Welcome from BACP
- Please select from the list below, the information to view to the right
- About BACP
- Aims and objectives
- Regulation Update
- Important updates on Regulation
- What is therapy?
- Andrew Reeves outlines his definition of what therapy is
- What to expect?
- Andrew Reeves provides an overview what you may expect
The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) is a membership organisation and a registered charity that sets standards for therapeutic practice and provides information for therapists, clients of therapy, and the general public.
As the largest professional body representing counselling and psychotherapy in the UK, BACP aim to increase public understanding of the benefits of counselling and psychotherapy, raise awareness of what can be expected from the process of therapy and promote education and/or training for counsellors and psychotherapists.
Read more about BACP's history and structure.
Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) Work is continuing with CHRE / Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSAHSC). They have held six workshops between July and September. The workshops were on:
- Mitigating risk without statutory regulation
- Handling poor conduct and practice
- Ensuring buy in to assured voluntary registration by the public, employers, commissioners and registrants
- How high should the bar be set for accreditation?
- Review outputs of the workshops. What issues and suggestions have been made - what other factors should be considered - what conclusions might we draw
- Developing the Accreditation Criteria
The next workshop on 14 October will be on Developing the Accreditation Process. At this meeting CHRE will present a set of draft standards derived from the previous workshops and the meeting will then debate the evidence required to meet those standards and the process of assessment.
Two further workshops are to be held on Risk and Impact Assessment which applicant registers will be required to carry out before applying for approval.
The CEO and the Director or Regulatory Policy will be attending the meeting on 14 October.
BACP Definition of Counselling
Counselling and psychotherapy are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking therapies. They are delivered by trained practitioners who work with people over a short or long term to help them bring about effective change or enhance their wellbeing.
If you have any questions about the counselling process please feel free to contact the Client & Ethical Information Helpdesk on 01455 883316.
Latest from BACP
- News
- Cataloguing the latest news, publications and opportunities
- In The Media
- Some of the latest media articles referencing counselling or BACP
- Events
- Listing the recently confirmed events near you
- Regulation
- Updates to the regulatory policies and associated events
- Web Design & Hosting
- Examples of some of our latest bespoke website designs
- CPD / Online Learning
- BACP's online cpd modules
- CPD Directory
- Providing a source of information on CPD opportunities from participating providers.
- Jobs Online
- The most recent counselling and therapy based jobs
- Therapy Today.net
- Visit the website for BACP's flagship journal
- CPR Web Portal
- Linking Research with Practice
- Downloads
- Our most popular downloadable content
- Bookstore
- A sample of our literature available to purchase
Final call for papersResearch
BACP Regulation Stakeholder Reference Group Meeting 21 June 2011Regulation Updates
New Publication Special Offer - Legal Issues across counselling and psychotherapy settings: a guide to practiceNew Publications
Writing for publication in CPR: a workshop': 31 October 2011Research
Special Offer - Essential Law for Counsellors and PsychotherapistsPublications
Update on the Command Paper - Enabling ExcellenceRegulation Updates
View more counselling news
Barnardo’s Northern Ireland wins top innovation award for ‘Time 4 Me'BACP Press Release - 14th November 2011
My Sisters Place domestic violence service wins excellence awardBACP Press Release - 14th November 2011
BACP welcomes new investment but warns children deserve more than just a mental health labelBACP Press Release - 26th October 2011
BACP welcomes report on mental health of students but warns counselling services are threatenedBACP Press Release - 30 September 2011
Call for counsellors in all Scottish schoolsBBC News Online - 24 June 2011
BACP welcomes Health Service ReformBACP Press Release - 15 June 2011
View more counselling media
We are currently in the process of updating and improving our Events database. In the meantime please feel free to view the existing listings.
View more counselling events
BACP Regulation Stakeholder Reference Group Meeting 21 June 2011
The BACP Regulation Stakeholder Reference Group meeting on 21 June 2011 heard a presentation and questions and answer dialogue between Christine Braithwaite, the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) Director of Policy and External Relations, and Sally Aldridge, BACP's Director of Regulatory Policy, on the main features of the CHRE (soon to become the Professional Standards Authority [PSA]) scheme for the accreditation of voluntary registers.
