1. Skip to main content
  2. Skip to right side bar
  3. Skip to footer
  1. Customise the website font size
  2. A - Use the standard font size
  3. -
  4. A - Use a larger font size
  5. -
  6. A - Use the largest font size

Seeking a Therapist

For information about how counselling can benefit you or those close to you, and how to access therapy, please...

BACP Services

BACP can provide advice on a range of services to help meet the needs of anyone seeking information about counselling and psychotherapy.

BACP on Twitter

BACP

Congratulations to @RochdaleMind Rochdale & District Mind #Counselling #Psychotherapy Service for gaining accreditation http://t.co/6njkQx4I

tweeted 15 days ago • reply

BACPNews

RT @bacp: BACP met with Lord Ramsbotham & supports his amendments (339BA & 339DA) to the Health & Social Care Bill. More info: http://t. ...

tweeted 1 month ago • reply

Welcome from BACP

  • Please select from the list below, the information to view to the right
  • About BACP
    • Aims and objectives
  • Regulation Update
    • Important updates on Regulation
  • What is therapy?
    • Andrew Reeves outlines his definition of what therapy is
  • What to expect?
    • Andrew Reeves provides an overview what you may expect

The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) is a membership organisation and a registered charity that sets standards for therapeutic practice and provides information for therapists, clients of therapy, and the general public.

As the largest professional body representing counselling and psychotherapy in the UK, BACP aim to increase public understanding of the benefits of counselling and psychotherapy, raise awareness of what can be expected from the process of therapy and promote education and/or training for counsellors and psychotherapists.

Read more about BACP's history and structure.

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) Proposals for Voluntary Registers

The draft set of proposals for the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) scheme to accredit voluntary registers was presented for consideration to the CHRE Council meeting on 15th November. These proposals can be found at CHRE.org.uk (PDF).

There are a number of areas in the paper that need more clarification, which will be explored more fully with the CHRE by the CEO and Director of Regulatory Policy.

Some of the standards and processes are becoming clearer. Further proposals are expected in the New Year.

BACP Definition of Counselling

Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies. They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over a short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their wellbeing.

Latest from BACP

  • News
    • Cataloguing the latest news, publications and opportunities
  • In The Media
    • Some of the latest media articles referencing counselling or BACP
  • Events
    • Listing the recently confirmed events near you
  • Regulation
    • Updates to the regulatory policies and associated events
  • Web Design & Hosting
    • Examples of some of our latest bespoke website designs
  • CPD / Online Learning
    • BACP's online cpd modules
  • CPD Directory
    • Providing a source of information on CPD opportunities from participating providers.
  • Jobs Online
    • The most recent counselling and therapy based jobs
  • Therapy Today.net
    • Visit the website for BACP's flagship journal
  • CPR Web Portal
    • Linking Research with Practice
  • Downloads
    • Our most popular downloadable content
  • Bookstore
    • A sample of our literature available to purchase

Barnardo’s Northern Ireland wins top innovation award for ‘Time 4 Me'Barnardo’s Northern Ireland wins top innovation award for ‘Time 4 Me'BACP Press Release - 14th November 2011

My Sisters Place domestic violence service wins excellence awardMy Sisters Place domestic violence service wins excellence awardBACP Press Release - 14th November 2011

BACP welcomes new investment but warns children deserve more than just a mental health labelBACP welcomes new investment but warns children deserve more than just a mental health labelBACP Press Release - 26th October 2011

BACP welcomes report on mental health of students but warns counselling services are threatenedBACP welcomes report on mental health of students but warns counselling services are threatenedBACP Press Release - 30 September 2011

Call for counsellors in all Scottish schoolsCall for counsellors in all Scottish schoolsBBC News Online - 24 June 2011

BACP welcomes Health Service ReformBACP welcomes Health Service ReformBACP Press Release - 15 June 2011

View more counselling media

We are currently in the process of updating and improving our Events database. In the meantime please feel free to view the existing listings.

View more counselling events

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) Workshops

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) Work is continuing with CHRE / Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSAHSC). They have held six workshops between July and September. The workshops were on:

• Mitigating risk without statutory regulation
• Handling poor conduct and practice
• Ensuring buy in to assured voluntary registration by the public, employers, commissioners and registrants
• How high should the bar be set for accreditation?
• Review outputs of the workshops. What issues and suggestions have been made - what other factors should be considered - what conclusions might we draw
• Developing the Accreditation Criteria

Two further workshops are to be held on Risk and Impact Assessment which applicant registers will be required to carry out before applying for approval.

