Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy
We’re delighted to announce that the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB) have established an independently chaired Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
The commission will examine the current and future landscape of the professions and the key issues affecting the sector, professionals, services and clients, drawing on expert and lived experience, alongside input from the wider PCPB memberships.
This comes at a critical time for the sector, following a change in government, a large turnover of Members of Parliament and the opportunity to influence the priorities of the Labour Government, including the delivery of the NHS 10 Year Plan and commitments to grow the mental health workforce in education, community and health settings.
Next year will also see significant parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales. It also comes at a time when we’re seeing an increase in scrutiny in the regulatory landscape for counselling and psychotherapy.
The Commission will be independently chaired by Phil Hope, former Minister of State for Care Services and it will bring together counselling and psychotherapy professional bodies, key providers and clinical experts, decision-makers and those with lived experience, to explore and discuss:
Counselling and psychotherapy, the state of the sector: Setting the scope for the Commission. Participants will reflect on the current professional and policy context, as well as the barriers and opportunities around commissioning of counselling and psychotherapy.
Counselling and psychotherapy, is there a case for statutory regulation? Commissioners and experts will review the adequacy of the current regulatory mechanisms for the professions in protecting clients and explore alternative models and the underpinning principles of statutory enhancement.
Counselling and psychotherapy, the evidence base: Academics and researchers will present the strength of current research and evidence for counselling and psychotherapy. Followed by a discussion on the gaps and priority areas for more and new research to strengthen the case for investment and wider commissioning.
Counselling and psychotherapy, the future for the professions: The Commission will consider the key issues facing the professions over the next decade including the emergence of new technologies, counselling and psychotherapy in the global context and our shared vision for the future of the sector.
An open call for evidence in early 2026 will also seek vital views and input from the PCPB partners’ members and registrants and others who wish to contribute to the process.
The Commission’s findings and recommendations will support and shape the direction of future collaborative work between the PCPB and engagement with policymakers and commissioners of services on behalf of the profession and for the benefit of clients.
How will the commission work?
We’ll be hosting structured, thematic roundtables enabling evidence-led, solution-focused discussions. Four sessions will focus on the profession UK-wide, and we’ll also be holding dedicated sessions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The roundtables will be held between October 2025 and July 2026, with the first one taking place on 16 October 2025. The second session will be held online later this year and the others in the first half of 2026. Key providers and clinical experts, decision-makers, practitioners and people with lived experience will be invited to speak at each of the events.
A summary of the discussions will be published following each of the roundtables and the evidence gathered will form part of a report and recommendations that the Commission will publish in summer 2026.
The report will also be informed through a call for evidence, which will open in January 2026 for approximately eight weeks. Further details will be published in due course.
Phil Hope, the former Minister of State for Care Services who is chairing our Commission, stated,
‘I’m delighted to Chair the Commission on the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy and be part of this historic collaborative endeavour for the professions. The health and social care landscape is currently undergoing major changes and this is a pivotal time for the future of counselling and psychotherapy.
The Commission is a vital opportunity to bring together voices and insights from across the sector alongside other key experts and those with lived experience to address the challenges facing the professions across the UK, identify opportunities to place counselling and psychotherapy at the heart of the task to improve the nation’s mental health with all the benefits that brings and to shape a shared vision for the long term future.’
Further details of the commission are available on our Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy webpage.
