• All complaints against College members must be in writing and addressed to the Council Chairperson of the Canadian College of Professional Counellors and Psychotherapists
• The College Council Chairperson shall notify the complanant in writing of receipt and disposition of the complaint.
• The Council Chairperson shall notify the College member in writing of the complaint received and a copy of the complaint submitted by the complainant.
• The college shall take the responisiblity to notify the appropriate authorities if the complaint is deemed to be of a criminal nature, and only after consulting with College Council members.
• If deemed necessary and recommended by the College Council the complainant and College member are to be notified in writing of the foregoing decision.
• Should the complaint be deemed to be a contravention of the College Code of Ethics the complainant and the College member shall be notified in writing and include the next step in the complaint process.

Stage 1 - If the complaint is not of a criminal nature and does not require referral to the appropriate authorities, and does not appear to be a contravention of the College Code of Ethics, the College Council Chairperson may recommend mediation to the complainant and College member. If the complaint is worthy of a criminal investigation the Council Chairperson will advise in writing to the complainant and College member that the College Council will not commence with a College investigation until the criminal investigation is completed or on advice of the College Solicitor. Any decision by the College Council to "temporarily suspend" or to "practice under supervision" a College member, shall be on the advice of the College Solicitor. The complainant and College member shall be informed in writing of the Council and (or) Solicitor decision.

Stage 2 - The College has the responisiblity, duty, and right to accumulate as much information and evidence as possible on behalf of the complainant and the College member. The College Council may elect to hold a hearing with regard to the complaint received. The complainant and the College member shall be notified in writing that they have the right to present their information and (or) evidence to the College Council in person, and that they may have an advocate (Solicitor or other representative) to be present and advocte for them at the hearing. The date for that hearing shall be held within a reasonable time and in consideration of the Council's schedule, as well as the schedule of the parties to be represented at the hearing. The College Council may choose to have a legal representative at this hearing, and must inform all parties of that intent.

Stage 3 - After careful review of all the information and evidence provided to the College Council, and with due diligence, and with the advice of the College Solicitor, shall provide the complainant and the College member of the decision rendered by the Council of the Canadian College of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

Stage 4 - The complainant and (or) the College member has the Right to Appeal in writing the decision of the College Council within 30 days of receiving the first College decision. The Appeal process shall be carried out on the the advice of the College Solicitor and the process must have the agreement of all parties.