Anyone Can Call Themselves a Counsellor — Here’s What You Should Know
This really stayed with me, and if I’m honest, it still haunts me a little. Not because the person meant any harm, but because it reflects a misunderstanding that is more common than people realise.
It’s important to know that counselling in the UK is not regulated in the same way as some other professions. Technically, anyone can call themselves a counsellor. They won’t be able to advertise on the main places potential clients usually look — directories such as The Counselling Directory or Psychology Today, or the registers of professional bodies like British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), or Counselling Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB). They are also unlikely to be able to hire many therapy rooms without proof of qualifications and insurance. But in theory, there is nothing stopping someone setting themselves up privately.
There are two things about this that feel deeply concerning to me.
The first is the idea that counselling is “just listening”. Of course, listening is central — but counselling is so much more than that. It is attuning to a person’s emotions and inner world. It is offering genuine warmth, empathy, and unconditional positive regard. It is being present in a way that supports someone to explore parts of themselves that may feel confusing, painful, or long buried.
As counsellors, we are trained to listen for patterns, beliefs, and emotional cues. We learn how to gently question and explore those beliefs while respecting the pace and readiness of the person in front of us. We understand that meaningful change can take time, and that feeling truly heard and understood can be deeply transformative.
The second part is the ethical responsibility that comes with this work. Counsellors hold a significant position of trust. People often come to therapy at some of the most vulnerable points in their lives. That trust deserves to be honoured with care, professionalism, and strong ethical foundations.
Professional counsellors commit to ethical frameworks that guide how we practise. These frameworks prioritise client autonomy, safety, dignity, and respect. They require us to undertake training, supervision, and continued professional development. They ask us to reflect on our own experiences and ensure that our personal material does not interfere with the care we offer others.
As a potential client, there is something simple you can do to help ensure the person you are seeing is a qualified, ethical practitioner.
You can ask whether they are a member of a professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). Counsellors who belong to these organisations are required to follow ethical frameworks and professional standards.
You can also ask for their membership number and check it on the organisation’s website. A genuine practitioner will be open and comfortable with this — transparency is part of ethical practice.
Counselling is a deeply human and relational profession. It deserves the same care, training, and accountability as other helping professions. And if you are seeking support, you deserve to know that the person sitting with you is qualified to hold that space with skill, integrity, and respect.
Until next time x
