frequently asked questions

1. I would like to talk to a counsellor in my area?
We have lists of counsellors in local areas which we can send. Lists of local counsellors can also be accessed from the online Counselling and Psychotherapy Resources Directory on the BACP website.

2. I have just been diagnosed with …….. and would like some help dealing with this.
We can let you have a lists of counsellors and also a contact sheet with other contact organisations which may offer additional help.

3. My seven year old daughter is having problems with a bereavement we have experienced can you help?
We can let you have a list of counsellors some of whom work with children.

4. I wish to make a complaint against my counsellor but they are not a BACP member.
We cannot take any action regarding non-BACP members, however we can give you details of other professional bodies which might be helpful.

5. I am having a problem with my counsellor, who I think may be a member of BACP, who do I speak to?
We can put you through to our Complaints/Professional Conduct department, who will send you the appropriate documentation.

6. I would like to advertise my services, is there any way I can do this?
As a member of BACP you are eligible to advertise your service in the Counselling and Psychotherapy Resources Directory, which can also be accessed online. Forms are available from the Information Service or the BACP website.

7. I need to refer a client to another counsellor as she is moving away can you help?
You can purchase a regional edition of the Counselling and Psychotherapy Resources Directory for the area to which your client is moving, or access the online version of the directory via the BACP website.

8. I am interested in becoming a counsellor, how do I go about this?
We have training information available on the website, or we can let you have a copy of this information on receipt of an A4 sae (2 x 1st class stamp).

9. Do I need to have a degree or what is the best qualification if I want to become a counsellor?
A Diploma level qualification which meets the BACP Accreditation Criteria  offers a good basic training. A degree may not be the best course to follow if you wish to become BACP Accredited as they are often very theoretically based and BACP Accreditation requires a high proportion of counselling skills development.

10. I want to take an Accredited Course.
The Accredited courses are listed on our website  or can be sent on receipt of an A4 sae (2 x 1st class stamp).

11. What do I need to do to become Accredited with BACP?
Accreditation

12. I am looking for a placement, the local school is willing to take me but they do not have a counselling service set up, will this be OK?
This is not wise practice, there should be an experienced practitioner available to do initial assessments and to offer support and guidance.

13. I wish to take a specialist course to increase my professional development.
The Training in Counselling and Psychotherapy Directory lists a number of courses for professional development of counsellors. CPJ also has a 'Diary’ page which lists short courses and workshops.

14. How do I go about finding a job?
The Information Service produce CounsellingJobsOnline which lists up to date job abstracts from a range of referenced newspapers and journals and paid adverts. All positions are for counsellors or have a strong counselling skills component within them. This is only available to BACP members.

15. How much supervision should I have?
Supervision requirements for Accreditation purposes are a minimum of 1 and a half hours per month. However this is a baseline, further information can be found in the Information Sheet S1 'How much Supervision should you have?'

16. I need to find a new supervisor.
The Counselling and Psychotherapy Resources Directory lists counsellors who also offer their services as supervisors. This information can also be accessed online or can be sent to you in the post.

17. I have an ethical problem and my supervisor has told me to ring BACP.
The Information Service will endeavour to help you explore this problem, we do not offer advice, but rather act as a 'sounding board’ to help view the difficulty within the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy. If the problem appears too complex we have a Network of Experienced Practitioners to whom we can refer for additional support.

18. How much contact time should I have in a 37 hour week?
Guidelines produced by BACP Divisions have recommended that counsellors employed full time do not see clients for more than 20 hours per week, with the rest of the working week being devoted to associated work.

19. I have received a demand from a former client’s solicitor to present him with my notes about the client - what do I do?
We have an excellent Information Guide entitled 'Confidentiality Counselling and the Law’ which examines the relevant legislation and ethical considerations around this issue. It is good practice to uphold your professional Ethical Framework, including those concerning confidentiality as far as possible.

20. I have an ethical issue that I need to talk through with someone, can you help?
We will try to help you to think through the issues within the framework of the BACP Ethical Framework but if you need additional guidance we can refer you to a member of our Experienced Practitioner Panel.

21. Can I claim my supervision costs against tax?
This is probable but it is wise to consult a tax adviser on such financial issues.

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In this section:
useful links | ethical framework | faqs | contact sheets | what to expect from therapy | the work of the information office | media team | jobsonline | database of training placements