Our history

The British Association for Counselling grew from the Standing Conference for the Advancement of Counselling, a grouping of organisations inaugurated in 1970 at the instigation of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. Membership was extended to include individuals when in 1977, with the aid of a grant from the Home Office Voluntary Service Unit, the British Association for Counselling was founded.

In 1978 the headquarters was moved from London to Rugby courtesy of the National Marriage Guidance Council which provided free accommodation to help the association establish itself.

In September 2000, the Association recognised that it no longer represented just counselling, but also psychotherapy. It changed its name to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The change of name also acknowledged that counsellors and psychotherapists wished to belong to a united profession that could meet the commonality of interests for both counselling and psychotherapy.

BACP is the largest and broadest body within the sector. Through its work BACP ensures that it meets its remit of public protection whilst also developing and informing its members. It’s work with large and small organisations within the sector ranges from advising schools on how to set up a counselling service, assisting the NHS on service provision, working with voluntary agencies and supporting independent practitioners. BACP participates in the development of counselling and psychotherapy at an international level.

The quality of response that BACP is able to offer has led the Association to being the prime partner in projects with national and local organisations, bodies and groups.

How is BACP run?

Our structure
BACP is a company limited by guarantee and a registered Charity. The governing instrument is the Memorandum and Articles of the Association. The Trustees, known collectively as the Board of Governors, govern the Association.

BACP operates specialist interest divisions and forums that focus on informing members and the public in the following areas:

• Children and Young People
• Healthcare
• Workplace
• Higher and Further Education
• Spiritual and Pastoral
• Independent and Group Practice
• Equality and Diversity
• Voluntary Sector

The Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is the decision-making body of BACP, determining the business of the Association. The Board is required to meet at least twice yearly, but actually meets a minimum of five times a year. All members of the Board are elected by the membership, or co-opted according to the Memorandum and Articles of the Association, for a term of office lasting three years. Members may not serve for more than seven consecutive years without taking a two-year break.

The Board elects a President to serve for a period of three years. If re-elected on retirement, s/he may not serve more than six consecutive years. The Chair serves for three years and also may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

The Board of Governors delegates specific functions to the following expert Committees:

The Audit Committee
The Audit Committee ensures that BACP is complying with relevant legislation and that there is a framework for accountability. The Audit Committee is authorised to investigate accomplishment of the charity’s objectives and the reliability of all records and information.

The Remuneration and Succession Committee
The Remuneration and Succession Committee ensure that the Association has policies in place to ensure appropriate remuneration for staff. It also ensures that there are succession policies and protocols in place to ensure smooth transition in the event of change.

The Strategic Direction Committee
The Strategic Direction Committee recommends timely and consistent policy on professional issues of the Association.

Professional Conduct Committee
The Professional Conduct Committee monitors policy and standards on good practice for the profession. It devises and maintains rules for professional conduct and sets policy for handling complaints.

The Professional Standards Committee
The Professional Standards Committee advises on policy relating to registration and statutory regulation. It is also responsible for the development of policy on accreditation for individuals, training courses and service providers.

The Research Committee
The Research Committee advises on the timely and strategic development of research policies.

Members of the Board of Governors may sit on one or more of these committees. Around 180 volunteer members of the Association sit on various committees and working groups of BACP, which ultimately report to the Board of Governors. All are involved in developing, implementing and monitoring policies in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Association.

The Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is appointed by, and responsible to, the Board of Governors. The CEO is responsible for the overall management of the Association in accordance with the law, BACP’s objects and the policies and priorities as determined by the Board of Governors. However, overseeing the day-to-day performance of many duties is delegated to relevant Heads of Department and other staff at BACP as necessary.

What does BACP want to achieve?

Our vision
BACP is leading the effort to make counselling and psychotherapy widely recognised as a profession whose purpose and activity is understood by the general public.

Our mission
To be the leading professional body for counselling and psychotherapy and an automatic reference point for anyone seeking information on counselling and psychotherapy in the United Kingdom.

Our objectives
BACP is established:

i. to promote and provide education and training for counsellors and/or psychotherapists working in either professional or voluntary settings, whether full or part time with a view to raising the standards of counselling and/or psychotherapy for the benefit of the community and in particular for those who are the recipients of counselling and/or psychotherapy; and

ii. to advance the education of the public in the part that counselling and/or psychotherapy can play generally and in particular to meet the needs of those members of society where development and participation in society is impaired by mental, physical or social handicap or disability.

The income and property of the Association is used for the promotion of the aims and objectives summarised here. Importantly for our members and the general public, BACP is a Registered Charity, legally recognised as established and existing for charitable purposes only. This means that the funds raised do not profit the Association, its employees or trustees - they are used to achieve the objectives above, developing the Association for the benefit of its members and the community it serves.

How is BACP achieving its aims?

