A REFORM Jersey politician is calling on the government to introduce regulations for therapeutic counsellors in an attempt to protect clients and ensure practitioners meet professional standards.
Deputy Tom Coles has put forward a proposition asking Health Minister Tom Binet to introduce legislation requiring counsellors to register with the Jersey Care Commission and a relevant governing body. This could include the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society or the UK Council for Psychotherapy.
In a statement, the St Helier representative said this requirement would ensure practitioners met a minimum standard of qualifications – protecting the “safety and wellbeing of clients” while also preventing “financial exploitation” where counsellors charge clients for services without providing effective treatment.
He added: “Mental health is a delicate area, and it is crucial that those providing therapeutic counselling are properly qualified and accountable. This regulation will not only protect clients but also strengthen the counselling profession as a whole.”
Currently, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and mental-health nurses must register with regulatory bodies, but counsellors operate without such oversight.
The lack of regulation means there is no formal complaints process if a counsellor provides inadequate care, according to Deputy Coles.
“Without a formal complaints or accountability system, clients who experience harm or misconduct have no recourse, leaving others, especially vulnerable individuals, at risk,” he said.
“As a result, the whole counselling profession could suffer a lack of trust and credibility, and this, potentially, could see the demise of valuable services to those who need them.”
The proposition comes after recent data showed a 20% increase in common antidepressant prescriptions compared to pre-pandemic levels, while the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey revealed that 32% of adults reported high levels of anxiety last year.
Patricia Tumelty, chief executive of mental-health support charity Mind Jersey, has previously supported increased oversight of private therapy practices. “Some people may not be getting the right level of skills, experience and knowledge that they require and may be expecting,” she said.
lIf you have been affected by unregulated therapy practices or wish to share your experience anonymously, the JEP is happy to speak in confidence – send an email to: news@jerseyeveningpost.com.
