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Definition of Practice Areas

Adapted from the Definitions of Practice Areas written by the College of Psychologists of Ontario

Counselling Psychology

All members of the Saskatchewan College of Psychologists require the following minimum working knowledge base:

• knowledge in the core areas of psychology (MRA standards);
• knowledge of learning;
• knowledge of all relevant ethical, legal and professional issues;
• knowledge of research design and methodology;
• knowledge of statistics; and
• knowledge of psychological measurement.

Counselling Psychology is the fostering and improving of normal human functioning by helping people solve problems, make decisions and cope with stresses of everyday life. The work of Counselling Psychology is generally with reasonable well-adjusted people. The practice of Counselling Psychology might not entail the use of the controlled act of communicating a diagnosis.

In addition to the above minimum knowledge base, members practising Counselling Psychology require the following:

• knowledge of psychological adjustment/lifespan development;
• knowledge of personality/individual differences;
• knowledge of psychological assessment;
• knowledge of intervention procedures and/or psychotherapy; and
• knowledge of evaluation of change.

In addition, practitioners who provide services in Counselling Psychology to children and adolescents must have a background in developmental psychology and knowledge of appropriate assessment and therapeutic techniques.

For members practising Counselling Psychology the following minimum skills are required:

• the ability to perform an appropriate counselling assessment;
• the ability to formulate a diagnosis and/or refer on when appropriate for differential diagnosis; and
• the ability to plan, execute and evaluate an appropriate treatment program.