Introduction

The profession of nursing is in a pivotal position to provide holistic care to the needs of Canadians across various settings. Nurses who possess the knowledge, skill, and judgment to independently practice psychotherapy can meet the demands of the population requiring psychotherapeutic treatment, thus extending access to equity-deserving populations, and enabling comprehensive care to be offered via the nurse-client therapeutic relationship. Enabling the full scope of nurses through supportive legislation, educational requirements, and regulation, ensures the safety of the public and is foundational to guiding nurses who wish to pursue this career trajectory. This chapter will provide context for this book by introducing the history of nursing and psychotherapy in North America and the ever-evolving landscape.