The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a professional association of psychotherapy organisations and practitioners in the United Kingdom.
History The 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."UKCP (15 March 2009), . Retrieved 7 July 2012 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. 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.
Chair UKCP elects its chair among its members. Term of office Office holder2024–presentPippa Donovan (interim chair)2023–2024 Christian Buckland 2022–2023 Jo Lucas (acting chair)2022–2022 Syed Azmatullah2016–2022 Martin Pollecoff2012–2016 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 In 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. 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.
Transgender youth
See also British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy British Psychoanalytic Council Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy
General: Mental health in the United Kingdom
References
External links UKCP official website