Many people look for private psychotherapy or counselling via search engines like Google or online registers like Psychology Today or Counselling Directory for many reasons.
Search 'psychotherapist near me' on Google and you'll find a lot of people you could potentially contact. But how do you know if the person you are contacting is safe and knows what they are doing? Firstly, check if they are 'accredited' or 'registered' with a regulating body like the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
But why is it important that therapists are regulated?
Because Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy, it is often accessed by vulnerable adults or children and young people who may be experiencing mental health issues due to trauma, bereavement, or other difficulties or conditions. It is important that vulnerable people are not exposed to practises that can cause harm or are even dangerous.
Art Therapist or Art Psychotherapist are titles which are interchangeable and protected by UK law. People are breaking the law if they call themselves an Art Therapist or Art Psychotherapist without a qualification and HCPC registration.
Being registered means not only have I completed rigorous training through an approved course (See BAAT website) , but provide art therapy through a set of standards and proficiencies that is safe and ethical.
In the UK, the title art therapist and art psychotherapist are protected by law. All UK art therapists must be state registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).(BAAT website)
I found out recently that the terms 'counsellor' and 'psychotherapist' are not protected by law, which means that anyone can call themself one of these terms. As the BBC podcast and clip highlight, anyone can sign up to an online course that costs as little as £13, even cheat their way through the course, and call themselves a therapist or counsellor. If someone isn't properly trained, this can be harmful and even dangerous.
I feel the lack of regulation completely undermines legitimate and highly skilled psychotherapist and counselling colleagues. See this article by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for more info. If you want to see a list of regulated professions, look up the Gov.uk list here.
Comments