The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a professional association of psychotherapy organisations and practitioners in the United Kingdom.
| Abbreviation | UKCP |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1993 |
| Type | Professional body |
| Headquarters | America Square, London, EC3 United Kingdom |
Key people | Jon Levett (CEO) |
| Website | www.psychotherapy.org.uk |
History
editThe UKCP exists to "promote and maintain the profession of psychotherapy and the highest standards in the practice of psychotherapy throughout the United Kingdom, for the benefit of the public."[1][2][3] Only psychotherapists or psycho-therapeutic counselors who meet UKCP's training requirements and abide by its ethical guidelines are included in its online "Register of Psychotherapists".
The UKCP was initially founded in the 1980s as the United Kingdom Standing Conference for Psychotherapy following the Foster Report (1971) and the Sieghart Report (1978), which recommended regulation of the psychotherapy field.[4] It was formally inaugurated as a council in 1993.
UKCP also represents the United Kingdom in the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) – a Vienna-based umbrella organisation which sets standards for equivalence of training and practice throughout Europe.[citation needed]
Chair
editUKCP elects its chair among its members.
| Term of office | Office holder |
|---|---|
| 2024–present | Pippa Donovan (interim chair) |
| 2023–2024 | Christian Buckland |
| 2022–2023 | Jo Lucas (acting chair) |
| 2022–2022 | Syed Azmatullah |
| 2016–2022 | Martin Pollecoff |
| 2012–2016 | Janet Weisz |
| 2009–2012 | Andrew Samuels |
| 2007–2009 | James Gray Antrican |
| 2005–2007 | Lisa Wake (now de Rijk) |
| 2002–2004 | James Pollard |
| 2001–2002 | Alan Thomson |
| 1998–2001 | Ann Casement |
| 1995–1998 | Digby Tantam |
| 1993–1995 | Emmy van Deurzen |
| 1989–1993 | Michael R. Pokorny (Chair of the UK Standing Conference for Psychotherapy) |
Controversy
editIn October 2024 reports in the UK press alleged that self-regulation of therapists was ineffective. There were references to practitioners, including a GP, who were still able to set up in practice after having been struck off for misconduct by their member organisations, such as the BACP and UKCP. Misconduct was reported to include drug and sexual abuse. Campaigners and MPs have called for stronger measures to protect the public.[5] [6] However Professor Andrew Samuels, a long time psychotherapist and academic put forward the case that statutory regulation would not help the public nor the profession in the current ferment over abusive practitioners.[7]
See also
editGeneral:
References
edit- ^ UKCP (15 March 2009), Press release: "UK Council for Psychotherapy appoints new Chief Executive". Retrieved 7 July 2012
- ^ "United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy".
- ^ UK Council for Psychotherapy (2012). "UKCP's charitable objectives". UK Council for Psychotherapy. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ UK Council for Psychotherapy (2012). "The regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counselors". UK Council for Psychotherapy. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ Hall, Rachel (19 October 2024). "Psychotherapists in England must be regulated experts say after abuse claims rise". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ Strudwick, Patrick (23 October 2024). "Sex, drugs, drunk: unregulated therapy". inews. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Samuels, Andrew (30 October 2024). "Why I would counsel against statutory regulation of psychotherapists". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2024.