Is Your Therapist Qualified?

When choosing a therapist in the UK, how do you know whether that person is properly qualified? No-one coming to see me for therapy has ever asked to see proof of my qualifications. For that matter, neither have I asked any of the therapists that I myself have worked with to show me their certificates. We are a trusting bunch!

In the UK, the provision of counselling and psychotherapy is not currently regulated (as of 2026). Potentially, anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist. For someone unfamiliar with the profession and how it functions, how can you be sure that the person you are working with has been properly trained and also, crucial in my mind, has undergone sufficient therapy themselves (see my post of 7th March 2013, 'Taking the Client's Chair')?

Practitioners who are members of a professional body e.g. United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapists (UKCP) or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) will have provided evidence that they have passed an approved training course, that they are insured and that they are properly supervised. These bodies also require that members keep themselves up-to-date through continuous professional development. You can check whether members of the UKCP, like me, are bona fide by looking on their online register.

If you are searching for a therapist online, most reputable directories - e.g. the UKCP's own listing, Find-A-Therapist and a directory such as Psychology Today, will require that therapists provide proof of professional membership and that certain criteria are met before including them on their site.

If you are unsure, asking your counsellor or psychotherapist for proof of professional membership before an initial consultation would be a good way to confirm that the person is who they say they are. There is no guarantee that this particular therapist will be the right one for you, however you will know that they have been trained to a certain standard and are required to maintain that standard.

Copyright: Caroline Clarke, Brighton Psychotherapist and counsellor. And online. UKCP registration number 2011164261.

Image courtesy of suphakit73 at FreeDigitalPhotos