The History of the Division

The Division of Counselling Psychology (DCoP) of The British Psychological Society is the organisation devoted to furthering the development of counselling psychology, both as a body of knowledge and skills and as a profession.

Counselling psychology has existed as a field of practice for quite some time. The Society, through establishing the Diploma in Counselling Psychology, has recognised the requirements for professional qualifications in this field. This route allowed candidates to register as Chartered Psychologists exclusively on the basis of counselling psychology qualifications. Consequently, in March 1994, the Membership of The Society voted in favour of the Special Group in Counselling Psychology being redesignated "The Division of Counselling Psychology".

Historically, Counselling Psychology has developed as a branch of professional psychological practice strongly influenced by human science research as well as principal psychotherapeutic traditions. Its relationship with mainstream academic psychology has been mutually challenging because Counselling Psychology has drawn upon and developed phenomenological models of practice and enquiry which have been at odds with the dominant conceptions of scientific psychology. Fruitful relationships have also been established with other counselling and psychotherapeutic practices which have evolved outside the framework of academic psychology.

Counselling Psychology acknowledges these valued and continuing relationships whilst claiming its place within mainstream professional psychological practice. It continues to develop models of practice and research which marry the scientific demand for rigorous empirical enquiry with a firm value base grounded in the primacy of the counselling/psychotherapeutic relationship.

To learn more about the history of Counselling psychology please visit the Philosophy page.