There are many professional registering and accrediting bodies in the field of counselling, clinical hypnotherapy and coaching. We understand that this can be confusing so we have tried to be as transparent as possible by explaining what our professional registrations mean. 

BACP individual membership

The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) currently have five membership tiers for individual counsellors and psychotherapists:

1. Student Member: A student member is likely to be at the start of their counselling and psychotherapy career and also new to BACP. Student membership is available for individuals who are undertaking classroom tuition on a counselling/psychotherapy course that is a minimum of one year full time or two years part time with a supervised placement.
2. Associate Member: Associate membership is for members who have qualifications that do not meet the specific criteria of the Member MBACP category (category 3 below).
3. Member: A member will have successfully completed and graduated from a minimum of a one year full time or two year part time counselling/psychotherapy qualification that included a supervised placement. Members are eligible to use of the designatory letters MBACP after their name.
4. Accredited Member: BACP Accreditation means that your therapist has met strict guidelines regarding their training, clinical hours and regularly meets with a supervisor to discuss their case load. BACP accredited therapists must undergo a minimum number of hours of continued professional development each year and complete several written pieces of work for assessment by the accreditation panel at the BACP. To identify a BACP accredited therapist you must look for the letters MBACP (Accred.) after the therapist’s name. Accreditation ensures a high standard of both training and several years clinical experience.
5. Senior Accredited Member: BACP Senior Accreditation means that your therapist is an experienced, mature and accomplished practitioner in their specialism and that they have continued to reflect and develop since their initial accreditation as a counsellor/psychotherapist. To identify a BACP senior accredited therapist you must look for the letters MBACP (Snr Accred.) after the therapist’s name.

BACP Organisational Membership

The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) currently have two membership tiers for counselling and psychotherapy services

1. Member: Organisational membership is open to any organisation offering counselling and/or psychotherapy services to clients
2. Accredited Service: BACP Service Accreditation helps the public and practitioners identify services providing a high standard of counselling and psychotherapy. It sets the standard to which all counselling and psychotherapy services can aspire to and demonstrates a commitment to excellence. All BACP accredited services demonstrate a high quality of service delivery, meeting benchmark standards that are maintained by annual assessment.

The BACP Service Accreditation Scheme Criteria cover areas of:

• Operation (policy, aims and objectives, publicity, staffing, equal opportunities, evaluation and feedback)
• Management and administration (service structure, community liaison, health and safety, administration and management)
• Delivery of service (premises, professional conduct)

Lewis Psychology CIC is the only counselling and psychotherapy service in Wolverhampton to gain service accreditation status with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Our application was described by the BACP head of Professional Standards as “… an exemplary application for BACP Service Accreditation”.

The following Lewis Psychology services are BACP Accredited:

• Anger management counselling
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Counselling
• EMDR psychotherapy
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)
• Psychotherapy

The BACP only accredit counselling and psychotherapy services; however the general policies and procedures for the delivery our coaching and training services maintain the same professional standards and commitment to excellence. 

Read more about our BACP Service Accreditation.

BACP Register 

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) register is the first psychological therapists’ register to be accredited under a new scheme set up by the Department of Health and administered by an independent body, accountable to Parliament.

The new register has been vetted and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. All Registrants are required to be in regular supervision and to undertake appropriate continuing professional development. 

The British Psychological Society (BPS)

The British Psychological Society (BPS) develops, promote and apply psychology for the public good. They enhance the efficiency and usefulness of psychologists by setting high standards of professional education and knowledge. The BPS cover all areas of psychological research and practice.

There are several membership grades:

1. Chartered Member (CPsychol): Chartered membership reflects the highest standard of psychological knowledge and expertise.
2. Graduate Member (MBPsS):Graduate membership is the starting point to your career as a psychologist.
3. Student Member: Student membership is open to everyone studying on a BPS acredited undergraduate degree or conversion course. 
4. Affiliate: For anyone who is interested in psychology but has no applicable qualifications or students who are not studying a psychology course.

Additional titles include:

• Fellow (FBPsS): The title, Fellow of the Society is awarded to members who have made a significant contribution to the world of psychology.
• Associate Fellow (AFBPsS): The title, Associate Fellow of the Society is awarded in recognition of several years’ experience and contribution to the field of psychology.

The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a professional body for the education, training and accreditation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors.

UKCP hold a national register of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors, listing those practitioner members who meet UKCP standards and training requirements.

Association for Coaching (AC)

The Association for Coaching (AC) is one of the leading independent and non-profit making professional bodies aimed at promoting best practice and raising the awareness and standards of coaching, while providing support for its members. There are currently three membership tiers:

1. Affiliate: For individuals with an interest in coaching but no experience or qualifications
2. Associate: for individuals with some experience of coaching
3. Member: For individuals with extensive experience and qualifications in coaching

BACP Coaching Division

The BACP Coaching is the specialist Coaching Division of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the largest professional body in Europe representing counselling and psychotherapy.  BACP Coaching promotes ethical, effective and professional coaching for the well being and enhancement of individuals and organisations. Teresa Lewis is a founding member of the BACP Coaching Division.