Under the Regulated Health Professions Act, title protection prohibits persons, other than members of a regulatory College, from representing themselves as members of that College, either directly by using the protected title, or indirectly by using words or conduct to suggest they are authorized to identify themselves as members of the College. That’s fair; if you haven’t paid membership dues, don’t claim you have. But that is where legitimate, lawful title restrictions end. Internal documents we have received show that in mid-2015, Ministry of Health Policy Analysts reminded the Registrar of the College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO): • “Those who do not wish to become members of the College of Registered Psychotherapists cannot be prevented from offering psychotherapy or calling themselves psychotherapists.” • “While the title Registered Psychotherapist is currently restricted to members of the College of Registered Psychotherapists only, practitioners may continue to provide psychotherapy services to patients. FURTHERMORE, NOTHING PREVENTS THEM FROM PROMOTING THOSE SERVICES TO THE PATIENTS AND THE PUBLIC.” And again, in other Ministry communications: • “Scopes of practice provide a description of a profession’s activities, and that profession does not have exclusive right to provide services within its scope of practice.” However, despite all this being clear, according to their communique (http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs107/1110759861961/archive/1123421209258.html), the CRPO had, by January 8, 2016, sent Cease and Desist letters to over 40 practitioners for lawfully using the title "psychotherapist" and/or promoting their services. The communique states: “The College continues to take action against unregulated practitioners who appear to be misusing the title "psychotherapist" and/or are holding themselves out as qualified to practise psychotherapy. To date, approximately 40 requests have been issued asking individuals to discontinue use of the title and/or to change the wording of promotional materials or statements. CRPO is considering further action in some cases.” Given that few victims are able to fund a legal action alone, this appears to be an (unlawful) attempt to force unregulated practitioners out of business overnight. These impositions on personal liberties and the deliberate restraint of trade and commerce under the guise of protecting the public is actually endangering Ontarians who want their own free choice… not free choice after their preferred practitioners have been eliminated by self-serving groups of medical model advocates. Further, it is causing innocent and entirely lawfully practicing professionals and their families to be financially and emotionally distressed. Please help with whatever financial contributions you can spare at www.StopPsychotherapyTakeover.ca. Also, PRINT OFF THE FORMAL PETITION (http://www.stoppsychotherapytakeover.ca/formal-petition-to-on-legislature/) and help us gather signatures to be taken to the Ontario Legislature.