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British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is a professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists practising in the United Kingdom.[1][2]

"BACP" redirects here. For the network protocol, see bandwidth allocation protocol.

Abbreviation

BACP

1977

Professional Body, Charity

15 St John's Business Park, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4HB

67,000 (approx.)

Natalie Bailey

Phil James

History[edit]

Originally founded in 1977 as the British Association for Counselling, aided by a grant from the Home Office Voluntary Service Unit, it had emerged from the Standing Conference for the Advancement of Counselling.[3][4] This body was inaugurated in 1970 at the instigation of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.[5][6] It was co-founded by the humanist activist Harold Blackham, and drew on detailed work Blackham had done for a non-religious counselling service for the British Humanist Association, which he led at the time.[7][8][3] The organisation's Chair was Nicholas Tyndall, Chief Officer at the National Marriage Guidance Council (which later become Relate).[6]


In 1978, the headquarters were relocated from London to Rugby courtesy of the National Marriage Guidance Council which provided free accommodation to help the association establish itself. The Association is now located in Lutterworth.


In September 2000, the Association recognised that it no longer represented only those involved in counselling, but also psychotherapy, and changed its name to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.[9]


In September 2017, the branding was refreshed introducing a new logo, colour scheme, typeface and the slogan "counselling changes lives", based on a belief in the impact and benefits of the profession. This was Highly Commended in the 2018 memcom membership excellence awards stating that it "found success over various mediums" and "had a clear rationale for the brand relaunch and a strong proposition that counselling changes lives".[10]


In November 2019, the membership was reported to have surpassed 50,000,[11] prompting the Association to share celebratory and rewarding comments from its members as a way to mark the achievement. Individual members pay £178 per year for membership.[12]

Audit, Risk and Performance Committee

Finance and Policy Committee

Membership and Professional Standards Committee

Public Protection Committee

Remuneration and Governance Committee

Research Committee

Older people

Four nations

Children, young people and families

Regulation[edit]

Although counselling and psychotherapy are not statutorily regulated professions,[22] BACP works alongside other associations to advise and appeal to government[23] in attempts to ensure members of the public who access the counselling professions are safeguarded.


The BACP is registered for accreditation under the scheme set up by the Department of Health and regulated by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.[24] The Accredited status of the BACP Register is reviewed annually by the Professional Standards Authority to ensure that the highest standards are being met and good practices are being followed.[25]

Publications[edit]

Therapy Today[edit]

The organisation's Therapy Today magazine, with a circulation of 44,386 (ABC Jan – Dec 2016), is the most widely read specialist magazine for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK, and has a strong international presence, publishing articles on topics crossing the breadth of counselling and psychotherapy practice, modalities and theoretical approaches.

Journals[edit]

The BACP publishes eight member-only journals:

DBE, Psychiatrist, BACP Vice-President

Sue Bailey

OBE, Psychotherapist, BACP Patron 2011–2016

Helen Bamber

Politician, BACP Vice-President

Luciana Berger

Founder, and "architect of modern humanism"

H.J. Blackham

DBE, Psychiatrist, former BACP President

Fiona Caldicott

CBE, Psychologist, Honorary BACP President 1976–1979

Cary Cooper

Psychotherapist, former lobbyist and former editor of the LabourList website

Derek Draper

Politician, former BACP Vice-President

Shreela Flather

Journalist

Phillip Hodson

Television presenter, former BACP Vice-President

Esther Rantzen

Psychologist

John Rowan

Psychotherapist, television personality

Diane Youdale

Lynne Gabriel, OBE, BACP Chair 2008-2011, BACP President 2023

Mental health in the United Kingdom

British Psychoanalytic Council

United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy

BACP