Our BACP members base are a group of wonderfully diverse practitioners with a range of experiences and expertise. The launch of the new Communities of Practice platform offers members the opportunity to tap into this wealth of expertise, network and connect with fellow practitioners.

Working in the mental health and therapy field can sometimes be an isolating profession. I’m currently working in Private Practice and, at times, miss the community nature of my training course - the discussion of new and exciting theoretical knowledge, ethical dilemmas and how to best practice. I felt that bouncing ideas with fellow trainee therapists was very much integral to my growth as a therapist, encouraging me to think in new ways, which in turn, helped me show up in the best way I possibly could for the client. After graduating, I knew that a sense of community, pooled knowledge and discussion would be an important element in my continued development as a therapist.

When BACP announced that it was launching the Communities of Practice platform, I was truly excited about the opportunity to connect to the national community of therapists, coaches and counsellors. The platform is free and accessible at all times which makes it easy to network with others.. Furthermore, the topics on the platform are equally as diverse as its community and the mental health profession: from addiction to trauma; bereavement to eco therapy. These diverse discussions offer practitioners an opportunity to share resources, discuss advancements in research and expand their practical knowledge.

I’m a Communities of Practice Champion for perinatal therapy, which is a place to share knowledge and experience of working with perinatal clients, including women and birthing people, parents and partners. The perinatal period includes pregnancy and the first year following the birth of the child. This was a particular area of interest that I wanted to champion and a category of therapy that I felt was underrepresented, yet often entered the therapeutic space. If birthing people, partners and families’ mental health is championed, then this provides a landscape for healthy attachments with their children in their first years of life and importantly, also helps our clients to feel empowered and autonomous in their own lives -fostering a sense of safety and security. As perinatal therapy is such a vast topic, I’ve been enjoying opening up discussions with fellow practitioners, which I believe will help myself and others come from a space of being informed in the therapeutic space. I look forward to engaging in more discussions with you all over on the Communities of Practice platform.

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