First Nations Health Authority

The part of the brain that handles complex spoken language, empathy, foresight and critical thinking skills does not fully mature until we are in our mid 20s. The younger we are, the more our brain relies on non-verbal communication, symbolism and imagination to navigate life’s challenges. Play therapy is an evidence-based counselling modality that allows the therapist to communicate with a child in the child’s language, the language of play. Art and expressive-based therapy methods are also commonly used in the context of Play Therapy. To learn more about play therapy and the training required to be a registered play therapist please visit the Association for Play Therapy website, located here: https://www.a4pt.org/ or watch the short video below:

Technically speaking, there is no maximum age limit for play therapy, you’re never too old to communicate through play, and we would be happy to have people of any age in our therapeutic playroom! That being said, we find that kids 12 and under tend to get the most out of the play therapy experience.

The term ‘counsellor’ is not a protected profession in the province of B.C. This means that anyone can call themselves a counsellor and work in private practice. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure that the counsellor they choose has the proper training and registrations to ensure a safe and ethical counselling process. Furthermore, figuring out what kind of counsellor you need or what may be covered by your extended health plan can be confusing! Here is a breakdown of the most important abbreviations:

M.A./M.Ed. - this means the counsellor has completed a master’s level degree such as a master of arts or a master of education in counselling psychology. A master’s degree is required for registration with most counselling associations.

R.C.C. - Registered Clinical Counsellor. This designation is provided by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). A person with this designation has completed a master’s level university program in a counselling-related field along with at least 2000 hours of supervised clinical experience with a university-appointed supervisor. This designation requires that the therapist adhere to a specific code of ethics and disciplinary action can be taken against the therapist in the event of an ethical violation. Some extended health plans provide coverage for registered clinical counsellors. To learn more about this designation click here: https://bc-counsellors.org/

C.C.C. - Certified Clinical Counsellor. This designation is provided by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. The requirements for this designation are similar those set out by the BCACC but it is Canada-wide rather than province-specific. To learn more about this designation click here: https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/

R.S.W./R.C.S.W. - Registered Social Worker or Registered Clinical Social Worker. These designations are provided by the British Columbia College of Social Workers. The Registered Social Worker designation requires a Bachelor of Social Work degree, or equivalent, as well as successful completion of the board exam. The Registered Clinical Social Worker designation requires a Master of Social Work degree along with 3000 hours of supervised clinical experience and successful completion of the clinical board exam. Both RSWs and RCSWs must adhere to a strict code of ethics, proof of continued education each year, and are permitted to work in private practice however Registered Clinical Social Workers are also permitted to assess and diagnose mental health disorders. These are protected professions in BC which means that you may not call yourself a registered social worker unless you are a member of the college. In addition, a college is legally responsible for the conduct of its members (unlike an association which focuses more on promoting the profession and advocating for its members). For this reason, many extended health plans provide more coverage for registered social workers than they would for a registered clinical counsellor. To learn more about this designation click here: http://www.bccollegeofsocialworkers.ca/

R.Psyc - Registered Psychologist. This designation is given by the British Columbia College of Psychologists and requires completion of an accredited doctoral program (PhD or PsyD), a clinical internship, several years of supervised clinical experience and successful completion of both a written and oral exam. Alternatively, if you are a registered psychologist with a college in another Canadian province, you can apply to have your designation transferred to B.C. as long as you pass the board exams (each province has their own educational requirements for joining their college of psychologists). Registered psychologists must adhere to a strict code of ethics and are subject to disciplinary action by the college should that code be violated. It is a protected profession which means that you may not call yourself a registered psychologist unless you are a member of the college. Most extended health plans provide coverage for Registered Psychologists however their fees tend to be higher due to the requirement of more education and training. Psychologists are permitted to assess and diagnose mental health disorders. To learn more about this designation, click here: https://collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca/