Petition · past parliament
Fully regulate Counselling and Psychotherapy, to properly protect the public.
Closed
46 signatures
What the petition asks
Anyone can call themselves "counsellor" or "psychotherapist", even with no qualifications at all.
Such people are a potentially fatal danger to clients, yet are currently free to practise.
There are societies to belong to, accreditations to gain and registers to join, but all are optional.
Such people are a potentially fatal danger to clients, yet are currently free to practise.
There are societies to belong to, accreditations to gain and registers to join, but all are optional.
Successive governments have promised to regulate counselling for over a decade, but none have done so.
The "Accredited Register" scheme was created in 2013, and is like "CORGI" for counsellors. It sets minimum standards of training, insurance etc. However, you don't have to join a register and clients do not necessarily even know of its existence.
Regulation would protect the titles "counsellor" and "psychotherapist" and prevent those who do not meet minimum safety standards from practising.
The "Accredited Register" scheme was created in 2013, and is like "CORGI" for counsellors. It sets minimum standards of training, insurance etc. However, you don't have to join a register and clients do not necessarily even know of its existence.
Regulation would protect the titles "counsellor" and "psychotherapist" and prevent those who do not meet minimum safety standards from practising.
Timeline
| 17 Nov 2016 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 2 May 2017 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
46
Status
Closed
Opened
17 Nov 2016
Closed
2 May 2017
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.