Our work today

BACP seeks to advise and inform national and international policy and procedures concerned with counselling and psychotherapy, offering information and guidance to those involved in the process. Through regular consultation, the Association continues to offer advice, as appropriate, to the Governments throughout the UK on all counselling and psychotherapy matters. BACP is consulted by government bodies, professional bodies, funding organisations, teaching institutions and many others on important issues concerning counselling and psychotherapy. The association is strongly committed to high practice standards and the protection of the public. This work is of the utmost importance in view of the approaching statutory regulation of counselling and psychotherapy.

The Association sets, promotes and maintains standards for the profession. The Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy with its Professional Conduct Procedure ensures that members of BACP abide by an accepted and approved code of conduct and accountability. This completely revised Framework was introduced in April 2002 and provides a core frame of reference for members to use in their relations with clients, colleagues, fellow members and the wider community. It safeguards both practitioners and members of the public alike. The Professional Conduct Department deals with any alleged breaches of conduct.

BACP sets and monitors its own advertising policy to ensure that both Accredited and non-Accredited members advertise their services in a way that does not misinform or mislead the public. The Association publishes a Counselling and Psychotherapy Resources Directory (CPRD), available in hard copy and on the internet. It is the most accurate, comprehensive and accessible listing of counsellors, psychotherapists, supervisors, trainers, organisations and services available. BACP has published guidance to members of the public on choosing the most appropriate counsellor or psychotherapist according to their needs.

The Association has a reduced fee for all grades of individual membership and for its Accreditation schemes. This enables those with limited income to benefit from the support and recognition which accompanies BACP membership and Accreditation.

BACP also sets recognised standards for the delivery of education and training. By awarding accredited status to suitable counselling and psychotherapy courses, BACP enables those starting and advancing in the field to achieve a level of excellence recognised throughout the profession. Those individuals who have successfully achieved BACP accredited status are nationally recognised as counsellors, psychotherapists, supervisors and trainers, practising to high professional standards. The re-accreditation process based on continuing professional development and reflective practice ensures that our accredited members remain at the forefront of the profession.

BACP’s Training Directory contains details of course listings for universities, further education colleges and specialist training providers. It also includes an "Essential Information for Students" section, with useful information on funding, bursaries, open learning, accreditation and the principles of counselling. The directory includes lists of awarding bodies, a glossary of terms, a guide to theoretical approaches, and an introductory reading list.

BACP disseminates information to the public about the profession by producing a wide range of books, guidelines, journals and pamphlets. Those include publications for counsellors and psychotherapists, those receiving therapy, purchasers of counselling services and those involved in many other different areas of counselling and psychotherapy.

BACP receives on average 5,000 to 6,000 enquiries each month. Information on locating counsellors and psychotherapists, counselling services, supervisors and details of specialist organisations is provided. Information sheets are produced on a multitude of topics. An Ethical Helpline is available to BACP members, providing a service to those encountering ethical dilemmas in their practice.

A busy programme of conferences, seminars, workshops and other training events is run each year, providing continuing professional development opportunities for counsellors and psychotherapists and other professionals.

Our PR and Communications department works to promote public knowledge and awareness of counselling and psychotherapy. It ensures that the message to all relevant external audiences (be it governments, the media or the general public) is delivered consistently, coherently, and as widely as possible. PR and Communications, together with the Media Relations Team, continually responds on behalf of BACP to all relevant reports, press releases, programmes and other topical occurrences.

BACP also aims to undertake and commission research to encourage informed practice. A very important element of BACP’s research strategy is to identify and review the evidence base for counselling and psychotherapy, and where possible to commission or facilitate primary research. The Research department thereby contributes to BACP’s overall aim to develop the profession and to make it widely recognised and understood by the general public, consumers, service purchasers, and by members of allied professions. All this is underpinned by the publication of a Research Journal and a variety of Research reports.

The revised Ethical Guidelines for Researching Counselling and Psychotherapy ensure that members of BACP who undertake research abide by an accepted and approved code of conduct, it is based on the concept of trust between researchers and researched. This provides a core framework for members to use in their work.

The Research Network, facilitated by the Research Department, enables its members to make direct contact via the Research Directory. This comprehensive directory is available free to BACP members and is used for information sharing and networking, averting duplication of work. All BACP members, whether beginners or experts in research, can benefit from the Research Network. BACP Research website can be found at http://cpr.bacp.co.uk

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy:

• values integrity, impartiality and respect;
• embraces a diverse range of counselling and psychotherapy approaches;
• promotes equality of opportunity;
• consults widely;
• advocates accessibility for clients to counsellors;
• undertakes research;
• responds to emerging issues and trend;
• is enterprising.

The above is a brief summary of the structure and aims of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Please refer to the governing document Memorandum and Articles of the Association and to the Standing Orders of the Association for complete information on the aims, structure and operation of BACP.

Additional Information

Additional information about BACP can also be found in the Join BACP section