do not conflate.
Statute. ACTIVITY (live): Health Professions Act, RSA 2000, c H-7, Part 0.1 (Health Services Restricted Activities), enacted by SA 2020 c 35 s.72, as amended by SA 2026 c 9 s.6 (Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 — which added only s.1.3(3) on preventative-health-testing self-referrals and did not touch s.1.3(1)(q) or (2)(b)); Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation, Alta Reg 22/2023 (amendments to Alta Reg 189/2026). TITLE (legally dead): Mental Health Services Protection Act, SA 2018, c M-13.2 — s.29 REPEALED by Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, SA 2024 c 7, s.8(2).
Operative provision. HPA s.1.3(1)(q) — restricted activity: "to perform a psychosocial intervention with an expectation of treating a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly impairs (i) judgment, (ii) behaviour, (iii) capacity to recognize reality, or (iv) ability to meet the ordinary demands of life". Carve-out s.1.3(2)(b): "Despite subsection (1), the following are not restricted activities: ... (b) giving information and providing advice with the intent of enhancing personal development, providing emotional support or promoting spiritual growth of individuals, couples, families and groups". Prohibition s.1.6(1): "No person shall perform a restricted activity or a portion of it on or for another person unless (a) the person performing it (i) is a regulated member and is authorized to perform it by the regulations...". Penalty s.1.7(1): up to $5,000 (1st), $10,000 (2nd), $25,000 or 6 months (3rd+). Reverse onus s.1.8: "In a prosecution under this Part, the burden of proving that a person was authorized to perform a restricted activity by section 1.6(1) is on the accused." On title: MHSPA s.30(3) "Section 29 comes into force on Proclamation" — never proclaimed — and SA 2024 c 7 s.8(2) "Section 29 is repealed".
In force. ACTIVITY: IN FORCE. Alta Reg 22/2023 s.70, "This Regulation comes into force on March 31, 2023"; regulation live and actively amended to Alta Reg 189/2026, current to 31 July 2026. The materially identical restriction previously sat in Government Organization Act, RSA 2000 c G-10, Schedule 7.1 (repealed SA 2020 c 35 s.121), so this has bound Alberta practice for roughly two decades — it is NOT a recent change. TITLE: NOT IN FORCE AND LEGALLY DEAD. MHSPA s.29 was never proclaimed and was repealed effective 16 May 2024. Alberta is not a case of "legislation passed but not in force" — the statutory vehicle has been deleted. Nothing is pending: the HPA's own "Amendments Not in Force" page lists only 2025 cR-13.3 s18, 2020 c35 (various), 2025 cP-25.5 s242 and 2025 c10 s27 — none touching counselling. Alberta Bill 29 (2026) contains ZERO occurrences of "counselling therap" and creates no College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta. Authorised professions under Alta Reg 22/2023: psychologists, physicians/surgeons/osteopaths, registered nurses, psychiatric nurses, LPNs (under direction, s.22), occupational therapists and social workers (ss.65–66). Counselling therapists appear nowhere, so an unregulated counsellor or a CCC has no route to authorisation. Re-checked 5 October 2026: both King's Printer consolidations are still current as of 31 July 2026, the Amendments Not in Force list is unchanged, and no counselling legislation has been introduced.
British Columbia
Title: No Activity: No Not regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. As of today counselling and psychotherapy are completely unregulated in British Columbia — no licence, no protected title, no restricted activity — so you may practise and advertise freely, including as a psychotherapist. Two dated watch items for 29 November 2027: "psychotherapist" becomes a title only CHCPBC licensees may use, and an incorporated practice will need a health profession corporation permit to provide psychotherapy services through licensees. "Counsellor" is not caught by the deposited text either now or in 2027. Whether the ACTIVITY will also be restricted from 2027 is still open: the Ministry of Health consulted in July and August 2026 on a new restricted activity for the highest-risk psychotherapeutic interventions, but no regulation has been made, so do not plan on either answer.
