British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK.
(1)

We exist for one simple reason - counselling changes lives.

"When we can find a way and a therapist to explore our thoughts, our feelings and our behaviours, we can then begin to u...
31/01/2026

"When we can find a way and a therapist to explore our thoughts, our feelings and our behaviours, we can then begin to understand what our challenges are, and then it gives us choices and directions."

Fantastic to see Odette Hamilton and Julia Samuel on BBC Breakfast this morning. They raised so many important points about therapy and encouraged women over 50 to seek professional support if they're struggling, as part of our No More Stiff Upper Lip campaign.

Odette spoke about her own experience of therapy, how it helped her to a 'better place' and why it's a good idea to get help when you need it and not leave things piling up on you.

Julia told viewers how speaking to a therapist is different to talking to friends and urged people to look for a therapist from a professional body, such as BACP.

Watch the full interview on BBC iPlayer here (from 7:20) https://orlo.uk/ndbFC

We’re here at the Trafford Centre in Manchester today as part of our No More Stiff Upper Lip campaign, giving out free l...
30/01/2026

We’re here at the Trafford Centre in Manchester today as part of our No More Stiff Upper Lip campaign, giving out free lipsticks and sharing how therapy can help women over 50. 💄

The campaign highlights the challenges many women face in midlife, including the pressure to stay silent about their mental health. At our pop-up, you can grab a lipstick, chat with our team, and learn how therapy can provide support and a safe space to be heard.

You can find out more about the campaign here 👉 https://orlo.uk/QgO0g

"Seeking support takes courage” – psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBEThe amazing women in these photographs have all shown ...
29/01/2026

"Seeking support takes courage” – psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE

The amazing women in these photographs have all shown that courage to take the first step to seek support – and have told us how therapy has positively changed their lives.

Their powerful stories are at the heart of our No More Stiff Upper Lip campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by women in midlife and the transformative potential of therapy.

As part of the campaign, we’ve created a limited-edition lipstick collection with shades named Empowered, Heard, Unapologetic and Resilient. These aim to provide positive inspiration for those in need of support.

Nearly half (46%) of women over 50 haven’t asked for help because they worry about being a burden to others.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Help is available.

Find out more about No More Stiff Upper Lip here 👉 https://orlo.uk/BLqRa

Images by world renowned photographer Rankin

Campaign supported by Lorraine Pascale

29/01/2026

No more stiff upper lip 💄

Nearly two thirds of women over 50 say they’ve struggled with their mental wellbeing since midlife, yet almost nine in 10 keep it hidden.

That silence has a cost.

That's why today we’re launching No More Stiff Upper Lip, a campaign shining a light on the pressures women face in midlife and how therapy can help. To start the conversation, we’ve created a limited-edition lipstick collection with shades named Empowered, Heard, Unapologetic and Resilient, modelled by women whose lives have been changed by therapy. Watch this video to hear their stories and why this campaign matters to them.

Former model and chef Lorraine Pascale, who's backing our campaign, says: "Many women over 50 feel they need to stay quiet and 'hold it together, when really they may be struggling. I've been there... Support from a registered therapist has really supported me to feel more confident and tackle challenges thrown my way."

You can read more about No More Stiff Upper Lip here 👉 https://orlo.uk/X7RS7

What does the assisted dying bill mean for therapy, ethics and end-of-life care?In the latest edition of Thresholds, BAC...
28/01/2026

What does the assisted dying bill mean for therapy, ethics and end-of-life care?

In the latest edition of Thresholds, BACP’s Third Sector Lead Jeremy Bacon explores the implications for counselling and palliative care, while psychotherapist Kamalyn Kaur invites therapists to reflect on the ethical considerations.

Read more 👉 https://orlo.uk/m90ix

As Dry January comes to an end, many people are reflecting on what they want to carry forward into the rest of the year....
26/01/2026

As Dry January comes to an end, many people are reflecting on what they want to carry forward into the rest of the year. Whether you are sober-curious, taking a break, or simply rethinking your relationship with alcohol, navigating social situations can feel challenging, especially when people ask, “Why don’t you drink?”

