Legislate to make ‘Counsellor’ and ‘Psychotherapist’ protected titles regulated by the HCPC. The Government should also review how this could include influencers and life coaches offering mental health services, ensuring all are subject to mandatory fitness-to-practise oversight.
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We believe that current voluntary regulation fails to protect the public. Anyone can legally use these titles without training. Unregulated 'influencers', 'life coaches' and in some cases negligent practitioners can cause iatrogenic harm and family breakdown without, in our view, proper accountability. We believe some struck-off practitioners can rebrand without oversight. Statutory regulation could end the 'Wild West,' restore public confidence, and protect the integrity of the profession by ensuring all practitioners meet national safety and ethical standards.