As a former chairman of the British Council for Psychotherapywho led our fight against legal regulation in the first decade of this century, I am concerned when I read what feels like a new and thoughtless rush towards legal regulation of counselors and psychotherapists, imbued with all kinds of partial interests and hidden agendas (Letters, October 25). Moving forward will create divisions in a profession that has only recently found fragile unity through the government-backed Professional Standards Authority, which includes the vast majority of psychotherapists and counselors on their specialist registers.
Two things are needed: if someone is suspended for serious violations, the relevant registration authority must publicize the decision far and wide. They have to chase those villains who just open another website. And there should be a national campaign to warn the public: “Psychotherapy may help you. Ask any prospective psychotherapist with whom he or she is registered. If they are not affiliated with the Professional Standards Authority in any way, we recommend you look elsewhere.”
Prof Andreas Samuels
London