How to choose a qualified CBT Therapist
Over the last few years there has been an increasing demand for CBT. At the time of writing, the psychotherapy profession is unregulated. What this means, is that anyone can call him or herself a Cognitive Behavioural therapist and anyone can say that they provide CBT (whether they have had appropriate training or not!)
Accreditation with the BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies) ensures that those offering CBT, are providing quality Cognitive Behavioural therapy to the public. Checking a therapist’s accreditation status should provide reassurance that they have reached at least the minimum standards to practice CBT.
However, please note that being a member of the BABCP is not the same as being accredited with the BABCP; anybody with an interest in CBT can become a member of the association.
It is also important to point out that there is a difference between an accredited CBT Therapist and accredited therapists who offer CBT – accredited CBT therapists represent only a minority of UK mental health practitioners who are accredited and who offer CBT. A large percentage of UK mental health practitioners offering CBT and who are accredited are not accredited by BABCP, but by some other organisation such as the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) or a UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy) constituent organisation – For further information regarding the implications of this, please click here