Campaigns
Initiatives
PCU became a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy (The MOU can be viewed here.) in 2018. We are concerned about recent developments, where threats of legal action by lobby groups have led to organisations (including UKCP) withdrawing. PCU remains committed to the MOU: it is a fundamental principle for the union that all therapy clients, including trans and gender-questioning children and young people, are protected from conversion therapy practices. We will continue to work with our colleagues in Therapists Against Conversion Therapy and Transphobia on this issue https://therapistsagainsttransphobia.org/
Following the publication of the book The Psychotherapist and the Professional Complaint: The Shadow Side of Therapy (eds Sinason and Sachs), to which PCU members contributed, we have begun discussions with UKCP and BACP about their treatment of members undergoing complaints and/or other disciplinary processes. Issues include inconsistencies, unfairness, a lack of transparency, and sometimes unethical and anti-therapeutic processes which can cause significant harm to therapists without contributing to client welfare or public protection.
This is inevitably a slow process, and significant reforms would probably need to involve all the membership bodies and potentially the main insurance companies. We are encouraged that there is recognition that there are problems with current processes, and willingness to enter dialogue with PCU about potential reforms.
This work does not normally address individual cases, which are covered by Member Support work. We are however aiming to use these discussions to develop a clearer understanding of the membership bodies’ disciplinary processes, so that we can support our members more effectively.