Ontario Anglophones

Trish Loraine McCracken
20011-2013

I've served as President of the Ontario School Counsellor's Association and the Chair of Ethics for the Ontario Society of Psychotherapists but my role with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association will be my first service in a national professional organization. Thank you for voting me into the position as Ontario Anglophone Director of CCPA.

While I've worked in the large, urban, multicultural City of Toronto for many years, I've also worked in the rural area for two decades now. I currently live on the southern border of Muskoka, on the Severn Township side. I have thriving practice wherein I specialize in marriage and family therapy (RMFT), trauma counselling (CTS, CISM & EMDR 11), and providing EAP in a wide range of issues. The majority of my private clients are adults who were abused as children. I provide services to individuals, couples, whole families, family dyads and others such as crisis interventions in the workplace. I serve on two EAP trauma teams and as part of my community services I provide pro bono psychotherapy to volunteer firefighters and their families.

I've been active and keeping up to date in regard to the work of the Transitional Council as they work towards the development and implementation of the Ontario College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists.

On the family side, I have an amazing husband who supports professional work and volunteerism, a beautiful daughter who currently works in restorative justice, an amazing granddaughter who sings "Hey Soul Sister" on U-tube, three great step-children, three active and loving step-grandchildren, and a new grandchild expected on the long weekend in May of 2011. I welcome the opportunity to get to know each of the Ontario members and to hear their feedback on anything we do or should be doing. Outside of my office, which has windows on three sides, are amazing views of nature I'm hoping that you each enjoy your work as much as I do.

Director's Report - November 2011

Ontario Anglophone Director Report

Trish Loraine McCracken

November, 2011

After being on the board for 6 months, I reviewed all my notes, emails and other communications to prepare this report which focuses on connections and communications with members, mostly through messages distributed to members and through communications with the CCPA Office. In reviewing Contributions and Celebrations, I was able to self-assess my role as a director and determine goals designed to improve communications and highlight celebrations. We have definite Concerns and Challenges we face over the next 17 months as we move toward the Proclamation of the CRPRMHTO because members will apply before the proclamation so they can continue working when it is proclaimed. In looking at Coming Attractions and Resources, I am reminded of the theme of Calgary, “Reflecting on Self and Practice.” It would be wonderful if members communicated with me as much as I have communicated with them. Hence, I will invite more from them regarding events and resources they would like to recommend. I finish by thanking Barb MacCallum for her amazing energy and contribution to CCPA and especially to Ontario members.

Connections and Communications

• Wrote and sent communication to all Ontario Anglophone members in May, June and October to praise the May conference, share information on the developments of the Transitional Council in regard to establishing the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists by April 2013, to encourage members to promote new memberships with colleagues, share recommendations that we display the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for clients to see, that we encourage counsellors to attend the Calgary conference and complete the call for presentations to the conference participants, and to write for the Journal or Cognica,.
• Consulted with Barb MacCallum to send out the documents for the Stakeholders to respond to the Transitional Council in regard to the Draft Regulations on Professional Misconduct, Registration and Quality Assurance and also to send out the Consultation Submission from the Coalition to the Transitional Council to all Ontario Members
• .Received dozens of communications from the CCPA Chapter for School Counsellors’, gave input to the development of the pamphlet and attended one teleconference in November.
• Met with members of OACCPP, OSP and other organizations during breaks and lunch at the Transitional Council meetings.
• Obtained information from a few other organizations, including the Coalition, via listserve notices.
• Discussed with the OSP President the initiative of the OSP Past-Presidents to consider becoming a Chapter of CCPA -  the major hurdle is the CCPA requirement for the Master’s Degree for Certified Membership
• Consulted with Karina regarding the student rep from Ontario.

Contributions and Celebrations

• We should celebrate the steady increase in numbers in this region (Ontario) – between June and November we have added 78 new members. I suggested that the members list indicate the date of membership approval so that I could identify the new members and send an email of welcome.
• We should celebrate the wide variety of professional development opportunities and resources that members learn about on a consistent basis. A week does not seem to go by without listserve announcements and invitations coming to each member of CCPA.
• On behalf of CCPA and especially the Ontario members, I will continue to attend the meetings of the Transitional Council and report to members.
• I would like to see Ontario members be celebrated at the national conference in the awards ceremonies, participate in Chapter leadership, give workshops or present posters at the national conference, so I will promote these activities via an appeal to the Ontario members in the end of the year message to Ontario members.
• I have been in the role as Ontario Anglophone Director since May, 6 months, and I have not received any requests or invitations to speak or to attend a meeting to represent CCPA.      
• I have not received any information which informs me of member accomplishments, noteworthy events or special occasions in this region so I will ask for this in the December message to Ontario members.
• Shared the Draft Code of Ethics for the CRPRMHTO which will be voted on at the November meeting.

Concerns and Challenges

• The biggest challenge in our region may be preparing for members for the application process required to join the CRPRMHTO and creating portfolios if needed, especially for the Grandparenting process.
• The entry to practice exams are another challenge and members of CCPA are working with others on the National Competency Profile with members encouraged to pilot test via the listserve invitations from CCPA.
• The issue of speciality titles may not be an easy one as speciality titles will be allowed if conferred by a recognized credentialing body, earned (not honorary), meet established standards, and show prominence as a regulated title.
• The College will create a Guideline on records with electronic records included – members need to read and respond to the evolving processes that will guide our work and share comments with CCPA so we can consider incorporating these into position papers and channelling them via the Coalition.

Coming Attractions

• Many organizations are currently having their annual meetings mixed with professional development activities. There is no one co-ordinating body for all these opportunities. Listserve items are constantly coming into my computer from various organizations.

Resources

• Members have not promoted their recommendations to me so I will ask in the December message for them to consider doing that – recommending any resources, including workshops and speakers.
• Personally, I would like to attend a really good workshop on helping spouses/parents, children, youth and workplace colleagues cope with someone who exhibits the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder or Borderline tendencies. I’m reading an amazing book on psychotherapy for BPD related to the work being done at Yale and in New York.
• The most important resource for CCPA Ontario members is the Transitional Council Website found at http://www.cprmhto.on.ca/pages/Home  as this is where they will find out about the applications and requirements for joining.
• Barb MacCallum is not only a national resource for CCPA, she is an essential resource for our Ontario Members. She is connected to other organizations, involved with the work of the Coalition, a constant at the Transitional Council meetings, and involved in multiple ways like the core of the atom with multiple energy bands around her. She is amazing and should be thanked by all Ontario members. On behalf of all Ontario members, I thank Barb for all her work and commitment to CCPA and the evolution of our College.