How to make a complaint

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

How to make a complaint

Often the simplest way of resolving disagreements or concerns is to speak to your therapist to see if they can put things right. A formal complaints process is stressful for both parties, and we therefore recommend that you try to resolve your concerns with your therapist before lodging a formal complaint.

However, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to your therapist about your concerns, you may choose to use UKCP’s formal complaints and conduct process. If you would like to discuss the most suitable options for your concerns with a member of our Complaints and Conduct Team, call 020 7014 9955 (select option 3). 

About our Complaints and Conduct Process

UKCP’s Complaints and Conduct Process provides a centralised and transparent process for considering complaints or concerns by members of the public and clients about therapists. We are able to consider complaints about any therapist who is on the UKCP register when the complaint is made.

We aim to ensure that the therapists on our register:

• have the skills, knowledge and character to work safely and effectively with clients
• behave in a way that safeguards public safety and maintains confidence in the psychotherapy profession.

We will look into cases where there is evidence that calls into question a therapist’s suitability to be on our register. Examples of this include instances where a therapist may have:

• been dishonest
• behaved in a way that causes harm or distress to a client
• breached client confidentiality.

We will also consider complaints about a therapist who is unable to meet our professional standards because of a health problem or a drug or alcohol problem.

Useful downloads

If you would like to discuss the most suitable options for your concerns with a member of our Complaints and Conduct Team, call 020 7014 9955 (option 3) or email complaints@ukcp.org.uk.

Alternatively, you can complete our complaints form and send it to complaints@ukcp.org.uk.