Check a registration. BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) RCC register — kept by a voluntary professional association, not a regulator.
Looking for a counsellor in British Columbia rather than the statute? Online counselling in British Columbia.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. not regulated today — legislation in force and regulation deposited, but the psychotherapy provisions have a deferred commencement of 29 November 2027
Regulator. None today for counselling or psychotherapy. From 29 November 2027 the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC) will regulate psychotherapists. CHCPBC already regulates psychologists (Part 9, in force 1 April 2026). Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) via BCACC remains a VOLUNTARY, non-statutory credential.
Protected titles. NONE for counselling or psychotherapy as at 5 October 2026. From 29 November 2027 "psychotherapist" becomes an exclusive title. A full-text search of B.C. Reg. 131/2025 returns ZERO occurrences of "counsell*" — so "counsellor" is not protected now and is NOT made protected by the deferred Part 10 as currently deposited. "Psychologist" IS protected under Part 9 since 1 April 2026. The Ministry of Health's Regulation of Psychotherapy Q&A (last updated 27 August 2026) confirms that practitioners not licensed as psychotherapists "may continue to use unprotected titles such as 'Counsellor' or 'Counselling Therapist'".
Statute. Health Professions and Occupations Act, S.B.C. 2022, c. 43 (HPOA), brought into force effective 1 April 2026 by B.C. Reg. 126/2025 (OIC 373/2025, deposited 16 July 2025), as amended by B.C. Reg. 19/2026; HPOA s.546 repealed the former Health Professions Act, RSBC 1996 c 183. Health and Care Professionals Regulation, B.C. Reg. 131/2025 (M219/2025, deposited 16 July 2025), Part 10 (Practice of Psychotherapy).
Operative provision. B.C. Reg. 131/2025 commencement header: "Deposited July 16, 2025 effective April 1, 2026 except section 1 (part), sections 2 (i) and 4 (c) and Part 10 effective November 29, 2027". Part 10 as deposited contains only two sections: s.57 (Exclusive titles) "Except as permitted under the Act, only a psychotherapist may use the title 'psychotherapist'", and s.58 (scope of practice — assessing mental health status; "using psychosocial interventions, with a focus on communication-based therapies"; advising on mental health). Structural point: unlike Parts 2–9 and 11, Part 10 has no Restricted Activities division. Under HPOA s.29 an activity is prohibited only if it is a prescribed "restricted activity" or an "aspect of practice ... identified for the purposes of this section in a regulation of the minister" — neither has been made for psychotherapy. So on the deposited text the 2027 change is title protection only. Pending proposal: from 7 July to 5 August 2026 the Ministry of Health consulted on a net-new restricted activity for "the highest-risk psychotherapeutic care interventions used in the treatment of persons experiencing significant mental health disorders or conditions and associated impairment", to be added to the Regulated Health Practitioners Regulation. Its Q&A says the proposal is not intended to limit other clinicians who use counselling modalities, but that it "could also result in some individuals having to stop providing psychotherapeutic care interventions defined under the restricted activity". No such restricted activity has been made: the Regulated Health Practitioners Regulation (B.C. Reg. 129/2025, current to 29 September 2026) contains none for psychotherapy. Separate corporate obligation — s.4(c), also effective 29 November 2027: a corporation without a health profession corporation permit must not carry on the business of providing health services to the public where those services are provided by licensees practising psychotherapy. This is distinct from the individual title rule.
In force. HPOA in force since 1 April 2026 (BC Laws text current to 22 September 2026). PSYCHOTHERAPY PROVISIONS NOT IN FORCE — Part 10, the s.1 definitions of "psychotherapist"/"psychotherapy", and ss.2(i) and 4(c) are deferred to 29 November 2027. NET STATUS AT 5 OCTOBER 2026: counselling and psychotherapy are entirely UNREGULATED in BC — no protected title, no restricted activity, no mandatory registration. The Ministry of Health's July 2026 consultation document states "The provision of psychotherapeutic care interventions is not currently a restricted activity in British Columbia (BC)." CURRENCY CAVEAT: the B.C. Reg. 131/2025 consolidation is current to 29 September 2026 (last amended by B.C. Reg. 41/2026, including amendments by B.C. Reg. 44/2026) — Part 10 is deposited but not in force and its text can still be amended before November 2027, so re-verify before that date. NOTE: CHCPBC now ties licensure to practising and using the title — individuals "who wish to practise psychotherapy and call themselves a psychotherapist must be licensed by CHCPBC beginning on November 29, 2027" — while the Ministry's Q&A says that from that date "in order to practice as a psychotherapist, a person will need to be licensed by CHCPBC". On the deposited text the only individual prohibition from 2027 is the title, unless the proposed restricted activity is made; BCCSW has separately stated that designating psychotherapy "does not prohibit registered social workers (RSWs) or registered clinical social workers (RCSWs) from providing psychotherapy services".
Saskatchewan
Title: No Activity: Partial Not regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. Counselling and psychotherapy are unregulated in Saskatchewan — no college, no licence, and no protected counselling title, so you may practise and advertise as a counsellor or psychotherapist. The one real limit is DIAGNOSIS, not therapy: two separate statutes make it an offence for anyone not authorised to communicate a diagnosis identifying a neuropsychological disorder or a psychologically-based psychotic, neurotic or personality disorder as the cause of a client's symptoms. So in Saskatchewan you may do the therapy but must not tell the client they have the disorder. Do not use the titles "psychologist", "doctoral psychologist", or "social worker" in practice unless registered in Saskatchewan.
Check a registration. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Canadian Certified Counsellor directory — kept by a voluntary professional association, not a regulator.
Looking for a counsellor in Saskatchewan rather than the statute? Online counselling in Saskatchewan.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. not regulated
Regulator. None for counselling therapy or psychotherapy — no college exists. The Federation of Associations for Counselling Therapists in Saskatchewan (FACT-SK, an alliance of nine associations) has an application with the Ministry of Health seeking a College of Counselling Therapists–Psychotherapists; no announced timeline and nothing enacted. Adjacent regulators: Saskatchewan College of Psychologists; Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers.
Protected titles. No counselling or psychotherapy title is protected — anyone in Saskatchewan may lawfully call themselves a counsellor, counselling therapist or psychotherapist. Adjacent title protections: Psychologists Act, 1997 s.24(1) "Subject to subsection (3), no person other than a member shall use the title 'psychologist' or any word, title or designation, abbreviated or otherwise, to imply that the person is a member"; s.24(2) reserves "doctoral psychologist" to doctoral-qualified licensees; s.24(3) narrowly permits university/polytechnic employees to use "psychologist" provided they are not providing or directing counselling, clinical psychology or psychological assessment. Social Workers Act s.24(1): "No person other than a member shall engage in the practice of social work by using the title 'social worker'" — note this is narrower than a bare title reservation; it bites where the title is used in practice.
Statute. No counselling or psychotherapy statute exists. Two adjacent statutes each impose an activity restriction: The Psychologists Act, 1997, S.S. 1997, c. P-36.01 (ss.1–53 effective 1 March 2002; consolidation incorporates amendments to 2024, c. 4), and The Social Workers Act, S.S. 1993, c. S-52.1 (effective 1 April 1995).
