Editor:
FACTBC (The Federation for Associations of Counselling Therapists in BC) submitted a formal application on Dec. 7 to have counselling therapy designated a regulated health profession under B.C.’s Health Professions Act. In an interview with CityNews, Health Minister Adrian Dix responded to the flood of supportive emails by stating that the current focus was on reforming the system that regulates medical health professionals. I agree with Dr. Glen Grigg, head of the 6000-plus members of FACTBC, that reform of the mental health field needs to be done at the same time, not sometime down the road.
Years ago, after devastating experiences with a “therapist,” I desperately sought help from the provincial government. I received an email from the Ministry of Health Services telling me they were sorry to hear of the difficulties I’d had with an unregistered therapist but were unable to offer me any assistance. However, they said, “several organizations have submitted applications for the regulation of counselling under the Health Professions Act. This issue remains under consideration by the government, and no decision has been made to date.”
I sent my email and received that reply in June of 2004. To pretend that physical health care issues can be separated from mental health care issues is as absurd as it was years ago to have restaurants display “Non-Smoking Sections Available” signs. Mental health and physical health are interlocked; to attempt to address one while ignoring the other is ludicrous, dangerous, and a guarantee that more lives will be tragically wasted or damaged. No one should be exposed to needless risk of harm from health-care professionals, whether they are treating the body or the mind. Now, with the pandemic’s risks, pressures, anxieties, and losses, there has never been a greater need for the safety net of regulation.
Janice Williams, Gibsons
