The Living Institute and The Associations for Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology announce a new Toronto energy centre

The Living Institute is in the process of establishing a local chapter, or 'energy centre', of the conjoined Association for Humanistic Psychology (AHP, www.ahpweb.org) and Association for Transpersonal Psychology (ATP, www.atpweb.org). Both these internationally connected associations develop projects and activities that serve the evolution of individuals, society and culture, based on the themes of interdependence with each other and the natural world. This conjoined AHP/ATP centre has a psychotherapy focus, making it especially relevant to the current political situation regarding the new regulation of psychotherapy in Ontario.

In 2007, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care established The Psychotherapy Act, regulating psychotherapy as a profession in Ontario. A government-appointed Transitional Council is being set up to create the new College of Psychotherapy and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario. This College will be responsible for interpreting the new controlled act of psychotherapy and the scope of practice, set entry standards and fitness to practice, define grandparenting criteria for current practitioners, define professional obligations and ethical standards, establish a complaints, discipline and appeals procedure.

The government will consider input from the psychotherapy professional community within a two to three year window. After that, whatever has been established will be ratified, and will define the field of professional psychotherapy for many years to come. We are very concerned that the modalities and values of humanistic, existential, transpersonal, psychodynamic and somatic psychology be respected and preserved within this political definition.

Having a local chapter of AHP/ATP would provide a political footprint at this important time. We would thus be able to add a voice that speaks for eclectic depth and holism to the dialogue between the profession and the government.

The AHP/ATP perspective on psychology, culture and cosmos, and the place of humans in the natural world, is expanding outward, with global centres in England, Europe, Israel, Japan, Russia, India and other places. Let's add Canada to this international network of like minded souls.

For more information on the Association for Humanistic Psychology, please visit www.ahpweb.org. For more information on the Association for Transpersonal Psychology, please visit www.atpweb.org.

If you are interested in the new Toronto energy centre, please come to the inaugural meeting, Sunday July 20, 2008, from 1:15 – 2:15 pm in the Hart House Debates room, University of Toronto.  All welcome. No charge.

Contact: Caroline Mardon caroline@livinginstitute.org