Operative provision. Verbatim from the King's Printer consolidation. Psychologists Act, 1997, s.23(1): "An authorized practice is the communication of a diagnosis identifying, as the cause of a person's symptoms, a neuropsychological disorder or a psychologically-based psychotic, neurotic or personality disorder." s.23(2): "No person shall perform an authorized practice described in subsection (1) in the course of providing services to an individual unless the person is a practising member authorized by council pursuant to his or her licence or the bylaws to perform that authorized practice." s.23(3): council may require examinations before authorizing. s.23(4): "This section does not apply to a duly qualified medical practitioner." A second, independent diagnosis restriction: Social Workers Act, s.24(2): "No person shall engage in the practice of diagnosis unless the person: (a) is a practising member who has been granted an endorsement by the council; or (b) is authorized pursuant to another Act to engage in the practice of diagnosis." "Practice of diagnosis" is defined identically at s.2(f.1) as "the communication of a diagnosis identifying, as the cause of a person's symptoms, a neuropsychological disorder or a psychologically-based psychotic, neurotic or personality disorder". Both provisions restrict communicating a diagnosis only. Neither restricts psychotherapy or counselling as such — which is why the activity restriction is classed as "partial", not "yes".
In force. No counselling or psychotherapy legislation has been introduced, passed or proclaimed as of 5 October 2026 (re-checked against the Progress of Bills for the 2nd Session of the 30th Legislature). Psychologists Act, 1997 diagnosis restriction in force since 1 March 2002 (title page: "sections 1 to 53 ... effective March 1, 2002"). Social Workers Act in force since 1 April 1995; s.24(2) and s.24.01 added by 2013, c.35, s.7. SOURCING CAVEATS: the Psychologists Act consolidation states "This consolidation is not official" and incorporates amendments to 2024, c. 4 — recent enough to rely on. The Social Workers Act copy read is the SASW-hosted King's Printer consolidation incorporating amendments only to 2018, c.42; the Act was further amended in 2023 (Miscellaneous Statutes (Health Professions) Amendment Act) but was NOT repealed or replaced, so the citation is current and s.24 is verified as at the 2018 consolidation only.
Manitoba
Title: No Activity: Yes Not regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. Nobody in Manitoba owns the words counsellor, therapist or psychotherapist — there is no college and no protected title, so you may advertise freely. But the ACT of doing psycho-social work aimed at modifying a serious, grossly impairing mental disorder is a reserved act that only an authorized regulated professional may perform. Ordinary counselling about emotional, social, educational or spiritual matters is expressly exempt (s.5(3)(e)), and that exemption is what keeps unregulated counselling lawful. The honest framing is "do not hold yourself out as, or set out to, treat grossly impairing mental disorders in Manitoba" — NOT "psychotherapy is illegal in Manitoba". The boundary between reserved act 20 and the s.5(3)(e) exemption has never been tested in a Manitoba court or prosecution.
Check a registration. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Canadian Certified Counsellor directory — kept by a voluntary professional association, not a regulator.
Looking for a counsellor in Manitoba rather than the statute? Online counselling in Manitoba.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. not regulated as to title — but the activity of treating a substantial mental disorder is a reserved act, in force since 1 January 2014
Regulator. None for counselling therapy or psychotherapy — no college. FACT-MB applied for self-regulation under the RHPA in 2021; the Health Professions Advisory Council ran a consultation with submissions due 31 January 2022 and no designation has been made. As of 5 October 2026 the HPAC page lists only the CAMRT-MB application and counselling therapy does not appear — but the page's most recent date is an April 30, 2025 deadline, so it may not be actively maintained; absence is not proof the file is closed. Reserved acts are administered by Manitoba Health and the colleges transitioned under the RHPA (audiologists/SLPs 2014, paramedics 1 June 2018, registered nurses 31 May 2018, physicians 1 January 2019, registered psychiatric nurses 1 June 2022).
Protected titles. None for counselling or psychotherapy — anyone in Manitoba may lawfully call themselves a counsellor, counselling therapist or psychotherapist. Adjacent: "psychologist" under The Psychologists Registration Act, C.C.S.M. c. P190, s.11(1) — NOTE: that Act is still in force (current to 2 October 2026, in effect since 1 April 2022) but carries an express pending-repeal notice, "To be repealed by SM 2009, c. 15, s. 261", not yet proclaimed, so this may change when psychology transitions under the RHPA. "Social worker" under The Social Work Profession Act, C.C.S.M. c. S169, s.3(2), which also reserves "registered social worker", "S.W." and "R.S.W.".
