2023 annual report
PROFESSION ADVOCACY & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Advancing the profession.
The BCACC continually promote and enhances the Clinical Counselling/Psychotherapy profession in BC to increase awareness of the need for Mental Health services and to remove or minimize barriers to RCCs’ ability to provide services.
The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) remained steadfast in its commitment to advancing the Clinical Counselling and Psychotherapy profession in British Columbia (BC).
Specifically, the BCACC focused on elevating the Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) designation.
The efforts were multifaceted:
Promotion and Enhancement:
The BCACC actively promoted the value and significance of clinical counselling and psychotherapy within the province. By advocating for the RCC designation, we aimed to raise awareness of the critical role these professionals play in supporting mental health and well-being.
Initiatives were undertaken to enhance the professional standing of RCCs, emphasizing their expertise, ethical standards, and dedication to client care both to stakeholders such as ICBC, the Crime Victims Assistance Program (CVAP) and health authorities, and to the larger community.
These efforts resulted in increased rates for RCCs registered with CVAP and ICBC.
Increasing Awareness:
The BCACC worked diligently to increase public awareness. Through educational campaigns, community outreach, and collaboration with other stakeholders, we highlighted the importance of seeking professional counselling support.
BCACC conducted training sessions for community partners such as Work BC on our Find a Counsellor Tool, providing access to qualified RCCs at their fingertips.
In addition, BCACC successfully had the BC Government declare October 10, 2023 as “Mental Health Day” in BC, which resulted in having the Legislative Assembly of BC in Victoria lit up with green lights. BCACC health authority representatives assisted with light up campaigns including BC Place, the Burrard Street Bridge and the Kelowna General Hospital.
By spotlighting the RCC designation, we encouraged individuals to seek out qualified clinical counsellors for their mental health needs.
Removing Barriers:
The BCACC actively identified and addressed barriers that hindered RCCs’ ability to provide effective services. These barriers could include administrative hurdles, access limitations, or misconceptions about the profession.
Efforts were made with stakeholders such as ICBC and Crime Victim Assistance to streamline processes, improve access, and create an environment conducive to optimal client care.
BCACC worked hard to create an environment where RCCs could contribute meaningfully to mental health services, and make a lasting impact on the well-being of individuals and their communities.
Continued Public Relations
A key part of BCACC’s advocacy work is to increase its visibility in the eyes of the public and many other stakeholders through social media and press/media releases.
March 05, 2024 – BCACC and BCDHA Announce Innovative Mental Health Resources for Oral Health Practitioners and their Patients. Read the media release here.
February 26, 2024 – BCACC CEO, Michael Radano joins the Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation (“CNAR”) Board of Directors. Read the media release here.
January 12, 2024 – BC Cabinet approves amendments to the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) regulations that will enhance quality of care for BC survivors of crime by increasing the number of qualified professionals providing mental health services to CVAP. Read the media release here.
November 17, 2023 – BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and the BC Municipal Safety Association announce a pre-emptive mental wellness program for municipal employees. Read the media release here.
October 5, 2023 – BC Association of Clinical Counsellors Spearheads World Mental Health Day Campaign with Illumination of BC Landmarks and Provincial Proclamation Request. Read the media release here.
September 26, 2023 – BC Association of Clinical Counsellors Celebrates 35 Years of Excellence with 7000 Strong Registered Clinical Counsellors. Read the media release here.
July 5, 2023 – BC Association of Clinical Counsellors Recognizes the Contributions of Registered Clinical Counsellors to Peer-Assisted Care Teams. Read the media release here.
March 30, 2023 – The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association will partner. Read the media release here.
January 12, 2023 – BCACC has launched a publicly viewable member registry; another key regulatory modernization building block. Read the media release here.
Participation in Key Events
To increase awareness of the need for mental health services and the role RCCs can play, the BCACC attended several events and conferences:
Ongoing Stakeholder Engagements
To enhance and advocate for the profession, BCACC engaged in collaborative work and partnerships with the following agencies and organizations. This also provided an opportunity to showcase RCCs, remove practice barriers and inform policy/decisions:
