ABOUT PSYCHOTHERAPY

We can help you find the
answers to your questions.

What is psychotherapy?


Anyone can benefit from psychotherapy. Talking to a trained professional can help you to explore your concerns, thoughts and feelings and improve your mental health.

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WHICH Type of therapy will suit me?


All psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors are equipped to support you with challenges, but they use a wide range of different approaches.

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How do I choose a therapist?

 

One of the most important aspects of psychotherapy is the relationship you form with your therapist. Here's how to find the right therapist for you.

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Event Connecting with self, others and the environment in a complex world

Join us for our annual research conference on Saturday, 7 June 2025.

How can psychotherapists deepen their connection with themselves, their communities and the world during these complex times? What role does psychotherapy play in strengthening community and building resilience?

At this event, you’ll gain insights from UKCP members presenting their latest research, hear from leading experts in the field, and connect with fellow practitioners who share a passion for psychotherapy and connections.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and be part of the conversation.

Standards and ethics

Our national register

logo of the Professional Standards Authority's accredited registers schemeWe hold a national register of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors, to protect the public, and to provide public confidence in the profession we regulate. Only therapists who meet our exacting standards and training requirements can be on our register, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.  

UKCP register


Choosing a therapist who is UKCP-registered gives you reassurance about their training and qualifications. It means they have agreed to follow ethical codes and standards and to undertake ongoing training and development.

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Code of ethics


Our psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors sign up to rigorous ethical standards which help set the foundation for your relationship with them.

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How to make a complaint


Anyone can raise a concern or make a complaint about a therapist on our register. Dealing with these concerns and complaints is a core element of our service to the public.

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Training Become a psychotherapist

Psychotherapists support people facing challenges in life, whether an emotional crisis such as grief or anxiety, job loss, relationship difficulties, addiction. Or it maybe a sense that something is not right. If you want a career that truly changes lives, psychotherapy could be for you.

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Policy and campaigns Access to psychotherapy

Even before COVID-19, the UK was in the grip of a mental health crisis. Rates of depression and anxiety are rising fast, while many people struggle to access quality care through the NHS due to long waiting times, uneven provision, and lack of choice.

Too many people with complex needs are stuck in the revolving door of therapy, needing to return to care again and again because it wasn’t good enough first time round. 

View of the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben from across the river.

Blog UKCP’s response to the 2025 spending review

UKCP has submitted its response to HM Treasury’s 2025 spending review, highlighting and providing evidence for several key priorities. We argued for investment in high-quality mental health support, particularly psychological therapies within the NHS.

Join the leading organisation for psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors in the UK.

We connect and support UKCP members at every stage of their careers, from student to retirement. We also offer membership to organisations. Find out more and join us today.

11K INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
10 COLLEGES
75 TRAINING, ACCREDITING & LISTING ORGANISATIONS

Find a therapist near you