Better Access to Psychological Care in Ontario Starts with Smarter Use of Skilled Psychologists

What Labour Mobility Really Means for Psychologists in Ontario

When “labour mobility” legislation first came onto my radar a few years ago, the idea seemed perfectly reasonable. Allowing professionals and tradespeople to move more freely across provinces sounded efficient and fair. During my training as a psychologist, I was taught to expect numerous barriers when relocating—lengthy paperwork, costly exams, additional supervision, and months (sometimes years) of delay before being able to practise again.

Recently, however, Ontario’s government has reframed “labour mobility” as a tool to expand access to psychological care. The College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) has proposed reducing training requirements and loosening evaluation standards for new registrants in compliance with new labour mobility legislation. The government argues this will help more Ontarians find timely psychological support.

At first glance, this logic seems undeniable: more psychologists should mean more access. But the reality in Ontario tells a very different story.

Underutilized Psychologist Hours: A Closer Look at Ontario’s Private Practices

Data from my own clinical practice—and echoed by many colleagues—show there is already underused capacity across the province. In my solo practice in Toronto, I regularly have 8 to 18 unused clinical hours every month that remain open for clients. These represent available time for new or returning patients—proof that supply is not the issue.

The real problem lies in how psychologists are distributed and funded. Nearly half of Ontario’s psychologists work in private practice, while only about 12% hold full-time positions in publicly funded settings such as hospitals or schools. [1] This imbalance has created a two-tiered system where access often depends on private insurance or personal means. Expanding licensure without addressing these structural inequities does little to help those most in need.

Why Lowering Training Standards is Not the Solution

Fast-tracking registration may increase numbers on paper, but it fails to solve the real barriers to access:

• Low public sector compensation drives talent away from community settings

• Fragmented care pathways hinder coordination

• Limited public funding for psychologist positions in hospitals, schools, and primary care

  
  

What Ontario truly needs isn’t a wave of hastily licensed professionals—it needs smarter integration and sustained investment. Strengthening public sector roles, compensating psychologists fairly, and improving referral and funding systems would make far better use of the expertise that already exists.

Collaboration: A Key to Improved Psychological Care

I’m deeply grateful to the health clinics and physicians across Ontario who continue to refer patients to my psychology clinic. Each referral represents more than a transaction—it’s an act of trust and a shared commitment to helping Ontarians access meaningful care. These partnerships remind me that collaboration—not expansion alone—is what truly improves access and outcomes for the people we serve.

Simply adding more psychologists won’t solve Ontario’s mental health crisis if the system still fails to connect existing professionals with those who need help most. The issue isn’t a shortage of expertise - it’s a shortage of coordination, funding, and integration. Without meaningful reform, efforts to lower standards or accelerate licensure won’t expand access; they’ll only erode the quality of care Ontarians deserve and rely on.

Woman navigating a digital mental health referral platform on a tablet to access personalized psychological care and connect with licensed psychologists.

References:

1. Ontario Psychological Association (2024). Ontario Psychological Services Report: Comprehensive Fee Survey and Analysis of Practice Diversity Across Public and Private Sectors.  36 pp. https://www.psych.on.ca/getmedia/5d9c963c-50a4-4295-81ce-466987596ebc/2024-Ontario-Psychological-Services-Report-Comprehensive-Fee-Survey-and-Analysis-of-Practice-Diversity-Across-Public-and-Private-Sector-FINAL.pdf