The BACP Research Foundation aims to improve the evidence base for counselling and psychotherapy.  It will commission research that will impact upon the delivery of effective and ethical services, and assess the efficacy of therapeutic interventions.  Efficacy and  effectiveness can only be measured through research. 

Research into the range of questions we need to address about counselling and psychotherapy is sadly lacking at a time when psychological therapies are being used more than ever before in the UK. Research evidence is needed to improve the structure and planning of psychotherapy services and to inform national policy.  Therapeutic models such as CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) have benefitted from much research to date and have benefitted many of the people who access it.   The Foundation aims to extend research into a range of therapies, to enable access and choice to robust interventions. 

The Foundation priorities reflect key national concerns in identifying the initial four key areas for research it would like to fund:

• Children and Young People
• Carers
• Workplace Stress
• Counselling in Primary Care

Currently, around £90 million is spent on mental health research in the UK, compared to £1.6 billion spent on health related research - predominantly medical research - each year*. The BACP Research Foundation is taking the lead in fundraising for counselling and psychotherapy research.    

* Source:   UK Clinical Research Collaboration (2012). UK Health Research Analysis 2009/10.