About the ISPC
If you’d like to be part of this counselling movement, add your own CPDs, add blogs, simplified ethics, almost ‘paper-free’ – Free Therapist Directory listing – please get in touch.
The Real Choice for Psychotherapy and Counselling Members
ISPC Membership - Psychotherapy & Counselling
International Society of Psychotherapy and Counselling
OUR SOCIETY
Aims & Objectives
The ISPC exists to support, connect, and empower counsellors at every stage—students, early-career, and late-career—by offering an ethical, affordable, and human-first alternative to traditional regulatory bodies. We prioritise real-world practice over paperwork, trust over surveillance, and community over bureaucracy. Our aim: to build a movement of therapists who do the work, not just manage it.
We understand you are not just Counsellors… you’re Diary Managers, Care Co-ordinators, Business Managers, Accountants, Marketeers and Brand Strategists, IT Tech Support, Compliance Officers, Educators and Customer Service Representatives…The list goes on…
OUR SOCIETY
Our Values
We believe therapy thrives in trust. Our core values are: Humanity first—honouring the real, messy work of healing; Radical inclusivity—welcoming all pathways into the profession; Practitioner-led ethics—guided by those in the room, not the office; Community over compliance—supporting each other, not policing; and Wisdom at every stage—valuing students and veterans alike. We’re not regulators. We’re therapists.
OUR COMMUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE
Our Mission to Support
To reimagine professional belonging for counsellors by creating a dynamic, responsive home where practical support, peer solidarity, and ethical courage come before rigid rules. We champion accessibility, amplify diverse voices, and foster resilience—so every counsellor can thrive in their practice, on their terms, without sacrificing their integrity or well-being.
Core principles and support for therapists
- Empowerment: The ISPC aims to empower its members by promoting efficacy and encouraging them to be courageous, congruent, and open in their practice.
- Benefits: Membership allows counsellors and psychotherapists to gain professional insurance and receive a free ISPC Therapist Directory listing to help build a Private Practice. We are also striving to create a Private Practice hub for Professional Members (almost there) and Free Accredited CPD (coming soon)….. And for Students we are adding vital basic training to help them get up to speed and very soon FREE CPD material.
- Therapists for therapists: As an organisation “built by therapists, for therapists,” the ISPC is committed to enhancing client relationships.
- Reduced financial barriers: The ISPC is a non-profit organisation that is working towards using its revenue to help reduce training costs for counsellors and fund independent colleges.
A person-centred approach
- Focus on relationships: The ISPC enhances “Client Person-Centred Relationships,” a key aspect of person-centred therapy. This approach values the client’s perspective and their capacity for self-discovery.
- Equality of titles: The ISPC believes that titles such as “Psychotherapist,” “Counsellor,” or “Therapist” are interchangeable.
- Experience over essays: The ISPC believes that hands-on experience and a person-centred focus are more valuable than a rigid academic approach.
Ethics and public protection
- High ethical standards: ISPC members must agree to our our simplified, but robust, code of ethics and complaints procedure. The primary goal of these ethics is to protect clients and members, and to maintain public trust.
- Accountability and safety: By ensuring members meet recognised professional standards, the ISPC protects therapists, clients, and wider society. If an ethical issue arises, the ISPC focuses on education rather than “naming and shaming”.
Founder and Registrar
PROF. Graham Cocking
Graham is the Founder and Registrar of the ISPC, forming its principles 20 years ago on ethics and values, offering choice, and represents a move towards offering counsellors a membership body that gives back to counselling communities. Graham is an experienced Counselling Supervisor and Joint Principle of Ridgeway College.
Therapy News
The Future of UK Counselling and Psychotherapy
Navigating Technology, Demand, and Integration Article authored by James Durdan The field of counselling and psychotherapy in the UK is in a state of dynamic evolution. Shaped by global events,
Beyond the Bubble Bath
A Therapist’s Guide to Authentic Self-Care Article authored by the ISPC The term “self-care” has become a popular buzzword in recent years, often conjuring images of fluffy bathrobes, scented candles,
Embracing the Journey
Recognising Milestones in a Counselling Career Article authored by Cathy Stones This is a discussion about something often overlooked: the milestones in a counselling career. Becoming a counsellor, and remaining
Hitting the Nail on the Head
An Introduction to understanding psychological therapies through the integration of quantum physics, counselling theories, and the science and philosophy of Yoga Article authored by Turiya Martyn Gough FISPC Around the
Counselling and Addiction Recovery in the UK:
Statistics, Strategies, and the Environment That Heals Introduction Addiction is a word that carries weight—heavy with stigma, pain, but also hope. In the UK, the journey through addiction and into
Cost of Living, Mental Health, and Accessible Therapy in the UK
Navigating the Storm: The UK has been wrestling with a tempest of rising costs and economic uncertainty in recent years. While inflation rates may have dipped from their 2022 peak,
