Related articles
Accumulation of experience for counsellors |
| "In response to the letter by Fiona Ballantine Dykes in last month’s Therapy Today, regarding the lengthier training/greater experience of psychotherapists compared to counsellors, I want to say that, whilst I don’t have much experience of the psychotherapy world, the experience I do have indicates:" |
Learning zone
Dilemmas
This month's dilemma: Would you break confidentiality if a reluctant client fails to attend, or respond to letters while owing money?
Read moreCounselling and Psychotherapy Research (CPR)
is a peer reviewed, quarterly international journal. Visit http://www.cprjournal.com/ to read abstracts, receive regular e-bulletins and access the research glossaryHindsights
Why I became a counsellor
What makes a good therapist? What values do you hold dear? Heather Dale responds to our questions
Read moreFeedback
We value your feedback. Like most websites, Therapy Today.net is in ongoing development. If we can make the site more user-friendly or relevant to you, please let us know Leave feedback
I have just read Lynne Gabriel’s letter urging members to help ‘force a change’ in the recommendations currently out for consultation by HPC regarding the statutory regulation of counselling and psychotherapy.
Lower level of training
It may well be the case that, for many experienced practitioners, there is little difference between counselling and psychotherapy but the evidence is that there is a clear differentiation at entry level. The BACP’s argument that counselling and psychotherapy is of equivalence at entry level is aspirational, not evidence-based, as counsellors clearly do enter the profession and work at a lower level of training.
Furthermore, the consequence of there being ‘no difference’ at entry level would mean that there would have to be common curriculum and practice requirements for counsellors and psychotherapists. A reputable psychotherapy training includes:- several years of weekly personal psychotherapy with an accredited psychotherapist;
- typically more than 600 hours supervised client work;
- typically around 900 tutor contact training hours;
- a mental health placement and the ability to work with complex mental health problems at the point of entry to the register.
These would also have to be minimum requirements for entry-level counsellors. Is this really the outcome that counsellors want? Should counsellors who do valuable work with common life/mental health problems be excluded from doing this work?
If the draft Standards of Proficiency do not adequately distinguish between entry level counselling and psychotherapy then they 
need further work.Fiona Ballantine Dykes
CPCAB representative on the PLG
CPCAB’s response to the HPC consultation is available on the CPCAB website at www.cpcab.co.uk