View more regulation

For as little as £7.20 per month BACP can offer you your own therapy website. Below are some of our latest member websites.

www.julietpearce.counselling.co.uk www.julietpearce.counselling.co.ukYou do not have to be in crisis, or have experienced a major life event to benefit from counselling.

www.features.counselling.co.uk www.features.counselling.co.ukCarol Place - Counsellor working in Nottingham City Centre and specialising in relationships and supporting individual members of step families.

www.mindfitness.co.uk www.mindfitness.co.ukKerry Mayes is a qualified counsellor & physical activity instructor who works in the coulsdon area, specialising in beating mental health and boosting physical activity.

www.chriswelch.counselling.co.uk www.chriswelch.counselling.co.ukChris Welch has over 18 years experience in Psychotherapy, Counselling, CBT & Life / Executive Coaching in Sapcote in Leicestershire.

www.janeandrews.counselling.co.uk www.janeandrews.counselling.co.ukJane Andrews is an experienced counsellor based in Bracknell who offers counselling and psychotherapy in Berkshire covering many issues of everyday life.

View more counselling websites

Confidentiality: Managing Client Confidences Course Author: Barbara Mitchels

Guidance on how to bring professional obligations to a close Course Author: Sally Despenser

Preparing for supervision and getting the most out of it Course Author: Sally Despenser

Psychopharmacology and counselling and psychotherapy Course Author: Rachel Freeth

Supervisors: how to support your supervisee through the Counsellor/Psychotherapist Accreditation Process Course Author: Patience O'Neill

The therapist's personal safety and care in the workplace Course Author: Sally Despenser

View more CPD

Developing Supervision Practice (Module 1) (BACP Endorsed) Lanarkshire - 23rd Jan 2012

Certificate in Supervision: Theory, Research Skills and Practice (BACP Endorsed) Essex - 25th Feb 2012

Online Group Therapy: Delivery, Research, Ethics and Design West Lothian - 12th Mar 2012

Introduction to Online Coaching: Methods, Ethics and Responsible Social Networking (BACP Endorsed) West Lothian - 2nd May 2012

Developing Supervision Practice (Module 3) (BACP Endorsed) Lanarkshire - 10th Sep 2012

View more from the CPD Directory

Please note: You must be a BACP member to view full job details.

Gambling Intervention Worker Closes: Jan 31, 2012

CounsellorCloses: Jan 27, 2012

Psychodynamic PsychotherapistCloses: Feb 8, 2012

Under 18's At Risk Youth CounsellorCloses: Jan 27, 2012

CounsellorCloses: Jan 27, 2012

Part-time CounsellorCloses: Feb 6, 2012

Mental Health Practitioner - 2 Posts (based In Cornwall)Closes: Feb 1, 2012

View more counselling jobs

Therapy TodayTherapy Today.net

Therapy Today is the flagship professional journal of BACP. It contains informative, authoritative articles on all aspects of counselling and psychotherapy, along with regular features such as a client, therapist and student column, news and latest research, professional conduct cases, book reviews and readers' letters.

Published ten times a year, Therapy Today is mailed out free of charge to every member of BACP.

Visit Therapy Today.net, for past articles and to read new features, written exclusively for the web.

View more issues of Therapy Today

CPR Journal

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research journal's website, features digests of research papers, research news and advance information on the next issue of CPR. Exclusive to the site is an easy to navigate glossary of research terms, book reviews and specially commissioned content that helps practitioners link research with practice.

View more about the CPR Journal

BACP Ethical Framework unifies and replaces all the earlier codes for counsellors, trainers and supervisors

BACP Annual Review 2010 - 2011

Individual Application Form for inclusion in the Seeking a Therapist Directory

Website Application Form includes full package details, usage guidelines, terms & conditions, ordering details and a five-step guide to help you put your website together

Accreditation Application Criteria

View more downloadable content

Talking therapies: an essential anthologyTalking therapies: an essential anthology 2nd edition

Therapists in CourtTherapists in Court

Guidelines for telephone counselling and psychotherapyGuidelines for telephone counselling and psychotherapy

Good practice guidance for counselling in schoolsGood practice guidance for counselling in schools 4th Edition

E1 - Practical aspects of setting up a counselling serviceE1 - Practical aspects of setting up a counselling service

Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy - Revised EditionEthical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy Revised Edition

View more purchasable books