We're excited to announce a major milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing professional standards in the counselling and psychotherapy profession.聽

As part of our evolution, the partners who developed the Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) framework now have a new partnership name. We are also launching a new website designed to provide greater transparency and accessibility for all our stakeholders, along with an updated version of the SCoPEd framework.

A new policy and strategic engagement group has also been established within the partnership to develop policies, foster strategic relationships and facilitate communication and collaboration with key stakeholders.

A new name for the partnership

The SCoPEd partnership has now been renamed to the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB).

As collaborative working beyond the SCoPEd framework has started to emerge, the partnership has recognised the need for a name that reflects the collective work of the six partners, extending beyond the SCoPEd framework. This is particularly important as we plan for future strategies and initiatives.

The SCoPEd framework itself will retain its title.

New website: a central hub for the PCPB

We're launching a website for the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy to provide greater visibility and transparency into our work for all our stakeholders, which includes partner members and registrants, clients, the public, training organisations and service commissioners. This platform will offer a central place for updates on the SCoPEd framework and future PCPB initiatives.

Key benefits of the new website include:

  • providing a central place for all information about the PCPB and the SCoPEd framework
  • providing updates from the partnership while linking to individual partner websites for specific member information
  • a user-friendly platform that makes it easier for the public, clients, service users, registrants and members to engage with the partnership鈥檚 work

As PCPB initiatives continue to grow and evolve, the website will expand to reflect these developments and provide updates.

Current collaborative initiatives are:

  • updating the SCoPEd framework
  • compiling a unified demographic data set of therapists registered with PCPB partners to better understand the profession
  • engagement and advocacy for greater recognition and understanding of counselling and psychotherapy, including with government, the public and other stakeholders
  • NHS Pathways pilot: Five of the six PCPB partners (excluding HGI) are collaborating with NHS Talking Therapies to provide fully funded postgraduate psychotherapeutic training within NHS services
  • creating guidance on working with sexual orientation and gender identity: Five of the six partners (excluding HGI) are working on this. This work is also being carried out with the Association of Child Psychotherapists
  • creating guidance on working with sexual orientation and gender identity: Five of the six partners (excluding HGI) are working on this. This work is also being carried out with the Association of Child Psychotherapists

Visit our new website here: PCPB.org.uk

PCPB partners will also continue to communicate directly with their members or registrants through their respective communication channels.

Framework updates

Alongside our new partnership name we are pleased to introduce an updated version of the SCoPEd framework. While the updates are minor, they are significant in refining and improving how we support professionals in the field. Key updates include:

  • revised membership categories: Following the adoption of the January 2022 framework, we鈥檝e adjusted membership categories, along with specific timelines for transition during this period
  • competency amendments: We鈥檝e revised the wording in competency 2.8 C to remove the term "high risk," in line with the latest research and NICE Guideline NG225. Evidence now shows that stratifying risk levels (low, medium, high) is ineffective in predicting future suicide or repetition of self-harm
  • Governance changes: As highlighted in our February 2024 update, we鈥檝e made key changes to the governance of the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies to ensure more effective management and oversight moving forward

It鈥檚 important to note that in the future, our framework will undergo a major revision process approximately every five years, based on consultation with stakeholders, input from experts in the field and the lived experiences of service users. The updated January 2022 framework (amended in 2025) and associated documents, including the methodology from January 2022, are available on our new website.

View the updated framework [LINK]

Policy and strategic engagement group

A policy and strategic engagement group has been established to support the partnership in developing its policies and strategic relationships as we continue to collaborate. The group includes representatives from each of the partner organisations and will work closely with the partnership鈥檚 other governance groups, which includes the CEO Board, Delivery Board, Clinical Group and the Communications Group. 聽

Looking ahead

Independent chair of the PCPB Paul Buckley said: 鈥淎s a partnership, our focus is to ensure that the counselling and psychotherapy profession is better understood, valued and trusted by clients, service users, patients, employers, commissioners and society as a whole. By working together, we can achieve this shared goal.

鈥淲e are dedicated to addressing key issues such as equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within the profession, with initiatives to enhance data collection and promote greater diversity across the sector. Furthermore, we are strengthening our collaboration with government bodies and the NHS to expand the recognition of counselling and psychotherapy in mental health services.

鈥淎t the same time, we remain committed to assuring those seeking therapy do so by choosing a therapist who is a member of one of the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies, so that they can trust that strong systems that are in place to ensure public protection and support.鈥