Registered Professional Counsellor

John dropped me a line after visiting MyShrink and offered to make a contribution. I suggested that he write an article on the designation, "Registered Professional Counsellor". It's a new designation in Canada and it offers consumers more choice when it comes to finding a counsellor. John also shares his own personal story of how he came to the decision to make counselling his career...which I always find interesting. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Suzanne LaCombe

By: John Philip Kenney, RPC (c)
November 26, 2008.

"RPC RCC PHD LPC CCC LMFT CSW – I don’t understand all these designations. I just want help!"

It’s true, especially in North America; the number of professional designations for counsellors and psychotherapists is almost overwhelming. 

The designation that I hold and the one I'll talk about in this article is Registered Professional Counsellor ("RPC"). It's administered by the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association ("CPCA").

RPC is quite a departure from other designations. It is experience-based, as opposed to an degree-based certification. RPCs often have worked in the mental health field in various capacities and are given credit for their years of experience. In addition, RPCs usually have a certificate or diploma in counselling studies as well as many other related courses, workshops, practicums and further training. While this extra education is not obligatory, it is a fairly typical background for an RPC.

In contrast, the alternate designations of Registered Clinical Counsellor ("RCC") and Canadian Certified Counsellor ("CCC") describe someone who has gone the traditional route of first getting a bachelor's degree, and then a master's degree in psychology or other related field.

Traditionally only counsellors with university degrees have been recognized professionally in Canada, but this state of affairs is rapidly changing, and for the better. In the latest development, the Canadian College of Professional Counsellors & Psychotherapists ("CCPCP") announced that it will register counsellors and psychotherapists based on their core knowledge, rather than on their particular type of education.

As you can see, the trend in my profession is towards the recognition of counseling experience and skills as the basis of "core competency".

What excites me about these new developments in the field is that not only will confusion be reduced, but the public will now have increased access to a much wider choice of therapists. It won't be long before folks seeing an RPC will be able to claim reimbursement through their private and/or government health plans. 

So how does the RPC differ in respect to other types of counsellors, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists?

In my opinion, a designation should not be the main criterion for choosing a counsellor. A counsellor should be chosen because he or she is knowledgeable and competent in the issues you are bringing to them. The person should also be easily accessible geographically and be available for sessions in a reasonably prompt time frame.

The counsellor or therapist should also belong to a professional organization that holds its members to the same ethical standards as doctors or other health care providers. The organization should process public complaints and monitor its members standing on a regular basis. The organization should also ensure that its members carry appropriate liability insurance and be professionally trained and qualified to dispense mental health services.

An RPC meets all of these qualifications.

Finally, when it comes to choosing a counsellor, there should be a "fit" between the counsellor and client, a mutual connection so to speak. I truly believe that this ‘relationship’, this indefinable connection, is at the heart of any success one may achieve from counselling or therapy.

One way that RPCs can greatly benefit clients is that their fees are less. RPCs fees are typically $70-$100 per session, while RCC and other Master's level counsellors charge $100-$150 per session, while psychologists with a doctorate usually charge $150-$200 a session.

For lower income clients, having access to many types of counselling can sometimes make the difference between affording help and not getting help.

So how does one go about becoming an RPC you may ask? Are you qualified and properly-trained?

I will digress a little here to make this article more personal and hopefully more interesting. Let me tell you how I became a RPC and what being a RPC means to me.

Well it all started many years ago…

Growing up I had always had signs of anxiety and panic disorder. I never really knew what it was and it never really became a serious issue until my late teens. I started to realize from my reading that my brain was ‘wired differently’ and that I had this condition. It was not until my early twenties that the anxiety and panic got to the point where I had no choice but to turn for help.

After much procrastination I finally went to the family doctor, and after a long time of misdiagnosis and unnecessary tests the doctor said she wanted to put me on an antidepressant that was suitable for anxiety and panic disorder.

In the short term this made things much worse as I had to find the right medication and dosage. At one point I truly felt like I was losing my mind and I could not cope anymore. I went to a local BC Mental Health office, borderline suicidal, begging for help.

BC Mental Health said they could not help me as I ‘wasn’t sick enough’ and didn’t qualify – qualify for what I never found out. Luckily the intake person behind the counter took pity on me and she secretly slipped me a note. “I’m not supposed to do this,” she said. “Here is the phone number of a counsellor I know - she might be able to help”

I skulked home with this little wadded up piece of paper in my hand with a phone number on it, feeling very alone, and dialed.

The first counsellor I ever went to worked part-time out of her apartment. Fortunately, she was willing to see me on a sliding-scale basis, since I couldn't afford full-fee at the time.

