Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy – third evidence session roundup

The Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy held its third evidence session online on Thursday 19 February focusing on counselling and psychotherapy, the evidence base. Academics and researchers presented the strength of current research and evidence for counselling and psychotherapy. A discussion followed on the gaps and priority areas for more and new research to strengthen the case for investment and wider commissioning.

The Commission heard evidence from invited subject matter experts:

• Bill Andrews – co-founder of Pragmatic Tracker; Honorary Researcher, CREST, University of Roehampton
• Mick Cooper – Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Roehampton, London, and Director of the Centre for Research in Wellbeing, School of Psychology.
• Dr Felicitas Ross – Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Counselling, Open University and President of the International Society for Psychotherapy Research

Summary of the discussion

Please note that the points below are drawn from discussions in the session and do not necessarily reflect the final conclusions of the Commission.

Therapy and research: the current relationship

Therapists in the United Kingdom don’t have consistent training or access to training in research methods, aren’t supported or encouraged to record outcome evidence consistently and often don’t have the time to conduct or contribute to research. Therapists are also modality-led and will approach their practice with certain theoretical assumptions and concepts in mind, which may contradict or poorly integrate with research findings. However, therapists don’t need to be skilled researchers in order to be effective practitioners. With already stringent training requirements, adding further demands such as knowledge of research methods may make the profession even more inaccessible. More widely, there is a common perception that research exists separately from practice and that it is too technical, abstracted, and inaccessible.

Research ethics and lived experience

The research process should serve practitioners and their clients, not the other way around. Significant ethical considerations shape every stage of the research process. Lived experience engagement, co-design, and informed participation are invaluable tools to ensure the work we are doing reflects clients’ reality. Clients with complex traumas, from marginalised communities, and negative outcomes are less likely to want to participate in research, which stops us from getting a comprehensive picture of their experience. The research base doesn’t consistently account for significant life epiphanies and awakenings, as well as other client-identified outcomes, that may be of transformational value in their lives.

Barriers to effective research utilisation

We’re not currently utilising our existing research base as best as we could. In addition, outcomes data and other forms of evidence are already collated and not always being analysed to further our understanding. Existing research is often inaccessible through paywalls, a lack of prominence, or through institutional and commissioner disinterest. Research is not a component of counselling and psychotherapy training until Level 7, so practitioners aren’t always familiar with how to best access and utilise research in their practice. So long as quantifiable outcomes and well-researched modalities are prioritised for commissioning, we miss the opportunity to improve access to counselling and psychotherapy and boost employment opportunities for practitioners.

Next steps

Insights from all the evidence sessions will help shape the Commission’s final report and recommendations, which will be published later in 2026.

The fourth evidence session – entitled ‘counselling and psychotherapy, the future of the professions took place online on Thursday 16 April. Dedicated sessions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be held next.

All of the Commission’s findings and recommendations will now help shape future collaborative work with the PCPB and ongoing engagement with policymakers and service commissioners, supporting the profession and benefiting clients.

Previous evidence session roundups are available to view:

Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy first evidence session roundup

Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy second evidence session roundup

Further details of the commission are available on our Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy webpage.