Voices from Practice: An IPA Study on Professional Identity in the Evolving UK Counselling and Psychotherapy Field

I am carrying out research for the MA in Counselling and psychotherapy Practice at Bath Spa University. Full ethical approval has been granted.

I am now seeking those interested in participating.

What is the research about?

This research aims to explore how individual counselling and psychotherapy practitioners construct and make sense of their professional identity within the evolving professional landscape of the United Kingdom specifically in relation to the development and implementation of SCoPEd - now Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB).

Recent developments, such as the introduction of the SCoPEd framework and continued debates surrounding professional regulation, have brought significant changes to training pathways, ethical standards, and membership affiliations. These shifts play a crucial role in shaping how professional identity is formed and understood.

In light of these changes, this study seeks to gain a deeper insight into how such developments influence practitioners鈥� sense of identity, professional role, and affiliation within the field.

Who is invited to take part in the research?

  • Counsellors and psychotherapists who qualified at minimum level 4 diploma in a UK training establishment.
  • Counsellors and psychotherapists with minimum post qualification 10 years鈥� experience.
  • Counsellors and psychotherapists currently practicing in the United Kingdom.
  • Counsellors and psychotherapist who are a registered members of a voluntary professional body aligned with the Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) framework, now Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB).
    • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (网爆门)
    • UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
    • British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
    • National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)
    • Human Givens Institute (HGI)
    • Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC)

This particular group has been chosen to offer insight into how experienced practitioners construct and experience their professional identity within a changing professional landscape.

What would involvement in this research entail?

If you choose to take part in this research, you will be invited to participate in a one-to-one, semi-structured interview lasting approximately 60 minutes. The interview will take place online via a secure video platform, at a time that is convenient for you. You will be asked a series of open-ended questions about your experiences and understanding of your professional identity as a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist. The discussion will be flexible, allowing you to reflect and expand on areas that feel most relevant or important to you. With your consent, the interview will be audio-recorded for the purpose of transcription and analysis. You may withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and you can also request to have your data withdrawn up to the point of data analysis.

If you are interested in taking part in the research, please get in touch with me, Hattie Hathaway via hattie.hathaway23@bathspa.ac.uk.

Best wishes,

Hattie