The regulatory context

Registered psychologists in Canada practise under provincial college jurisdiction. In Alberta, that means the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). CAP updated its Use of Technology Guideline in September 2024 to reflect the growing role of digital tools and AI in psychological practice.

The central principle is consistent across Canadian provinces: technology is an instrument of practice. The psychologist remains the accountable clinician. Tools that present data for clinician review fit within this framework. Tools that make clinical decisions or function autonomously do not.

Categories of tools available

Digital tools used by Canadian psychologists generally fall into a few categories:

  • Practice management software. Scheduling, billing, documentation, and secure messaging. Examples include Jane App (Canadian), OWL Practice, and others with Canadian data hosting.
  • Telehealth platforms. Video sessions with provincial regulatory compliance. PIPEDA and provincial privacy law (PIPA in Alberta, PHIPA in Ontario) apply to all client data.
  • Between-session support tools. Journaling apps, homework tools, mood tracking, and check-in platforms. Betterjournal operates in this category.
  • AI-assisted documentation tools. Session note generation and summary tools. Regulatory guidance on these is still evolving.

Canadian data requirements matter for all of these categories. Client data subject to PIPA (Alberta) or PHIPA (Ontario) must be stored on Canadian servers or in jurisdictions with equivalent protection. US-only cloud services do not meet this requirement for identifiable health information.

What to look for in a between-session tool

For clinicians evaluating between-session tools specifically, several questions matter:

  • Where is client data stored? Canadian servers are required for identifiable health information in most provincial frameworks.
  • Is the tool designed to support the clinician's role, or to operate autonomously? The former aligns with CAP guidance; the latter raises concerns.
  • What does the client consent to, and when? PIPA Section 7 (Alberta) requires informed consent before personal health data is collected.
  • What is the crisis protocol? Any tool used in a clinical context should have a clear pathway to 988 and emergency services, and should not represent itself as a crisis resource.

Where Betterjournal fits

Betterjournal is a between-session support tool for Canadian private-practice clinicians and their clients. It is not telehealth, not a practice management system, and not a crisis service. Client data is stored on Canadian servers. The clinician sees only what clients choose to share. The platform is designed to support the clinician's role, not substitute for it.

Built for Canadian private practice

Betterjournal is designed with PIPA, HIA, and CAP's technology guidelines in mind. Flat monthly rate. Clients are always free.

Learn more for clinicians

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