Our members share how showing up sober, setting boundaries, staying confident without alcohol, and how small choices can support wellbeing well beyond January.

Read more 👉 https://orlo.uk/qMAW1

NICE guidelines shape mental health care across the NHS, but when they don’t keep up with research and practice, people ...
21/01/2026

NICE guidelines shape mental health care across the NHS, but when they don’t keep up with research and practice, people with anxiety can miss out on vital support.

We’re joining UKCP and other mental health organisations across the sector in calling on NICE to act and ensure timely, evidence-based, accessible care.

We’re urging members to write to their MP and help shape the guidance 📣

Read more 👉 https://orlo.uk/IJurn

‘Therapy gave me back my life’Walking into a counselling room for the first time can feel daunting. For our member Thoma...
19/01/2026

‘Therapy gave me back my life’

Walking into a counselling room for the first time can feel daunting. For our member Thomas Quayle, it was the start of a journey that helped him face what once felt unbearable.

In the latest Therapy Today – It Changed My Life column, he shares how therapy helped him understand his struggles, rebuild his life, and eventually support others facing similar challenges.

Read more of Thomas' story here 👉 https://orlo.uk/u4d5q

What happens in therapy❓Therapy isn’t like a chat you’d have with friends or family. It’s a dedicated time for you and y...
16/01/2026

What happens in therapy❓

Therapy isn’t like a chat you’d have with friends or family. It’s a dedicated time for you and your therapist to discuss the issues that brought you to seek support. The focus is on you.

Your therapist may offer information, but they won’t try to persuade you to a particular point of view. They'll guide you through exploring your feelings, past and present experiences, relationships, and behaviours. Together, you'll identify ways to address your concerns and find effective coping strategies.

Therapists do:

🟣 Offer a safe and confidential space to help you explore emotional problems.
🟣 Help you make sense of your world.
🟣 Help you explore feelings and thoughts to resolve emotional distress.
🟣 Help you towards a better understanding of yourself and others, which may improve your ability to relate to others.

Therapists don’t:

🟣 Tell you what to do.
🟣 Prescribe drugs – only an appropriate medical practitioner can do this.
🟣 Provide specific information about health-related problems, unless they work in a specialised service.
🟣 Meet you outside pre-planned sessions.
🟣 Talk in detail about themselves and their own problems.

Confidentiality and trust are crucial for a working relationship between a client and a therapist.That's why from this w...
15/01/2026

Confidentiality and trust are crucial for a working relationship between a client and a therapist.

That's why from this week, new rules are in force that significantly strengthen protections for sexual assault survivors’ counselling notes during criminal investigations, following years of campaigning by the Keep Counselling Confidential coalition - which we're proud to be part of.

Knowing this space is now better protected will reduce fear and anxiety, allowing victims and survivors to engage fully in therapy without worrying that their most personal reflections being used against them.

Read more 👉 https://orlo.uk/Pyy0l

Share your views for the future of counselling and psychotherapy!We’d like to invite you to share your views and contrib...
14/01/2026

Share your views for the future of counselling and psychotherapy!

We’d like to invite you to share your views and contribute to the evidence that will help to inform the Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy final report and recommendations. The report will support and shape the direction of future collaborative work between the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB) and engagement with policymakers and commissioners of services on behalf of the profession and for the benefit of clients.

As part of this process, we also want to capture the input and views of services, the wider mental health sector and vitally, of those with lived experience.

That’s why we’re inviting anyone with an interest in the future of the profession to contribute their own evidence to this important review.

Insights from all of the evidence sessions and from the call for evidence will help shape the Commission’s final report and recommendations, which is due to be published in summer 2026.

So how do you submit evidence?

If you’re a BACP member, you’ll have been sent a link to a survey to complete. If you haven’t received this, please contact our customer services team. If you provide a service, work in the wider mental health sector, have lived experience or have an interest in the Commission’s work and would like to submit evidence, please complete the survey by clicking the link below.

The call for evidence will close on 27 March 2026.

Please visit here 👉 https://orlo.uk/wJbEq

Address

BACP House, 15 Street John's Business Park
Lutterworth
LE174HB

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441455883300

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category