In the UK there is a professional association for Ts which they can join called the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (bacp). It's not a requirement to join but it is generally recognised that it is better to find a T who is a member (I was advised to look for a bacp member when choosing a T).
My T is a member according to his website and I've never thought to question that, but I recently did a search of the register on the bacp website and neither he nor his wife (also a counsellor) were on there.
I emailed the bacp and asked if there was any reason a T wouldn't be listed and I received a reply saying that his registration could have lapsed, or it is possible, since the register is quite new, that he might be a member but not have signed the register (it does say 'registered' on his website).
The bacp said they can check his membership if I give them his name and area. I'm not sure whether I want to do that as I would feel like I'm sneaking around on him, but I'm not sure if I want to ask him because I don't want him to think I'm doubting him. He's been a good T to me and I don't doubt his professionalism. So should it even matter?
I don't think he would lie, and i am sure there is a simple explanation like the bacp email said, but the niggling doubt is bothering me a bit.

[ThisWayOut]

I personally would ask him. You could do it casually like "hey, I was messing around looking at the registry and you didn't show up. Did you forget to re-register?" (And knowing me, I would probably turn it into a joke of some sort because I do thrash with everything). It probably costs money to register with them, so if he's not seeing enough gains from it, he may have let it lapse, or forgot to get it done again.

Thanks, yeah, I think I need to find a way to bring it up casually and in a non-accusing way. I sometimes find it hard to verbalise things in a way that comes across how I mean them to, so I am having trouble trusting myself to raise it and not sound like I'm accusing him or don't trust him.

[Willowleaf]

Mine told me I would be mad to not check out her full credentials. She automatically presumed all clients would (I hadn't at that stage!). I personally would give his name, find out and then ask, but you have to do what you are most comfortable with

I am not sure what I would do, but I think the best thing to do would probably be to ask him. Just think - if you were to check with the bacp and they said that he wasn't a member, then you'd really be wondering, and I think it might be harder to go ahead and ask T then... and that could turn into an unnecessary elephant in the room.

The absolute nightmare scenario for me would be if I told them his name and they found out he had been saying he was registered when he isn't and it resulted in some sort of problems for him and it would be all my fault. I really don't want to jeopardise the relationship.
I see him tomorrow and will probably pluck up the courage to ask him. I hope I approach it right.

[RedSun]

Check the UKCP website, this is the accreditation for psychotherapists (not counsellors) and is more stringent than bacp, ie you need higher, more formal qualifications and more experience than for bacp registration. I was told by NHS to only look at UKCP accredited therapists.
If he's not on either.....hmmmmm

[Raging Quiet]

Check the UKCP website, usually a T is on either UKCP or BACP.

If no luck, remember the BACP won't tell your T that you enquired.

He's not on there either but I didn't expect him to be as he is more on the counselling side of things really though he is quite well qualified. Do they have to be on one or the other?
I think I will ask him first seen as I see him tomorrow.
Would this really be a red flag to you? I don't know if it's just my mistrustful nature haunting me
I mean his bacp registration could have lapsed last week..

[moonlitsky]

Originally Posted by Echos Myron

In the UK there is a professional association for Ts which they can join called the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (bacp). It's not a requirement to join but it is generally recognised that it is better to find a T who is a member (I was advised to look for a bacp member when choosing a T).
My T is a member according to his website and I've never thought to question that, but I recently did a search of the register on the bacp website and neither he nor his wife (also a counsellor) were on there.
I emailed the bacp and asked if there was any reason a T wouldn't be listed and I received a reply saying that his registration could have lapsed, or it is possible, since the register is quite new, that he might be a member but not have signed the register (it does say 'registered' on his website).
The bacp said they can check his membership if I give them his name and area. I'm not sure whether I want to do that as I would feel like I'm sneaking around on him, but I'm not sure if I want to ask him because I don't want him to think I'm doubting him. He's been a good T to me and I don't doubt his professionalism. So should it even matter?
I don't think he would lie, and i am sure there is a simple explanation like the bacp email said, but the niggling doubt is bothering me a bit.

Are you sure you looked on the register and not just on the find a therapist register? I say this because some people get confused about which is which. The list of therapists on itsgoodtotalk are therapists who choose to advertise there (and pay for that). The register is a list of names of all those who have filled in the registration form, a new requirement. It doesn't mean he isn't a bacp member. He may just not have filled in the form!

It would be useful to talk about your worries with your therapist and to explore what it means for him to be on the register/how it feels not knowing if he is. Perhaps it has left you feeling unsafe? That is all part of your therapy and it's ok to talk about it.

Moon

Originally Posted by moonlitsky

Are you sure you looked on the register and not just on the find a therapist register? I say this because some people get confused about which is which. The list of therapists on itsgoodtotalk are therapists who choose to advertise there (and pay for that). The register is a list of names of all those who have filled in the registration form, a new requirement. It doesn't mean he isn't a bacp member. He may just not have filled in the form!

It would be useful to talk about your worries with your therapist and to explore what it means for him to be on the register/how it feels not knowing if he is. Perhaps it has left you feeling unsafe? That is all part of your therapy and it's ok to talk about it.

Moon

Thank you. I think this is what the woman at bacp was trying to say in the email, that there are simple explanations as to why he might not show up, but yeah, I checked on the link she gave me.
You are right about one thing, it exposes that I still have trouble totally trusting him, it's almost as though I want to not trust him.

[mistygrey]

I think you need to ask him for your own peace of mind. There is probably a very innocent explanation but for your own safety you need to check, as it would be a major red flag if he is claiming to be a member of a professional association but isn't.

Incidentally, my own therapist is not a member of the UKCP or BACP which is worrying me now after reading this thread! He is a member of the NCP (National Council of Psychotherapists). Does anyone know if this is a reputable body? Thanks