§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made towards achieving a unified regime of self-regulation for psychotherapists: and what efforts they have recently made towards encouraging the different branches of the profession to reach agreement on this issue. [HL2781]
§ Lord WarnerDepartment of Health officials have had a series of meetings with organisations representing psychotherapists, counsellors and other practitioners of talking therapies since February 2001. Originally these meetings involved individual bodies but since September 2002 joint group meetings have been held. Discussions have centred on roles, competences and the training and standards of proficiency required, all of which are a prerequisite for statutory regulation. Progess has also been made on developing national occupational standards in this area.