Join UKCP now and reap the benefits
What is UKCP?
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) exists to promote and maintain the art and science of Psychotherapy and high standards in the practice of Psychotherapy for the benefit of the public, throughout the United Kingdom. The UKCP National Register of Psychotherapists is published annually and only Psychotherapists who meet the training requirements of UKCP and abide by its ethical guidelines are included.
The Council has as its members the great majority of reputable Psychotherapy organisations in the United Kingdom and welcomes applications from new organisations which are rigorously scrutinised. The Royal College of Psychiatrists and The British Psychological Society are Special Members of the Council.
There are at present 80 member organisations and over 6,000 registrants, grouped together in autonomous Sections representing all the main traditions in the practice of psychotherapy. In a few short years UKCP has evolved into being the indispensable national umbrella organisation for all the psychotherapeutic modalities.
What are the benefits of UKCP Registration?
UKCP Registration is primarily concerned with the provision of a Regulatory framework aimed at establishing, maintaining and developing standards of training, practice and conduct for the profession of psychotherapy. In addition to this the UKCP actively promotes the benefits and efficacy of Psychotherapy to the general public and the wider mental health community, which in turn provides our registrant base with a ‘public’ profile.
Why Statutory Regulation?
UKCP regards the regulation of Psychotherapists and the public accountability of their practice as of paramount importance. This is in order to safeguard the interests of patients and clients and the reputation of registered practitioners. That is why, as an organisation, UKCP sees statutory regulation as being imperative. Unlike doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professions, Psychotherapy is not currently statutorily regulated. The use of the title ‘Psychotherapist’ is also not protected, so anyone can use it without fear or prosecution.
Statutory regulation will help to prevent those who are not sufficiently qualified and experienced from practising as a Psychotherapist. It will also mean that all those who are already practising will be more accountable, and liable to investigation by an independent body in the event of malpractice. In addition, statutory regulation will have to take into account and streamline core elements of clinical practice, such as supervision and peer review.
There have been some exciting developments in this area in the last six months. The UKCP is now working very closely with ‘sister’ organisations, such as the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapist (BACP), and the Royal College of Psychiatry (RCP), with funding from the Department of Health, on a developmental project which aims to provide a streamlined voluntary regulatory framework for Psychotherapists and Counsellors in the UK. The main remit of this new project is to create a toolkit for other organisations which are new to regulation, enabling them to develop and implement voluntary regulatory systems. This, in turn, will help ease the profession as a whole into a statutory regulatory process, which the Department of Health has stated will happen in the next three to four years.
By joining UKCP now, not only will you be ensuring seamless entry into the statutory regulatory process, but it also gives you a chance to be involved and have your say.
For more information contact:
Mike Bowen/Valerie Honore
UK Council for Psychotherapy
167-169 Great Portland Street
London W1W 5PF
020 7436 3002 / admin@psychotherapy.org.uk