This can be tricky. Counselling and psychotherapy are not ‘protected professions’ in the way that medicine is. In theory, anyone can call themselves a ‘therapist’ regardless of how much (or little!) training or experience they may have. There are some safeguards, however. There are three main professional bodies which enforce clear professional standards on their members. These are the BACP ( British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) the UKCP ( United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy) and the BPS (British Psychological Society). Counsellors who advertise as members must have completed the necessary training (usually over several years), and work according to the ethical standards required. Look out for these letters when seeking a counsellor. Should you ever feel unhappy with the service you receive from such a counsellor, you can take your complaint to their professional body, who will investigate and take action where necessary. This could include being required to train further, being suspended from practice for a period, and ultimately being stripped of approved registration in cases of serious misconduct.
There is a confusing array of letters which can appear after therapists’ names. Most are well-established, professional qualifications, but some refer to short, internet based courses whose ‘techniques’ and status have not been properly researched and are unregulated. If in doubt, check it out! The BACP is an excellent source of good quality information. If you are thinking of coming to counselling you are very likely to be troubled about something and may be feeling vulnerable. It can be a major decision, so and get the best advice and information before starting.