NEW CPD Module: Psychopharmacology, counselling & psychotherapy
BACP is pleased to announce publication of its new online cpd module, 'Psychopharmacology and counselling and psychotherapy'.
The module is priced at £10 for members and £15 for non-members.
View more regulation
For as little as £7.20 per month BACP can offer you your own therapy website. Below are some of our latest member websites.
www.mindfitness.co.ukKerry Mayes is a qualified counsellor & physical activity instructor who works in the coulsdon area, specialising in beating mental health and boosting physical activity.
www.chriswelch.counselling.co.ukChris Welch has over 18 years experience in Psychotherapy, Counselling, CBT & Life / Executive Coaching in Sapcote in Leicestershire.
www.janeandrews.counselling.co.ukJane Andrews is an experienced counsellor based in Bracknell who offers counselling and psychotherapy in Berkshire covering many issues of everyday life.
www.ledesma.counselling.co.ukAlison de Ledesma is an accredited psychodynamic counsellor who offers a way to explore you needs through sessions in Alton & Farringdon.
www.delrenewalker.bacp.co.ukDelrene Walker is an experienced counsellor offering an individual approach to therapy in south woodford and south croydon.
View more counselling websites
Confidentiality: Managing Client Confidences Course Author: Barbara Mitchels
Guidance on how to bring professional obligations to a close Course Author: Sally Despenser
Preparing for supervision and getting the most out of it Course Author: Sally Despenser
Psychopharmacology and counselling and psychotherapy Course Author: Rachel Freeth
Supervisors: how to support your supervisee through the Counsellor/Psychotherapist Accreditation Process Course Author: Patience O'Neill
The therapist's personal safety and care in the workplace Course Author: Sally Despenser
View more CPD
Two-day experiential-workshop West Midlands - 10th Jun 2011
Loss & Bereavement Workshop (BACP Endorsed) Essex - 17th Sep 2011
Online Counselling and Psychotherapy: Audio and Video Methods of Delivery (BACP Endorsed) West Lothian - 21st Nov 2011
Introduction to Online Coaching: Methods, Ethics and Responsible Social Networking (BACP Endorsed)  
Professional Development Group (monthly) Worcestershire - 1st Jun 2012
View more from the CPD Directory
Please note: You must be a BACP member to view full job details.
Clinical Supervisor (part Time)Closes: Dec 15, 2011
Clinical SupervisorCloses: Nov 25, 2011
Volunteer CounsellorCloses: Dec 5, 2011
Assistant Clinical Area Manager; Volunteer Counsellors (east Lancashire)Closes: Nov 21, 2011
Head Of Student CounsellingCloses: Nov 23, 2011
Senior Family Therapist; Family TherapistCloses: Nov 29, 2011
Counselling Service Co-ordinatorCloses: Dec 5, 2011
View more counselling jobs
Therapy Today.netTherapy Today is the flagship professional journal of BACP. It contains informative, authoritative articles on all aspects of counselling and psychotherapy, along with regular features such as a client, therapist and student column, news and latest research, professional conduct cases, book reviews and readers' letters.
Published ten times a year, Therapy Today is mailed out free of charge to every member of BACP.
Visit Therapy Today.net, for past articles and to read new features, written exclusively for the web.
View more issues of Therapy Today
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research journal's website, features digests of research papers, research news and advance information on the next issue of CPR. Exclusive to the site is an easy to navigate glossary of research terms, book reviews and specially commissioned content that helps practitioners link research with practice.
View more about the CPR Journal
BACP Ethical Framework unifies and replaces all the earlier codes for counsellors, trainers and supervisors
BACP Annual Review 2010 - 2011
Individual Application Form for inclusion in the Seeking a Therapist Directory
Website Application Form includes full package details, usage guidelines, terms & conditions, ordering details and a five-step guide to help you put your website together
Talking therapies: an essential anthology 2nd edition
Therapists in Court
Guidelines for telephone counselling and psychotherapy
Good practice guidance for counselling in schools 4th Edition
E1 - Practical aspects of setting up a counselling service
Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy Revised Edition