At my first session I sat down 'on the couch' and 'spilled my guts'. Finally - someone to talk to, someone who understands, someone who cares! I didn’t know what her professional designation was; I wouldn’t have known what it meant anyway. I didn’t care. She was there to help me, and help she did.

In some ways I credit this individual with helping to save my life - I was in a very dire state for a couple of days as the medication made things worse until my body adjusted to it.

I will never forget the privilege she gave me of phoning her at home if necessary. It was early one morning when things were really bad – I could hear her TV in the background and the breakfast dishes clinking as her words helped me through. This is the type of care this individual gave me – was she a RPC, RCC, PhD, LPC, CCC, LMFT, or CSW? It never mattered.

Paying it Back

After this experience I knew I wanted to make a difference in someone’s life – to pay back my gift as it where. Looking back, this was the point when I decided I wanted to become a counsellor.

I have seen this counsellor on and off since then and she helped me greatly with many different issues that are part of my life. Counselling helped me to understand how to help myself. I actually still see this counsellor occasionally. At least she finally gets a bigger fee from me now!

But I digress.

After getting my mental health back in line, I wanted to start the training necessary to become a professional counsellor. I joined a local crisis line and completed their training. I volunteered for a year while I looked for the right training for me.

I had to continue working and looking after my two young children, so university was not an option. I only had one year of university under my belt at this point in my life anyway. After much searching and from a recommendation from my supervisor at the Tri-City Crisis Line, I enrolled at Vancouver Community College in the Counsellor Training Certificate Program. This was a two year course I could take on evenings and weekends.

This was perfect for me, as at this point in my life I was also a single parent. I spent a lot of my time looking after my two children and working part-time where I could. The training and skills I received at Vancouver Community College were in my opinion second to none. I had excellent classmates to learn with and instructors who were very highly skilled and dedicated to helping people become counsellors, using an experience-based model.

Upon completion of my training I did a practicum at Burnaby Mental Health where I helped to set up an outreach program for agoraphobics who needed help, largely with anxiety and panic disorder.

I continued to take courses and training over the next couple of years to expand my knowledge, as well as reading every book on mental health I could get my hands on. Unfortunately at this time, as is regrettably still common today, I was unable to get a job in the mental health field. It seemed I didn’t have the ‘right letters' after my name.

Setting up a private practice

I wanted to go into private practice but felt I needed more knowledge and life experience. To make a very long story short, ten years or so later I felt I had the knowledge and life experience I needed, so I looked around for a professional organization to join, to give me credibility.

I found out that it is really hard to find an organization that will review and accept your training and experience unless you have a Master's degree. Some organizations even said it does not matter what your Master's degree is in, even if it’s unrelated to counselling and psychology. They just wanted those letters.

I finally heard about the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association ("CPCA") from a counsellor who was in a course I was taking at that time, and I started down the road to becoming an RPC.

The process involved in becoming an RPC is very thorough and complete. First I had to submit all my training records and college transcripts as well as two letters of reference from professionals in the mental health profession that knew me. After this was reviewed and found acceptable, I had to write a comprehensive exam to demonstrate my knowledge of counselling skills and then write a psychological test focusing on myself.

After passing these tests I had to arrange for a qualified health care professional to supervise and mentor me for a period of two years. During this time I had to submit monthly records, of clients seen and supervision received, to the CPCA for review.

I also had to obtain liability insurance for myself. I then became what is know as a RPC ‘candidate.’ For a period of two years I have to report to my supervisor and also to the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association on a regular basis.

At this point, I decided to open my own private practice in a separate office I built beside my home. My practice has been open now for nearly two years and my client base is slowly but steadily growing. After I finish my two year supervision period I will become a full RPC member. After a total of five years, I will be able to use the designation 'MPCP', which stands for Master Practitioner In Counselling Psychology.

As an active RPC I am also required to continue to take professional development training, which means taking courses and workshops to further my training. I have also attended the yearly conferences that the CPCA puts on, which are both educational and inspiring.

Now that you have a better idea of what it takes to become an RPC, you may also wonder who becomes an RPC?

The possibilities are as diverse as people themselves.

A job counsellor working for the government for many years might decide to get her designation when she sets up her own practice. A behavioural therapist who works with high risk kids in the educational system might apply for this designation so parents are informed of his qualifications.

It could be an individual with many years of university training – there are a number of psychologists and psychiatrists who are members, as they value the organization and what it stands for.

It could be any professional mental health provider.

It could also be someone like me.

You never know - the next RPC you meet could be your next Counsellor!

You can find John Kenney at 12515 Blackstock Street, Maple Ridge, BC.
Reach him from 8 AM to 8 PM at (604) 809-4437.