In the November issue of Therapy Today Steve Pilling discussed the NICE guidelines for psychological therapies. The interviewer worked hard to ascertain how counsellors could establish their effectiveness given that randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are complex and expensive and counsellors are rarely in a position to be part of these.

Pilling is sceptical about the use of practice-based evidence, however large the data set, because it does not have an element of comparability. He states that counsellors should be able to produce evidence acceptable to NICE, noting that some psychodynamic practitioners (such as Peter Fonagy) have started to do this. He ends by exhorting the ‘average’ counselling practitioner to stop whingeing and to say ‘yes’ when researchers such as Robert Elliott, Peter Fonagy or David Clark approach us to ask if we want to be in a trial.

Well, I might count as an ‘average’ practitioner: I have more than 10 years full-time experience in counselling in primary care and a Masters in counselling. When the opportunity arose to take part in research into psychodynamic interpersonal therapy I was delighted to be able to be involved. I also continue to keep up to date with research developments in the field. I think this amply demonstrates an interest in, and commitment to, research.

I am more than happy to say ‘yes’ when approached by any researcher. I am also curious to know how many counsellors have said ‘no’ to such a request in order to carry on whingeing.