Statute. The Regulated Health Professions Act, C.C.S.M. c. R117 (enacted S.M. 2009, c. 15). Consolidation current to 2 October 2026, in effect since 1 June 2026. The 2026 amendments listed as not yet proclaimed (S.M. 2026, c. 19, s. 12 and c. 42, Part 2) concern nurses' overtime and the amalgamation of colleges; neither touches reserved act 20 or s.5(3).
Operative provision. s.4, reserved act item 20: "Performing a psycho-social intervention with an expectation of modifying a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behaviour, the capacity to recognize reality, or the ability to meet the ordinary demands of life." s.5(1): "No person shall perform a reserved act in the course of providing health care unless (a) the person is a member of a regulated health profession, and is authorized by regulation to perform the reserved act; (b) the performance of the reserved act has been delegated to the person by a member described in clause (a) in accordance with section 6; (c) the person performing it (i) has the consent of, and is being supervised by, a member described in clause (a)... and (ii) is authorized to perform the reserved act by a regulation made by the member's college under this Act; (d) the person is authorized to perform it by or under another enactment; or (e) the person is authorized to perform it by an order under section 7." Carve-outs — s.5(3): "(d) treating a person by prayer or spiritual means through the provision of pastoral or spiritual care, including in an interfaith context; (e) counselling a person about emotional, social, educational or spiritual matters". s.5(3) also exempts exempted activities, emergency first aid, supervised training, traditional Aboriginal healing, treating household members, and assisting with activities of daily living. Note that s.5(1) bites only "in the course of providing health care".
In force. YES since 1 January 2014. Per the proclamation table appended to C.C.S.M. c. R117: "Parts 2-8 (as amended); s. 135-139, 141-144, 163; Part 12; s. 167-170, 175-178, 221(1), 221(4)-(11), 222(1), 222(4)-(8), 224-225(1)-(2), 230; s. 234; s. 261; Schedule 1 — in force: January 1, 2014." Sections 4 and 5 sit in Part 2 (RESERVED ACTS). 1 June 2011 is the Part 1 / Part 10 date, not the date for ss.4–5. ss. 188-214 and 215-218 and various Part 17 provisions remain unproclaimed. No counselling-therapy designation has been made and none is pending that could be found.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Title: No Activity: No Not regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. Counselling and psychotherapy are unregulated in Newfoundland and Labrador: no title protection, no restricted activity, so you may practise and advertise as a counsellor, therapist or psychotherapist. One real caution, and it is about wording rather than work: because s.2(f)(i) defines "social work" to include providing direct counselling and therapy, s.21(3)(a) bars an unregistered person from acting in any manner that might lead a client to believe they are entitled to practise social work. Keep social-work language out of your NL-facing marketing and intake material. Note separately that this means an Ontario-only RSW may not use "social worker" language in NL.
Check a registration. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Canadian Certified Counsellor directory — kept by a voluntary professional association, not a regulator.
Looking for a counsellor in Newfoundland and Labrador rather than the statute? Online counselling in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. not regulated
Regulator. None for counselling therapy or psychotherapy. Counselling therapists are not a designated health profession under the Health Professions Act and are not among the seven colleges under the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals (acupuncturists; audiologists and speech-language pathologists — ONE combined college, not two; dental hygienists; medical laboratory technologists; medical radiation technologists; midwives; respiratory therapists). FACT-NL is pursuing a NL College of Counselling Therapists. Adjacent regulators: NL College of Social Workers; Newfoundland and Labrador Psychology Board.
Protected titles. No counselling or psychotherapy title is protected — anyone may call themselves a counsellor, therapist or psychotherapist. Protected elsewhere: "social worker", "registered social worker" and R.S.W. (Social Workers Act s.21(3)(b)); "psychologist" (Psychologists Act, 2005, s.31(2)).
