Representing you # Publications

Here you’ll find our most recent publications, presenting detailed findings, commentary and resources to support those interested in our work and its impact.

## Reports

[### Factors affecting prevalence of mental health conditions in the UK: A relational perspective 541 KB | pdf Our evidence-based, member-led submission to the independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD, and autism, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, and supported by Professor Sir Simon Wessely, and Professor Gillian Baird as vice-chairs. We provide a number of recommendations to reform the current system, as well as examining the pitfalls of stepped-care, a medical model of therapy, and an evidence-driven hypothesis of the future of mental health support in the UK under a digital-first model. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/NCPS-Submission-to-the-Prevalence-Review.pdf) [### NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan Submission – Section 1 507 KB | pdf Our evidence-based submission to the NHS 10 Year workforce plan, drawing on up-to-date research and insight from our membership. It looks at the Government’s ‘three shifts’ for the NHS (hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention) through a relational lens, putting forward counselling & psychotherapy as a solution to many of the issues they’re facing. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/10-Year-Workforce-Plan-Section-1-Evidence_2025-11-28-143817_xnbw.pdf) [### NCPS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Survey 2026 744 KB | pdf A survey exploring equality, diversity, and inclusion within counselling & psychotherapy. It seeks to understand the experiences and needs of our members and those impacted by our work, helping us identify challenges, learn from them, and shape a Society where everyone feels seen and valued, Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/NCPS-EDI-Survey-2026_2026-01-12-115735_onhx.pdf) [### NCPS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Survey 2026 - Word-Only Version 69 KB | pdf Word-Only Version - A survey exploring equality, diversity, and inclusion within counselling & psychotherapy. It seeks to understand the experiences and needs of our members and those impacted by our work, helping us identify challenges, learn from them, and shape a Society where everyone feels seen and valued, Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/NCPS-EDI-Survey-2026-Word-Only-Version.pdf) [### NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan Submission – Section 2 209 KB | pdf Our submission to the NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan that looks at modelling assumptions, highlighting opportunities and flaws in the current modelling, and suggests ways in which those assumptions might be changed. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/10-Year-Workforce-Plan-Section-2-Modelling-Assumptions_2025-11-28-143817_vfrn.pdf) [### The Importance of Human Connection and the Impact of Digitalisation on Counselling Training and Practice 1 MB | pdf A joint report by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB) and NCPS based on findings from industry-wide research and YouGov Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Human-Connection-Industry-Report.pdf) [### Roles, Routes & Resources – A Practical Guide to Wellbeing Support for Children & Young People 4 MB | pdf A joint report with the Alliance 4 Children based on findings from an NCPS survey of schools across the UK, and expertise from the Alliance 4 Children Emotional Health Working Group Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Roles-Routes-and-Resources.pdf) [### Public Perceptions of AI and Counselling & Psychotherapy in Mental Health Support – NCPS Report May 2024 650 KB | pdf A national survey exploring public attitudes towards counselling, psychotherapy and the use of AI in mental health support. It examines perceptions of human connection in therapy, emerging digital tools, and access to services, helping inform future practice and policy. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Public-Perceptions-of-AI-and-Counselling.pdf) [### Counselling at the Crossroads – Preserving Principles, Autonomy and Vocation 229 KB | pdf An adapted excerpt from our response to the Professional Standards Authority’s 2020 Strategic Review Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Counselling-at-the-Crossroads-NCPS_2025-10-07-083931_xkqq.pdf) [### Confidentiality in Counselling – The Impact of Routine Police Requests for Counselling Notes 2 MB | pdf A report in support of the Keep Counselling Confidential Campaign, based on a survey of NCPS members Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Keep-Counselling-Confidential-final.pdf) [### The Major Conditions Strategy – A 10 Year Failure for Mental Health 4 MB | pdf A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, with submissions from NCPS Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/The-Major-Conditions-Strategy-a-10-year-failure-for-Mental-Health.pdf) [### The Covid Generation – A Mental Health Pandemic in the Making 625 KB | pdf A report on the impact on the mental health of children and young people during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, with submissions from NCPS Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/The-COVID-Generation.pdf) [### Children’s Mental Health Beyond the Green Paper: the Role of Practice Based Evidence 557 KB | pdf A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, with submissions from NCPS Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Childrens-Mental-Health-Beyond-the-Green-Paper.pdf) [### Investigating Referral Patterns of Mental Health Support Teams in Education 5 MB | pdf A report based on findings from an NCPS survey of schools across the UK, to support our calls for Barnardo’s MHST+ model as an enhancement to the national rollout of MHSTs. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Feb-24-NCPS-Report-Referral-Patterns-of-MHSTs.pdf) [### Mental Health in Childhood 875 KB | pdf A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, with submissions from NCPS Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Mental-Health-in-Childhood.pdf) [### Adverse Childhood Experiences – Roads to Recovery 2 MB | pdf A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, with submissions from NCPS Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/FHC-APPG-ACEs-Report.pdf) 

