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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

Publications Page 30

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.

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Publications Page 27

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.

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Publications Page 26

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,

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Publications Page 26

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,

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Publications Page 28

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.

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Publications Page 1

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

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Publications Page 2

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

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Public Perceptions of AI and Counselling Psychotherapy

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.

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Publications Page 3

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

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Publications Page 4

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

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Publications Page 5

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

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Publications Page 6

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

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Publications Page 7

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

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Publications Page 8

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.

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Publications Page 9

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

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Publications Page 10

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

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Briefing Notes

AI and Mental Health

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

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Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill

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.

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Publications Page 11

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

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Publications Page 12

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

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Publications Page 13

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

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Publications Page 14

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

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Publications Page 15

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

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Publications Page 16

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

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Publications Page 17

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

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Publications Page 18

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

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Publications Page 19

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

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Publications Page 20

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

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Publications Page 21

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

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Publications Page 22

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

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Publications Page 23

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

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Other Publications

Publications Page 29

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.

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Publications Page 24

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.

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Publications Page 25

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.

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