Statutory Regulation of the talking therapies through the Health Professions Council

For the past several years UK counsellors, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists have been being consulted by the government over the issue of statutory regulation in the field. Currently it would seem clear that previous claims by the UCKP and BACP that they were destined to become state recognized registers look to have proven unfounded. It currently appears that the government intends to allow the plethora of existing professional organizations in the field (that support the professional development and concerns of their members) to continue to function.

If or when statutory regulation happens, practising counsellors, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists will need to be able to prove that they meet the national occupational standards that are being developed by the Skills for Health consultation and exploration to be allowed onto a state register under the auspices of the Health Professions Council, which is totally independent of any professional body.

Here at the FETT we consider counselling to be just as much of an art and a person to person interaction as it is a science, but counsellors, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists should all be aware of the need to prepare themselves to be assessed by the Health Professions Council and to meet any future standards that the government is likely to implement. This is why members should be aware that keeping clear personal records of supervision undertaken (be it peer group or traditional supervision) and keeping clear personal records of continuing professional development, even for exceptionally qualified therapists, is highly important. Furthermore every practitioner would be well advised to familiarize themselves with the developing national occupational standards in their field. Where a therapist feels that they may have had a weak point in their training it would be advisable for them to undertake further training to appropriately supplement their qualifications and experience.

We at the FETT believe that the ultimately state regulation may potentially increase the costs and decrease the availability of counselling, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy to the client, whilst failing to protect the public from unethical and inappropriate practitioners (as these may be found in other State-regulated professions). However, when or if State regulation occurrs, practitioners will simply have to adjust themselves to its demands. It seems quite clear from observation of other therapy fields where the HPC has already taken control that there is still likely to be a very broad area in which membership of non-statutory professional bodies will benefit the practising counsellor, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist (through support, advertising, advice and networking etc).