Celebrating 10 Years of PCU: Standing Up for Therapists and Therapy

In February 2026, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Union (PCU) marks 10 years since its official founding in 2016.

What began as a bold idea – that therapists needed a trade union of their own – has grown into a national organisation, campaigning for fair pay, better working conditions and a strong ethical voice within the profession.

“PCU didn’t appear overnight – it grew in stages. I remember the early Google Group debates about the first AGM and the kind of union we wanted to be. Familiar names from those days are still active, and others shaped us along the way. I argued that we needed to be inclusive and bold. That spirit of debate, care, and determination is still part of who we are.”

Where It Began: “The Big Issue(s)” – September 2015

PCU’s roots lie in a public conference held in September 2015, known as The Big Issue(s). Almost 200 therapists gathered to explore the political, ethical and structural challenges facing the profession.

The day began with an open mic session. Forty to fifty people queued to speak for up to three minutes each, sharing what most passionately concerned them about the state of therapy. The issues raised were thoughtful, articulate, and often deeply emotional.

Two themes stood out:

• The continuing need to support diversity and stand for the empowerment of women, people of colour and LGBTQI+ people.
• Anger and concern among trainees and new practitioners at the time, money and unpaid labour required to qualify – particularly the expectation to “get hours” without pay and often without adequate support.

These were only part of a much wider conversation covering ethics, professional structures, access, training and power within our field.

In the afternoon, breakout groups explored four themes:

• Ethics
• The Structure of Therapy
• Diversity
• The proposal for a Psychotherapy and Counselling Union

By the end of the day, facilitated discussions led to a concrete decision:

We were going to start a Psychotherapy and Counselling Union.

A union flyer was circulated shortly afterwards, inviting therapists to sign up and take part in shaping what would come next.

“I have thought for some time that our profession could do with a body that is there to support and promote our work and to look out for our
interests.”

Officially Founded: February 2016

In February 2016, PCU was formally established. At that point, it consisted of:

• An email discussion list
• A Constitution
• A website
• An interim committee

The mission statement – “Standing up for therapists and therapy” was agreed and is what we still live by.

From the beginning, PCU aspired to be an inclusive and member-driven organisation. But like many organisations, we’ve had tension around structure, decision-making and participation.

“I am delighted to be a member of this Union. Well done to all the movers and shakers who made it happen. Thank you.”

Becoming a Listed Trade Union

Between 2018–2019, PCU completed the process of becoming a listed trade union. This brought clarity and legitimacy but also added administrative and procedural demands to comply with legislation.

Affiliation with the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) strengthened our links with the wider trade union movement.

 

Growth, Challenge and Change

Like many organisations, PCU was affected by the pandemic. That time strengthened our ability to organise online but also reduced the energy that in-person meetings can generate.

Our profession also faced challenges around systemic and structural racism. PCU began building links with BAATN (Black, African and Asian Therapist Network) to strengthen support for therapists affected by racism. This work continues.

By 2022, it was clear that the union’s structure placed heavy demands on a small number of volunteers. At the 2022 AGM, regional branches were established to create smaller, more energising spaces for organising and connection – an important step in addressing the isolation many therapists experience.

In 2025, PCU launched a new website and improved membership process, making it easier for therapists to join and for the union to communicate with members more effectively.

 

A Significant Step Forward in 2026

The year 2026 marks another milestone in PCU’s development: the appointment of our first employee.

Until now, the union has been run entirely by volunteers and freelance support. The appointment of our new Communications and Administration Manager represents an important step toward greater stability and sustainability.

The Executive Committee is taking this process step by step. Our next planned appointment is a General Secretary, a role which will further strengthen the union’s capacity, coordination and strategic direction.

This shift reflects both how far PCU has come in ten years and our commitment to building a union that is resilient for the future.

 

Where We Are Now

We continue to campaign on issues including:

• Fair pay and secure conditions
• The treatment of affiliate therapists within EAPs
• School counselling recognition and conditions
• Critical engagement with professional developments such as SCoPEd and the PCPB Commission into the future of therapy.
• Support for trainees and newly qualified practitioners

We also provide Member Support, legal benefits and a collective voice.

“The original concerns about the oppressive conditions in our industry sadly still hold true or worse.”

With Gratitude

Anniversaries feel like moments for reflection and thanks.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who had the vision and courage in 2015–16 to say that therapists needed a union – and to do the hard work of making it real. We thank the founding members, past and present Executive Committee members, branch organisers, campaigners and volunteers who have supported PCU through its first decade.

Much of this work has been unpaid and undertaken alongside demanding professional lives.

“Even therapists can be inconsiderate to each other, but the comradeship and camaraderie with lovely activist members brightens us like nothing else.”

The Next Ten Years

If the first ten years were about establishing that a therapists’ union is possible, the next ten years are about ensuring it is sustainable and widely known.
Many therapists still do not realise that a trade union exists for them. Yet when they hear about PCU, the response is often enthusiastic.

Our task is to continue standing up for therapists and for therapy.

Here’s to the next decade.

“We may not always agree, but we have built something important together, and we can still love our union for that.”