Representing You – Campaigns & Activities
The NCS is a leading voice in the field of counselling and psychotherapy, promoting high standards of training and practice, and advocating for the recognition of these professions as valuable sources of expertise and experience within the wider field of mental health.
We are currently campaigning for greater recognition of the role that counsellors and psychotherapists can play in the delivery of mental health services. While roles such as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP), and Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner (MHPW) have been recently introduced over the past few years, the NCS believes that the unique skills and experience of counsellors and psychotherapists, which have been considered mainstream in the UK since the 1950s & 60s, should not be overlooked.
Counsellors and psychotherapists are trained to work with a wide range of mental health issues, and are often able to offer a more flexible and holistic approach than other professionals. They can work with individuals and groups and are often able to provide longer-term support than the low-intensity roles being promoted within the NHS and educational settings. They can also work with people who may not have a specific diagnosis or who may be experiencing issues that are not well-suited to other forms of therapy, such as low-intensity therapy in the form of guided self-help or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
The NCS believes that recognising the value of counsellors and psychotherapists within the mental health sector can help to ensure that people receive the best possible support for their mental health needs, and reduce mental health inequality.
You can find more information about our specific campaigns and any submissions we’ve made to public inquiries and committees on our individual campaign pages to the right.