Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy
In October 2025, the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB) launched the Commission for the Future of Counselling and Psychotherapy, chaired independently. The commission has been established to examine the current and future landscape of the professions and the key issues affecting the sector.
As a member of the PCPB, UKCP is actively engaged in the commission, with UKCP Chair Pippa Donovan serving as a commissioner to ensure that the psychotherapeutic perspective is clearly represented in discussions about the future of the sector.
Purpose of the commission
The commission has been created to provide a structured, evidence-led and inclusive space to explore the key challenges and opportunities facing counselling and psychotherapy. It brings together:
- professional bodies
- service providers and commissioners
- policy experts and academics
- people with lived experience.
Its findings will inform future PCPB policy positions, support engagement with decision-makers, and help shape how counselling and psychotherapy are understood, commissioned, and regulated in the years ahead.
The Commission is independently chaired by:
- Phil Hope, former Minister of State for Care Services
- Andrea Sutcliffe, an experienced leader in health service delivery and regulation.
This independent leadership is central to ensuring that the Commission’s work is balanced, credible and outward-looking, while remaining grounded in professional and lived experience.
Key themes under consideration
The commission is structured around four core areas of inquiry:
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The state of the counselling and psychotherapy sector
Exploring the current professional, policy and commissioning context, including pressures on services and workforce sustainability.
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Regulation and public protection
Considering whether existing regulatory arrangements remain fit for purpose and examining arguments for and against statutory regulation.
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The evidence base
Reviewing the current research evidence for counselling and psychotherapy, identifying gaps and priorities for future investment.
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The future of the professions
Looking ahead to the next decade, including the impact of technology, changing client needs, and the evolving role of psychotherapy within health and social care systems.
How UKCP is involved
For UKCP and our members, the Commission represents an important opportunity to:
- influence how psychotherapy is positioned within national mental health strategies
- highlight the unique value of psychotherapy in society
- ensure the profession is ready to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead
- show why improving access to the profession matters
- share the strong evidence of psychotherapy’s impact
- contribute to a shared vision that supports high standards, professional autonomy and client safety.
UKCP is committed to engaging constructively with the Commission’s process and to keeping members informed about opportunities to contribute evidence and perspectives as the work progresses.
Call for evidence
Commission timeline
The Commission’s roundtable discussions take place across the UK through late 2025 and into 2026, followed by a final report with recommendations, expected in summer 2026. These recommendations will help shape future PCPB collaboration and engagement with policymakers and commissioners.
The Commission held its first roundtable evidence session, bringing together professional bodies, policymakers, commissioners, academics and people with lived experience. This session focussed on the current state of the sector. Read a summary of the session.
The session focused on whether there is a case for statutory regulation. Commissioners reviewed the current regulatory mechanisms for the profession and looked at alternatives.
The public call for evidence is now open and runs until 12noon on Friday, 27 March. All UKCP members have been sent a link to a member survey. Stakeholders and members of the public can submit evidence through this link to QuestBack.
This session will consider the evidence base behind counselling and psychotherapy, what the gaps are and the priority areas for new research.
The findings and recommendations of the commission to date will be considered through a dedicated event in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure that the report fully reflects the differences within each nation.
The future of counselling and psychotherapy will be considered in this session. Commissioners will consider what are the key issues over the next decade.
Evidence from roundtables and written submissions is reviewed and analysed by the commission, identifying key themes, areas of consensus and points of challenge for the professions.
The Commission will publish a final report, setting out its findings and recommendations. These will inform future collaborative work across the PCPB and support engagement with governments, policymakers and commissioners.
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