Funding for Therapy and Counselling for Sexual Abuse 

FAQs: Funding for Therapy and Counselling for Sexual Abuse

• What is the Patient Relations Committee?

  The Patient Relations Committee (PRC) is a committee responsible for overseeing the funding for therapy and counselling program for patients who have been sexually abused by a physiotherapist. The committee is made up of both physiotherapists and members of the public. 
  

   

  • patient-relations-committee

• What is sexual abuse?

  The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) defines sexual abuse not only as sexual intercourse with a patient, but also touching or remarks of a sexual nature directed towards a patient. This means a physiotherapist is not allowed to:
  
  • have sex of any form with a patient
  • touch a patient in a sexual way
  • make comments of a sexual nature or behave in a sexual way towards a patient
  • have an intimate personal relationship with a patient 
  
  Please note that this does not apply to touching, behaviours or comments that are of a clinical nature and are appropriate to the care provided.
  
  To learn more about how to recognize sexual abuse or what to do if you believe you or someone you know has been sexually abused by a physiotherapist, please visit the Understanding Sexual Abuse page.
  

   

• What are the Patient Relations Committee’s eligibility requirements to access funding for therapy and counselling?

  For applications to be approved at the staff level, an application must meet the following requirements:
  
  • The applicant was a patient receiving care from a physiotherapist at the time that the sexual abuse is alleged to have occurred
  
  • The College knows both the name of the patient / applicant and the name of the physiotherapist
  
  • There is an investigation in progress related to the alleged incident
  
  • The patient has applied for funding for therapy and counseling
  
  And 
  
  • The therapist/counselor is not a family member
  
  • The therapist/counselor has no findings of sexual abuse made against them 
  
  • If the therapist/counselor chosen by the patient is not a regulated health care provider, the patient has been advised of the limitations to address practice concerns should they arise
  

   

• What does the funding cover?

  The money can only be used for treatment required because of the sexual abuse by the physiotherapist.

  Financial assistance to cover childcare or travel while attending therapy/counselling may also be covered. If you require this, please contact the College at 1-800-583-5885 ext.290
  fundingfortherapy@collegept.org.

• I filed a complaint a while ago but did not apply for funding at that time. Would I still be eligible?

  You do not have to apply for funding right away. If you choose to apply later, you may still be eligible.

• What if I don’t want to go through the complaints process or be a witness in an investigation?

  If you choose not to go through the complaints process or be a witness in an investigation, you can still apply, and the Patient Relations Committee will review your application.  

• What information do I need to provide in the funding for therapy and counselling application form?

  You will need to provide your name, the name of the physiotherapist and some additional information in the funding for therapy and counselling application.

• Will I need to undergo a psychological assessment to support the need for therapy?

  No, a psychological assessment is not needed.

• I am not seeing a therapist or counsellor right now and may need some time to find one. Do I need to have this information to apply or be approved?

  You do not need to have a therapist or counsellor to apply for funding or to be approved for funding. We understand that this is an important decision and may take some time to find the right fit.

• Are there requirements of who can be covered as my therapist/counsellor?

  The only requirements are that the therapist / counselor is not a family member, and they have no findings of sexual abuse made against them.
  
  A providers can be a regulated health care professional or non-regulated health care professional. A regulated professional must meet certain requirements to practice a profession (e.g., a social worker, psychologist, nurse etc.), and must meet certain requirements to maintain registration. 
  
  If you decide to seek care from a non-regulated health care professional, it is important to know that there is no opportunity to express concern to a regulatory body regarding the care you receive if this becomes an issue. 

• How long does the approval process take?

  If your application meets the Patient Relation Committee’s requirements, you will receive confirmation of the decision within 10 business days of the College receiving the application. 
  
  If your application does not meet the requirements, the committee will make every effort to meet within 10 business days of receiving your application. 

• What happens after my application has been approved?

  The College will let you know. If you already have a therapist/counselor in place the College will reach out to them to confirm the payment process. The College will send both you, the patient, and your therapist/counselor periodic updates on the amount of funding and time that is still available to them.

• Can I have more than one therapist/counselor?

  Yes, you can decide what care works best for you, and this may include having more than one type of therapist/counsellor.

• Will the College ask for details about my sessions with my therapist/counsellor?

  The College will never ask about the details of your sessions with your therapist/counsellor. We will only ask the therapist/counsellor for the dates that they saw you and the fees for those sessions.

• Do I need to stay with that therapist/counselor?

  No, you are free to change or add therapist/counselors at any point in the five-years that your funding has been made available to you. If you do decide to change or add providers, please make sure to let the College know so that the necessary forms can be completed.

• Is there a requirement as to how many times I have appointments with my provider?

  No, the College is not involved in your care plan. The only restrictions that are placed on your care is the dollar amount in funding that is available to you, the time period and the fact that the care is related to the sexual abuse by the physiotherapist.

• Who will know that I have requested or am accessing the fund for therapy and counselling?

  The fact that you have applied for or are accessing funding and all information provided by applicants and their therapist/counsellor’s will be kept confidential. This information will only be shared with the staff administering the fund and the Patient Relations Committee, if needed.