Professional Pluralism and Partnership: Strategies for Resistance and Action

Abstract

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the term ‘psychotherapist’ is regulated by statute under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (‘the Act’). Since 15 October 2007, when the Order in Council, made earlier on 21 May that year, came into effect, whereby psychotherapy was included as a ‘health profession’ under the Act, the term ‘psychotherapist’ has become a protected one. Practitioners who wish to refer to and advertise themselves as psychotherapists must register with the ‘responsible [regulatory] authority’ for psychotherapy i.e. the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand (‘PBANZ’ or ‘the Board’) (see http://www.pbanz.org.nz/index.php), or risk prosecution and/or fine – and, it transpires, harassment.