I am interested in doing some work in private practice. I graduated from MASP in 2000 and consequently did practicums in counselling. I have a declared competency in counselling. The clinic where I applied wanted me to touch base to see if my declared competency would allow me to take on counselling cases. Of course I am thinking that the counselling cases would involved school-related issues and perhaps a cognitive behavioural approach for issues such as self-regulation-no clinical cases. I am wondering if there is someone I might speak to or if I am safe to take on such cases given my declared competency.

I have consulted on your enquiry. Registered Psychologists are expected to ensure they remain within their scope or seek out appropriate initiatives to expand within their scope. However, where you have previously self-declared counselling and had this listed on your practice profile, NSRP would not restrict you from doing any counselling work that you have current competence with.

When this enquiry comes up for those who are fully registered a psychologist, we indicate the following.

3.2 A registrant planning to change or expand her/his professional practice to include a newnarea, client group or activity, beyond the registrant’s existing declared competence shallnundertake appropriate training, education and supervision. In the event that there arenquestions regarding competency, the registrant must be able to demonstrate to the NSRP thenpreparation they have undertaken. Individuals on the Candidate Register planning to expandnher/his practice shall submit a plan of action to NSRP for approval.

The NSRP requires Candidate Registrants to use a Learning Plan process (page 18 of the Supervision Handbook URL provided below).

https://www.ns-rp.ca/downloads/SupervisionHandbook.pdf

Although Registered Psychologists are not required to submit this plan to the NSRP, we still refer Registered Psychologists to this information in the Handbook as a reference. As you will note, part of the process involves considering what may have already been completed in the past as part of the individual’s graduate level training and subsequent training and experience, and then considering what didactic activities should be undertaken to ensure one is current with the activity.

If you were to utilize this process you could seek out an informal supervisor and jointly set up a plan. Note that you would not have to seek approval from NSRP the learning plan, like a candidate would have to do so during candidacy.

You would also be able to integrate relevant activities within your Continuing Competence process.

NSRP would recommend keeping your own record of the activities you engage in relevant to this activity.