Qualifications, explained
What is the UKCP, and why does it matter?
In the UK, “therapist”, “counsellor” and “psychotherapist” aren’t legally protected titles, so it’s worth understanding who’s who. Here’s what the UKCP (the UK Council for Psychotherapy) is, how it compares with the other main registers, and why Hora works only with psychotherapists in advanced UKCP-accredited clinical training.
The short version
The professional body for psychotherapy in the UK.
The UKCP is one of the country’s leading professional bodies for psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. It sets training and ethical standards, holds a public register of members, and can act on complaints.
Its register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), the body that oversees health and care registers in the UK. Being on a PSA-accredited register is a meaningful mark of assurance. It’s exactly what to look for in any therapist.
- Typically a minimum of five years of postgraduate training
- At least 450 hours of supervised clinical practice with real clients
- The therapist’s own personal therapy throughout the training
- Appropriate professional indemnity insurance
- A binding code of ethics, backed by a formal UKCP complaints and conduct process
UKCP, BPC, BACP & NCPS
The main registers, compared.
All four are respected professional bodies that uphold ethical standards, and good practitioners register with each. They differ mainly in the depth and length of training they require.
UK Council for Psychotherapy
Specialises in psychotherapy, with among the longest and most in-depth training routes: typically a minimum of five years, with personal therapy throughout. Hora’s therapists train on this route and hold UKCP trainee membership, listed on its trainee directory, until they qualify.
British Psychoanalytic Council
The register for the psychoanalytic professions: psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapists, psychoanalysts and Jungian analysts. Also a long and rigorous route, with intensive personal analysis alongside the training.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
The largest UK register, covering a broad range of counsellors and psychotherapists. Its routes include shorter counselling qualifications, so depth of training varies more widely across members.
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
Registers a broad range of counsellors and psychotherapists, again including many shorter counselling qualifications. Upholds ethical standards through its own accredited register.
What “in advanced clinical training” means
Advanced training, not a first placement.
Being in training is not the same as being a beginner. Everyone you see at Hora is well into a long, demanding psychotherapy training and already experienced with real clients, never learning the basics on you.
Well into the training, with real clinical work behind them, not learning the basics.
Every client is held within regular supervision and Hora’s clinical governance.
We’re upfront that you’ll see a therapist in advanced training, and you’re always welcome to ask about it.
A word of advice
Always check the register, for any therapist.
Because the titles aren’t legally protected, anyone can call themselves a therapist. So before you begin with any private therapist, Hora or anyone else, check they appear on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, and don’t be shy about asking two simple questions. There’s a fuller run-through in our guide to choosing a therapy service.
A good therapist will tell you straight away, and it should be one accredited by the PSA. You can look a qualified therapist up on the UKCP’s Find a Therapist register, and those still in training, like Hora’s, on its separate trainee directory.
Both fair questions for a private low-cost service. At Hora: our psychotherapists are in advanced UKCP-accredited clinical training, and they’re properly paid.
The bottom line
The depth of psychotherapy, made affordable.
Every Hora therapist is a psychotherapist in advanced UKCP-accredited clinical training: paid fairly, closely supervised, and yours for as long as the work is useful.