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Counselling: Qualifications

Asked by Sarah PochinReform UKDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 24 April 2026UIN 125845

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to assess the potential impact of changes to accreditation and registration requirements for counsellors introduced in December 2025 on (a) counsellors’ businesses, including their level of income and (b) waiting times for accreditation from professional bodies.

Answered by Karin Smyth

The Department does not set the qualification requirements for psychotherapy and counselling and was not involved in the changes to accreditation requirements introduced in December 2025. The Department does not receive any revenue or financial benefits arising from those changes.

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