Press Release: 15 Sep 2005

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy says yes we need more therapy but not 10,000 new therapists

Lord Layard, an economist and chief Downing Street advisor, has called for the training of 10,000 additional therapists to cope with Britain's high rates of anxiety and depression.

Medication, he says, is failing to treat the problem. The economy is suffering as depressed workers continue to apply for long-term sickness benefit.

Whilst the call for more therapy is admirable, and keeps Tony Blair's promise in the last election to 'look into' long waiting times for counselling and psychotherapy, his call for 10,000 new therapists makes little economic sense.

The BACP, the main representative body for professional counselling and psychotherapy in the UK with over 25,000 members knows that finding extra therapists is unnecessary because these therapists already exist!
It is true that depression is a burden to the economy but although therapy has the potential to help many people, greater clarity must be applied to several of Richard Layard's claims.

Firstly, Lord Layard does not understand that many counsellors and psychotherapists already incorporate his favoured method of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in their clinical approach. So why would we need to go out and find new practitioners to train?

Secondly, Lord Layard favours re-deploying scarce staff such as nurses and occupational therapists into this project. Why deplete other parts of the NHS when some 70 per cent of GP practices already offer a counselling service which could simply be expanded to take the strain?

Thirdly, Lord Layard questions the ability of existing counsellors and psychotherapists to work as part of a team. On this score, he is simply misinformed. There is a standard team approach for counsellors and therapists working throughout the NHS.

Fourthly, Lord Layard says that counsellors are not properly supervised. On this score, he is completely uninformed. It is bitterly ironic since BACP has pioneered mandatory supervision for professional counselling and our Ethical Framework is a model of good practice widely copied throughout the world.

Fifth, Lord Layard does not seem to realise that CBT is only one form of talking treatment, it will not suit all patients, there is strong evidence that other counselling can be equally effective and CBT is not necessarily the cheapest solution. Outcome studies of CBT can be more easily evaluated than other psychological therapies, but although CBT can be valuable it is not always the best choice, nor the patient's choice. As the mental health charity MIND said on 18 August 2005: "Other treatments such as counselling can also be effective".

Sixthly, Lord Layard the author of a book on 'Happiness' (Penguin Publications) says he wants to get away from depression as just a 'health' issue and 'to look beyond the diagnosis' yet his proposals will have the opposite effect. Counselling begins with relationship and not diagnosis. Unhappiness is the consequence of more than a diagnosed condition and always arises from a life situation. Counselling isn't deductive; it is holistic and will not merely treat a symptom but look towards the cause of the depression.

Lastly, Lord Layard speaks of depression and anxiety as a burden on the Economy. Depression is in fact a burden on Society and one that we cannot afford. It can be treated now and the BACP is willing to testify that an investment programme to expand existing services would make the most rational, economic, human and psychological sense.

For any further information, or if you are a journalist wishing to reserve a press pass, please contact Phillip Hodson 020 7794 2838 (phillip@philliphodson.co.uk) or Gilly White 0870 443 5243 (gilly.white@bacp.co.uk)