About The College
Counselling Therapy has a proud tradition in Nova Scotia. In order to share knowledge and to promote the growing profession among the public, in 1993 a group of dedicated counsellors sought out colleagues from across the Province to form the Nova Scotia Association of Professional Counsellors. In 1995 the NSAPC became recognized under the Societies Act, and in 2006 changed their name to the Nova Scotia Association of Counselling Therapists (NSACT). In the years that followed, the NSACT leadership began to lobby government to move the association from a member-service organization to a self-regulating professional body responsible for serving and protecting the public interest. The Counselling Therapists Act was proclaimed on October 11, 2011 and the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT) came to life. Today, more than 370 Registered Counselling Therapists (RCTs) practice throughout Nova Scotia under license of the College, providing safe, competent and ethical mental health services.
Oversite of the College is provided through a statutory Board of Directors, made up of elected members and government-appointed public representatives. The Board Executive is comprised of the Chair, Vice Chair, Past Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The remainder of the Board includes four Members-at-Large, three Public Representatives and the Executive Director/Registrar in a non-voting capacity. The statutory functions of the College are fulfilled by five statutory committees, and the work of the Board is supported by three additional non-statutory (ancillary) committees.
2022 NSCCT Annual Report.
2021 NSCCT Annual Report.
2020 NSCCT Annual Report.
Statement on Anti-racism
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist.” – Angela Davis
The Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists is an anti-racist organization. We are committed to creating an environment where Black, Indigenous and people of colour employees and registrants are safe, valued and respected. We are committed to examine and take action against the multifaceted nature of racism in Nova Scotia and Canada. Racism is dehumanizing to everyone it touches.
The values of Counselling Therapy are consistent with upholding and working toward social justice for all. The College and its registrants make-up a caring community; welcoming and respecting diversity and striving toward social justice. Racism must be examined beyond the actions of individuals in order to recognize how it is embedded in the fabric of society and its institutions.
We acknowledge that racism can be unconscious or unintentional, and that identifying racism as an issue does not mean that those involved are necessarily racist or that they intended the negative impacts of their behaviour. As we make this organizational commitment to anti-racism, the College vows to purposefully identify, discuss and challenge issues of race and the impact they have on our organization, its people and the community. We will also challenge ourselves to understand and correct inequities in our policies and processes.
We are resolved to explicitly and publicly affirm our identity as an anti-racist organization.
We are resolved that our anti-racism efforts be reflected in the life and culture of the College through our policies and practices as we continue to learn about racism.
We resolve to develop and work to implement strategies that dismantle racism within all aspects of the College and among its practicing registrants.
Our goal is to create and maintain an environment where everyone working for, and working with, the College feels safe to discuss issues of race and racism and the impact it has within our organization and to our lives outside of work.
Organization Overview
Board of Directors
Chair — Nathan Torti, RCT
Vice-Chair — Michelle Labine, RCT
Past Chair — Joe Bishara, RCT
Treasurer — Maher Masalmeh, RCT
Secretary — Felicia Boutilier, RCT
Member at Large — Theresa Fraser, RCT
Member at Large — Chris Charles, RCT
Member at Large — Stacy Darku, RCT-C
Member at Large — Kerry O’Reilly, RCT
Public Representative — Lisa Matthews
Public Representative — Alana Baxter
Public Representative — John Boddie
Executive Director & Registrar — John Hubert (Ex-Officio)
Administrative Coordinator —Mary Kate Jollymore
Committees
Statutory Committees
These committees govern the function of the College and are required by law.
Registration Committee [RCT ACT 15 (1)] – Terms of Reference (PDF)
- Chair – Lisa Dexter, RCT
- Member at Large – Derek Smith, RCT
- Member at Large – Theresa Fraser, RCT
- Public Representative – Alana Baxter
- Executive Director & Registrar – John Hubert (Ex-Officio)
Registration Appeal Committee [RCT ACT 20 (1)] – Terms of Reference (PDF)
- Chair – Kerry O’Reilly, RCT
- Member at Large – Vacant
- Public Representative – Lisa Matthews
Complaints Committee [RCT ACT 33 (1); 33 (5)] – Terms of Reference (PDF)
- Chair – Lisa Matthews (public representative)
- Vice Chair – Lauren Scott, RCT-C
- Member at Large – Alison Arthur, RCT
- Member at Large – Sara Lamb, RCT
- Member at Large – Sue Ward, RCT
- Member at Large – Sukanya Mukherjee, RCT-C
- Member at Large – George Maringapasi, RCT
Professional Conduct Committee [RCT ACT 43 (1); 43 (2) 43 (5) 43 (9)] – Terms of Reference (PDF)
- Chair – Derek Smith, RCT
- Vice Chair – Vacant (Public Representative)
- Member at Large – Chris Charles, RCT
- Member at Large – Daniel Van der Lans, RCT
- Member at Large – Wayne Maxwell, AA
Reinstatement Committee [RCT ACT 50 (1)] – Terms of Reference (PDF)
- Chair – Felicia Boutilier, RCT
- Member at Large – Michelle Labine, RCT
- Member at Large – Theresa Fraser, RCT
- Public Representative – Vacant
Ancillary Committees
These are committees that directly support the work of the College.
Ethics and Practice Standards Committee – Terms of Reference (PDF)
- Chair – Holly Sher, RCT
- Member at Large – Jeff MacDonald, RCT
- Member at Large – Mary Norton, RCT
- Member at Large – Karen Johnston-Hutchins, RCT
- Member at Large – Maya Sloan, RCT
- Public Representative – Vacant
Policy and Procedures Committee – Terms of Reference (PDF)
- Chair – Vacant
- Member at Large – Lori Slaunwhite, RCT
- Member at Large – Vacant
- Member at Large – Stacy Darku, RCT-C
- Member at Large – Maggie Khouri, RCT
- Member at Large – Joan Conrad-Cormier, RCT
- Public Representative – Lisa Matthews
- Executive Director & Registrar – John Hubert (ex-officio)