Accreditation

A woman sitting on a couch reading a book with an open page

When researching therapy, don’t be afraid to ask the therapist about their training, accreditation and even membership number. See the signs below to look for when seeking a registered psychotherapist:

Logos of Professional Standards Authority and BABCP with accreditation labels.
BACP logo with the slogan 'counselling changes lives' on a purple background.
Logo of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) with geometric shapes and text.
Logo of the British Psychoanalytic Council with text in navy blue.
Line drawing of a seated woman holding a light source, next to the text 'the british psychological society'
Logo of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), featuring the acronym 'hcpc' in blue lowercase letters with the full name written to the right.

It is so important to seek help when experiencing difficulties with mental ill health. But just like physical health, you want to know you’re receiving your treatment from someone who has the training, experience and importantly is recognised by a governing body as meeting professional standards and licensed to practice.
In psychotherapy, accreditation means that a therapist has been formally recognised by a professional organisation for meeting specific standards in their training, experience, and ethical practice. It’s a bit like a seal of approval — it shows that the therapist has been properly trained, works under professional guidelines, and is accountable for their work.

There are several main professional bodies in the UK that accredit therapists and psychologists:

  • BABCP – British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies: accredits therapists who specialise in cognitive and behavioural approaches, such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

  • BACP – British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy: for counsellors and psychotherapists across various approaches.

  • UKCP – UK Council for Psychotherapy: usually accredits therapists with more in-depth or longer-term training.

  • BPC – British Psychoanalytic Council: focused on psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies.

  • BPS – British Psychological Society: the main professional body for psychologists, including counselling and clinical psychologists.

  • HCPC – Health and Care Professions Council: a government regulator for certain protected titles like clinical psychologists and art therapists.

Being accredited or registered with one of these bodies means that the therapist is working to recognised professional standards. It also means they are committed to things like regular supervision, ongoing learning, and working ethically, and there’s a formal process you can turn to if any concerns arise.

It’s perfectly okay to ask a therapist about their accreditation. It’s part of making sure you feel safe, informed, and supported in the work you’re doing.