Campaigners are calling for urgent regulation of psychotherapists and counsellors in the UK after lawyers reported a rise in lawsuits by patients alleging harm during therapy. Unlike doctors or midwives, the titles 'psychotherapist' and 'counsellor' are not protected, meaning anyone can practice without qualifications and continue even after misconduct.
Exclusive: Lack of formal oversight means anyone can set up in practice and continue to work after misconduct cases, campaigners sayMinisters face calls for the urgent regulation of psychotherapists and counsellors to protect vulnerable people, as lawyers report a rise in lawsuits by patients for alleged harm done during therapy.
There has been a rise in the number of people seeking help for mental ill-health in recent years, with services in EnglandWhile the vast majority of people find professional help beneficial and even life-saving, lawyers have reported a significant increase in the number of inquiries over alleged cases of malpractice and even abuse.
She added that for most clients their priority was to prevent other people from suffering the same harms, since even after a successful lawsuit therapists were not prevented by law from continuing to practise.in the high court after a civil case against the TV sex therapist Michael Lousada, who she accused of raping her. She waived her right to anonymity so potential victims would know to avoid him.
The BACP has reported an increase in complaints against its accredited therapists of 24% since 2020, though not all of these will result in sanctions.The BACP has long supported statutory regulation of the profession, but Lisa Morrison Coulthard, its director of professional standards, said that in the meantime its accreditation offered some “confidence and reassurance” for the public.
Dan Poulter, a psychiatrist and former health minister, said therapists were out of step with “all other healthcare professionals”, resembling a contractual arrangement rather than a patient-clinician relationship. Jonathan Coe, a specialist in professional regulation who was involved in looking into a regulatory framework under the last Labour government, said the issue had been sidelined by the coalition government, for whom “it wasn’t a priority”.
Regulation Psychotherapy Misconduct Vulnerable Patients UK Healthcare
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