Stop Unlicensed Therapy Apps Like BetterHelp in Canada: Protect Our Mental Health
Stop Unlicensed Therapy Apps Like BetterHelp in Canada: Protect Our Mental Health
The Issue
THE GOAL OF THIS PETITION IS TO SHOW PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR REGULATORY BODIES IN PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND DEMAND FURTHER ACTION. Find the full campaign here: https://canadiancounselling.ca/betterhelp/
Don't just share this petition -- write your members of parliament, your provincial leaders, and the leaders of your province's mental health boards!
Therapists providing services in Canada should be licensed in Canada and follow Canadian provincial / territorial ethical guidelines.
BetterHelp is an application offering therapy and counselling to the public in Canada. Unfortunately, these clinicians are often not licensed in Canada and may not have the correct insurance to practice either. While BetterHelp is the most egregious of these apps, Canadian Counselling is also against the growing body of applications and websites offering globalized mental health services without the ethical standards that protect public health and safety.
Target: Health Canada and Provincial Mental Health Ministers
The Problem: International "therapy apps" like BetterHelp are operating in Canada without following our provincial laws. They often match Canadians with unlicensed, out-of-country providers who aren’t accountable to Canadian ethics boards. If something goes wrong, you have zero legal recourse. Your sensitive health data is also being stored abroad and, in many cases, sold to advertisers.
The Impact: This "grey market" bypasses our safety nets, ignores Canadian mandatory reporting laws, and outprices local, regulated therapists who are actually authorized to help you.
The Solution: We demand that the Canadian government:
Enforce Licensure: Require all digital platforms to hire 100% provincially regulated Canadian therapists.
Protect Privacy: Stop the storage and sale of Canadian mental health data on foreign servers.
Support Local Care: Promote ethical, domestic alternatives like www.CanadianCounselling.ca—a free directory where you can find therapists who are legally and ethically authorized to work in Canada (without the predatory fees).
Sign this petition to tell the government: Mental healthcare is a right, not a "user data" goldmine. Protect Canadian patients and our local therapists.
Read more on the topic: https://thoughtsbyshaylynn.substack.com/p/betterhelp-claims-to-offer-ethical
335
The Issue
THE GOAL OF THIS PETITION IS TO SHOW PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR REGULATORY BODIES IN PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND DEMAND FURTHER ACTION. Find the full campaign here: https://canadiancounselling.ca/betterhelp/
Don't just share this petition -- write your members of parliament, your provincial leaders, and the leaders of your province's mental health boards!
Therapists providing services in Canada should be licensed in Canada and follow Canadian provincial / territorial ethical guidelines.
BetterHelp is an application offering therapy and counselling to the public in Canada. Unfortunately, these clinicians are often not licensed in Canada and may not have the correct insurance to practice either. While BetterHelp is the most egregious of these apps, Canadian Counselling is also against the growing body of applications and websites offering globalized mental health services without the ethical standards that protect public health and safety.
Target: Health Canada and Provincial Mental Health Ministers
The Problem: International "therapy apps" like BetterHelp are operating in Canada without following our provincial laws. They often match Canadians with unlicensed, out-of-country providers who aren’t accountable to Canadian ethics boards. If something goes wrong, you have zero legal recourse. Your sensitive health data is also being stored abroad and, in many cases, sold to advertisers.
The Impact: This "grey market" bypasses our safety nets, ignores Canadian mandatory reporting laws, and outprices local, regulated therapists who are actually authorized to help you.
The Solution: We demand that the Canadian government:
Enforce Licensure: Require all digital platforms to hire 100% provincially regulated Canadian therapists.
Protect Privacy: Stop the storage and sale of Canadian mental health data on foreign servers.
Support Local Care: Promote ethical, domestic alternatives like www.CanadianCounselling.ca—a free directory where you can find therapists who are legally and ethically authorized to work in Canada (without the predatory fees).
Sign this petition to tell the government: Mental healthcare is a right, not a "user data" goldmine. Protect Canadian patients and our local therapists.
Read more on the topic: https://thoughtsbyshaylynn.substack.com/p/betterhelp-claims-to-offer-ethical
335
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Petition created on March 2, 2025