The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) is a leading national peak body for the counselling and psychotherapy profession.
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Our members work with a broad range of modalities, and with individuals and groups reflecting the diversity of Australian society. PACFA’s valued members also include counselling and psychotherapy academics and students. Our mission is to represent the counselling and psychotherapy profession to communities and government, and to develop the evidence base for counselling, psychotherapy and Indigenous Healing Practices for the benefit of Australians’ mental health.
PACFA promotes the development and practice of counselling, psychotherapy and Indigenous Healing Practices, and respects and supports the diversity of approaches within the ‘talk therapies’ field. We provide a united forum for practitioners, foster professional identities, support training and research, and ensure public accountability. PACFA provides support to members through their branches, colleges, and interest groups.
PACFA’s colleges are groups for members with particular practice specialties or frameworks, in which members can network, share information, and learn. They are:
- College of Counselling
- College of Psychotherapy
- Australian College of Relationship Counsellors
- College of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Practices
- College of Counselling and Psychotherapy Educators
- College of Creative and Experiential Therapies
- College of Supervision
PACFA provides self-regulation functions for the counselling and psychotherapy profession, ensuring that our members have met PACFA’s Training Standards and Registration Standards, which are the highest for our profession in Australia.
PACFA also produces the Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia (PACJA), which is edited by PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor, professional journalist and editor Jane Marsden.
Practising members of PACFA and PACFA Member Associations are listed on PACFA’s National Register. PACFA registrants have demonstrated an approved level of training, experience and competence via meeting our Training Standards, Registration Standards, and comply with PACFA’s ethical standards.
The register is available on our website as the ‘Find a therapist directory’. The directory can be used by members of the public looking for a counsellor, psychotherapist or Indigenous Healing Practitioner, and by other professionals wanting to make referrals.