Why is PACFA necessary?
There are essentially three reasons why PACFA is urgently needed.1. Establishing Recognised Standards of Training
In a social environment in which credentials and qualifications are becoming increasingly important, the question as to what constitutes an acceptable basic "professional" level of training in Psychotherapy and Counselling is one that is frequently asked. There has been no agreed answer up until now. Those who claim to be 'trained', 'qualified' or 'accredited' undertake programs that vary from a few weekend workshops and/or a limited amount of reading through to those who have five or more years of tertiary study in related areas followed by several years of intensive and supervised training through a professional psychotherapy association. Key questions that arise are: "How are academic studies and experiential and skills-focused training courses to be compared and valued in making a good Psychotherapist or Counsellor?" and "What are the core elements that must be included in any training and what elements are 'optional' or 'specific' to a particular tradition?".
The profession needed to consider these questions in a forum that would allow diverse views to be heard and greater clarity, rigour and creativity to emerge over time. It therefore became imperative that a "body corporate", in which professionals consulted, learned together and determined training standards be created.
- To address this, associations joining PACFA have agreed to:adopt a minimum set of training standards for the professional practice of Psychotherapy and Counselling and review them regularly;
- PACFA will also foster dialogue over the future of Psychotherapy and Counselling and the implications of research for effective practice.
The contemporary social ethos makes issues of accountability and public protection in clinical services particularly important. People become more vulnerable to influence, abuse and exploitation when trusting a professional. It is therefore essential that agreed values and appropriate procedures be established to ensure that professionals are accountable for their conduct and treatment outcomes, and that those using their services have clear guidelines as to training, competency and ethical practice.
This, in turn, means that the professional bodies must ensure that their members practice according to a code of ethics and that mechanisms for receiving and acting on complaints exist. Although some of the professional associations had appropriate guidelines and procedures, others did not. This made public accountability and dealing with complaints problematic.
- To address this, associations joining PACFA have agreed toensure their codes of ethics reflect the Ethical Guidelines document;
- establish complaints and discipline procedures.
Psychotherapy and Counselling are seen to involve a potential risk, as well as benefit, to the public. There have been several attempts to regulate its practice that have failed. Whilst governments are not at present seeking to extend their role in regulating professions, it is clear that if this profession does not organise itself, others may need to do so. The concern is that such efforts may fail to reflect the expert knowledge and practice wisdom of Psychotherapists and Counsellors themselves. In addition there is a need to identify appropriate criteria for the contracting out of government services, to consider the effect of the GST, and to consider the implications of practice for taxation and insurance.
To address these concerns, PACFA will consult with appropriate government authorities and other professionals to work out guidelines for the profession as the need arises.
