Member Benefits

Each one of us joins a professional organization for many different reasons. For some it is an opportunity to liaise with other professionals with the same interests; for others it provides input into professional issues which are very significant for them. The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) is a national bilingual professional organization, dedicated to serving the interests of Canadian counsellors. Its members work in many diverse fields of education, employment and career development, social work, business, industry, mental health, public service agencies, government and private practice.

We invite you to read below about some of the services provided by CCPA. Your membership in CCPA will reflect your professional involvement in a national organization that serves the needs of Canada's counselling community.

In fact, CCPA:

• Publishes a quarterly newsletter, COGNICA, dedicated to keeping our members informed about current trends in counselling in Canada. An online version, including past issues, is also available through the Members only section;
• Publishes electronic bulletins to members who subscribe to our monitored list-serv;
• Publishes, four times yearly, the Canadian Journal of Counselling which provides members up to date information on counselling research, innovative practices, and book reviews;
• Has sponsored various special publications, some free to members and others sold for a nominal fee;
• Has adopted a Code of Ethics which serves as a guide to the professional conduct of all its members;
• Has also recently adopted very comprehensive Standards of Practice for Counsellors;
• Offers a members only restricted zone on our site where they can access:
  • previous issues of Cognica,
  • employment opportunities
• Co-sponsors, with local coordinating committees, an annual national conference dedicated to providing members with new ideas and new techniques to help them meet the needs of their clients. The next conference will be in May 2009, in Saskatoon, SK;
• Has developed the Continuing Education Unit (CEUs) credit system, free to members, to recognize professional development activities and promote continuous education;
• Has developed the Canadian Counsellor Certification process, available only to qualified Category A members, to promote professional accountability and visibility. Certification identifies to the public and professional peers those counsellors who have met specific professional standards;
• Offers to members who meet the CCC criteria and to students enrolled in a Masters programme in Counselling, during their practicum, a comprehensive professional liability insurance policy at low cost;
• Also offers to members who have their CCC the opportunity to be part of our Directory of Certified Members;
• The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s partnership with The Personal entitles you to exclusive benefits on home and auto group insurance;
• Solo Life, Health and Business Coverage Insurance;
• Has special interest and regional chapters across Canada;
• Has an Awards program to recognize outstanding contributions by its members to our profession in the areas of research, writing, training, program development and bilingualism;
• Works actively with other associations and with government departments, to promote our professional projects.

The Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association keeps improving its services to its member counsellors and encourages their involvement and their professional development while promoting quality services for their clients.