## Briefing Notes

[### AI and Mental Health 275 KB | pdf A three-page document outlining the implications for long term AI use in mental health, looking at resilience, agency, and relational capacity, and how these are diminished by over-use of AI, and strengthened through relational therapy (counselling & psychotherapy). Includes links to useful resources, as well as asks for MPs, and suggested Written Questions Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Briefing-Note-AI-and-Mental-Health.pdf) [### Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill - House of Lords, Report Stage; Mental Health Support in Schools 196 KB | pdf Barnardo’s, Alliance4Children, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) urge members to support for the new clause tabled by Baroness Tyler of Enfield, to guarantee children have access to mental health support in school. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/CWSB-MHST-amendment-briefing-for-peers-Barnardos-Alliance4Children-NCPS.pdf) [### Protecting the Adoption Support Fund 217 KB | pdf A briefing note outlining why protecting the Adoption Support Fund (ASGSF) matters, the evidence, and some key asks from the Society Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Briefing-Adoption-Support-Fund.pdf) [### An Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy 153 KB | pdf A one-page primer for commissioners, civil servants, and politicians, designed to give a brief but clear overview of counselling & psychotherapy, the Accredited Registers programme, and the importance of the profession to the nation’s wellbeing Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Counselling-Psychotherapy-An-Introduction.pdf) [### Cutting Waiting Times for Mental Health Services Using Counsellors & Psychotherapists 128 KB | pdf A one-page primer on how the counselling & psychotherapy workforce can be drawn on to cut waiting times in public sector services Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Cutting-Waiting-Times.pdf) [### The Benefits of the Accredited Registers Programme for Counselling & Psychotherapy 126 KB | pdf A one-page overview of the Accredited Registers programme, the limitations to statutory regulation, and how we could improve public safety by enhancing what is already there Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Briefing-AR-Programme.pdf) [### Evidence, Efficacy and Equity – Counselling & Psychotherapy for the Public Good 460 KB | pdf A two-sided briefing note created for the 2024 Labour Party Conference, which outlines the Society’s key asks, our main campaign work, the evidence behind what we do, and how people can help Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/LPC-2024-Briefing.pdf) [### Human Connection – Why it’s Vital in Mental Health Support Services 1 MB | pdf A two-page document that gives a brief overview of the importance of the human connection in mental health support Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Human-Connection-in-Mental-Health-Briefing_2025-10-07-084611_uqjp.pdf) [### Building an NHS Fit for the Future – why Counsellors & Psychotherapists will be Critical to the next Labour Government 75 KB | pdf A two-page briefing note that set out our vision to the Labour Party prior to their win in the 2024 General Election, including the expansion of MHSTs to include counsellors & psychotherapists, the promotion of the human over the digital in mental health care, and better integration of counsellors & psychotherapists into the NHS Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Building-an-NHS-fit-for-the-future-Briefing-for-Labour.pdf) [### Financing Direct Access to Counselling via Accredited Registers - How Counselling & Psychotherapy can Save the NHS Money 326 KB | pdf A four-page note detailing costings to support our Direct Access to Counselling Campaign, including current costs to the NHS, projected costs for a therapist on an Accredited Register, and the hidden costs of continuing as we are Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Financing-Direct-Access-to-Counselling.pdf) [### Therapeutic Relationships – Honouring the Human Connection 139 KB | pdf A two-page outline of our campaign launch, outlining what we’re campaigning for, our key messages, and our asks Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Therapeutic-relationships-honouring-the-human-connection.pdf) [### Direct Access to Counselling Campaign – The Evidence-Based Need for Integrated and Appropriate Care 162 KB | pdf A one-page outline of our Direct Access to Counselling Campaign, including key objectives, research, why it matters, and our calls to action Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Direct-Access-to-Counselling.pdf) [### Access to Counselling for Every Child Campaign – The Evidence-Based Need for Child-Led, Integrated Mental Health Care 150 KB | pdf A one-page outline of our Access to Counselling for Every Child Campaign, including key objectives, research, why it matters, and our calls to action Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Access-to-Counselling-for-Every-Child.pdf) [### Statutory Regulation of Counselling & Psychotherapy 132 KB | pdf A one-page briefing that outlines our perspective on the debate around statutory regulation of counselling & psychotherapy, including why it matters, and calls to action Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Stat-Reg-Briefing.pdf) [### Mental Health Provision in the UK 384 KB | pdf A seven-page examination of the issues with mental health provision in the UK, including suggestions to solve issues, an assessment of the drawbacks and difficulties, and next steps. Sent to the main political parties in advance of the 2024 General Election to support with the production of their Manifestos Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Mental-Health-Provision-Briefing-Note.pdf) 

## Other Publications

[### MHRA Regulation of AI in Healthcare Open Call for Evidence Submission 239 KB | pdf Our call for more focused, targeted, and nuanced regulation around AI in healthcare, in order to be sufficient to tackle the harms that may be caused by inappropriate design or commissioning of LLMs / generative AI within a mental health context. This is based on our work around relational safeguarding for AI mental health tools. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/MHRA-Regulation-in-AI-Call-for-Evidence-NCPS-Submission.pdf) [### Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Submission 101 KB | pdf Written evidence around the importance of early, accessible, relational mental health support for children & young people, specifically advocating for school-based counselling, consistent and equitable access to support, suggestions for strengthening the Bill, and why it matters. Includes proposed new clauses for the Bill. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Childrens-Wellbeing-and-Schools-Bill-Submission.pdf) [### Pathways to Work Green Paper Submission 104 KB | pdf A submission to the DWP outlining our thoughts around the Green Paper, and how it could be strengthened. Asks for support to be relational and person-centred, and for the ethical implications of these relationships to be considered. We suggest putting the onus on the employer to consider how to effectively support their team’s mental health, including suggestions for particular training and Government-funded incentives. We also touch on specific, targeted support for young people, and a focus on the mental health impact of financial insecurity and poverty. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/NCPS-Submission-to-DWP-Pathways-to-Work-Green-Paper.pdf)