Statute. No counselling or psychotherapy statute. Adjacent statutes verified: Social Workers Act, S.N.L. 2010, c. S-17.2 (assented 24 June 2010; amended 2012 c35 s17; 2013 c16 s25; 2014 c7 s18; 2014 c29; 2020 c14; 2022 c6; 2022 cP-30.1 s65); Psychologists Act, 2005, S.N.L. 2005, c. P-34.1.
Operative provision. The NL trap is a language trap, not an activity restriction. Social Workers Act s.2(f) defines "social work" to include, at (i), "provide direct counselling and therapy services to a client". But the operative prohibition is purely a holding-out prohibition — s.21(3): "A person other than a social worker who is registered under section 18 or 19 shall not (a) hold himself or herself out as being engaged in the practice of social work, or act in a manner that expressly or otherwise might lead to the belief that he or she is entitled to engage in the practice of social work; (b) use the titles 'social worker' or 'registered social worker' or an extension or abbreviation of those titles; or (c) use a name, title or designation or act in a manner that expressly or otherwise might lead to the belief that that person is a registered social worker and holder of a certificate of registration under this Act." s.21(4): contravention is an offence. There is no provision anywhere in the Act barring an unregistered person from performing counselling or therapy. Exemptions s.3: supervised students; the clergy. Parallel for psychology — Psychologists Act, 2005, s.31(2): "A person other than a registered psychologist who represents to the public, by a title or description of services, to be a psychologist or a person who practices psychology is guilty of an offence" (s.31(3) exempts students, interns and professors who clearly indicate that status).
In force. Social Workers Act s.46: "This Act shall come into force on March 31, 2011." In force since 31 March 2011 and current as at 5 October 2026 (no amendment after 2022 is listed). No counselling-therapy legislation has been introduced or passed; none is among the 21 bills of the 1st Session of the 51st General Assembly (2026).
Yukon
Title: No Activity: No Not regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. Anyone may practise counselling or psychotherapy in Yukon and may call themselves a counsellor, therapist or psychotherapist — there is no licence, no regulator and no restricted service. Yukon's Health Professions Act has BOTH a title switch and an activity switch, but neither has ever been pointed at counselling because counselling has never been designated. The only thing to avoid is any of the seven psychologist titles, or wording implying you are a Yukon registrant of a designated profession. The fact that O.I.C. 2025/10 mentions psychotherapy inside the psychologists' scope of practice does NOT make psychotherapy restricted.
Check a registration. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Canadian Certified Counsellor directory — kept by a voluntary professional association, not a regulator.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. not regulated
Regulator. None for counselling or psychotherapy. The Professional Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Branch, Yukon Department of Community Services, administers the Health Professions Act and licenses the professions designated under it (psychologists, physiotherapists, registered psychiatric nurses, pharmacists, midwives) plus those under separate profession-specific Acts. No counselling body exists. Social work is also unregulated in Yukon.
Protected titles. NONE for counselling. No protection for "counsellor", "counselling therapist", "psychotherapist" or "therapist". Since 23 JANUARY 2025 (O.I.C. 2025/10, Psychologists Regulation, s.3(1) — the regulation's own stated effective date; 1 February 2025 is when registration OPENED, not when the titles became restricted) the following SEVEN titles and abbreviations are reserved to registrants: psychologist; registered psychologist / R.Psych.; registered doctoral psychologist / R.D.Psych.; provisional psychologist; registered provisional psychologist; inactive psychologist; registered inactive psychologist.
Statute. Health Professions Act, S.Y. 2003, c. 24 (umbrella statute; professions are brought under it one at a time by regulation). Counselling and psychotherapy have never been designated under it. Psychologists Regulation, O.I.C. 2025/10.
