Public affairs and policy
As part of the BPC’s mission to support and champion the work of our Registrants, we continue to engage with and advise policymakers across Government, Parliament, and the devolved administrations.
Through engaging with policy stakeholders, we promote psychoanalytic thinking and psychotherapy, along with the impact it has on the lives of patients.
Since the 2024 General Election, our engagement has increased as we seek to support the Government around its stated ambition to reform mental health services in the UK. This engagement has included meetings with policymakers, briefing events, new research, and proposals to improve access to psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
Some of the campaigns we have worked on over the last year have included:
Campaigns:
Highlighting research that demonstrates the impact of psychoanalytic work in treating depression, anxiety, and personality disorders, and the long-term value of helping patients to manage and overcome these conditions.
Following calls in both Parliament and the media for the introduction of statutory regulation of psychotherapy, the Government has confirmed that it has no plans to extend regulation. However, the BPC continues to explore potential legislative options while continuing to promote the strengths of the existing voluntary system of regulation.
In addition to its ongoing membership of the MOU on Conversion Practices (MOU2) group, we have led in the inauguration of a group of regulatory counselling bodies and therapy to discuss terminologies and recommendations for the Government. This is part of implementing a ban on conversion practices in England and Wales. Further evidence will continue to be gathered and considered, with final recommendations being agreed by the steering group and communicated to Government.
We are working with our partners at the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB) in requesting further clarity from Government regarding the Crime and Policing Bill, and support for psychotherapists working with patients who have been affected by sexual abuse. We are engaging with MPs (e.g. through the drafting of Parliamentary Questions) on the unintended consequences of not addressing these concerns, we have also met with several peers to inform debate when the Bill reaches the House of Lords.
We sponsored the report ‘Improving Support for People with Complex Menal Health Difficulties’ by the Talking Therapies Task Force (TTTF), of which the BPC is a key member, we played in leading role in organising the launch event in Parliament. This event was attended by 100 delegates, including 15 Members of Parliament, and culminated in a meeting with the Minister for Mental Health, Gillian Merron.
We have met with several leading insurance companies to discuss the inability for policyholders, wishing to receive psychotherapy from BPC Registrants, as part of their existing policies. Discussions continue around how insurance companies could amend policies for the allowance of psychoanalytic therapy to clients.
We continue to work with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) to make the case for exempting psychotherapists from VAT in treatments. We recently co-authored a paper with both organisations which highlighted the difference in tax treatment between psychotherapists and those professions which are VAT exempt. The paper also demonstrated how an exemption could assist the Government in meeting many of its objectives, including a reduction in hospital waiting lists. The paper was placed with senior Government figures (including the Chancellor, and the Financial Secretary at HM Treasury) during the consultation period for the Spring Statement in March 2025. It will be discussed further with Government ahead of the Autumn Budget.
The BPC will provide further updates on these and other campaigns when developments occur.
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