10 Signs of an Ethical, Trained and Qualified Psychotherapist

It is important to feel confident in the therapist you choose, and to understand what factors may indicate they are qualified to practice and are practicing ethically. Based on my understanding of the ethics and standards of this profession (informed by the CRPO’s Standards of Practice), and my own clinical experience, psychotherapists should:

1. conduct themselves professionally and respectfully,
2. belong to a professional or regulatory body, depending on province, and be clear about their title or designation,
3. be easy to locate in the registry of their professional or regulatory body (eg. CRPO’s Registry for Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)),
4. hold professional liability insurance,
5. seek supervision according to their regulations,
6. be willing to share their supervisor’s contact information with you, if requested,
7. act according to an ethical standard (egs. CCPA Ethics, CRPO Ethics)
8. gain your written and verbal Informed Consent, which outlines:
   • risks and benefits of psychotherapy,
   • exceptions to confidentiality,
   • details around how they keep their records secure and private,
   • payment, missed session, and other administrative policies,
9. connect you with other resources if they cannot provide what you need,
10. and – most important – be willing to receive your feedback, be open to your concerns and have your best interest at heart, even if that means ending therapy or referring you on.

The relationship between counsellor and client is called the therapeutic alliance and rapport.  Rapport is the single most important factor in predicting positive outcomes from therapy. Unconditional positive regard and active listening promote trust and open communication. It’s important to trust yourself when choosing a therapist. It’s ok to move on if something doesn’t feel quite right, safe or comfortable.