Operative provision. Yukon's Act has both a title switch and an activity switch; neither has been applied to counselling. Activity: s.6(1) bites only "[i]f a regulation under section 3 prescribes a service that may only be performed by a registrant" (enabled by s.3(f), "services that may be performed only by registrants of the profession"). No such service has ever been prescribed for any relevant profession — the Psychologists Regulation contains no reserved-services provision, only Part 2 s.3 "Restricted titles and abbreviations" and s.4 "Scope of practice". Title: s.6(4) is separate and unconditional — "A person other than a registrant must not use a name, title, description, or abbreviation in any manner that expresses or implies that he or she is a registrant" — enabled by s.3(c), "one or more titles to be used only by registrants of the profession". s.6(5) additionally bars falsely representing that one employs or supplies the services of a registrant. Saving — s.7: "Despite section 6, nothing in this Act or the regulations prohibits a person from practising a profession, discipline, or other occupation in accordance with this or another Act." s.5: the Commissioner in Executive Council may designate a health profession. Note: O.I.C. 2025/10 defines the practice of psychology to include intervention "such as psychometric testing and psychotherapy". That is a scope-of-practice definition only. Because the regulation prescribes no exclusive service, HPA s.6(1) is never engaged and psychotherapy is not a restricted activity in Yukon.
In force. Health Professions Act in force since 2003 and current as at 5 October 2026; no health professions bill is among those introduced on the first day of the 2026 Fall Sitting (5 October 2026). Psychologists Regulation O.I.C. 2025/10 effective 23 January 2025; registration opened 1 February 2025. No counselling or psychotherapy regulation exists or is drafted. The Government of Yukon says it is planning to change the Health Professions Act so that all health professions are regulated together under a single umbrella act; its engagement page gives no date for new legislation. Yukon has also signalled an intention to regulate social work but must modernize the HPA first.
Northwest Territories
Title: No Activity: No Not regulated Confidence: high
In plain terms. Anyone may practise counselling or psychotherapy in the NWT with no licence, and may use the titles counsellor, therapist or psychotherapist — the word "psychotherapist" was freed when the old Psychologists Act was repealed on 15 August 2022. Do not use any psychologist title (Psychologist, Registered Psychologist, R.Psych., Provisional Psychologist) and do not call yourself a social worker unless licensed by the NWT Registrar. Critically, do NOT assume Nunavut works the same way — it does not.
Check a registration. Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Canadian Certified Counsellor directory — kept by a voluntary professional association, not a regulator.
Statute, provisions and sources
Status. not regulated
Regulator. None for counselling or psychotherapy. The Registrar of Health and Social Services Professions (NWT Department of Health and Social Services, Professional Licensing Office) administers the HSSPA for designated professions only; social workers are licensed by the same office under a separate Act.
Protected titles. NONE for counselling. "Counsellor", "counselling therapist" and "psychotherapist" are all unprotected. Titles a counsellor must avoid: "Psychologist", "Registered Psychologist", "R.Psych." and "Provisional Psychologist" (Psychology Profession Regulations, R-052-2022, s.16(1)–(2)); and "registered social worker", "licensed social worker" and plain "social worker" (Social Work Profession Act s.12). IMPORTANT ASYMMETRY WITH NUNAVUT: the old NWT Psychologists Act had reserved the word "psychotherapist", but that Act was repealed, so "psychotherapist" is now FREE in NWT — while it remains RESTRICTED in Nunavut. A zero-hit search for "psychotherap*" across the current NWT Psychology Profession Regulations confirms this.
Statute. Health and Social Services Professions Act, S.N.W.T. 2015, c. 4 (umbrella statute; amended SNWT 2015 c.27[F], 2016 c.9, 2017 c.9, 2018 c.15, 2023 c.7[E], 2023 c.25). Counselling and psychotherapy have not been designated under it. Related: Social Work Profession Act, S.N.W.T. 2010, c. 22 (amended SNWT 2023 c.7[E]; 2026 c.2); Psychology Profession Regulations, R-052-2022 (amended R-088-2025).
Operative provision. HSSPA s.5(1): "The Commissioner in Executive Council may, by order, designate professions to which this Act applies." s.7(1): "No person, other than a registered member of a designated profession, shall (a) hold himself or herself out as, or imply or represent that he or she is a registered member of that profession; (b) use a sign, symbol or title reserved in the regulations for members of the designated profession..." s.7(2): "If a regulation prescribes a service that may be provided exclusively by a registered member of a designated profession, no person, other than a registered member of that profession, shall provide that service." Because counselling/psychotherapy is not a designated profession, neither s.7(1) nor s.7(2) reaches it. s.74: "The Psychologists Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. P-11, is repealed" — that is the Act that had reserved "psychotherapist". Social Work Profession Act s.12 is title protection only, e.g. s.12(3): "No person other than a registered social worker or a licensed social worker, shall use the title 'social worker'." It contains no restriction on the activity of counselling; s.13 provides for injunctions.
In force. HSSPA ss.1–68, 73, 75 in force 1 March 2022 (SI-006-2022); ss.69–72 and 74 in force 15 August 2022 (SI-011-2022) — so the repeal of the old Psychologists Act took effect 15 August 2022. Designated to date: naturopathic practitioners; psychologists (R-052-2022, in force 15 August 2022, amended R-088-2025 in force 1 October 2025); dental hygienists effective 1 December 2025 (HSSPA s.5(2), added by SNWT 2023, c.25). Social Work Profession Act in force 1 January 2012 (SI-007-2011). Health Minister Lesa Semmler, May 2025: "We are not considering counsellors and psychotherapists at this time." No change as at 5 October 2026: the HSSPA and Social Work Profession Act consolidations list no further amending chapters, and counselling does not appear among designated or in-progress professions.
Method, and what it cannot tell you
Each jurisdiction was researched against primary sources — the statute text on official government legislation portals, and the regulator’s own material — then independently re-checked by a second pass instructed to disprove the first. Where the two disagreed, the statute won. Association summaries and news coverage were used only as corroboration, never as the sole source.
That full pass was completed in August 2026. On 5 October 2026 every row was checked again against the official legislation sites for new amendments, proclamations and consolidations, and the rows that had moved were updated.
Confidence is recorded per jurisdiction rather than assumed. Where a source could not be retrieved, that is reflected in the rating instead of being papered over.
What it cannot do. It cannot tell you whether your particular practice falls inside or outside a restricted activity — that turns on facts about your work. It cannot account for changes after 5 October 2026, and commencement dates are sometimes set years ahead. It does not cover the separate statutes protecting “psychologist” and “social worker”, which apply regardless of whether counselling itself is regulated. And it is not legal advice.
About this table
Is counselling regulated everywhere in Canada?
Is therapist a protected title in Canada?
What is the difference between a protected title and a restricted activity?
Is a counsellor the same as a therapist?
Can I practise in a province where counselling is unregulated?
How current is this table?
Is this legal advice?
Free to reuse, with attribution
Free to cite and reuse with attribution: TEO Counselling Services, Counselling & Psychotherapy Regulation in Canada, by Province, verified as at 5 October 2026, https://www.teocounselling.com/counselling-regulation-canada
APA-style reference (select the box to copy):
TEO Counselling Services. (2026). Counselling & psychotherapy regulation in Canada, by province [Reference table, verified as at 5 October 2026]. https://www.teocounselling.com/counselling-regulation-canada
Download the data. counselling-regulation-canada.csv — one row per jurisdiction: statute, key provision, in-force date, whether the title is protected, whether the activity is restricted, where to check a registration, and the verified-as-at date.
Spotted an error, or a statute that has changed? Email admin@teocounselling.com with “Regulation correction” in the subject. We check it against the legislation itself and correct the table.
Who maintains this
TEO Counselling is an online-only counselling practice for adults and couples in six Canadian provinces — there is no office to visit. We built this because we needed it ourselves and could not find a version that separated title protection from activity restriction. It is free to use and free to cite.
If you are looking for counselling rather than legislation, start with your province: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario or Newfoundland and Labrador — or book a free 15-minute consultation.