I want to talk about making a complaint
If you have concerns about your therapy, please try speaking to your therapist first to try to resolve the issue directly with them.
If you feel you can’t speak to your therapist, you can talk to our Get help with counselling concerns service. They can answer any questions you may have and offer guidance on what to do next.
If you decide to make a complaint, you’ll need to tell us how you have tried to resolve the issue, or explain why this has not been possible.
If your therapist works for a BACP organisational member, you should complain through their internal complaints procedures first. Contact your counselling service provider for details.
I'm thinking about making a formal complaint
We’re only able to consider complaints against our members, so please check that your therapist is a BACP member. We can also deal with complaints about former members in some circumstances.
Please see our guide to making a complaint or email professional_conduct@bacp.co.uk if you want more information.
Guide to making a complaint against a BACP member (pdf 140KB)
We have two complaints procedures which can be used by clients, our members and ourselves to complain about alleged poor practice by a member:
- the Professional Conduct Procedure (PCP) for therapeutic relationships
- Article 12.6 for serious complaints which cannot be dealt with under the PCP
If we uphold a complaint, there several possible steps we can take, including withdrawal of membership.
I want to make a complaint
Please complete our online professional conduct complaint form.
If you need help filling in the form, or have any problems making your complaint, please email us at professional_conduct@bacp.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can download and complete a Word version of the form and send it by post to Professional Conduct, BACP House, Unit 15, St. John’s Business Park, Lutterworth, LE17 4HB.
Professional conduct complaint form (docx 134KB)
What happens next
We'll contact you to confirm we've received your complaint and will talk you through the process and any further information we may need.
It may take up to 12 to 18 months to complete the complaints procedure. For more information, please see: