So, counsellors are not deemed competent to assess a client’s mental health situation. I work in a specialist counselling agency for survivors of sexual violence. Will these proposals mean that we have to employ a psychotherapist to assess new clients? Many of our clients have quite severe mental health issues, which may not emerge until counselling is underway. Will we have to terminate their therapy in case we get prosecuted? How would this accord with the ethical principles of beneficence and justice? Under the BACP Ethical Framework, we are already bound to work within our own competence. I cannot see the need for this further regulation.

And things get even more bizarre if we consider individual counsellors who have their own private practice. Will they also have to employ a psychotherapist to screen their clients?

And by the way, what happened to client autonomy and informed choice?

Anne Clafferty