It is important to say plainly that I did not anticipate serving as Board Chair at this particular moment. To some degree, I am still finding my way. Nonetheless, I want to be clear that I have a thorough understanding of both the responsibility the role carries and the context in which it arises.

I come to this position with a longstanding engagement in many of the issues currently before the College. These are not new conversations for me, and I bring to them a perspective shaped by years of clinical, academic, and regulatory work. At the same time, I am mindful that there are differing—and often strongly held—views across the profession. My commitment is to approach these matters in a way that is steady, fair, and grounded in °ä±Ęµţ´ˇ°żâ€™s mandate.

We are currently awaiting further direction from the Ministry of Health on several important matters, including registration modernization and the potential expansion of the scope of practice to include prescribing privileges. These are not incremental changes. They go to the heart of who we are: how psychologists are trained, how competence is defined, and how the profession fits within the broader healthcare system. The Board has spent considerable time on these questions, and we will continue to engage with them carefully as the Ministry’s direction becomes clearer.

Serving in this role has also given me a closer view of °ä±Ęµţ´ˇ°żâ€™s day-to-day work and the people who carry it forward. CPBAO staff operate in a complex and, at times, highly scrutinized environment. They are asked to balance competing expectations while maintaining a clear focus on public protection. In my experience, they do this with professionalism, thoughtfulness, and a level of consistency that is not always visible from the outside. It is work that deserves recognition, particularly in periods of heightened attention and change.

As we move forward, there will continue to be active discussion and, at times, disagreement. This reflects a profession that is engaged in its future, and differing views on substance are to be expected. °ä±Ęµţ´ˇ°żâ€™s role is to ensure that decisions are made in a principled and transparent way, with the public interest at the centre.

I look forward to continuing this work with the Board, the Registrar and staff, and the broader community of registrants.

Peter Bieling, Ph.D., C.Psych.

The following real-life situations offer a glimpse into recent decisions of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC), highlighting the role communication plays in professional practice.

These summaries are provided for educational purposes. Details have been adjusted to protect the privacy of both registrants and complainants and maintain confidentiality of the investigation process. The core issues and outcomes remain the same.

A therapist providing non-supervised services in a registrant’s clinic raised multiple concerns about the clinic’s work environment, including an incident during a staff meeting where the registrant swore at her.

When asked to respond, the registrant acknowledged the incident and expressed regret and noted that the therapist herself used expletives in communications with clinic staff.

The outcome? The panel of the ICRC decided to provide the registrant with Advice regarding professional communications. While the panel noted that both the registrant and the therapist appeared comfortable with informal language, it was advisable that communication with employees always remain professional.

In another case, a client described their therapy experience as, among other things, combative and insensitive.

Upon review of the information available, the panel believed that the registrant’s approach appeared to lack sensitivity, empathy and respect at times.

The outcome? Due to concerns with professionalism, as well as concerns identified in other areas, the panel asked the registrant to complete a coaching program to address and strengthen their professional and interpersonal approach.

Elections to °ä±Ęµţ´ˇ°żâ€™s Board were held on March 31, 2026.

The following candidates were elected:

• Andrew Bonner, Ph.D., R.B.A. (Ont.)
• Sonya Dhillon, Ph.D., C.Psych.
• David Gold, Ph.D., C.Psych.

Due to a change in circumstances, Dr. Gold will no longer be able to serve on the Board.

Dr. Kofi Belfon, Ph.D., C.Psych., who received the next highest number of votes in the election, has been elected to the Board and has accepted the position.

We thank all candidates who put their names forward for their time, dedication, and enthusiasm to serve on the Board.

We also thank all registrants who took the time to participate in the voting process. This year, 35% of registrants voted! Your engagement plays an important role in shaping the governance of the professions.

The term of office for these Board Members begins on June 19, 2026, and continues until the first Board meeting following the 2029 elections. °ä±Ęµţ´ˇ°żâ€™s next Board meeting is on Friday, June 19, 2026. Please check the Board Meetings page closer to the date for meeting materials and the livestream.

The 2026–2027 annual registration renewal period is underway. If you haven’t completed your Practice Update Form and submitted your annual fee, please do so through the Member Portal by June 1, 2026, to avoid a late fee.

For details about the renewal process, certificate changes, or fees, please visit our Membership Renewal page.

New this year: voluntary demographic questions

As part of the renewal process, we introduced a small set of voluntary demographic questions. This work supports °ä±Ęµţ´ˇ°żâ€™s Ethics and Human Rights Plan and is intended to strengthen our ability to serve the full diversity of the Ontario public.

Why this matters

• Improving the quality of information we have about the professions is an important first step.
• Better data helps identify potential barriers and strengthen fairness in our processes.

We’ve seen a very strong response so far. On average, 88% of demographic questions were answered rather than declined. Thank you for your willingness to engage in this new initiative! We truly appreciate your participation.

If you haven’t yet renewed, we encourage you to complete the demographic questions. Your responses help build a clearer understanding of the professions and support our efforts to better serve the public.

Responses are anonymous and will not be linked to your registrant profile. All responses are de-identified when stored and will be used only in aggregate.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at renewals@cpbao.ca.