No regulations for therapists?

[Youwhatnowbiggles]

A recent news story (please can we stay off that and keep to this discussion🤞) made we wonder what regulations therapists are bound by. A quick google revealed that “psychotherapists, psychoanalysts and counsellors are not regulated by the government under a statutory scheme. Anybody can apply these professional titles to themselves and the voluntary organisations that “regulate” them are powerless to do anything to stop them practicing, even after a finding of misconduct.” Considering that most people going to or seeking therapy are most likely in a vulnerable state of mind and potentially easily manipulated etc should the “industry” (because that’s what it is, they do it for payment not charity) not be formally regulated to protect the individuals who use their services?

I didn't know this.

I would like to retrain as a councillor and am looking into what qualifications I need. I can't imagine doing this job without adequate training and regular peer reviews.

It's scary that vulnerable people are being conned.

Which country are you referring to ?

It’s the UK @AhoyMaBuoy - I’m also really shocked by it.

Yes. It's true.

The term "psychologist" is not protected either! So you can be self appointed.

Protected titles are for example "counselling psychologist" or "educational psychologist" and these professionals are highly regulated.

Has always been the case. The public tend to have no idea.

I am a psychotherapist and yes it’s an unregulated profession sadly, people can do a £29 wowcher course and advertise as a therapist. My training was 7 years and hundreds of placement hours and over 100 hours my own personal psychotherapy. I try to encourage those who ask to look for a therapist accredited with UKCP / BACP

Fuck me , that's awful
Anyone can set up as a builder too

Sorry @Thischarmlessgirl - I don’t want to imply that all therapists/counsellors are irresponsible charlatans, there must be many like you who are highly trained and approach your jobs ethically and morally. But there must be many also who enter into this area of work who do not possess those attributes. The government really should be regulating all areas that claim to treat mental health - people shouldn’t put be put at risk like this.

It's the same with Nannies.

Although, I'm actually glad that nannying isn't government regulated, but it's something that people often don't know.

I knew this. Same with quite a few others as mentioned : builders, nanny.

There is a long and detailed history of the attempts to formally and legally regulate the therapy and counselling profession, something that the long established and reputable bodies have long been fully on board with and involved in the process along with the government. I'm long retired now so I have no idea where it's at, but I echo a poster saying that the professional bodies UKCP and BACP are the biggest regulators of training organisations and if someone is accredited under either umbrella you can rest assured they are a) trained long and hard b) tested c) accredited d) work to codes of ethics etc and d) there is a complaints process that has teeth.
The difficulty, historically, has been getting government and the profession to agree on definitions of what therapy and counselling are. Presumably this rumbles on. But if you choose someone who is accredited under one of the large umbrella orgs as above, you are not choosing a loose cannon, although these undoubtedly exist.
As I say, I'm not up to date on the current nuances.

www.psychotherapy.org.uk/

www.bacp.co.uk/

Ha ha - I used d) twice so the second one is e) and by the way I'd like to add f) supervised and g) undertakes ongoing continual professional development.

I also used the word long waaaay to many times!

Well that explains why people can undergo therapy for years and not improve their mental health. Its actually disgusting.

Same with nutritionists, there are some people out there giving really dangerous advice.

I am registered and regulated by the Professional Standards Authority, the BPC and another professional body. You are right though that prospective patients need to check their psychotherapist is appropriately trained, qualified and registered. You would do that when hiring a plumber, solicito, architect, or anyone really wouldn't you?

Completely true and very scary. Dh is a fully qualified counsellor. 3 years at uni and 450 hours of placement ie counselling people for free under supervision.
But he could have just mocked up a website with no training and called himself a counsellor and no one would know.

I thought this was common knowledge.

No, I don't think people do actually. I don't think most people look into the educational background of their solicitor/doctor/vet they just assume because they're practicing in that job they have the relevant qualifications and with those jobs you'd be right....but not with therapists, nannies or nutritionists. I think it is something a lot of people don't realise.

Wait until you find out approx 60% of ambulance crews are not registered....

It's true. I know a couple of people totally unsuited who have trained as therapists.

The vast majority of people who come to see me come through the BACP/UKCP or Counselling Directory

ALL of these websites check your qualifications before you join them (and there's stringent requirements)

I also have a website (where I could claim anything as it's my website) but I only get about 5 enquiries a year through that

So I get about 20-30 enquiries a month through the properly regulated way and not even half of one a month through my website.

The BACP and UKCP are just organisations the therapist signs up to. They might have minimum standards, but those standards are very minimum. They’re not really mark of quality of professionalism. They give a false sense of reassurance to those seeking a therapist.

I'm the same. 7+ years of hard education, hundreds of personality therapy hours and over 400 placement hours before I set up in practice. It's always concerned me that anyone can set up and profess to be trained and qualified.

I had many clients come to me after poor previous experiences in therapy that were damaging.

I always say look for an MA in a Psychotherapy subject. Ask questions about their training, personal therapy etc. The UK is so behind in all MH services

I'm a qualified therapist, 3 years study, 450 student hours plus 100s of hours in personal therapy and supervision. Not to mention the £1000s it cost.

It's a fucking travesty that it isn't regulated and like @heldinadream says, it isn't for the want of trying. It is a field that attracts too many Wounded Helpers.

It is the same with lots of jobs.

Lawyer is not a protected title, but solicitor, barrister and legal executive are.
Nurse is not protected title but registered nurse is.